GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

COMPONENT 2: Language, Representation, Industry, Audience

Sitcoms1. Context

– What are some of the key sitcom conventions?

- Name 5 sitcom character archetypes:

1.2.3.4.5.

- What are the five stages of Todorov’s narrative theory?

1.2.3.4.5.

Friends (Sitcom)

2. Context – When was the show first released, who created it and on what channel?

- How many episodes each series, what budget and what filming set-up?

- What era did the Friends series take place in and where was it set?

- How does the Twixter generation relate to the show?

- How does the show convey ‘The American Dream’ or NY as the ‘City of Dreams’?

- Why could Ross, Chandler and Joey be considered ‘metrosexuals’?

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

3. Language- What wrote the theme song for the show and what is the song called?

- What is ‘canned laughter’?

- How is ‘comic timing’ developed for the show?

- What are the conventions of the show’s cinematography?

- What editing techniques are used on the show?

- In the first episode, what key costume acts as a catalyst for the narrative?

- Give one DCE response discussing the repr

4. Representation– Give one DCE (Denotation, Connotation, Effect) response on the representation of gender in episode 1:

- How is the city of New York represented?

- How is ethnicity represented in the show?

- What would a feminist reading of the show include?

- Apply Propp’s character type theory to Friends:

Hero -

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

Helpers -

5. Audience– Which companies are involved in the distributions of Friends as a TV show?

– What convergence with regards to exhibition is relevant to the show?

– Who is the target audience for the show?

– How is the show marketed to this target audience?

- What Uses and Gratifications does the show appeal to?

The IT Crowd (Sitcom)

1. Context – When was the show first released, who created it and on what channel?

- How many episodes each season, what budget and what filming set-up?

- What era did the The IT Crowd series take place in and where was it set?

- What intertextual references exist in the chosen Countdown episode?

- How does the show convey themes of ‘fitting in’?

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

2. Language- What wrote the theme song for the show and what is the song called?

- What is ‘canned laughter’?

- What other uses of sound exist in the show?

- What are the conventions of the show’s cinematography?

- What editing techniques are used on the show?

- In the first episode, what key costume acts as a catalyst for the narrative?

3. Representation- What differences exist in the characterisation of Moss and Roy?

– Give one DCE (Denotation, Connotation, Effect) response on the representation of gender in the episode:

- How is the city of New York represented?

- How is ethnicity represented in the show?

- Apply Propp’s character type theory to The IT Crowd:

Hero -

Villain -

Helpers -

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

4. Audience– Which companies are involved in the distributions of The IT Crowd as a TV show?

– What convergence with regards to exhibition is relevant to the show?

– Who is the target audience for the show?

– How is the show marketed to this target audience?

- What Uses and Gratifications does the show appeal to?

Music Video – Taylor Swift (Bad Blood)

1. Context – When was the song first released and by what record label?

- What are some of Taylor Swift’s achievements (sales, awards)?

- What role did she have in communicating with Apple and Spotify?

- How many followers does she have on Twitter?

- What is the relevance of Katy Perry to the song ‘Bad Blood’?

2. Language- What is the purpose of intertitles in this music video?

- What genre conventions are used in the music video?

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

- Is this a performance video, a narrative concept video or both?

- How could you apply Goodwin’s music video theory that lyrics connect to visuals?

- Why does the music video repeatedly use direct address?

- What editing techniques are used in the music video?

3. Representation– Give one DCE (Denotation, Connotation, Effect) response on the representation of gender in the video:

- What would a feminist reading of the text be (stereotypes challenged or conformed to)?

- What binary oppositions are created in the music video?

- Apply Propp’s character type theory to Taylor Swift’s ‘Bad Blood’:

Hero -

Villain -

Helpers –

- What theoretical application could be applied to the music video?

Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory –

Gauntlett’s Identity Theory -

Todorov’s Narrative Theory -

Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory -

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

4. Audience– Who is the target audience for the music video?

– How is the show marketed to this target audience?

- What Uses and Gratifications does the music video appeal to?

5. Website– What ‘above the fold’ content features on her website?

– What ‘below the fold’ content features on her website?

- What is the aesthetic of the website?

- Which demographic is the target audience for marketing on the website?

- What examples of convergence appear on the website?

Music Video – Pharrell (Freedom)

1. Context – When was the song first released and by what record label?

- What genre of music does Pharrell produce?

- What are the core themes of his music video ‘Freedom’?

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

2. Language- What is the purpose of direct address in the music video?

- Is this a performance video, a narrative concept video or both?

- What genre conventions are used in the music video?

- How could you apply Goodwin’s music video theory that lyrics connect to visuals?

- Why does the music video use montage editing?

3. Representation– Give one DCE (Denotation, Connotation, Effect) response on the representation of ethnicity in the video:

- What would a feminist reading of the text be (stereotypes challenged or conformed to)?

- What binary oppositions are created in the music video?

- Apply Propp’s character type theory to the music video:

Hero -

Villain -

Helpers –

- What theoretical application could be applied to the music video?

Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory –

Gauntlett’s Identity Theory -

Todorov’s Narrative Theory -

Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory -

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

4. Audience– Who is the target audience for the music video?

– How is the show marketed to this target audience?

- What Uses and Gratifications does the music video appeal to?

Music Video – Duran Duran (Rio)

1. Context – When was the song first released and by what record label?

- What genre of music does Duran Duran produce?

- What is the narrative in the music video?

- Why was this music video important in relation to MTV?

2. Language- What is the purpose of direct address in the music video?

- Is this a performance video, a narrative concept video or both?

- What genre conventions are used in the music video?

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

- How could you apply Goodwin’s music video theory that lyrics connect to visuals?

- What symbolic imagery or use of props exists in the music video?

3. Representation– Give one DCE (Denotation, Connotation, Effect) response on the representation of gender in the video:

- What would a feminist reading of the text be (stereotypes challenged or conformed to)?

- What binary oppositions are created in the music video?

- Apply Propp’s character type theory to the music video:

Hero -

Villain -

Helpers –

- What theoretical application could be applied to the music video?

Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory –

Gauntlett’s Identity Theory -

Todorov’s Narrative Theory -

Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory -

4. Audience– Who is the target audience for the music video?

– How is the show marketed to this target audience?

GCSE MEDIA STUDIES HATCH END HIGH SCHOOL

- What Uses and Gratifications does the music video appeal to?