Television: Introduction to Science-fiction TV drama

Our next topic is Television - a crucial in-depth topic.

These are particularly important CSPs as we know they will definitely come up in Media Paper 2. The first 42 marks of this paper will be based on your knowledge and understanding of the two TV programmes across Media Language, Industries, Audiences and Representations.

The CSPs: Doctor Who (1963) and Class (2016)

We need to study the following episodes as our in-depth CSPs:

Episode 1 of Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child (1963)
Episode 4 of Class: Co-owner of a Lonely Heart (2016)

Media Language: how the television shows communicate their message through mise-en-scene and narrative.
Industries: BBC as an institution; regulation; how the shows are produced and marketed.
Representations: How certain groups and individuals and ideas / issues are represented in the shows (e.g. CAGE)
Audiences: Target audience (demographics and psychographics) and audience pleasures.

We also need to consider the historical, cultural and social significance of the television shows.

Exam: Paper 2 Section A
Television will be tested using two medium response questions on an extract clip from one of the two episodes we will be studying. One question will be worth 8 marks and one will be worth 12 marks. There will then be one extended 20-mark essay covering the whole of both of the episodes you have studied.

Media Language: Genre

Genre is the term for any TV or film media product that has a chosen style that follows certain codes and conventions e.g. comedy, action or crime drama. Genres can change over time and there is increasingly a fashion to combine genres to create hybrid genres. E.g. Romance and Comedy becomes a ‘RomCom’.

NCIS
We use the mnemonic NCIS to remember how to analyse the genre or film or television:

Narrative: the storyline and preoccupations / issues e.g an action film usually features a dangerous quest or mission. Todorov’s Equilibrium theory might apply here.
Characters: the people who drive the story. Here you may see examples of  Propp’s character types e.g.  In fantasy there is often a hero, princess, helper, villain etc.
Iconography: the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) to create a particular look e.g. a horror movie may be particularly focused on blood, darkness and set at night.
Setting: the locations or time period used e.g. in Western movies, you will often see it located in American or Mexican deserts around 1800s.

TV Drama series

A TV drama series is a set of connected TV episodes that run under the same title e.g. Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Doctor Who or Class. They usually are structured in ‘seasons’ or ‘series’ and often end with a ‘season finale’. (‘Season’ is the US word but we will use the British term series.)

TV Drama conventions

• Dramatic narrative, usually linear (with continuity across episodes.) This is called narrative arc e.g. 13 Reasons Why and Stranger Things where the mystery spans the series.
• Ensemble cast (characters with own storylines). Sometimes an episode will focus more on one character e.g. in LOST.
• Specific technical codes e.g. realistic lighting and editing for social dramas to keep it gritty. Common use of flashback, point of view shots, dialogue and voice over, enigma and action codes throughout.
• Use of stereotypical ‘stock’characters get messages across quickly.
• Narrative formula that is always followed e.g. Casualty (3 Strand); Homeland (multi-strand narrative). Helps loyal viewers know what to expect.

Science Fiction conventions

Watch the following montage clip to get an idea of the conventions of the Science Fiction genre:




Now think about the Science Fiction genre using NCIS:

Narrative

• Alien invasion
• Scientific advancement
• Artificial intelligence
• Time travel  
• Mutation
• Post-apocalyptic struggles to survive
• Chemical poisoning
• Advanced technology
• Experimentation
• Disease / Contamination
• Space travel 

Characters

• Doubles / Doppelgangers / Clones
• Aliens who look like humans
• Aliens who look different 
• New species
• Scientists 
• People with advanced / superior intelligence
• Robots and advanced AI e.g. computers who can think

Iconography

• Futuristic hair and clothing
• Military uniforms
• Spaceships
• Space suits and helmets
• Futuristic weapons (light sabers / laser guns)
• Laboratories and experimental props
• Prosthetics / make-up
• Colours- blue, silver, grey, green 
• Time machines / advanced computers/gadgets

Settings

• Futuristic worlds
• Parallel universes / alternate dimensions
• Different time periods
• Space or other planets
• Dystopian or post-apocalyptic environments
• Laboratories
• Contaminated or toxic environments

Introduction to Science-fiction TV drama: blog tasks

Watch the trailer for our CSP Class:



Now answer the following questions:

1) How does Class meet the conventions of a TV drama series?

2) What conventions of the science-fiction genre can you find in the Class trailer? List as many as you can and use NCIS to help you.

3) What other genres are suggested by the trailer (e.g. horror)? Is Class an example of a modern hybrid-genre show?

4) Class is a spin-off from Doctor Who. At what point does the character of the Doctor appear in the trailer?

5) Who do you think the target audience for Class is? Is this a typical target audience for the science-fiction genre? Give reasons for your answer.

Extension tasks:

Aside from the appearance of the Doctor, what other references or allusions are made to the Doctor Who universe?

Read this IndieWire feature on the best Science-fiction TV shows of the 21st century. What science-fiction conventions can you find in the feature? Are there any shows that particularly catch your eye for watching in future?

Complete this for homework - due next week.

Advertising case study 3: Audrey Hepburn Galaxy advert

Our final close-study product for Advertising and Marketing is the 2016 Galaxy chocolate advert 'Chauffeur' featuring dead film star Audrey Hepburn.

This product provides an excellent opportunity to explore a range of different representations: celebrity, place (Italy), gender and more. 

Sample questions for Advertising and Marketing

In your Media exams, you are likely to get questions similar to these:

- Why do advertisers use stereotypes? [6 marks]

- Explain how advertisements reflect the historical context in which they were created. [12 marks]

Galaxy advert: background information


This is the advert CSP:

You can read more about the incredible CGI technology that went into creating the advert here. There is also a Guardian feature from the production company behind the advert explaining the technical process. 

GLOW words to use for this CSP

• Intertextuality: When one media text refers to or suggests another media text
• Semiotic codes: The media language choices (‘signs’) that create connotations for the audience.

Historical context of confectionary advertising

Nostalgia, or a "yearning for yesterday," is a frequently used advertising tool.  It is particularly common in the chocolate industry.

This classic Flake advert from the 1980s creates a nostalgic atmosphere of a more innocent time: 

Galaxy brand identity

The Galaxy brand identity has focused on luxury and indulgence for over 25 years. This 1995 advert is a good example of the Galaxy brand and also features a nostalgic soundtrack:





Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a huge Hollywood star in the 1950s and 1960s. She was associated with Hollywood glamour and style and was also a fashion icon and model. She died in 1993 at the age of 63.

For the Galaxy advert, the advertising agency used a CGI-version of Hepburn from 1953, the year of her hit film Roman Holiday. The advert is set on the luxurious Italian Riviera which creates intertextuality and nostalgia – two key audience pleasures.


Intertextuality in Media Products

Intertextuality is where one media product (e.g. Galaxy) makes reference to other media products (e.g. Audrey Hepburn movies such as 1953 film Roman Holiday) to interest and engage the audience.

Narrative theory

Propp’s  Character theory

Vladimir Propp stated that there were seven basic character functions when he analysed 100 fairy tales and that these were present in most narratives. Media products still use these recognisable character types today:

Hero, Villain, Heroine/Princess, Father, Donor, Helper/Sidekick, False Hero

Todorov: equilibrium

Todorov suggested that all narratives follow a three part structure.

They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when a new equilibrium is restored.

Equilibrium > Disequilibrium > New equilibrium

This can be applied to most media narratives.

Galaxy advert: Representations

The TV advertisement for Galaxy uses a range of stereotypes. Stereotypes are used so that semiotic codes can be quickly communicated to the target audience. What stereotypes are used in this advert and why? Are they reinforced or subverted?

Place: Italy

Celebrity: Audrey Hepburn

Product: Galaxy chocolate

Time: 1950s

Men & Women

Galaxy 'Chauffeur' advert: blog tasks

Work through the tasks in this blogpost to make sure you're an expert on this CSP.

Re-watch the Galaxy advert then answer the questions below:



1) Who is Audrey Hepburn?

2) Why did Galaxy select Audrey Hepburn for this advert? 

3) What are the connotations of Audrey Hepburn and celebrity in this advert? 

4) Why is the advert set in the 1950s? What audience pleasure does this provide?

5) What is intertextuality?

6) What Audrey Hepburn film is suggested in this advert and how is this effect created (e.g. mise-en-scene - CLAMPS: costume, lighting, actors, make-up, props, setting)?

7) Which of Propp's character types are represented in the advert? (Note: you will not find them all). 

8) How does the advert's narrative (story) follow Todorov's theory of equilibrium?

9) What representations of gender can you find in this advert?

10) Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted in the Galaxy advert? Give examples.


Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read the Framestore case study and the Guardian feature again. How did they recreate an Audrey Hepburn film using location, casting and CGI?

Now read this Vintage Everyday feature behind the scenes of the Galaxy advert. What other background information do you learn here regarding the construction of the advert?

Women in the 1950s are represented very differently in two of our advertising CSPs: OMO and Galaxy. What similarities and differences can you find by analysing the two products?

You will have time over Easter to complete these questions. Due: Tuesday 23 April.

Your next Media assessment will be in the first week back after Easter. Revise EVERYTHING we have covered in the last term - Magazines (Tatler, Reveal) and Advertising and Marketing (OMO, NHS Represent and Galaxy).