From viewing Eastenders, Neighbours and Hollyoaks I can see that soaps have multiple continuous linear narratives. One character's story may end with a cliff hanger
Media Studies Brief In my media studies group we have chosen to do the opening credits and the opening scene to a soap opera. In our group each person has a specific task. In the group I have chosen to be the main cameraman and the editor. I chose these tasks because they are of particular interest to me as a hobby as well as part of my education. I will also research the codes and conventions of the soap opera genre, paying particular attention to the choice of the music for the introduction and the opening scene. From viewing Eastenders, Neighbours and Hollyoaks I can see that soaps have multiple continuous linear narratives. One character's story may end with a cliff hanger meaning that at the end of each episodes there is no definite ending, leaving the narrative for the next episode. As seen in Eastenders soaps are mainly concentrated on a certain community or workplace where the characters often are all linked in some way. The stereotyping of certain characters is the main aspect that attracts the audience to this genre. Generally soap operas try to be as realistic as they can. In a voyeuristic manner, we like to watch other people's lives, as, in the case of soap operas, they are just like ours, but more interesting. Camera work, in soap operas, is simple and generally avoids tricks of any kind: 'point of view' or 'high angle' shots are rarely used in soaps. The
What images of family and school life are presented in Malcolm in the Middle?
What images of family and school life are presented in Malcolm in the Middle? In the 21st century there are a variety of family units ranging from the nuclear families, which are immediate relatives, Mum, Dad and children, to the extended family, which also includes Grandparents and cousins, who play a part in daily life. The Simpson's are a typical family. Marge takes charge and doesn't work, but Homer does, also they have three children, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. Malcolm in the Middle represents the 'Symmetrical Family.' Malcolm in the Middle is now in its sixth series and sadly has to end as all the actors for the television show are too old for there roles. This television show is one of the best yet! Malcolm is a gifted boy who is stuck in the middle of his family of two brothers, Reese and Dewey also Francis but, he's in Military camp, because his parents wanted him to learn some discipline for himself. The Parents in Malcolm in the Middle are very different to most parents as Lois who is the mother worries a lot and gets upset if she gets something wrong or 'messed up', although she is a very strong character concerning what happens in the house. If Malcolm or Reese do something to Dewey she always finds out what they did to him. On the other hand, Hal who is the father, wants to be a kid again. He always tries to hang around Reese and Malcolm as they are the
The Portrayal of Women on Television.
The Portrayal of Women on Television Helen Ingham One point of interest would be how people respond to the representations of women embodied through television. I have interviewed four people concerning their personal opinions of how fair these representations are. Person A is female and nineteen years old, person B is female and twenty-years old, person C is male and fifty years old, and person D is male and twenty-four years old. When asked to think of five stereotypes for women, the one stereotype that all respondents gave was the bimbo, a conventionally beautiful young woman with little intelligence and who they considered would usually be found on soaps and quiz shows. All the stereotypes that the respondents gave were from soap operas, dramas and adverts. None of the respondents felt that women are represented in a wholly accurate manner. But what is interesting, however, is the fact that C and D thought representations to be more true than A and B. A and B both rejected the majority of images they spoke about, and even said they felt angry at what television portrays as a woman. The messages that the men and women received were different, but still not constructive. A and B both said that they felt television telling them that their place is behind men and that there is a pressure to always look good. Respondent D said he felt that television dictates what type
How do the Simpsons set about achieving their purposes?
How do the Simpsons set about achieving their purposes? The Simpsons creators achieve the Simpsons' multiple purposes using multiple techniques. The Purposes of the Simpsons was to make money, entertain, and provide a basis of merchandising and to put forward a moral message to the viewers. The Simpsons achieves its purpose of making money by attracting the viewer that requires good quality entertaining. The Simpsons makes good use of highly popular comic techniques that makes people watch the show. The uses of satire/parodies, for example send up celebrities and how they make fun of themselves such as The Smashing Pumpkins in "Homerbalooza," how they are all glum and suddenly realize they have fast cars and loads of money and they run off screaming with joy and teenage happiness. The Simpsons also make good use of sarcasm and irony, such as Krusty the Clown (Hershel Krustofski) who hates kids and is the son of a Rabbi as an example of irony and Reverend Lovejoy uses masses of sarcasm; even his name is sarcastic and ironic. Lovejoy has the impression that says the person loves joy, when clearly he is a gloomy, and unenthusiastic towards his work. He tells parishioners who seek guidance to refer to the bible at which point they ask any particular passage and receive the reply "it's all good." Stereotype is used recurrently in The Simpsons; Groundskeeper Willie, Apu
To compare the television viewing habits of 50 people
Maths Coursework Aim: To compare the television viewing habits of 50 people in order to find out the average amount of television sets in a household, which is the most popular digital service available, the average amount of television watched in a day, the most popular type of program, the most popular channel, the most popular soap opera on television and which other media sources are used most often. Background Knowledge: The chief developer and inventor of the first mechanical television was John Logie Baird. He first demonstrated it to 50 scientists in his attic workshop on 26th January 1926 and by 1927 he had sent a broadcast 438 miles from London to Glasgow. The electronic television was being simultaneously developed by both Baird and Guillermo Marconi, and a trial in 1935 proved Marconi's all electronic television to work on a higher level so Baird's was dropped. Baird is still remembered as the father of television though as he was the first to display it in public, on a big screen, in colour and with stereo sound. He was also the first person to broadcast a live transmission of the Epsom Derby in 1931. The first regular high definition television broadcast was from the BBC and began on November 2nd 1936, filmed in Alexandra Palace, North London. There are now 1000's of broadcasting companies and manufacturers worldwide and hundreds of millions of television sets.
Discuss how the film-maker, Christopher Morris, of Janis Joplin: Southern Discomfort has encouraged viewer response towards the subject of Janis Joplin through the version of reality that he has constructed.
Discuss how the film-maker, Christopher Morris, of Janis Joplin: Southern Discomfort has encouraged viewer response towards the subject of Janis Joplin through the version of reality that he has constructed. In your discussion examine how the various methods of construction have been used to present details about Janis' life to elicit particular responses from the viewer. Christopher Morris presents in Janis Joplin: Southern Discomfort the perfect icon for stardom in the late sixties; Janis Joplin fits no standard of beauty yet conveys a raw sensuality with her incredible wall-of-sound vocals. She was the first female superstar of rock, breaking into the boys club and out of the domineering good-girl femineity of post-war America. She set the stereotypical blues mama image, which no white woman had done before. Her tough blues-mama image only barely covered her vulnerability as she created many images for herself, as coats of armour to shield her low-self esteem. Morris characteristically highlights versions of Janis's life and issues within it to elicit particular responses towards her, through the use of visual and audio effects. Morris encourages viewers to see Janis' ambitious spirit and success put under the pressures of being a woman in the high expectations of the music industry and society. Janis is made obvious that she was no glamour queen yet stole the hearts
Media Studies : The Function of Title Sequences
Media Studies : The Function of Title Sequences Title sequences have a few various functions (such as attracting the audience), with many different ways of fulfilling these functions (such as the music used during the titles). These functions will be discussed in this essay. There are some general functions that would relate to most of the soap operas, which have been made. The most obvious function of the opening titles is to attract the audience's attention back towards the television. This is because the attention of the audience will have most likely been distracted during the 'break' between the programme shown before the soap opera and the soap opera in question. Thus, using loud music and/or flashing, bright images, regains the attention of the audience once more. This is shown in the opening titles of the soap opera 'Brookside', where the loud music, which is a simple, repetitive melody, attracts the audience's ear, and the split screen images attract the audience's eye. Another function that could be related to most soap operas is that the title tells the audience where it is set, through the use of images. This is clearly apparent in the 'Eastenders', as a map of East London is used as the main image, thus it is obvious that the programme must be connected to East London. This is also shown with 'Brookside', where various landmarks (such as the River Mersey) and
Modern Entertainment.
MODERN ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment and its modes has been evolving over the ages but the oldest form of entertainment has been that of court jesters. They were in reality buffoons, who were paid to serve rulers and keep them in good humor. Besides royalty, the common man also had his own forms of entertainment, be it wrestling, watching pageants or the early form of crude theatre. They also entertained each other with animals like dog racing, horse racing, bull fighting, and even ram and cock fighting, on which bets were placed. This forum of entertainment was bloody and gory, with added adventure of gambling. As the forums evolved with the creativity of the human brain , they became more and more sophisticated, but the basics always remained the same and will retain so in the future. The crude court jesters gave away to polished dialogues written by experts, which they mouthed as actors, in comedy. But the earlier form remains quite the same ,as seen in the acts of clowns in circuses, still touring the country. Today's modern entertainment, although retaining the basics of the earlier ages, have been transformed mainly to advanced scientific invocations. Thus the theaters of yesteryears are now present in totally , over several episodes of television. The presentation has become more refined with story , dialogues and realistic acting to conform the taste of the modern
My practical work in November 2003 was for option 3 - It was a piece of devised theatre work and was based on the style of soap opera.
AQA Drama Part 1 Assessment My practical work in November 2003 was for option 3. It was a piece of devised theatre work and was based on the style of soap opera. My contribution to the performance was a character of a girl around the age of 17 who was dealing with a pregnancy. My characters name was Shelley. I had a sister called Marie who was a prostitute and was currently having affairs with the father of my baby. I however, did not know this. My parents had dies in a car crash a few years earlier so my sister and I were living with our Aunt Dee, who was away at the time. When I confided in Marie about the pregnancy she demanded I told Aunt Dee about it, although Shelley did not want anyone finding out about it. So she threatened to tell Aunt Dee about Marie being a prostitute. We had a scene containing an argument about this ordeal. At the end of the scene Aunt Dee phones the house and finds out about the both of us. Our next scene was after Marie had just made business with the father of the baby, Phil. Marie accidentally tells Phil about the pregnancy and he threatens Shelley and tells her to get rid of it. Throughout the episodes we did, we did not see Shelley happy once. In the argument scene she was upset, worried and angry. She cried and begged Marie not to tell anyone about the baby. In the scene with Phil she is very scared and at the end, breaks down and cries.
Should Television Be Switched On?
Should Television Be Switched On? TV or not TV? -That's the question. We may not all be Hamlet, but we all struggle with our own existential issues and since television plays a major role in our existence it becomes an issue. The days are long past when we could consider TV to be an innocent, innocuous part of daily life or a casual baby-sitter. It is a powerful, persuasive teacher and a primary companion for children, many of whom spend more time in front of the television than in school. Considering that some members of the average family watch more than seven hours of television per day, it is not surprising that contemporary research indicates that human development and behaviour are affected by television to a degree far exceeding earlier judgments. Unfortunately, this medium, which has been used for much good, has increasingly been misused. The number of programmes and commercials that conflict with gospel standards are steadily rising, and few viewers demonstrate enough self-discipline to resist. Some of us don't even realize what hidden messages we're receiving-and little by little we subconsciously come to accept them as normal or appropriate. There is a large body of research that documents the way in which exposure to television influences children generally, and much of this relates to the effects of exposure to violent content in programming. Children who view