With reference to a particular soap opera you are familiar with, discuss how it is suited to television rather than any other medium, in terms of the codes and conventions of that medium and the programme you are discussing

With reference to a particular soap opera you are familiar with, discuss how it is suited to television rather than any other medium, in terms of the codes and conventions of that medium and the programme you are discussing 'Switch that rubbish off!' this is often a sign that the younger generation of a household are gathered to watch the next instalment of the UK's most highly viewed soap opera 'Eastenders'. In my experience, I always knew when one of the many soap opera's was about to begin as I would hear that exact instruction, (or one of similar meaning), being aimed, towards my sisters as they switch on the television between the hours of seven and nine o' clock of most weekday evenings. My Father felt so strongly that this word 'rubbish' was the only way to describe soap operas, for a while we had a television ban and had to force 'conversation' during dinner times! Soap Opera's have this superglue effect to most people, which is the desired result. All that is required is to catch a small glimpse of a storyline and no matter how 'rubbish' it is often considered to be, you do want to know what happens next and you're stuck to the plot, this is the successful formula. December 9th, 1960 was when the UK's first ever television Soap Opera was launched. Coronation Street began on ITV and is still on our screens today after fourty years of successful, record-breaking

  • Word count: 2233
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Opening sequence of two contrasting Soap Operas.

Opening sequence of two contrasting Soap Operas The opening sequence of a British soap The opening sequence of 'East Enders' seems to be slightly monotonous, the colours are made up of greys and blues. Straight away the title of the soap opera rolls onto the screen and a strong drumbeat takes a hold of the viewers attention. The drum sounds like a sudden heartbeat (the sort a person gets when they are taken aback by a certain situation) it seems that this is the effect they want the viewer you to have by the end of the programme. The image of a map of London with the River Thames running through it remains still but the camera continues to zoom out in a rotating motion showing a small community within a large urban community. The Soundtrack has no vocals but is a memorable theme tune. Its one of which will attract the viewers attention and will send them straight to their seats to get ready for the episodes up-coming dilemmas. The opening sequence lasts a total of twenty-four seconds. The opening sequence of an Australian soap In the opening sequence of the soap opera 'Home and Away' it is apparent that the atmosphere appears to be much brighter and more contented, sounds of seagulls (usually found on beaches) and crashing waves can be heard. This instantly hooks the viewer into the surreal get away imitation of a perfect world. The colours are vivid and exotic, and the

  • Word count: 918
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Differences between American and British sitcoms

Media Assignment 1 Sitcoms Knowledge A sitcom is a short comedy situated in 1 or 2 recognizable areas. The word sitcom originates from situation comedy. They are typically found on TV with a recurring format. The major conventions associated with sitcoms are: Frequent characters of an identifiable style or stereotype. The use of one or two settings that we the audience can be acquainted with, plus Episodes that are quite short lasting around 30 minutes with a main comic situation and a few sub plots. British sitcoms are typically shown on one of the five main terrestrial television channels. On the contrary a few are shown on BBC 3 and BBC 4, the main reason for this is to test out new sitcoms in order to get feedback from the audience on whether they like them or not. Individual sitcoms are only screened on one channel. The regular characters generate the comedy in unusual conditions or embarrassing coincidences, corresponding their specific character with relationships or circumstances. This usually leads to the characters getting themselves into an imperfect situation normally resolved by the end of the episode. Each character is often stereotyped with unusual goals or catch phrases that continue throughout the sitcom. Differences between American and British sitcoms From analysing American and British sitcoms I have noticed many differences between the pair.

  • Word count: 1144
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Americans are the largest consumers of television programming in the world. Many children are exposed to and watch television on a daily basis, with, on average, 3-year-olds watching 7 hours per week, 7-year-olds watching 17 hours

Americans are the largest consumers of television programming in the world. Many children are exposed to and watch television on a daily basis, with, on average, 3-year-olds watching 7 hours per week, 7-year-olds watching 17 hours per week, and 11-year-olds watching 28 hours per week (Huesmann & Eron, 1986). We also must take into consideration how much material on television is violent. In 1982 the National Institute of Mental Health published a 10-year study of the effects of watching television. Its conclusion was that about 80 percent of all programs in the United States contain violence, with an average of 5.2 violent acts per hour. The rates are variable but are highest during the day and on weekends, when children are often the viewers. We also know that the level of violence on television is higher than it used to be. Does watching crime and violence on television influence children? The evidence suggests that it probably does (Hearold, 1986). Bandura's early research (1963) on young children's imitation of aggressive acts seen in a film suggests that we might learn aggression by watching television. Leonard Berkowitz (1974) has shown that in watching violence on television we learn to associate a variety of cues with aggression. He studied television-watching habits of a group of boys when they were 9 years old and then returned to examine them again 10 years

  • Word count: 441
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Discussing The simpsons.

John smith GCSE English Coursework "The simpsons" EN3 "The Simpsons" have been up and running on our screens for fifteen spectacular years. Originally the idea for the "the Simpsons" came from a comic strip called "life in hell" ,as this was a comic strip hanging outside of James. L. Brooks office , the executive producer for the "Tracy Ullman Show". "The Simpsons" cartoon was created by Matt Groening. Matt Groening decided to make 30 to 60 second clips of The Simpsons ,these were put on the "Tracy Ullman Show" leading in and out of the "Tracy Ullman Show" whenever there was a commercial break. These little clips are also known as 'bumpers'. The bumpers were a huge success with the 'Tracy Ullman Show' audience ,as the bumpers were so successful Fox Network took a huge risk of producing a half-hour sitcom. This was a huge risk as it was not test marketed on any groups of viewers at any stage. The first ever Simpsons episode was aired on December 17th 1989, it was a half-hour long Christmas special called 'The Simpsons roasting on an open fire', although this episode was an Christmas special it had a little twist to the end ,Homer does not have enough money to buy presents for the children and in the end he ends up with a dog which they named 'Santa's little helper'. In January 14th 1990 , Matt Groening made the first series consisting of thirteen episodes

  • Word count: 4171
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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History of Radio in New Zealand.

Media Studies Essay History of Radio in New Zealand Radio started in 1921 when a man named Robert Jake, from Otago University made the very first broadcast in New Zealand. Robert first broadcasted from Dunedin to Christchurch, but within 10 years of the first broadcast it went from a novelty item to an every day event. He even broadcasted the arrival of Jean Batten in New Zealand after her solo flight over the Atlantic Ocean. In the 1930's a Reverent Colin Scriminger, began to broadcast on the wireless. This man also questioned government policies on air and this scared the politicians a bit. Professor James Shelley was the Director of Broadcasting for this period of time and as he came from a high cultured background, he wanted the radio to broadcast high cultured thing such as 'worthy talks on worthy subjects'. The year of 1936 saw a woman radio announcer take the microphone. Aunt Daisy was her name and she had a morning time slot from 9 - 10am. This was the time that the 'housewives' were at home and listening to the radio, so Aunt Daisy would give house hold tips about, cooking, cleaning and the general running of the woman's side of the household. Aunt Daisy did this show for 27 years. When the government elections of 1945 came along, the government jammed Scriminger's radio station -1 ZB -. The government took this action because of worries over what Scriminger was

  • Word count: 590
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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TELEVISION AND ITS EFFECT ON SOCIETY OVER THE PAST DECADES

TELEVISION AND ITS EFFECT ON SOCIETY OVER THE PAST DECADES Since its first appearance in the 1950's, television has revealed itself to be one of the world's most influential mediums. Its entrance into the media scene has tossed other mediums, such as the radio and print media, aside. With at least one television per household in Canada and with the average Canadian watching about 22.6 hours of TV per week, families are absorbing a great deal of television content; which includes the good and the bad. However, with the current selection of television programs, they are more likely to be seeing more of the bad than the good. In addition, kids more likely to spend more time in front of the TV because of their need to be entertained and occupied. This increased exposure of children, coupled with their level of intellect, leaves them far more vulnerable to the influences of television. A lot of the television programs that specifically target children are permeated with violence. Moreover, the violence is made to seem natural and acceptable; in other words, it's all in the name of fun and no one will get hurt. Take for example "The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show" with the Roadrunner and the Coyote. The Coyote is forever setting up traps for the Roadrunner which always backfire and send him off a cliff with a boulder close behind or falling victim to his own dynamite traps.

  • Word count: 3142
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Me and Rosie read the media section of last Monday's Guardian, and decided to base this talk on advertising to co-inside with the Advertising Producer's Association's publishing of the top 50 adverts for this year.

Media Presentation Me and Rosie read the media section of last Monday's Guardian, and decided to base this talk on advertising to co-inside with the Advertising Producer's Association's publishing of the top 50 adverts for this year. The event took place at the Victoria and Albert museum in London last week, and public screenings begin on October 10th and 11th. Advertising is now a recognisable part of popular culture. It has transgressed from mere 30-second television slots into elements of contemporary culture that appeal to peer groups and to individual personalities. Adverts that were released 5 years ago would pale in comparison to modern day ones not just because of the development of technology, but because modern adverts are able to identify and subjectively target audiences. This expansion means that adverts are able to become more artistic and self-conscious, more aesthetic and ultimately, more effective. This growth is only possible through the amount of media marketing and advertising that audiences are subjected to these days. Audiences are increasingly media literate - able to read texts in more refined ways, and capable of recognising concepts such as intertextuality, genre and institution. With advertising corporations being aware of this, they can exploit audiences - making ever more witty and intelligent commercials. By doing this, commercials

  • Word count: 1038
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Robbie the Reindeer - Evaluation of the scene in the woods.

Robbie the Reindeer. The scene in the woods. We have been looking at the animation 'Robbie the Reindeer'. This is an evaluation of the scene when Robbie and Blitzern are fighting in the hover car in the woods. The scene starts off with Robbie on a rocket chasing after the evil Blitzern who is getting away on a hover car. The animators show movement with the trees rushing by. The camera angle change from low shots of Robbie on the rocket to fast panning shots of Robbie flying past on the rocket. There are SFX of the wind rushing by and the rocket and the cars engines. The music is getting louder and louder to build tension. The music is quite fast and has a definite beat so that we can feel the tension. The strong beat could represent the tension before an army goes into battle or even the racing heartbeat of Robbie and Blitzern. Another good thing that I noticed was that the Reindeers ears even flapped in the wind. The fight starts and there is a struggle. Blitzern has Robbie down and says, ' Now is when you die'. Just as he says this we see Donner, Robbie's girlfriend' in the background. She has been shot out of a cannon and is fast approaching. It is a low shot and Donner looks like she is about to come and crash into the camera. Just as she is about to hit the camera the angle changes to a side view and we see her crash into the Car. She then pulls herself up and stands

  • Word count: 628
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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Analyse the Techniques used by Hitchcock to Create and maintain Suspense in his film

Analyse the Techniques used by Hitchcock To Create and Maintain Suspense In his film "Psycho" This essay will look at how Alfred Hitchcock created and maintained suspense in his 1960 motion picture "Psycho". The film Psycho was originally a book wrote by Robert Bloch, which was based on real life killings. Psycho was Hitchcock's forty-seventh film. This shows that Hitchcock was already an experienced film director. Psycho was an immediate Box-office success, and obtained the slogan "The film you must see from the start". This is because one of the main characters is killed early on in the film. Hitchcock's directing carer started in 1922. By 1959 he was one of Hollywood's best-known personalities. These factors contribute to the suspense and tension in Hitchcock's film Psycho. Irony whether verbal or visual plays an important role in the film Psycho, it also comes around quite frequently. One of the first examples of visual irony is when Marion is at work getting shown $40,000 by the client. After she has been given the money she is sitting under a picture of a swamp, and after she is killed she gets driven into a swamp, then sinks under it. Therefore this is a case of visual irony. Another case some people may class as visual irony is when Bates and Marion are in the bedroom and there is a vivid outline of Bates' shadow. This could show that Bates has a split

  • Word count: 815
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Media Studies
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