The Fear

The TV drama clip ‘The Fear’ can be used to construct representation of social class using the following components: camera shots, editing, Mise-en-scene and sound.

           One way in which social class is represented in this clip is through the use of camera shots, angles and movements. One shot that is used a lot in this scene is a wide shot. This shot could be used to show class as it shows the setting for the scene, which is obviously an upper class doctor’s office. The room looks clean, with lots of furniture like large couches and computers which shows that place obviously has money. The room has large windows that go from top to bottoms and light up the room to show that it is normally a calm and relaxed place. Another show which could be used to show class are close ups/medium close ups. There are close ups or medium close ups of each of the three characters involved in the scene. The receptionist looks well kept with her hair and makeup down neatly, the doctor also looks well kept with his hair styled, and you can see his suit and tie all neat which shows his upper class positions. Compare these to the close up of Richie, where he looks scruffy, with overgrown facial hair and his top button undone showing a more relaxed/scruffy look. Also, when Ritchie is talking to the receptionist, the camera is tilted down to her, and up to him to show him as more powerful, however when the doctor walks in, Ritchie is shot straight on, to show the shift in power.

           Mise-en-scene could also be used to represent class, as the props used in the scene show that the scene is set in a wealthy place such as the computers and big chairs. It also looks like there is some art on the walls which shows that the people have an upper class lifestyle. The prop of the computer could also be used to show lower class because although Ritchie used the keyboard as a threat because he is angry, it could also show that he sees it disposable, ad though he doesn’t have an idea of the money spent on it, which could indicate his class. The styling in the scene also shows the difference in class, as the doctor and receptionist both look very professional and neat, him in a suit and tie, showing his class, and her with neat hair and makeup and a classy dress, compared to Ritchie who is in mismatching clothes, with his top button undone showing that he is a bit more relaxed about his appearance, again suggesting his lower class.

          Sound is also used to represent class in this clip. The dialogue in the scene shows the difference in class between the characters. Ritchie’s voice sounds aggressive from the start, talking down to her (which could be because he thinks he holds more power over her because of her gender and the stereotypical female secretary role). The woman replies in a softer tone but also assertive, which could show that she thinks she is from a higher class and is trying to belittle him. Ritchie also swears a lot from the start of the clip maybe showing that he lacks manners and social etiquette.

         Lastly, editing can also be used to show class in this clip as the scene shows a lot of cutting from wide shots, to show their upper class surroundings, to close ups of Ritchie to show his aggressive manner.

        Overall, camera shots and angles, editing, Mise-en-scene and sound are used in this clip in different ways to show the difference of class between all three characters, for example, their styling, the language/tone used and the props in the scene, all show Ritchie to be of a lower class then the doctor and the receptionist.

Notes

Textual analysis

The Representing Text
Representation is linked and shaped by: 

1. Technological (fragmented audience, can now watch programmes at whatever times audience wants thanks to new technology, might not appeal to all)
2. Economic (TV is expensive to create, has to be in line with predicted sales)
3. Cultural (relates to tastes, identity and interests that are shaped by the culture we inhabit)
4. Regulation (People have legal means to respond to representations that they consider harmful or inaccurate)

Textual analysis allows us to analyse details in the scenes (micro, e.g. camera angles and movement, lighting, character styling...). This then allows you to see the representations being created in the scene.

Have to think about how viewers will interpret the scene

Representation

Everything, even real life TV is constructed through TV, re-representation

Some objects have become representations of things, and carries cultural meaning, for examples, some men wear ties to seem more formal/professional

Metaphor

Gauntlett (2007) did research using Lego in that he asked people to make metaphorical models of their identity, he didn't expect them to make models that actually resemble what they are representing. through this he could get a better sense of how people see themselves

Verisimilitude

Verisimilitude is the construction of a realistic world. 

May have its own knowledge with little similarity to our world (Doctor who) or share logic with our world and attempt to show reality (Coronation Street)

To explore representations think about, what realism is being attempted? Who/who isn't being represented? Any stereotypical characters? Dominant view of the world? what different responses could viewers have to representations?

Representational Codes

The drama depends on the juxtaposition. 

Without the audiences complicity in understand the contrast the text is meaningless

With 'codes' in place, viewers can have a variety of responses

Representation in Crisis

As it is now more accessible for people to put videos on the Internet, representations of people in the media is changing because of the representations people give of themselves

Television Dramas

British TV still attracts huge viewing audiences and many of the shows are watched as one off peak time broadcasts but British TV drama is no longer as big as it was

Background to TV Drama

Understanding of how serious fictional television engages its viewers by representing real world events is expected

Sub-genres such as teen drams, soap operas, costume dramas, medical/hospital dramas, etc. have different conventions, typical scheduling patters, target audiences and expectations

Teen Dramas

Broad sub-culture, but do not set out to appeal to such a broad audience

Generally a balance between social issues concerning target audience (alcohol and drug abuse, sexuality...) and creating and attractive representational range of recognisable character types

Soap Operas

Have a range of conventions such as cliff hangers, coverage of current social issues, interweaving story lines, and partial closure of story lines to add up to an overall representations of 'real life' that tries to be both realistic and melodramatic

Often affected by popular story lines (outside of the TV drama, real life)

Period Dramas

Expensive to produce because of demands of authenticity, which usually makes them more 'filmic' in quality

Time period context could be changed or some characters changed to suit drama and give a different set of potential meanings

As well as deconstructing representations in a period drama, should also look at contemporary view on the time period portrayed

Hospital Dramas

Balance two different narrative themes; public health and the treatment of illness and workplace interactions and relationship, this shares many conventions with soap operas

Range of characters with different occupations and ideals about the public which can sometimes be stereotypes

'Recurring types' in this form of drama could be, surgeons, consultants, social workers, children, parents, elderly, religious groups...

Crime Dramas

Two types, one-off crime drams, which tend to focus on the kinds of crimes that cause most anxiety (in particular, murder) and long-running crime dramas which will have a variety of sub-plots and show relationships between characters

Dunne (2006) suggests that media representations of crime set up five key areas:

• Crime/police
• Criminals/criminal justice system
• Lawyers vs. courts
• Social workers vs. police
• Victims vs. the public

Ethnography

Concerned with resisting large-scale assumptions about groups, asses limitations 

Often concerned with social class but not exclusive to that focus

Cutting It

Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound and Mise-en-scene to constructs representations of relationships

In the extracts from the TV drama ‘cutting it’, the couples’ relationship is represented in two obvious ways, as them being in a loving and close relationship and also as them being in a deceitful relationship, and these representations are constructed through the use of camera shots, editing, Mise-en-scene and sound.

The closeness of their relationship is shown throughout the whole of the clip. One way in which the closeness is shown is through camera shots. The main shot that shows this closeness is a two-shot of both the characters when they are in the cab. This shot just shows the couple as the focus of the scene, and you can see her resting her head on his shoulder. This intimate gesture shows the nature of their relationship as being relaxed, and happy. Another shot which shows the closeness of this couple is a cut-in, of the couples’ hands. It shows that they are holding hands, and their wedding rings are on show, symbolising their commitment to each other. Another way in which the couples’ closeness is also shown is through sound. When the woman gets hit by the bus, the only sound you can hear is his heartbeat. Although this sound is used to build tensions because you don’t know what has happened to her, it could also be used to show his emotions in that, everything around him has stopped, and that he is panicking about his wife. The non-diegetic sound that is used before doctor’s office scene played out was an upbeat, happy music which could also have been used to show the nature of their relationship. Another way in which the closeness of their relationship is shown is through the Mise-en-scene. The main one being the wedding rings, obviously symbolising their commitment and love for one another.

Another representation of relationships shown in this extract is secrecy and deceit. Camera shots are used to show this through over-the-shoulder shots. These shots are typically used to show confrontations, and in this scene, they are having a row because she took him to the hospital without him knowing. Another shot which could be used to show secrecy in their relationship is the cut in on the man’s ring, when she is in the doctor’s office. In this scene, he is fiddling with his ring and taking it off, which could be used to show that he is having second thoughts about their marriage. Another shot, could be the close up of the woman in the doctor’s office, because her face shows no obvious emotions, except that she is upset, which could be interpreted either way. This could be used to show that the audience is in the same position as her husband, in that we don’t know what she was at the hospital for and that we also don’t know whether it was good or bad news. Another way in which secrecy is shown in this extract is through Mise-en-scene. In the scene in the cab, the woman says “I would want you to love again”, to which the man looks confused, implying that he doesn't know what she is referring to. Also when they are in the cab, they both talk about being unfaithful, indicating that they have both been deceitful in the past in their relationship. Sound represents secrecy in their relationship, as when she is in the doctor’s office, non-diegetic sound of an upbeat piece of music, which changes to a rather depressing piece of music is played over the scene, so the audience does not what has been said, and also as he is not in the room, neither does he, meaning that she could either choose to tell the truth or lie to him.

In conclusion, relationships are presented in two main ways in this extracts, them being closeness and secrecy. These representations are shown through the editing, sound, camera shots and Mise-en-scene. However Mise-en-scene is the most important because it sets the scene, and it can also be used to show the contemplations of characters (him playing with his rings), but also the intimacy of their relationship (them holding hands, both wearing their rings).

Some Girls

Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound and Mise-en-scene to construct representations of teenagers

In the short extract from the new BBC Three comedy, we can see that there are some stereotypical representations of teenagers, and there are also some unique representations of teenagers, and these are shown through the use of camera shots, editing, sound and Mise-en-scene.

One representation of the teenagers in this extract is the stereotype that most teenage girls are irrational and exaggerate situations. In the scene, 7.00-7.09, the main character is at home and has just been told that her step-mother is pregnant and that her room will be used for the new baby; she is not happy about it. In the scene, the character is shown in close-up when she shouts “Well why I don’t just leave now then?!’ This shot type is used to show the characters facial expressions, which is anger. The shot then slides down to show her snatch her coat, this could be used to show her aggression but it could also be used to show that she is still a teenager and the action of ‘snatching’ is quite childish. The shot then goes to a wise-shot which shows the rest of the family to be relaxed, and not bothered by her reaction, which might show that this happens a lot or that it was expected as she is a teenager. The editing transition in this scene is a cut to the parents to show their reactions which are a little shocked but not taking it seriously and not really that bothered by the situation. Another way in which the scene shows the main character to be a typical teenager, over-reacting to a situation is through the sound in the scene. There is the diegetic sound of the door being slammed. This could be used to represent the stereotype that teenagers slam doors and storm off when they are angry but it could also be used to show the conflict and tension between the two generations. There is also the non-diegetic sound that comes after the door slamming, which is upbeat and happy music to show that the scene is not serious and that the main character is just over-reacting. Another way in which the stereotypical teenager is shown is through the dialogue in the scene. “Well why don’t I just leave now then?!” shows a typical outburst from a teenager, threatening to leave home when they don’t agree with their parents, when they over exaggerate the situation.

Another representation of teenagers in this extract is a very unique one that shows role reversal between the parents and the child (6.00-6.15). In this scene again, the main character has just been told that her step-mother is pregnant, to which her reaction is to tell them to get rid of it. The Mise-en-scene of the scene shows this role reversal between the different generations. The main character, who is a teenage girls starts a rant at the parents about pregnancy and says: “How? Why? We have to listen to endless lectures about contraception and you two can even…! You’re going to have to get rid of it”. This reaction would normally be one of a parent finding out about a teenage pregnancy, so for the teenager to be saying it to the adults shows that she is different to the stereotypical teenager, in that she is the responsible one and is almost acting as the parent in the relationship. Also in the scene, there could be a hint at role reversal by the styling of the characters. Although the teenager is in her school uniform, she is wearing it smartly and has some school badges on her uniform, maybe suggesting that she has some school achievements. However the step-mother (adult) is in a short dressing gown that most people would think inappropriate to wear around teenagers. Another way, in which the teenager is shown to be the adult in the relationship, is through shot-types. The main shot type used in this scene is a medium close-up, which shows the characters facial expressions, but also shows her arm movements which seem to be at first short and firm, to show frustration and second calm movements to show that she is trying to be logical about the situation, which again suggests that she is acting as the adult in the relationship. The other main shot type used in this scene is close up of the parents, to show their reactions, which seem to be confused and a little shocked, but the shot also shows the woman to be sitting on the man’s lap, which seems a bit like something teenagers/young people would do, enforcing the idea of role-reversal between the generations.

In conclusion, the extract uses many different editing techniques, sounds, camera shots and different Mise-en-scene, such as door slamming and costumes, to create different representations of teenagers, whether they are stereotypical or not.

Sound Glossary

Non-diegetic sound - Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action:

• Narrator's commetry
• Sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• Mood music

Diegetic sound - Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present in the action:

• Voices of characters
• sounds made by the objects in the story
• Music represented to be comeing from the instruments in the story

Soundtrack - A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundtrack

Theme tune - Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_music

Incidental music - Music composed to accompany the action or dialogue of a drama or to fill intervals between scenes or acts

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dialogue

Sound effects (FX) - An imitative sound, as of thunder or an explosion, produced artificially for theatrical purposes, as for a film, play, or radio programme

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sound+effect

Ambient sound - Ambient sound or ambient audio means the background sounds which are present in a scene or location

Dialogue - Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dialogue

Voice-over - The voice of an unseen narrator, or of an onscreen character not seen speaking, in a movie or a television broadcast

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dialogue

Pitch for my own TV drama!

If I were to make my own TV programme, it would be a Crime Drama.


The basic plot line would be:

• Set in the East End of London in 2012
• Family consisting of a father(56), mother(53), a son (27) and a daughter (23)
• Father is the ring-leader of a gang, that has been 'wanted' for over 30 years, after a series of burglaries, drug crimes, murders and blackmail
• Son has never been interested in the 'gang life' much to the disappointment and annoyance of his father, who wanted him to carry on the family business
• Been a recent murder and the gang is the main suspects
• Son is a detective inspector and has been put on the case, aware that his father is responsible
• Son refuses to risk job to protect his father
• Mother and daughter know about the situation, but are forced, by father, to disown the son
• Son is forced, in court to give evidence against his father

The TV drama will be set in a court room. There will be flash backs of events leading up to this scene, including crimes that the father and his gang have committed, family life from a young age  and present day interactions between the family (mother and daughter with the son, now the father is being held in prison awaiting trial).

The father will be played by: Ray Winstone

The mother will be played by: Amanda Redman

The son will be played by: Iwan Rheon

The daughter will be played by: Hannah Murray

Iwan Rheon

Ray Winestone

What roles or jobs are there in TV drama?

There are many roles/jobs that need to be fulfilled to produce a TV drama, here are a few of them:

Director - This is the person who takes responsibility for all creative, visual and sound aspects of the production. They are also responsible for the positioning of camera, lighting, microphones, props as well as actors and staff members. They are expected to call out commands and maintain order within the production team.

Producer - The producer deals with all the practical and political aspects of keeping a project running smoothly, so that the director and the rest of the team can concentrate on the creative aspects.  They are involved in every stage of the television programme overseeing the project from start to finish, both in the studio and on location.

Script Writer - Writers are involved in the creation and development of  fiction and non-fiction scripts.

Runner - There is no single job description as runners act as general assistants and undertake whatever basic tasks are required to ensure the smooth running of the production process. Runners’ general responsibilities include tea making, transporting scripts and hire equipment, taking messages, looking after guests and getting everything in place for shoots. The most junior member of the production team.

Actor - This usually involves interpreting the work of a writer under the instruction and support of a director, although some work may require the actor to devise a character or improvise the reactions of a character to a situation.

Glossary of TV Drama Terminology

Pull Focus:A filming technique whereby the focal point (the centre of interest or activity) is drawn towards the viewer

Tilt Down/Up:A vertical camera movement

Pan: Camera stops following your leader and pan in the specified direction

Story:A sequence of events, known currently as the plot

Narrative:The way those events are put together to be presented to and audience.

Technical Codes:All the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text

Open Text:Allows multiple or mediated interpretation by the readers

Closed Text: Content is arranged so only a limited number of interpretations are possible by the readers/audience

Mise-en scene:Arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a scene is enacted (props, styling, lighting, set design)

Extreme Wide Shot:The view is so far from the subject that it isn't even visible.

Very Wide shot: the subject if visible (barley), but the emphasis is still on placing it in his environment

Wide Shot: the subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible

Mid Shot: Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving am impression of the whole subject

Medium Close Up: Halfway between a mid shot and a close up

Close Up:A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame

Extreme Close Up: Gets right in and shows the subject in extreme detail

Cut-In:Shows a different part of the subject in detail

Cutaway:A shot of something other than the subject

Two-Shot:A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot

Over-the-Shoulder Shot:Looking from behind a person at the subject

Noddy Shot:Usually refers to a shot of the interviewer listening and reacting to the subject

Point-of-View Shot:Shows a view from the subject's perspective

Weather Shot:The subject is the weather.

Representation of Social Groups

How are Social Groups represented or challenged in this clip?

Clip: Eastenders (8:51-9:02)

          The stereotype represented in this Eastenders clip is that Asian parents are very harsh on their children about their education and career choices.

            The stereotype is very much enforced in this clip. One way in which the director shows this stereotype is through camera angles. During the confrontation between Zainab (mother) and Tamwar (son), they start off with a mid-close up of Tamwar. They used this to show his facial expressions and to emphasize that he is angry and annoyed. The director then did the same with Zainab to emphasize her frustration.

         Another shot type used is a two shot. This shot is used to show the proximity of the character and also to show the audience how they interact  and also to show their body language towards each other.

         Another way they show the character's feeling towards each other is using camera angles. During the scene, both characters are filmed in mid-close up. When Tamwar is being filmed using this shot type, the camera is tilted slightly down, however when Zainab is being filmed using this shot, the camera is tilted slightly upwards. This is to highlight the fact that in their situation, the mother is supposed to be superior to the child.

        One more way in which the director shows the child to be inferior to the parent is using props. Throughout the scene, Tamwar is always sat on a chair, and Zainab is standing. This is to enforce the idea that the mother is in charge, and to belittle Tamwar, even though he is an adult himself. The chair does this by literally putting Zainab at a higher level so she is looking down on him.

Scheduling

The scheduling of different types of TV shows can vary a lot, however if you pay attention, you will notice there are patterns that emerge and a lot of thought that goes into the timings of certain TV programmes.

• One example, is that soaps such as Hollyoaks and EastEnders which are both half an hour in length, are on either most or all week nights. Soaps mostly start from about half 6-8ish. They are on at this time so that people can get into the routine of coming home from work, relaxing and watching a soap.
• Another example of a pattern that emerges in scheduling is with one episode documentaries. Most of these are on for one hour and are normally on a week night (a lot of the time Tuesdays) and are normally on at 9pm. 
• Another example of clever scheduling is reality shows, such as X Factor and Dancing on Ice. These types of shows are on at the weekends. This is because their target audiences, mostly females aged from about 14+ have weekends off, and therefore get more viewers.

My 2nd First Blog!

This is my first blog on my second media blog.This blog will be all about TV drama! The first thing i will do on this blog is research trypes of TV drama.

Soaps


Skins Series 3

• Eastenders
• Hollyoaks
• Coronation Street

Teenage Melodrama

• Skins
• Waterloo Road
• Misfits?

Downton Abbey

Sitcoms

• Scrubs
• The inbetweeners
• Friends

Period Drama

• Downton Abbey
• Parade's End
• Life on mars?

Sci-fi

• Doctor Who
• Torchwood
• Smallville

Smallville

Crime

• Sherlock
• Ashes to Ashes
• Good cop