Sunday 20 October 2013

research and critical theory: media Audiences

date 23rd Oct 2013
Challenge:  understanding audience theory
Starter:  10  minutes:
Starter task: starter challenge: explain these audience terms
Active
Passive
Traditional
Hedonist
Post-modernist

Main lesson focus:
defining audience – starting with  Pete Buckingham article/ new audience groupings
Activities
1.    Analyse the following terms and discuss until there is genuine understanding
a.    Preferred
b.    Oppositional
c.    Negotiated
d.    Two-step flow
e.    Distribution processes  & exhibition
 (audience powerpoint/theory powerpoint)

Extension/ Improving grade
Try to explore audience  other theories / theorists such as the hypodermic syringe effect

Homework
Upload learning to your blog in a suitable format chosen by you title
Add links that are relevant

Assessment & understanding focus covered:
  • Media Languages, Forms & Conventions
  • Media Institutions Introduction
  •  Media audiences
  • Media representations


research and critical theory: understanding narrative theory

Media Studies AS                          date 21st Oct 2013
Challengeunderstanding narrative theory as linked to genre
Starter:  10  minutes:
Starter task: 10 minutes - what is the difference between niche and mainstream – define / example / discuss – add comment onto blog

Main lesson focus:  challenge: understanding narrative theory as linked to genre

Activities
1.    Starter challenge
For each of the next activities we will read the outline of their critical theories and try to apply to specific films
2.    Introducing Propp: characters as function / actions as function
3.    Introducin Todorov – Equilibrium & disequilibrium
4.    Introducin Levi Strauss
5.    poweroint and media codes pp

HOMEWORK: present research and findings as a powerpoint.  – link to  specific media texts


Extension/ Improving grade
Try to explore narrative other theories / theorists such as Branigan or Cameron 

homework
Upload learning to your blog in a suitable format chosen by you title

Assessment & understanding focus covered:
   Media Languages, Forms & Conventions
   Media Institutions Introduction
    Media audiences

  Media representations






Tuesday 15 October 2013

research: introducing Genre theory

Media Studies AS                          date 16th Oct 2013
Challenge:  developing a high level UNDERSTANDING  of GENRE & HYBRID GENRES
Starter:  10  minutes:
Starter task: define the term Genre and identify7 different film genres – make a list on paper

Main lesson focus: introducing audience / industry and institution linked to GENRE

Activities
1.    Starter challenge
2.    Whiteboard session / identify a number of genres: at least one per student
3.    Consider the impact of genre on
a.    Audience
b.    Industry
c.    institution
4.    Identify hybrid-genres – discuss why they evolve – make notes

Extension/ Improving grade
Try to present in an interactive way
Define genre as it applys to Film Noir

homework
Upload learning to your blog in a suitable format chosen by you title – research Genre in Film.
Ensure that you have defined the Film Noir Genre on your blog
Assessment & understanding focus covered:
   Media Languages, Forms & Conventions
   Media Institutions Introduction
   Media audiences
Media representations



or this site is interesting


http://www.suspense-movies.com/

Sunday 13 October 2013

research and planning: understanding representation challenge 2 and challenge 3

Introducing: Challenge 2: creating still images using film noir styles
Use the Film Noire definition pages I gave you AND the images below as a start point
Quote: Film Noir is
 “a new cinematic technique that made use of dark or dim lighting effects, dreary settings, filtered lights and generally dark themes and characterizations. Noir scenes are made from interesting camera angles and with dramatic close-ups and shadowed lighting. Frequently the stories use of smoke-filled rooms, views of light filtered through venetian blinds, seedy downtown areas with neon lights, dark wet streets to heighten the noir effect. “
Sources
Q:\Art & Media Faculty\media\KS5\AS\MAIN PRODUCTION UNIT FILM NOIR\genre style and links\FilmNoirIllustrations_files
Q:\Art & Media Faculty\media\KS5\AS\MAIN PRODUCTION UNIT FILM NOIR\genre style and links

Activity:
Representation is about combining images, styles and symbols to creative meaning for an audience. Film makers do this through actors, lighting props, locations, pose and expression.

Your challenge is to stage, create and capture a variety of still images that evoke the Film Noir era.

The main task using cameras to create moody, melodramatic portraits in a film noire style – you can work in the studio or around the school

Use the majority of this afternoon to experiment with lighting, pose and props.

P5 we are in WG11 where we have the studio and the darkroom as well as the main classroom

Try to capture at least 30 images (but the differences can be subtle – variations in expression / camera angles etc)

I will be there all p5

By 3.10 you need to be uploading your images into your file so that we can add them to a PowerPoint and into your blogs

Please remember that this is supposed to be a fun task: try to enjoy it

HY 08/10/13

Media Studies 12AS October 14th 2013
Introducing: Challenge 3: showing understanding of representation using comparing existing stills/ / photographs with created still images that use film noir styles

Activity:
Representation is about combining images, styles and symbols to creative meaning for an audience. Film makers do this through actors, lighting props, locations, pose and expression.
Your challenge was to stage, create and capture a variety of still images that evoke the Film Noir era.

Starter:  discussion and examples of editing techniques
Print contact sheets and choose the most suitable images – limit to 20
Find the support sheets in Q>arts and media>photography>technical support>photoshop

Main Task:  creating representations create moody, melodramatic portraits in a film noire style
Upload images to photoshop
Edit simply – use adjustments such as saturation, exposure and curves plus simple crop methods
Try to create a range of images that are effective representations of
o  Male
Hero (Protagonist)
Villain (Antagonist)
Antihero (Transforms form the Antagonist to the Protagonist)
Sidekick (Police/ Moral Majority)
Extras (Side plots/Workers/Crowds)
Female
Femme Fatale - Sexuality, Danger, Risk, Antagonist, Forbidden.
Girl Next door (Redemptive Woman) - Salvation, Honour, Sacrifice, Courage, Redemption

Create a post in your blog where you effectively compare and contrast your own work against representations from existing Film Noir texts

Outcome and deadline

You must have the evidence added to a post by the next lesson on Wednesday this week.

Next session . The next lesson will be a theory lesson all about genre – please bring notebook and pen