Homework

Attempt to answer question 8 on the 2015 exam paper, this post will update with an essay plan soon.

How do you answer this question?
Well I tell you?

You need to pick 2 media from this list:

1. Film
2. Music
3. Games
4. TV
5. Newspaper

You need to talk about only 2 media in your answer.

Start by introducing the question and telling me that you plan to discuss this area.  Briefly outline what media you are going to use and mention a case study you may refer to.

In the main answer you need to refer to theorists and back these up by case studies

Case studies need to have the following information:

1. Date released
2. Name of producer/artist/company
3. The reason you are talking about them
4. Sales figures/downloads/watches

You need around 2 theorists per media, try to argue them against each other or use them to back each other.  Ensure you answer the question, this question is about producers, but you will talk about audiences becoming producers.

Use terminology:

1. web 2.0
2. synergy
3. convergence
4. prosumer
5. consumption
6. wikinomics

Conclude you findings and remind me what you have discussed and talk about what may happen in the future.

Your answer must also refer to past, present and future.

Deadline: 8/01/2018

Andrew Keen

he has his own website

Micheal Burns

The future of film distribution



How does Michael Burns the future of film distribution?

Homework

Complete Question 1A in the 2015 paper

Opening paragraphs

For my AS coursework I created Thriller film opening in which the protagonist finds out that his friend has been kidnapped.  Before I started the main task I attempted a short continuity task that involved working within the conventions of film making to that my sequence made visual sense.  The conventions I needed to follow included working within the confines of the 180 degree rule, the 45 degree rule and using match on action correctly so that action doesn't happen twice in the video...  

Participatory Culture

Objectives

• to define participation culture
• to find examples of participation culture in the making of media products of your choice

Both Jeff and David talk about forms of participation.  Jeff Howe illustrates how crowd sourcing and crowd funding works, this also about participation.

Jeff offers the idea that the internet has enabled people to create content that can be used by big companies.  Take istockphoto for example, this website exists to sell content to magazines, newspapers and moving image to film producers, the content is made by professionals and amateurs like you and me.  The high supply of content available has lowered to price of content and has made it less lucrative for professionals to work in this area.  Jeff states that 3things have led to this phenomena:

1. cheap digital camera with high specs
2. cheaper and easier to use software like photoshop
3. the internet

Task

Using your notes made from these videos, think of any examples you can where a media product has been created by participation culture, collaboration or crowd souring.

here are some examples, the first test is picking one that is no older than 5 years old. Have a look and pick one that is not older than this.

• The cosmonaut
• life in a day
• Iron Sky
• Collapsus
• Prison Valley
• Lost Zombies
• Simply Silvio
• Veronica Mars Movie

Find out the following:

• who was behind the making of it?
• what was the budget?
• how was it made?
• how much has it made?
• when was it released?

MITOLA Exam Questions

8. “The impact of the internet on the media is revolutionary”. Discuss.
9. 
   
10. Discuss the extent to which the distribution and consumption of media have been transformed by the internet. 

8. “For media audiences, the internet has changed everything.” Discuss. 

An exam answer must contain the following:

• Examples - These are your case studies and should discuss a product that has been produced, maybe it is an album, film or game.  Who made it? When was it made? Why are you bringing it up (it should apply to the argument you are making).
• Media areas x2 - You need to discuss 2 media areas.  Maybe this is film and music, or games and film...
• Which theory/critics to reference- it just means whose ideas do you want to mention.  We have discussed 3 in class so far. But we will discuss many more in the future.
• Main arguments
• Past - You should mention how the media product was produced, marketed and consumed before the internet.
• Present - what happens now?
• Future - what do you think will happen in the future? What is this based on?
• terminology - convergence, synergy, wikinomics is a theory but also counts as terminology
• conclusion - what do you think about the original question and why

Task

Use the 3 theories we have studied to discuss how the impact of the internet has or has not been revolutionary.  In this discussion you should use examples to back up you arguments and talk about past, present and predict future trends.  Use as much terminology as you can and write a brief conclusion.  Use the list above to help, a grade A will address all points.

Deadline: Next Thursday's lesson

Filter bubbles

Eli Pariser’s theory of The Filter Bubble proves that the internet shows us what it thinks we want to see, not necessarily what we want to see 

We think

We Think explains how digital technologies are enabling new forms of collaborative creativity and innovation.







Task:
What is We Think and how does it apply to the real world?

• Explain what is meant be We Think, who is behind the idea and when was it created?
• Try to find a real world case study that you use in the exam to back up the idea, ensure you write down who, when, where and what happened. This can be any of the media we have discussed

Wikinomics

Exist Elsewhere

Case Study

This could be a possible case study for you to use in the exam.  Keep all your case studies safe when you can access them for revision

Basic Info (facts)

(spend 10 minutes finding out the following information)

• Who are Exit Elsewhere? 
• Are they touring? - link
• How many views has their music video (Tokyo) had on You Tube?
• How many sales has Tokyo had? 
• When was Tokyo released? 
• Have they won any awards? - link

Deeper Understanding

(Spend 10 minutes attempting to answer the following questions, the red question represents something that you'll need to be able to do in the exam, but you probably won't be able to do yet)

• How have they made their video for Tokyo?
• Why have they made their video in this way?
• What has this video done for them?
• How does this relate to the topic we are studying?
• Which theorists does this relate to?
• How is this different form making videos 10 - 20 years ago?
• What do you think could happen in the future if this trend continues?
• Do you know of any other artists trying out technology like this?
• What would be the main points that you would make if you used this case study in the exam?

Music In the Online Age

• What happened in the 90s?
• What’s happening now and what are the issues?
• What does it mean for independent labels today?
• What is curation?
• How does curation address the issues of today?
• How has music video production changed, and what has led to this change?
• How do new bands get noticed today?
• How has music video production been ‘democratised’?
• How has the internet changed the music industry?
• How has the music industry evolved?

Media in the Online Age

0. What's it all about?
   
   
• How have online media developed?
  
• What has been the impact of the internet on media production?
  
• How is consumer behaviour and audience response transformed by online media.
  
• To what extent has convergence transformed the media?
  
  Candidates might explore combinations of any two media, considering how each (or the two in converged forms) can be analysed from the above prompts. Examples might be music downloading and distribution, the film industry and the internet, online television, online gaming and virtual worlds, online news provision, various forms of online media production by the public or a range of other online / social media forms. 
  

Question 1A

Homework Exam Question for Question 1A

Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

I want to see some notes in the lesson on the 28th of September
Deadline: 28th of September

Then I want to see the completed essay on the 2nd of October
Deadline: 2nd of October

Common colour connotations in film

1. RED – anger, passion, rage, desire, excitement, energy, speed, strength, power, heat, love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence

2. PINK – love, innocence, healthy, happy, content, romantic, charming, playfulness, soft, delicate, feminine

3. YELLOW – wisdom, knowledge, relaxation, joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard

4. ORANGE – humor, energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant

5. GREEN – healing, soothing, perseverance, tenacity, self-awareness, proud, unchanging nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigour, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy

6. BLUE – faith, spirituality, contentment, loyalty, fulfillment peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, sky, water, cold, technology, depression

7. PURPLE/VIOLET – erotic, royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning, power, sensitive, intimacy

8. BROWN – materialistic, sensation, earth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity

9. BLACK – No, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger

10. WHITE – Yes, protection, love, reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical, sterile

11. SILVER – riches, glamorous, distinguished, earthy, natural, sleek, elegant, high-tech

12. GOLD – precious, riches, extravagance. warm, wealth, prosperity, grandeur

Peirce's Triadic model

Lets use James Bond to help us understand Pierces Triadic Model

Preffered Reading/dominant – This is when audiences respond to the product the way media producers want/expect them to.

Negotiated Reading – This is when a member of the audience partly agrees with part of the product .e.g Film, documentary, TV programme.

Oppositional Reading – This is when the audience are in complete disagreement with the product’s message or setting.

Understanding Roland Barthes and Myth

Objective:
Develop deeper understanding of Roland Barthes' Myth
Deconstruct a music video using Myth
Define connotation and denotation and them them in context


Another great example of Roland Barthes Myth is the 'American Dream'.  This is the idea that it doesn't matter who you are, you have just as many opportunities to a successful career as everyone else.



Some media texts enforce Myth:

Some contemporary films highlight and challenge the Myth:

Task - look at a music video you are analysing for G324, consider how Roland Barthes might deconstruct this music video using the concepts of denotation and connotations.  Pick one element to talk about in class; this could be a prop, setting costume, an editing technique or camera angle. You should also take a few moments to consider how there could be any Myth created in this video and what elements contribute to this.  Make some notes on bullet form in your book, you have 5 minutes.

Articles on Media Language - further reading

Semiotics

Semiotics for beginers

Peirce

Film Language

language

Media Language

Objective:

• List theorists associated with media language
• Use semiotics in relation to your Thriller opening

Task:
Thriller: short Semiotic analysis

Analyse your thriller opening using what you have learnt during this and other lessons. Specifically, pick a sign within your thriller and deconstruct it:

• What is the sign?
• What is the signifier?
• What does it signify?
• How does this add meaning for the viewer?
• Are their other signs?

Extension:

Pick an element in your thriller opening, it can be a camera movement, cut, lighting, prop, costume etc. What can you say about it's denotations and connotations within the scene?

Deadline: end of the lesson, up to half a side.

Open and Closed Narrative

Task: Write a side of A4 that discusses how closely Pulp Fiction aligns with an open or closed narrative.

Film and Media Theorists

Here is a handy list of theorists for G325 that includes: Narrative, Genre, Audience and Representation.
Link to doc is HERE. There is also a link on the right hand side of the blog.

Representation theory

Genre theory

Audience theory

Narrative Theory

Key Terms 4 5 6

Key Terms 1,2 & 3

G325 Revision