Assessment Monday

Section A: How do the characters and events fit the action adventure genre?

Section B: How do TV comedy programmes offer audience pleasures?

25 Minutes

15 Minutes

SECTION AREVISIONQUESTION 1:

Characters• Strong protagonist

(usually male)• Antagonist

• Love interest• Powerful villain (usually

foreign)• Underdog hero

Events• Fight Sequences

• Ticking-clock scenario• Chase sequences

• Explosions• Stunts

• Dangerous setting• Exotic setting

Mention if they include any of the following…

Remember to briefly comment on the effect and

use examples from the clip.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION• Clearly state two genre conventions

and elaborate• Explain the effect of the conventions• Support the points you make with

examples from the text• Use terminology (Antagonist,

Protagonist, Genre, Convention, Iconography)

ExampleThe characters in the extract fit the action adventure genre because there is a male hero who is represents good as he saves another character. He is also stereotypically masculine, brave, skilled and intelligent which he shows as he fights the villain on top of the moving train. Furthermore, the villain is…Finally, the female is stereotypical because…TOP MARKS: Refer to Propp’s Character Theory

The events in the extract are stereotypical because there is a chase scene on the top of a train which involves dangerous stunts, setting and fighting (good vs evil). Also the use of special effects and dangerous props are used which is also stereotypical. TOP MARKS: Refer to Todorov’s Narrative Theory

AUDIENCE PLEASURESRESPONSE WRITINGLO: TO WRITE A RESPONSE BASED ON AUDIENCE PLEASURES.

AUDIENCE PLEASURES• Regular timeslot

• The narrative and problems are always resolved at the end of the programme

• Intertextuality

• Use of celebrities

• Different types of humour

• Relatable characters and situations (so we can also laugh at ourselves/friends)

• Audience escapism

• Audience feels superior to characters as they never learn from their mistakes.

• Easy to watch (30 minutes long and self-contained episodes mean audience can ‘dip’ in and out of series).

• Pleasure gained from resolution at the end of episode

• Social and family issues often used (audience can relate to)

• Themes are easy for audience to understand

• Warm mode of address - everyone can watch and enjoy.

• Familiarity (e.g. Catchphrases)

• Predictability – For example: audiences know character well and know how they will react.

• New variations of the genre create interest

The Simpsons Room 101

RESPONSE PLAN

Overview: Overview of programme / Specify episode

Paragraph 1: Scheduling / Episode Expectations

Paragraph 2: StoriesParagraph 3: Characters

Paragraph 4: Other

EXAMPLEIn order to discuss audience pleasures I will refer to two case studies. The first case study is The Simpsons which… Regarding audience pleasures audiences gain pleasure from the fact that…The storylines also play an important role as…Characters are important too as…Finally, other pleasures involve….

AUDIENCE PLEASURES• Regular timeslot

• The narrative and problems are always resolved at the end of the programme

• Intertextuality

• Use of celebrities

• Different types of humour

• Relatable characters and situations (so we can also laugh at ourselves/friends)

• Audience escapism

• Audience feels superior to characters as they never learn from their mistakes.

• Easy to watch (30 minutes long and self-contained episodes mean audience can ‘dip’ in and out of series).

• Pleasure gained from resolution at the end of episode

• Social and family issues often used (audience can relate to)

• Themes are easy for audience to understand

• Warm mode of address - everyone can watch and enjoy.

• Familiarity (e.g. Catchphrases)

• Predictability – For example: audiences know character well and know how they will react.

• New variations of the genre create interest

Go through the sheet and highlight where you see reference to

an audience pleasure.

AUDIENCE PLEASURES RESPONSE: EXCELLENTComedy programmes offer stereotypical audience pleasures as they will be entertaining and offer escapism and with the help of two case studies: The Simpsons (Pranksta Rap) and Room 101 (Episode) these will be explained.The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom, now in its 28th season, which is scheduled to be shown at 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday on Channel 4 (amongst other channels). The scheduling and running time are pleasures as it is easy to watch, always on at the same time and audiences can dip in and each episode has its own story.The stories in The Simpsons appeal to audiences because the themes are easy to understand, narrative problems are resolved and because they are relatable often be based on social/family issues. For example in ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart (the son in the family) disobeys his parents by going to a concert, going missing however eventually returns home to safety. The show also offers intertextuality as it references American rap culture throughout. The characters in The Simpsons also appeal to audiences because they will be familiar, predictable and are often relatable to family life. For example in ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart’s misbehaviour is stereotypical and the way different members of his family react is also predictable too. Audiences will also gain pleasure from feeling superior to characters and the way they behave, such as Homer getting stuck in the dog flap, and the use of celebrities such as 50 Cent in ‘Pranksta Rap’.My second case study is Room 101 which is a comedy chat show where guests discuss their pet hates and try to have them consigned into oblivion. I will refer to Series 6 Episode 4 which is scheduled on BBC 2 on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. which has the same scheduling advantages as The Simpsons.Regarding audience pleasures the programmes has a warm mode of address through its host Frank Skinner, has celebrities as guests and offers different types of humour depending who is on the show. For example episode 3 of season 6 has famous comedian Rob Beckett on who will often use adult humour that is a little controversial whilst discussing a topic. Regarding the structure of the show audiences will gain pleasure from the fact that there is a competitive element, reference to social / family issues and that there is a winner at the end. In this episode topics such as (examples) are discussed and the winner at the end is (name).To conclude there are stereotypical audience pleasures in comedy programmes and depending on the programme and its target audience these will vary however will always be essential in insuring the show’s success

AUDIENCE PLEASURES RESPONSE: GOODComedy shows involve audience pleasures as they will be entertaining and offer escapism which I will discuss using The Simpsons (Pranksta Rap) and Room 101 (Series 6 Episode 4 ).The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom shown at 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday on Channel 4. It is easy to watch, always on at the same time and audiences can dip in and out of each episode which are all audience pleasures..Audience pleasures are shown because the story themes are easy to understand, always resolved and relatable because they are based on social/family issues. In ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart disobeys his parents by going to a concert and going missing however eventually returns home to safety. The show also offers intertextuality as it is based on rap culture. Audience pleasures are also shown because characters will be familiar, predictable and are often relatable to family life. In ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart’s misbehaviour is stereotypical and audiences will also gain pleasure from feeling superior to characters, such as Homer getting stuck in the dog flap, as well as the use of celebrities such as 50 Cent’.Room 101 is a comedy chat show where guests discuss their pet hates I will refer to Series 6 Episode 4 which is scheduled on BBC 2 on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. which has the same scheduling pleasures as The Simpsons.Audience pleasures are shown as the programmes has a warm mode of, has celebrity guests and adult humour. This episode has famous comedian Joe Lycectt on who will often use adult humour that is a little rude at times. Audience pleasures are also shown because there is a competitive element, social / family issues are discussed and because there is a winner at the end.To conclude there are stereotypical audience pleasures in comedy programmes and depending on the programme and its target audience these will be vary but will be needed to ensure success.

AUDIENCE PLEASURES RESPONSE: GOODComedy shows involve audience pleasures as they will be entertaining and offer escapism which I will discuss using The Simpsons (Pranksta Rap) and Room 101 (Series 6 Episode 4 ).The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom shown at 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday on Channel 4. It is easy to watch, always on at the same time and audiences can dip in and out of each episode which are all audience pleasures..Audience pleasures are shown because the story themes are easy to understand, always resolved and relatable because they are based on social/family issues. In ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart disobeys his parents by going to a concert and going missing however eventually returns home to safety. The show also offers intertextuality as it is based on rap culture. Audience pleasures are also shown because characters will be familiar, predictable and are often relatable to family life. In ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart’s misbehaviour is stereotypical and audiences will also gain pleasure from feeling superior to characters, such as Homer getting stuck in the dog flap, as well as the use of celebrities such as 50 Cent’.Room 101 is a comedy chat show where guests discuss their pet hates I will refer to Series 6 Episode 4 which is scheduled on BBC 2 on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. which has the same scheduling pleasures as The Simpsons.Audience pleasures are shown as the programmes has a warm mode of address, has celebrity guests and adult humour. This episode has famous comedian Joe Lycectt on who will often use adult humour that is a little rude at times. Audience pleasures are also shown because there is a competitive element, social / family issues are discussed and because there is a winner at the end.To conclude there are stereotypical audience pleasures in comedy programmes and depending on the programme and its target audience these will be vary but will be needed to ensure success.

STRUCTURE1. Introduction2. Overview of The Simpsons3. Comment on stories (with examples)4. Comments on characters (with examples)5. Overview of Room 1016. Comment on guests (with examples)7. Comment on structure of the programme

(with examples)8. Summary/Conclusion

TABLEThe Simpsons Room 101

Entertaining and offer escapism Entertaining and offer escapism

easy to watch, always on at the same time and audiences can dip in and each episode

Easy to watch, always on at the same time and audiences can dip in and each episode

themes are easy to understand, narrative problems are resolved and because they are relatable often be based on social/family issues

Warm mode of address through its host Frank Skinner, has celebrities as guests and offers different types of humour

Characters will be familiar, predictable and are often relatable to family life

Celebrities as guests

Audiences feel superior to characters and the way they behave

Different types of humour

Intertextuality Competitive element, reference to social / family issues and that there is a winner