communication is a symbolic process using symbols with shared meaning to exchange ideas and...
TRANSCRIPT
Communication
Is a symbolic process using symbols with SHARED MEANING to exchange ideas and information.
MASS COMMUNICATION-(in general) requires symbols that can be relevant to a mass audience that is:
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Widely Diffused
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Widely Diffused
Easily Distracted
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Widely Diffused
Easily Distracted
Increasing Fragmented
Media Criticism Com 327
Mass Communication defined
Media Criticism Com 327
Mass Communication defined
Mass communication occurs when a small number of people send messages to a large anonymous and usually heterogeneous audience through the use of specialized communication media.
Media Criticism Com 327
Mass Communication defined
The units of analysis for mass communication are the messages, the mediums, and the audience.
Media Criticism
Understanding the MESSAGE
Teleliteracy
Visual literacy
TV Programs and their styles
Media Criticism
Understanding the AUDIENCE
Identification/Classification
Consumption
Measurement
Media Criticism
Understanding the MEDIUM (Television)
Transmission
Reception
History
Television viewing appears to be effortless. To some extent it is, but it requires a set of skills referred to as “Teleliteracy” and
“Visual Literacty”
THE MESSAGE
Teleliteracy
The understanding of visual and aural production techniques not available in human perception and not a part of our physiological and psychological repertoire
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Time Manipulation
-Flashback, time leaps,dreams sequences,time lags.
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Time Manipulation
Extreme perspectives
-extreme zooms, aerial views, fast/slo mo,
replays
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Time Manipulation
Extreme perspectives
Audio tracks
-laugh tracks, mood music, voice overs, transistions
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema verite(Pictorial storytelling)Time ManipulationExtreme perspectivesAudio tracksSegmentation/discontinuity
-scene to scene, show to show, episode to episode to episode
Acquired knowledge
Repeated exposure
Assimilation (making sense of collective whole)
Suspension of disbelief
Cognitive Complacency
THE MESSAGE
VISUAL LITERACY
The Physiological & Psychological skill necessary to visual scan, mentally perceive & understand the outside world
or
The application of real world perceptual abilities to TV’s 2 dimensional world
THE MESSAGE
VISUAL LITERACY
Acquired and mastered through social experience & Interaction
Applicable to TV Presentation/storytelling that replicate real world experience ( Verisimilitude-appears real)
DimensionLife is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
DimensionLife is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity- the ability to focus on an object within a wide range of vision, giving it clarity=Camera lens
DimensionLife is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax – Understanding that closer objects move “faster” within field of vision. (TV is flat.. No “distance” just illusion of it.
DimensionLife is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax
Occlusion – Closer=bigger, capable of blocking sight of further objects
DimensionLife is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax
Occlusion
Paraproxemics- Closeness = intimacy
Distance, camera angles=power, Dutch angle=something is wrong batman.
“The Graduate” “Push Nevada”
DimensionLife is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax
Occlusion
Paraproxemics
Perceptual continuity-Point of sight, we tend to focus on objects of importance, dominance, attention ie phone ring,
DimensionLife is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular DisparityMotion ParallaxOcclusionParaproxemicsPerceptual continuity
EXPERIENCING THESE IN THE REAL WORLD ALLOWS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THESE ON TV
Easy transference..Mr Rodgers, West Wing
Motion…Head/eyes replaced by the
Camera/lensPan/tilt
Dolly
trucking
Zoom
Crane
Wire camera’s – Sports applications
HOW do we make TV?
How do we make TV?
By pulling from symbols that reflect both internal reality and external reality& creating an interaction of the two.
A balance of part fantasy/part reality
Reality breakdown
Internal reality
-artistic expression
-creative enterprise
-existing technology
-storytelling devices
-budget
External reality
-The human conditions we share
-The times in history we share
Reality breakdown
Internal reality
-narrative structure
-plot convention
-time frames-length
-dramatic formal
-Institutional constraints-fines
External reality
-societal norms
-legal system
-cultural values
-rites and rituals
-fads and fashions
TV PROGRAMS
NON-NARRATIVE NARRATIVE
TV PROGRAMS
NON-NARRATIVE
-non-scripted stories
-social actors
-directly address/ acknowledge audience
-cheap to produce
NARRATIVE
TV PROGRAMS
NON-NARRATIVE
-non-scripted stories
-social actors
-directly address/ acknowledge audience
-cheap to produce
NARRATIVE
-scripted story
-episodic
-actors-recurring cast
Genre/Types of programs
NON-NARRATIVE NARRATIVE
Genre/Types of programs
NON-NARRATIVE
-talk shows
-game shows
-sports
-reality
NARRATIVE
Genre/Types of programs
NON-NARRATIVE
-talk shows
-game shows
-sports
-reality
NARRATIVE
Comedy
-cartoons
-Seinfeld
Drama
-soap
-family
-SCI-FI
Genre Evolution
Caused by Audience expectations due to sophistication/boredom/competition
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from old medium
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from old medium
Classical – Matured and firmly established rules
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from old mediumClassical – Matured and firmly established rulesRevisionist – experimentation, bending or breaking of rules (genre bending) ie
“firefly” sci-fi-western, “Mary Hartman” comedy-soap
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from old mediumClassical – Matured and firmly established rulesRevisionist – experimentation, bending or breaking of rules (Genre Bending)Paradic – makes fun of firmly established rules
Genre Evolution Examples
SITCOM
“I love Lucy”
“Father knows Best”
“Roseanne”
“Married….with children”
Genre Evolution Examples
Western
“Lone Ranger”
“Gunsmoke”
“Wild, Wild West”
“F-Troop”
Genre Evolution Examples
Comedy/Variety
“Your Show of Shows”
“Carole Burnett Show”
“SNL”
“Dana Carvey Taco Bell hour”
Genre Evolution Examples
Reality
“Candid Camera”
“Cops”
“Survivor”
“Joe Schmoe”
TV Programs are unique commodities
Immaterial No Physical properties of ownership
TV Programs are unique commodities
Immaterial
Novel
No Physical properties of ownership
One time event
TV Programs are unique commodities
Immaterial
Novel
Nonexclusive
No Physical properties of ownership
One time event
FREE for all
TV Programs are unique commodities
Immaterial
Novel
Nonexclusive
Near-zero Marginal cost
No Physical properties of ownership
One time event
FREE for All
TV Programs are unique commodities
Immaterial
NovelNonexclusiveNear-zero Marginal costRapid Product InnovationShort Shelf life
No Physical properties of ownershipOne time eventFREE for AllValue diminishes if not ever changingOdds for failure are great
Television in particular requires that the audience:
Return week after week
Season after season
Same time, same channel
TV Programs audience
Consumer Consumed
TV Programs audience
Consumer
Target audience
Voluntary
Communal, yet isolated
Selective, yet uncritical
Delivered programs
Consumed
TV Programs audience
Consumer
Target audience
Voluntary
Communal, yet isolated
Selective, yet uncritical
Delivered programs
Consumed
Target manipulated
Demographic 18-49
Delivered to advertisers
