nikki blackborow activities
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Can you read the signs?
1. Identify each sign. What does it stand for?
2. Does it have more than one meaning?
3. Is it symbolic or indexical?
4. Which groups will be able to read it?
5. Which groups may NOT be able to read it?
6. Which groups will have the deepest understanding of the sign?
Discuss your thoughts on this briefly in your answer.
7. Has it been affected by time? If so, in what way? If not, why not
Extension: Are any of these metonyms or contiguous?
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
H20
13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24
Denotation & Connotation Denotation The ‘literal’ meaning of something, an image or idea. It is, in a way, the “dictionary” definition. Connotation The extra added meanings that we attach to images, objects and ideas that are not ‘literal’ but based on our experience, culture, age, gender etc. They are often shared within groups e.g. people of a similar age, people from a particular religion or country. Examples These pairs roughly denote the same thing but have different connotations Cat/Moggy Prostitute/Whore Nanny/Au Pair Connotation are usually
Shared Similar Influenced by each other, the media and personal experience
They are often understood and shared by groups. These groups can be based on many things, including; Race Age Geography/Where we live Gender Occupation Sometimes when reading a text, a person may read the text differently than was perhaps expected by the text’s producers – this is sometimes a partial acceptance of the ‘intended’ meaning and sometimes a complete rejection of it. These are called negotiated and aberrant readings respectively.
READING A FILM STILL Some initial questions…
1. What type of film is this from? How do you know?
2. Who do you think this film is aimed at? Why do you
think that?
3. Is this a real or fictional text? How do you know?
4. What do you think has happened immediately before
this moment? Why?
5. What do you think is going to happen next? Why?
6. What is the relationship between the characters?
Why do you think this?
7. Are there any relevant props or other elements in
focus in the frame that are important? Why?
In Media Studies you must get used to going beyond just describing
what you see. Everything in a frame is there for a reason: someone
purposefully put it there and so we must try to deduce why. This
action of placing things in a frame (for example on a film set) for a
reason makes them what we call MOTIVATED.
When writing about any still or extract of a text, you must always
say WHAT the effect is and WHY you think it is there. You should
always give alternatives if possible (or plausible) e.g. “it could
mean…” “it could have the effect…
The Beano & Narrative
WHAT DOES GENRE MEAN?
A set of characteristics/ formula recognised by audiences over time e.g. iconography, narrative, Mise‐en‐scene and representation
Not static but constantly renegotiated between industry and audience – a combination of the familiar and the unexpected
Meeting audience expectations equals pleasure
At an ideological level, genres offer comforting reassurance and a closing down of the complexities of life
Films function like language – offering a set of rules and a vocabulary with which to organise meaning
Provide a relationship between audiences and producers which minimises the risk of financial failure
Genre films work through important cultural myths and fears by repetition, innovation and resolution
Using the A3 sheet story of the Bash Street Kids, do the following;
1. Read through the story 2. Plot out how the story is told 3. Re-write the story in three different ways, one using a
different point of view, one using montage and one using a flashback
4. Thinking about Levi-Strauss – what oppositions are there in the story?
5. In what ways is ellipsis used in TWO of the story versions you created in number 3? How is it different?
6. Look at the following theories – what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of each? What bits are ‘good’ or useful from each and which ‘bad’ or not useful?
NARRATIVE THEORY -Is it any use? COPY THIS ONTO A4 PAPER and complete THEORIST Advantages/strengths Disdvantages/weaknesses PROPP
BARTHES
LEVI-STRAUSS
VOGLER
SHOT SEQUENCE ANALYSIS (2) NOTES….
From “Pretty Woman”
From “Pretty Woman”
From “Pretty Woman”
Make notes about each image. ALSO, think about how the images work as a sequence. How do we read the images? What are the key differences? What is being indicated?
Reflections on shots
1. How similar were your actual photos for the thriller shoot in comparison to your planned drawings?
2. What did you actually do to achieve your shot?
3. Identify what works really well in your chosen still
4. Identify what could be improved upon, or what didn’t work in the shots you
rejected
5. Write up a short analysis of your shot, focussing on camera, character, and mise-en-scene
6. When you go out shooting again, what techniques or tips would you like to
practice or improve on?
7. What have you learnt from these sessions?
Extra question: Has your work in Photoshop enhanced your shot? If so, what did you do and what effect has this had?
Shot types activity Group Names:
Shot No:
Shot Type Director Actor(s) PA Success?!
1
ECU
2
BCU
3
CU
4
MCU
5
MS
6
MLS
7
LS
8
VLS/Wide
9
2 SHOT
10
OTS
11
HIGH ANGLE
12
LOW ANGLE
13
TILTED FRAME
Camera movement activity Group:
Shot No:
Camera movement
Does it work? Why/ why not?
1
Forward track
2
Reverse track
3
Pan
4
Whip pan
5
Tilt
6
Canted angle/ Dutch tilt
7
Crab
8
Arc
9
Hand held
10
Steadicam
Opening Sequences
Narrative functions
• To introduce character • Establish narrative structure • Captivate audience/interest • Establish core themes • Introduce core iconography • Establishes audience expectation through use of
generic conventions • Establish sense of enigma
Narrative conventions:
• Predominance of action codes • Significance of soundtrack – establishing mood • Use of titles as credits/ event signifiers • Pace