Friday 30 September 2011

Narrative Theories and Examples

Narrative Theories and ExamplesIncluding: Todorov, Barthes, Straus, and Propp's theories of narrative. And these theories applied to Pixar short film 'Knick Knack'

View more presentations from SianLynes

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Editing

Sound Analysis: Apocolypse Now

Diegetic Sound (00:00-00:15)
Diegetic Sound is used at the beginning of this scene as the propellers on the helicopter make a distintive chopping sound and the helicopters are in clear shot of the scene. This helps the audience be aware of the setting of the scene as well as what is happening; that the soldiers are boarding the helicopter and will soon take flight. The sound of the properllers also adds a sense of three dimension to the audience thus adding more realism to the scene.

Parallel Sound and Non-Diegetic sound (03:50-04:00)
Patriotic and victorious music is used in the part of the film to show that the soldiers are ready to fight and drop bombs and do their mission which they have been set out to complete. It also ties in with the happy emotions of one helicopter pilot who smiles; this parallel in music and emotions portrays to the audience that the character's emotions are high and are content at what they are about to do. Interestingly, this can also be considered as non-diegetic sound as the background music is clearly not playing whilst the soldiers are fighting and has been edited in later; it helps emit the mood of the character.

Sound bridges (13:36-13:40)
A sound bridge is clear hear when the radio style voice from an army jet is set into the previous sequence on ground before transitioning. This alerts the audience that the scene is about to change; also the audio can be continuous and is not abruptly interrupted by an unexpected change in scene.

Contrapuntal Sound (08:00-08:30)
Contrapuntal sound is used here when the soldiers are landing into attack. However the music is an orchestral piece and is more empowering/cheerful piece. Conclusively, this is contrapuntal as the music should not fit particularly with the scene itself as the soldiers are going into what will be a bloody battle (thus not being a positive thing). 


Different types of sound and their effects

Sunday 25 September 2011

Glossary

Production: The concept of the film is developed from an idea, to script, to filming and editing.

Marketing: Publicity for the film in all countries to release to create interest hype in the lead up to theatrical release.

Distribution: Supplying the product/film to cinemas in hardware/software

Exhibition: The showing of the film to audiences.

Denotation: The literal or primary meaning of a word

Connotation: The underlying/hidden meaning

High production values: A film has a higher budget and typically a better quality of outcome
Blockbuster: A movie that has great commercial success
Above-the-line: The delegation of money before a film has been shot. E.g. Cast, Producer, Director
Below-the-line: The physical production costs of the shoot. E.g. Extras, Location, Food, Equipment
Media conglomerate: A media group or institution that owns large numbers of companies in various mass media. E.g. TV, Films, Internet
Subsidiary company: A company controlled by a separate higher entity.
Narrative: A chain of event in a cause and effect relationship which occurs in a time and space.
Narrative Modes (2 types):
Narrative of events: A more physical unravelling of plot has taken place e.g. a shoot out/explosion
Narrative of drama: Unravelling of plot has taken place by argument/conversation e.g. a truth has been revealed by a tense argument thus having a more dramatic appeal.  
Barthes’ Narrative theory: Suggested that texts are either ‘open’ or ‘closed’ and had five codes which are woven into any narrative e.g. The Enigma Code which portrays a mystery to draw the audience in
Todorov’s Narrative theory: Stories begin with an equilibrium which is disturbed by opposing forces and later restored to a new equilibrium
Propp’s Narrative theory: That narrative has 8 specific character roles and 31 narrative functions e.g. A hero
Straus’ Narrative theory: That narrative has binary oppositions and reveals the structure of the text e.g. good vs. evil
Plot: Events that take place either in film/books etc. and how they are organised and represented.
Story: Describes the whole set of events in a narrative that is brought to the plot in order to make sense of it.
Temporal Order: A plot which does not have a strict chronological order i.e. the past is shown via flashback before the present moment
Temporal Duration (3 types):
Screen duration: The time the film takes to show from start to finish
Plot duration: The length of time a plot covers
Story duration: The length of time the story covers (including all events that have been interfered to bring to it)
Temporal Frequency: An event which occurs in a film once but we are aware it may of happened many times in the story (to shorten the time for the viewer). E.g. 4 battles in a film are shown that are most important but we know many others may have taken place
Space: The location a film might take place, either on screen or off-screen e.g. knowing a character has gone on holiday but never witnessing this ‘space’

To what extent do you agree with Tessa Perkins?

Tessa Perkins (1979) identifies 5 such assumptions;
• Stereotypes are not always negative (e.g. 'The French are good cooks').
• They are not always about minority groups or the less powerful ( e.g. 'upper class twits').
• They can be held about one's own group.
• They are not rigid or unchanging ( e.g. the "cloth cap worker of the 1950's became the
1980's 'consumerist home-owner who holidays in Spain').
• They are not always false.



To extent do you agree with Tessa Perkins? Explain your answers and refer to stereotypes in TV drama.


First of all, I agree with Tessa Perkins on the basis that stereotypes are not always negative or perceived to be degrading to a certain group or race. For example, most of the time women are seen as being the more faithful partner when being in a relationship with their male counterpart, who is deemed less faithful to their relationship. Although it is a negative for males, it is a positive for females as they are then seen as more trustworthy and this is usually a popular dynamic in TV drama or Film. 


Again, I would have to agree that it is not usually minority groups or the less powerful that are a popular choice to be singled out and stereotyped. A common stereotype is of "posh snobs", those who live a higher class life and look down upon their social inferiors; this often gives them a ignorant and hateful characteristic about them. However, in modern day TV dramas this stereotype is seen less of as the social barriers between different classes have since broken down. But in TV dramas such as "Lark Rise to Candleford" the lower class are in an entirely separate village (Lark Rise) whereas the higher earning class are situated in the thriving economics of Candleford; which sets the scene for the drama as it focuses on the differences in their lives and thus there will no doubt be a "posh snob" character who does not like to affiliate themselves with Lark Rise residents.


Stereotypes held against your own group opens a more varied debate. For instance, modern day teenagers may think that the majority of themselves are trouble makers even though they are not trouble makers themselves; but they see the stereotype placed upon them and may agree or disagree with it. Another example would be of a British citizen seen by other countries, that the typical British person would drink tea and eat fish and chips; and some may agree more with this positive stereotype as it is a common tendency among British life to do these things. 


However, I would disagree with the fact that stereotypes are not subject to change. For instance, before WWI women were not seen as the breadwinner of the family but instead this role was left for the man of the family to go out and work whilst the woman cares for her family and does house duty. But since then that social barrier has changed, when it was made compulsory for men to go out fight in the war it was left to the women to earn wages in factories and take duties that men would normally take. This stereotype collapsed again after WWII and it was acceptable for women to go out and work; which leaves us with present day, where it is the norm for women to earn their own wage as well as the man. 


On the last assumption, I agree that all stereotype are not always false. For instance, old men are stereotyped into being grumpy and upset with their unfulfilled life. This example is portrayed in school based BBC TV drama 'Waterloo Road', where Mr Grantly Budgen is a teacher of older age and is always depicted as being angry at fellow students and having a pessimistic outlook on life: 


Mr Grantly Budgen of Waterloo Road
In contrast to this, older men can also have the opposite stereotype where they are seen as cheerful and bubbly people; this typical stereotype is seen in the myth Santa Claus (although not a TV drama) this is the main cause for the opposite stereotype and thus incorporated in other characters.





Sunday 18 September 2011

Camera Movements

Track (01:26-01:29)
This quick track here follows the characters are they run away from another. It creates a fast and dramatic effect as the audience are aware of the risk they are in as they begin to flee the scene. 


Pan (0:26-0:28s)
This pan follows the moving subject as he rushes by on roller skates. It is used the highlight the speed at which the character is going by the window as he disturbs another character. This also gives it a more comical effect as the character goes by. 


Whip pan (00:46-00:47)
In this scene, the whip pan creates a sense of urgency as the character moves quickly to inspect developing action. It also enables the audience to see the distress of the characters face as he moves fast to see the action. 


Tilt (00:05)
This tilt of the camera shows the audience the height of the character above the occurring scene. It also gives a dramatic effect as the characters below are unfamiliar with the anonymous character. 


Rolling (00:25-00:30)
Although not shot as a character's point of view, but this scene is shot blurry and askew as it represents the sick feeling all the characters are feeling as they discover another dead character. The shots are unlevel and part blurred out to create a miserable and 


Arc (01:14-01:31)
With the camera moving around the character, it shows the audience the super power which one of the character's possess. Thus, the audience can also see the reaction of the characters surrounding the central character in this shot which adds to the action and amazement. 


Crane shot 
(Not available in this show) But normally, or if it were to be used, it would show the audience the setting of the scene around the characters and the position they are currently in. 


Overhead (00:58s-1:00)
This shot enables the audience to see the dilemma which surrounds the character. It shows that he is beginning to be closed in and in need of serious help. From this shot, the audience knows that there is no way of escaping around the character. 


Aerial Shot (00:06-00:05s)
This technique is used to show the audience of the character arrangement on the ground. The greater height also gives a brief insight into the surrounding area and so sets the scene for the audience.


Hand-held shot (00:19-0:28)
This shot adds to the immediacy in the scene as the characters duck for cover; so the impact that they are in trouble conveys more to the audience. The hand-held shot also adds realism to the scene as the camera shot is less artificial. 


Zoom (0o:15-00:16)
The zoom here is used the add impact to the scared emotions on the character's face. It also gives the character a more dramatic look to the audience and to make it clearly visible at what the character feels towards the scene. 



Monday 5 September 2011

Institution: COMPANY Magazine

Magazine Analysis: ELLE

TV Drama: Representation of Age

Representation in TV Drama: Narrative Scene

Representation in TV Drama or Soap Opera

Audience & Institution: Harry Potter & TDHP2