MEST1 Documentary: Life is but a dream

As you watch the trailer, consider how the codes and conventions of documentary are used to present Beyonce. Remember that Beyonce is the executive producer, co-director and co-writer of this and so the final product is what she wants us to see. Do you think everyone receives this text in the same way? How does the narrative follow Todorov's theory of disequilibrium and equilibrium? Does Beyonce do this intentionally to captivate the audience?

Here's an interview with Beyonce about the documentary - remember that by doing this interview for the HBO website she is promoting her moving image documentary by using e-media to connect with potential viewers. Beyonce also discusses the creation of the documentary and the editing process- she is very aware of how various things could affect the way she is represented and her particular 'brand'.

Another example of Beyonce's media savvy ways is the tumblr account which was set up on the arrival of her daughter, Blue Ivy. This allows her fans a sneak peek into her life but the information and pictures they are shown is selected. The same is true with her Instagram account which Beyonce has used to promote her fashion house and her recent appearance at the Superbowl.

Time to watch the documentary itself and see what you make of it. Compare it to Rihanna and Cheryl Cole's documentaries - Are they constructed differently? Do they promote the same messages or ideals?

Watch it here on I Player

Now for some reading!  There are various articles about the documentary, some of them not so complimentary. Have a read to gather some information and see if they affect what you thought of the documentary on your first viewing.

The New Yorker
The Independent (ignore the final paragraph about James May!)
The Guardian

Print platform: You should be able to analyse print products confidently using MIGRAIN now. 

Basic notes would look like this:

Colours: Grey and white suggesting a serious or honest tone.

Simplistic font with a short tag-line 'In her own words' again suggesting that this is Beyonce's chance to 'speak' to her fans and get her side of the story across.

Beyonce (the subject) is positioned to the right of the poster which creates enigma codes as she glances at the title and the audience cannot tell what the documentary might reveal. She is pictured with minimal make-up and natural hair which again signifies that Beyonce is someone the audience can relate to personally but perhaps also aspire to.

It could be suggested that the gold chain is a nod to her r'n'b 'roots' and also suggestive of her link to rapper Jay-Z.

Make sure you are collating all of your documentary notes over Easter and that you will be able to refer to all three platforms in an extended exam answer. Mock exam time soon!

Thursday 21st March - Homework

I will be running the BBC News School report day with a few of you helpful people on Thursday so there won't be a lesson that day.

To make up for the missed lesson, I would like you to complete your answer on the exam question we began on Tuesday. You have 25-30 minutes left on this so I am expecting at least an A4 page and a half. If you wish to type up your answer then that is also fine.

The question is:

Account for the similarities and differences in the codes and conventions used in the media products from your cross-media study.

You could write about:

• What the typical codes and conventions of a documentary are
• How these codes and conventions have changed and why - is it to meet audience needs? is it who produces it?
• What affects the making of a text - think Stuart Hall and the Reception Theory

Make use of:

• Key concepts - MIGRAIN
• A range of examples - class work and your own individual study
• All three platforms - print, moving image and e-media

This answer is due on Friday 22nd - bring it to class please.

MEST 1 Documentary Cross Media Study - Homework

We have now looked at a range of documentaries, articles, theories and adverts. The key to doing well in Section B of this exam is being able to put all of this information together and create an answer which shows you can apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media products and processes to show how meanings and responses are created.

You should have a good understanding of the key concepts, semiotics, types of readings (preferred, negotiated, oppositional), theorists (Barthes, Propp, Todorov, Levi-Strauss) and also theories such as Uses & Gratifications, Hypodermic Needle and Reception Theory. If you need to re-cap on any of these then read through your notes again, use google or come and find one of your teachers and we will explain it again.

Theory you should know:

Barthes came up with the theory of sign, signifiers and icons

‘If the text is analysed according to Barthes theory of signs, the audience could read the red cloak as a symbol of anger and conflict.’

Hall came up with denotation, connotation, encoding and readings.

‘Using Hall’s theory of readings, it seems that the preferred reading of the text is….. However, it could also be argued that an oppositional reading would see the More Four sequence as highly sexist.’

Todorov  came up with the theory of narrative structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium.

‘The narrative structure of the sequence shows the pattern of Todorov’s disequilibrium and new equilibrium.’

Levi-Strauss came up with binary opposition in characters and narrative (e.g good vs evil, rich vs poor)

‘Katie Price is clearly positioned as Andre’s opposite, in terms of Levi Strauss’ theory of character types’.

Propp came up with a more detailed theory of character types.

‘the female stuck in her car is presented like one of Propp’s character types, the princess or damsel needing rescue’

Barthes also came up with the theory of narrative codes including the enigma code.

‘the trailer strongly suggests a Barthes narrative enigma leaving the audience wanting to solve the mystery of the murders’.

 

For your homework, I would like you to answer the following question in 45 minutes:

 

To what extent do the media products in your case study do more than just entertain their audience(s)?

Due on Tuesday 19th

Documentary homework

You should be watching a variety of documentaries at home and creating a folder of information/notes about them. Make sure you are looking across all three media platforms. In Section B of the exam you will be assessed on your ability to apply your knowledge and understanding of the products and processes in documentaries across a range of media platforms. You should also be able to explore how meanings and responses are created.

At the top level of Section B you should show the following:

Thorough application of knowledge and understanding of the processes by which media audiences consume media products across at least three different media platforms.

Thorough application of knowledge and understanding of how meanings are created and communicated to audiences, demonstrated by detailed examples from the cross-media study.

Clear, well organised and appropriate communication. Well structured response; ideas supported by examples.

Fluent use of media terminology and expression of ideas, which support

an engaged explanation of the responses of audiences.

Try to show these skills in the homework (below). We are looking at all three platforms in class but you must also do this at home in your own time.

Your homework is:

Choose a TV documentary to watch and answer/make notes on the following things:

Type of programme:

Channel it is broadcast on:

Topic of documentary:

Voiceover: Male or female? Regional accent or standard English? Famous person or celebrity/actor?

Talking to camera: Who talks directly to camera and why?

Talking off camera: Are questions asked by someone off camera? Does the person being questioned answer to the person off camera?

Vox pop: Does the programme include street interviews to get 'ordinary people's views'?

Interview: Is the person interviewed in a special setting? Are they filmed with dramatic lighting? Are their identities kept secret?

Literisation: Are words used on screen to give further information e.g. sub-titles, translations, dates, times, place names.

Music: Is music used to dramatise segments of the programme? To create suspense? A sense of tragedy? Humour? To fit a particular image?

Camera techniques: Fly on the wall? Hand-held? Following people around?

Homework due: Thursday 7th March