G322
Textual Analysis and Representation
27th September 2012 Lesson Objectives
Learning Outcomes
§ To Understand the
§ I can explain the verisimilitude
§ To know how to analyse a
§ I can analyse a media text
§ To develop literacy skills –
§ I can use point, evidence and
Verisimilitude of representations in TV Drama. Media text in respect of authenticity and construction. Point, Evidence, Explanation.
of representations in TV drama.
explaining its authenticity and construction. explanation in my essay in order to state my ideas with justification.
Metaphor § Gauntlett (2007) has developed a research method using Lego. He asks people to make metaphorical models with Lego to represent their identity. The Key thing here is the metaphor bit. He does not expect them to make models that actually resemble what they are representing. He says that this way, when he asks people to reflect on the models they have made, he gets a better sense of how people see themselves.
§ Lego and media go together as often we are looking at things that represent something without actually resembling it – like a tie.
Gender representations §
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2RlqFeNgDI
§
The Streets - Geezers need excitement.
§
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2RlqFeNgDI
§
Witney Houston – I’m every Woman
§
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9r5IkhGGiI
§
Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
§
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fj2HVYlD_4
§
Katy Perry – Teenage Dream
§
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MnDbWqe_kQ
§
The Who – My Generation
Verisimilitude - is a
philosophical or theoretical notion that distinguishes truth and falsity of assertions or hypotheses.
§ TV programs are a form of
media text, when looking at TV in the context of representation an audience must believe in a character.
§ For that to happen he or she must wear cloths that you would expect them to wear.
§ When we look at how a media text represents the world, we are usually concerned with the representation of of gender, age, ethnicity, social groups, places, time periods and themes.
§ This all adds up to Verisimilitude – the construction, in a text of a plausible, believable world.
Representation in TV Drama § What kind of
programme?
realism is being attempted by the
§ Who is being represented in the drama (who is present), and how?
§ Who is being represented in the drama (who is absent), and why?
§ Can we identify any characters that are stereotypical representations?
§ Is there a dominant view of
the world or several
different ones?
§ What different responses might audience members make to these representations?
Life On Mars § A good example of
a television drama rich with lots of representational codes is ‘Life on Mars’. The entire text relies on a sense of authenticity – the cloths, props, settings, music and most importantly the dialogue that represents the north of England in the 1970’s that is accurate and familiar/ nostalgic.
§ Crucially the whole text relies on the
contrast of Sam Tyler’s view of the world and the dominant ideology of the 1970’s.
Sam’s world vs Dominant ideology. § 1) Ethical – Moments in the drama when the police do
or say things which, by our contemporary standards would be viewed as unethical, unfair, politically incorrect or unjust.
§ 2) Technological – Moments in the drama when the
police do things a certain way that would now be replaced by another method as a result of technology advancing.
§ 3)Cultural – Moments in the drama when the cultural content is specific to the 1970’s and therefore, the things the police do or say would only make sense in that time period and not today.
Assessment Essay § Discuss the ways that the ‘verisimilitude’ and authenticity of Life on Mars is carefully constructed.
§ Include the following in your answer: § Camera shots, angles, movement and composition
§ Editing § Sound § Mise-en-scene