We have already studied the Ill Manors trailer, music video and TEDx lecture. Now, we need to explore some further broadcast texts to conclude our work on the broadcast platform.
Watch and listen to the following clips/links, embed them where possible on a new blogpost called 'Ill Manors: Broadcast platform concluded' and answer the questions below each clip.
DVD extras
Watch the Making Of Ill Manors from the DVD extras. (Watch in class - unavailable online).
1) What does this tell us about Plan B's intentions in making the film?
2) What do we learn about the production process for Ill Manors?
3) What can you tell about the possible target audience from this short documentary?
4) Does the film successfully do what director Ben Drew (Plan B) set out to achieve? Explain your answer with reference to both the film and the 'making of' documentary.
Broadcast/online
Watch Plan B interviewed by SBTV while he was editing Ill Manors.
1) What is SBTV? Research the channel and explain how it became successful.
Identify the target audience for this interview (demographics/psychographics) and say why.
2) What is the audience appeal for an interview like this? How does the opening of the clip emphasise this appeal?
3) How is Plan B (the brand) represented in this text?
Television
Watch Plan B interviewed on the Jonathan Ross show.
1) What is the history of the Jonathan Ross show? What channels has it appeared on? Why has Jonathan Ross been a controversial media figure in the past?
2) Identify the target audience for this interview (demographics/psychographics) and say why.
3) What is the audience appeal for a programme like the Jonathan Ross show?
4) How is Plan B (the brand) represented in this text?
Radio
Listen to this interview with Plan B on Fearne Cotton's BBC Radio 1 show.
1) How popular is BBC Radio 1? Find average listening figures for the station. How has the BBC Radio 1 audience declined over recent years? Why might this have happened?
2) Who is the target audience for BBC Radio 1?
3) How does Plan B promote Ill Manors in this interview?
4) What representation of Plan B can we find in this interview?
You will have a single lesson to work on this but will need to finish for homework - deadline confirmed by your exam class teacher.
Thursday, February 04, 2016
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Year 12 screening: Attack the Block
The Wednesday screenings are continuing today with Attack the Block (2011) - 3.10pm in DF07.
This urban sci-fi comedy hybrid is something of a departure from our recent arthouse screenings but it does match the category of low-budget independent British film. In fact, this will be useful not only for your coursework but also your MEST1 Section B case study as it continues the trend of London-based urban British films such as Kidulthood, Ill Manors and more.
The film also raises interesting questions in terms of representation and has been criticised for the one-dimensional portrayal of London teenagers living on housing estates, particularly young black males.
This urban sci-fi comedy hybrid is something of a departure from our recent arthouse screenings but it does match the category of low-budget independent British film. In fact, this will be useful not only for your coursework but also your MEST1 Section B case study as it continues the trend of London-based urban British films such as Kidulthood, Ill Manors and more.
The film also raises interesting questions in terms of representation and has been criticised for the one-dimensional portrayal of London teenagers living on housing estates, particularly young black males.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Ill Manors broadcast: TEDx lecture
Ill Manors raises important questions in terms of ideology, moral panic and the representation of class and youth in mainstream media.
Key notes
What is an ideology?
An ideology is a world view, a system of values, attitudes and beliefs which an individual, group or society holds to be true or important; these are shared by a culture or society about how that society should function.
What is a dominant ideology?
Dominant ideologies are views and beliefs that are accepted by most people in society without thinking – they are seen as common sense.
A good example would be that the characters in Ill Manors are bad – they are criminals or drug users and deserve punishment.
Dominant ideology and moral panic
One key aspect of ideology and the media is that certain issues that might challenge the dominant view become major concerns for society.
Sociologist Stanley Cohen coined the phrase ‘moral panic’ to describe this situation.
Examples of moral panic:
Create a new blogpost called Ill Manors: TEDx lecture and complete the following tasks:
1) Embed the above video in your blogpost and read this Guardian article that accompanied the original event. Remember to also look at the comments below - these can give you a variety of different perspectives and criticisms to the original lecture.
2) Make notes on the lecture: focus on Plan B/Ben Drew's views on the opportunities for young people in London and how these inspired Ill Manors.
3) What are Plan B's beliefs/politics? What are his values/ideologies? Explain your answers.
4) Who is the target audience of the TEDx lecture? Demographics? Psychographics? How do you know? How does this compare to the audience for his music/films?
5) What does Plan B say about the media? Explain how this can be linked to Cohen's media theory of moral panics? Read this summary of moral panics and the definition from Wikipedia and use them in your answer.
Complete these questions for homework if you don't get them done in the lesson - due for your next Media lesson.
Key notes
What is an ideology?
An ideology is a world view, a system of values, attitudes and beliefs which an individual, group or society holds to be true or important; these are shared by a culture or society about how that society should function.
What is a dominant ideology?
Dominant ideologies are views and beliefs that are accepted by most people in society without thinking – they are seen as common sense.
A good example would be that the characters in Ill Manors are bad – they are criminals or drug users and deserve punishment.
Dominant ideology and moral panic
One key aspect of ideology and the media is that certain issues that might challenge the dominant view become major concerns for society.
Sociologist Stanley Cohen coined the phrase ‘moral panic’ to describe this situation.
Examples of moral panic:
- Violent movies/videogames
- Gangs
- Paedophilia
- Terrorism
- Pornography
Ill Manors: TEDx lecture blog task
1) Embed the above video in your blogpost and read this Guardian article that accompanied the original event. Remember to also look at the comments below - these can give you a variety of different perspectives and criticisms to the original lecture.
2) Make notes on the lecture: focus on Plan B/Ben Drew's views on the opportunities for young people in London and how these inspired Ill Manors.
3) What are Plan B's beliefs/politics? What are his values/ideologies? Explain your answers.
4) Who is the target audience of the TEDx lecture? Demographics? Psychographics? How do you know? How does this compare to the audience for his music/films?
5) What does Plan B say about the media? Explain how this can be linked to Cohen's media theory of moral panics? Read this summary of moral panics and the definition from Wikipedia and use them in your answer.
Complete these questions for homework if you don't get them done in the lesson - due for your next Media lesson.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
New A Level Media Factsheets available
We have just added five new Media Factsheets to the archive on the M: Media Shared drive...
141 Media and Identities
142 Identity and Film
143 Politics and Persuasion
144 DTP coursework
145 VICE News
They are in the usual place on the school network: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
Several of these are extremely relevant right now - the DTP (desktop publishing - print design) could be very useful for your MEST2 print brief. Similarly, Identity and Film or Politics and Persuasion could be linked to our work on Ill Manors.
These are brilliant resources - if you want an A grade, you need to be reading this kind of resource along with the latest issue of Media Magazine.
141 Media and Identities
142 Identity and Film
143 Politics and Persuasion
144 DTP coursework
145 VICE News
They are in the usual place on the school network: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
Several of these are extremely relevant right now - the DTP (desktop publishing - print design) could be very useful for your MEST2 print brief. Similarly, Identity and Film or Politics and Persuasion could be linked to our work on Ill Manors.
These are brilliant resources - if you want an A grade, you need to be reading this kind of resource along with the latest issue of Media Magazine.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Ill Manors broadcast: music video analysis
The Ill Manors music video is a great example of cross-promotion and synergy.
The institutions behind Plan B/Ill Manors tapped into Plan B's music fanbase to promote both the film and soundtrack album. Analysing the music video gives you another superb example to discuss in your MEST1 Section B essay and allows you to write about the synergy (links) between the two texts.
Ill Manors: music video
Ill Manors is a hip hop protest song by English singer and songwriter Plan B. The track was released in the United Kingdom in March 2012 through the American company Atlantic Records (a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group conglomerate) as the lead single from the Ill Manors soundtrack, a low budget film which Plan B also directed. The song was written in reaction to the 2011 riots across England, and specifically Plan B's perception of "society's failure to nurture its disadvantaged youth." The song deals with both the causes and the consequences of the riots, concentrating on society's attitude towards the disadvantaged youth population. Drawing upon Plan B's own experiences of being expelled from school the song sarcastically attacks the media view of working class children: "Keep on believing what you read in the papers / Council estate kids — scum of the earth."
Writing in The Independent, Tim Walker called it "an all-time great protest song." However, Samuel Breen, also writing for The Independent, describes the song as "a cliché riddled attack on politics" and suggests that Plan B is justifying the action taken by the rioters, something Plan B denies.
The music video for "Ill Manors" expands upon the themes of the song, and uses footage from the 2011 riots. David Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, both feature in the video, despite not being mentioned in the lyrics. However, Cameron's "Hug a Hoodie" campaign is alluded to.
Ill Manors music video: blog task
Watch the music video again and analyse it closely, making detailed notes. Use the same skills you are developing for the MEST1 Section A unseen text.
Answer the following questions on your blog using the minimum three-paragraph structure we have discussed for MEST1 Section A:
Media Forms
How is it typical of a music video?
(Use this PowerPoint on the key conventions of music videos to help you).
Media Representations
How does it represent the London riots/rioters?
Media Audiences
What audience pleasures does the music video offer?
Media Institutions
How does the music video help to promote the film?
Ill Manors soundtrack research task
Research the Ill Manors track and soundtrack album - focusing particularly on the institutions and critical reception. Find out:
Post the research on your blog below the music video analysis - minimum of 350 words research (bullet points and sub-headings are fine in terms of structure).
Complete for homework - due next week.
The institutions behind Plan B/Ill Manors tapped into Plan B's music fanbase to promote both the film and soundtrack album. Analysing the music video gives you another superb example to discuss in your MEST1 Section B essay and allows you to write about the synergy (links) between the two texts.
Ill Manors: music video
Ill Manors is a hip hop protest song by English singer and songwriter Plan B. The track was released in the United Kingdom in March 2012 through the American company Atlantic Records (a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group conglomerate) as the lead single from the Ill Manors soundtrack, a low budget film which Plan B also directed. The song was written in reaction to the 2011 riots across England, and specifically Plan B's perception of "society's failure to nurture its disadvantaged youth." The song deals with both the causes and the consequences of the riots, concentrating on society's attitude towards the disadvantaged youth population. Drawing upon Plan B's own experiences of being expelled from school the song sarcastically attacks the media view of working class children: "Keep on believing what you read in the papers / Council estate kids — scum of the earth."
Writing in The Independent, Tim Walker called it "an all-time great protest song." However, Samuel Breen, also writing for The Independent, describes the song as "a cliché riddled attack on politics" and suggests that Plan B is justifying the action taken by the rioters, something Plan B denies.
The music video for "Ill Manors" expands upon the themes of the song, and uses footage from the 2011 riots. David Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, both feature in the video, despite not being mentioned in the lyrics. However, Cameron's "Hug a Hoodie" campaign is alluded to.
Ill Manors music video: blog task
Watch the music video again and analyse it closely, making detailed notes. Use the same skills you are developing for the MEST1 Section A unseen text.
Answer the following questions on your blog using the minimum three-paragraph structure we have discussed for MEST1 Section A:
Media Forms
How is it typical of a music video?
(Use this PowerPoint on the key conventions of music videos to help you).
Media Representations
How does it represent the London riots/rioters?
Media Audiences
What audience pleasures does the music video offer?
Media Institutions
How does the music video help to promote the film?
Ill Manors soundtrack research task
Research the Ill Manors track and soundtrack album - focusing particularly on the institutions and critical reception. Find out:
- the record companies/institutions behind Plan B
- sales/downloads for the soundtrack
- music reviews
- Plan B's fans' reviews and comments
Post the research on your blog below the music video analysis - minimum of 350 words research (bullet points and sub-headings are fine in terms of structure).
Complete for homework - due next week.
The Wednesday arthouse screening: Donnie Darko
Today's arthouse screening is the acclaimed American indie film Donnie Darko (2001).
This is a quirky drama (with a hint of sci-fi) that is rated 8.1 on IMDB.
The screening will be in DF07 at 3.10pm.
This is a quirky drama (with a hint of sci-fi) that is rated 8.1 on IMDB.
The screening will be in DF07 at 3.10pm.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Ill Manors broadcast platform: trailer analysis
Homework
A reminder of your homework - write a 750 word review of Ill Manors. All the details and compulsory planning sheet are on this blogpost.
Ill Manors trailer analysis
Consider the discussion points from analysing the Ill Manors film trailer in class - then watch it again and answer the questions below on your blog:
A reminder of your homework - write a 750 word review of Ill Manors. All the details and compulsory planning sheet are on this blogpost.
Ill Manors trailer analysis
Consider the discussion points from analysing the Ill Manors film trailer in class - then watch it again and answer the questions below on your blog:
- What are the typical codes and conventions of film trailers - what information is usually provided?
- How are trailers distributed?
- How does the Ill Manors trailer use trailer conventions?
- Who is the target audience? Does it have a unique selling point or use particular techniques to appeal to the audience? Consider the way the scenes are edited together – does the trailer give away any clues about the narrative? Are the main stars visible in the trailer? Is there information about the director of the film? Is there information about the release date? Is a narrator’s voice-over used? Why?
- How has the genre of the film been represented through characters, settings, lighting, colour, music/dialogue, camera shots/movements/angles and editing?
If you don't finish in class, finish for homework - due next lesson.
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