Film & TV Language: Mise-en-scene video assessment

Your star persona mise-en-scene makeovers were a brilliant introduction to the challenges and creativity demanded by A Level Media.

We will screen a few in class but won't have time to watch them all. Instead, you need to use the blog system to watch others in the class to reflect on your own practical skills and use of mise-en-scene. Complete the following tasks:

Create a new blogpost called 'Star persona video feedback and learner response'. Make sure your completed star persona video is embedded in the blogpost.

1) Watch three videos from the three students below you in the blog list (use the blog links to the side of the Year 12 blog). For each one, write their name, a WWW and EBI highlighting the strengths and weaknesses.

2) Ask the students assessing your work to email you their WWW/EBI feedback and paste it into your LR blogpost. Do you agree with their feedback?

3) Now reflect on your own work. How did your star persona mood board planning help clarify and develop your ideas?

4) Thinking technically, how could you improve your work for future videos? (E.g. filming, editing, sound etc.)

5) Thinking in terms of mise-en-scene, what were the aspects of CLAMPS you used effectively in your video?

6) What aspect of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) could you have improved or done differently?

7) What have you learned regarding the importance of mise-en-scene to character, narrative and star personas?

8) Finally. thinking conceptually or creatively, how could you improve the content of your video work in future? (E.g. planning, creative concept, timing etc.)

You will have lesson time to do this but will need to finish for homework - due next lesson.

MIGRAIN: Semiotics - Icon, Index, Symbol

One key aspect of our introduction to A Level Media Studies is developing the language to analyse media products.

This is a key aspect of Semiotics: the study of signs. We've already explored denotation, connotation and myth. Now we need to learn some more semiotic terminology to help identify how meanings are created in media texts.

Semiotics: icon, index, symbol notes

An Icon has a physical resemblance to the signified, the thing being represented. A photograph is a good example as it certainly resembles whatever it depicts.

An Index shows evidence of what’s being represented. A good example is using an image of smoke to indicate fire.

A Symbol has no resemblance between the signifier and the signified. The connection between them must be culturally learned. Numbers and alphabets are good examples.

Source of these definitions: Vanseo Design Blog 



Icon, index, symbol: blog task

Create a new blogpost called 'Semiotics: icon, index, symbol blog task'

1) Find three examples for each: icon, index and symbol. Provide images or links.

Icon:

Index:

Symbol: 

2) Why are icons and indexes so important in media texts?

3) Why might global brands try and avoid symbols in their advertising and marketing?

4) Find an example of a media text (e.g. advert) where the producer has accidentally communicated the wrong meaning using icons, indexes or symbols. Why did the media product fail?

5) Find an example of a media text (e.g. advert) that successfully uses icons or indexes to create a message that can be easily understood across the world.

Complete for homework if you don't finish this during the lesson - due date specified by your exam class teacher.

MIGRAIN: Reception theory

Reception theory is extremely useful when decoding media texts - and allows us to explore how different audiences may react to a media product.

It's also one of AQA's key theories for the new specification which means there may well be an exam question asking you to apply the theory to a particular media text. Make sure you have confidently learned these notes then complete the blog tasks below.

Reception theory: notes

Studying media language means looking at the way in which the sign or text is interpreted and how the meaning comes across to the audience. 

All media is thought to be polysemic in that it can be interpreted in different ways – it is not simply passively accepted by the audience. Stuart Hall introduced the idea of three different readings.

Stuart Hall: reception theory

Hall suggested there are three types of reading:

Dominant, Preferred or Hegemonic Reading: what the producer/creator intends – the ‘natural’ reading

Negotiated Reading: a middle ground between the producer’s intentions and the audience’s individual views

Oppositional or ‘Counter-Hegemonic’ Reading: an alternative reading that is actively against the producer’s intentions.

Reception theory: example exam question

Sample AQA question for new specification:

According to reception theory, ‘the media attempts to transmit specific messages to audiences, but audiences are free to interpret these messages in a variety of ways – or even reject them’.

How valid are reception theory’s claims about audience responses? [25 marks]

Applying reception theory: blog tasks

Look back at the adverts you have been analysing over the last week of lessons and homework (RBK 50 Cent and one of your choice). What are the preferred, negotiated and oppositional readings for the adverts you have studied?

1) Create a new blog post called ‘Reception theory’ and write a paragraph for each advert analysing the dominant, negotiated and oppositional readings.

2) Do these adverts provide evidence for the idea that audiences are free to interpret messages in a variety of ways - including rejecting them? Answer this question as a mini-essay, exploring both sides of the argument.

Complete for homework if you don't finish this in the lesson - due Friday.

Year 12 cover work: Wednesday 20 September

Apologies - due to external courses and meetings your Year 12 Media lessons on Wednesday 20 September will be covered.

The lessons will still take place in Media as normal but the work is all on the blog. Make sure you are registered and then work through the following:

Complete the Film & TV Language: Mise-en-scene blog tasks 

If you finish these in the lesson, you can work on your Star persona Mise-en-scene makeover or any other outstanding Media work. 

Good luck!

Film & TV Language: Mise-en-scene blog tasks

Mise-en-scene is a critical aspect to our work on film language and textual analysis.

Remember the mnemonic that will help you recall the different aspects of mise-en-scene: CLAMPS.

• Costume
• Lighting
• Actor (placement and movement)
• Make-up
• Props
• Setting

Mise-en-scene blog task

Complete the following tasks for mise-en-scene for your Film and TV Language unit:

1) Find a distinctive still image and write an analysis of the mise-en-scene. Use each of the aspects you've learned in the lesson.

2) Find three film or TV extracts on YouTube from different genres (e.g. horror, sci-fi, costume drama). Embed them in your blogpost and write a comparison of the mise-en-scene in each.

You'll have a certain amount of lesson time for this but will need to complete the rest for homework - deadline set by your coursework teacher.

Reminder: your Mise-en-scene star persona video project is also due next week - make sure you complete all aspects of the task!

MIGRAIN: Reading an image

The ability to 'decode' a media text is a critical skill for A Level Media students.

It's vital that you can break a text down into its key conventions and explore what effect the different aspects may have on an audience.

You'll find the key notes and media terminology on the lesson slides here. If you didn't do so in the lesson, make notes of the key words and what they refer to - they will be invaluable throughout the A Level Media course.

Your blog tasks are to be completed on Media Blog 1 (exam teacher) and are as follows:

Complete the following from our double lesson on reading an image:

1) Analyse this RBK 50 Cent advert using the key media language you learned today: denotation, connotation, colour, pose, framing, composition, size, type of shot, subject matter, setting, lighting.

2) Next, analyse a print advert of your choice using the same key words.

Remember to put media language in bold or highlight/colour it. Another reminder of the key words:

• Denotation, connotation, colour, pose, framing, composition, size, type of shot, subject matter, setting, lighting.

And always ask the two key questions: Who do you think is the target audience? How does it address/attract that audience?

Due date: confirmed by your exam teacher

Textual analysis: homework

In class this week, we've looked at denotation, connotation, ideology and how to identify these aspects in media texts.

Now you need to develop those skills by analysing a media product of your own choice. Complete the following on your Media 1 Exam blog:

Find a media text of your choice (print/moving image/online) and answer the following questions:

1) What type of text is it?

2) How do you know? What are the key conventions that allowed you to identify the text?

3) In your opinion, who is the target audience for this media text?

4) How would this audience access the text? E.g. where/when would they consume it? Using what device?

5) What values, ideologies and beliefs in society are reinforced or challenged in this media text?

Don't forget you've also got to complete your media consumption audit too - all due in your double lesson with your exam teacher next week.