What was the key quote relating to genre by Steve Neale?

Discovery question

‘genre is a repetition with an underlying pattern of variations’

Recap - Question 1b

• You must evaluate one production in relation to the concept.

• You must apply theory and terminology in relation to this concept.

Connect

Narrative

• What theory, theorists, terminology and ideas can applied to the topic of NARRATIVE.

• Spend 5 minutes exploring your ideas

Discover

Narrative• Equilibrium theory – Tzvetan Todorov -Equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempt to repair, new equilibrium.• Binary Opposition – Claude Levi-Strauss-Contrast or opposites• Linear/non linear – chronological vs non• Abstract, narrative, performance and hybrid – (music video)• Vladimir Propp – 7 characters• Roland Barthes – enigma codes, semiotic, action, cultural,

symbolic

Which of the following could you confidently apply to ONE of your media productions?

Discover

You will be given a theorist, theory or concept in relation to narrative in your pair; some you may be familiar with, some you may not.

For each one, consider how you might apply this to your own work. You will be responsible for explaining this to the rest of the class.

Discover

Structure

Non linear – jumps back and forth between events in time. There may be some pattern to this, unlike an open structure.

• Structuralism: A belief that there is structure in all things – that items within a certain paradigm (a class of elements with similarities) follow specific patterns.

Ferdinand de Saussure

5 codes - activate the reader to make sense of 'narrative' or meaning within a text: - action code - meaning of specific words, actions or looks - enigma code - puzzles set up to be solved by audience - the semic code - the connotations of a

character/place/object - the symbolic code - metaphor or figure of representation - cultural code - connections to the world outside the textRoland Barthes

Bordwell and Thompson never did come up with a complete narrative theory, they did however come up with some interesting ideas. They believe that our understanding of a narrative, and in particular, a character or relationship between characters, is shaped by the structure of the text (through the use of flash backs, forwarding time, slow motion and speeding up.)

Authors of ‘Film Art: An introduction’ – a pioneering film analysis text.

‘Action triggers reaction: each step has an effect which in turn becomes a new cause’ - Bordwell and Thompson (1985)

Binary oppositionfocusing on the different sets of opposite values which reveal the structure of the media texts.Claude Levi-Strauss

Reflecting on your own work, which piece can you confidently apply narrative theory to – • Opening title sequence• Music video

Spend 15 minutes reflecting on the chosen piece. Use the following table to construct your notes.

Media text Narrative theory/concepts

How I conformed…. How I challenged…..

Film titles:

ThrillerMusic video:

Hip Hop

Example of media texts that conform

Example of media texts that challenge

(in a similar way to you perhaps? Were they successful? Did they appeal to a different audience?)

Now consider:

Develop

How to structure your answer…

Intro

Needs to be short and to the point. You only have 30 minutes for your answer.Outline which coursework piece you will be discussing and relate it to the question.

Example: “As part of the coursework for my advanced portfolio, I produced…..

• …..targeting a…..audience….• …….conforming to the …..genre…• …….in which I represented…….• …….that conformed/challenged the narrative conventions….• ……I will discuss how I used camera, editing, sound and mise-en-scene to

create meaning within the text…(media language)

Example intro from an A grade response

Main body of your essayBreak this down into approximately 4/5 main points demonstrating how you have:

• Conformed to the concept• Challenged the concept• Conformed to the ideas and theories outlined by key media

theorists

Your choice of point is up to you however, a strong answer must:• Refer to theories and explain how this applies to your work. Do

you agree/disagree? Did you challenge or conform?• Refer to SPECIFIC examples from your own work• Refer to SPECIFIC examples from real media texts

Example paragraph from an A grade response

Conclusion1 x paragraph. You must conclude the answer.

Consider:How far have you employed this concept?How far have you challenged it?How effective were real media texts in inspiring your use of genre/narrative/representations etc?How influential was (insert theorist, theory or idea) in the planning and production of your piece?

Example: “So as we have seen, (whatever is being asked about) can be applied to (text 1)…”

Example conclusion from an A grade response

This got 23/25 (some main body paragraphs missing. See the full answer here: http://ocrmediaconference2011.weebly.com/uploads/6/0/9/6/6096819/site1ab9.pdf

To summarise:

Intro – straight to the point. 2/3 sentences.

Main body – 4/5 paragraphs relating to your strongest points about the following: • Conformed to the concept• Challenged the concept• Conformed to the ideas and theories outlined by key media

theorists

Remember SPECIFIC examples.

Conclusion – 1 paragraph

Section 1b

“Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to

narrative”.

30 minutes

Question 1a Question 1b

Jan‘10

Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making.

Analyse media representation in one of your coursework productions.

June ‘10

Describe the ways in which your production work was informed by research into real media texts and how your ability to use such research for production developed over time.

Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to genre.

Jan ‘11

Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to your creative decision making.

Apply theories of narrative to one of your coursework productions.

June‘11

Explain how far your understanding of the conventions of existing media influenced the way you created your own media products.

Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to the concept of audience

Jan 12’

Describe how your analysis of the conventions of real media texts informed your own creative media practice. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Analyse media representation in one of your coursework productions

June ‘12

Describe a range of creative decisions that you made in post-production and how these decisions made a difference to the final outcomes. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Explain how meaning is constructed by the use of media language in one of your coursework productions.

Jan ‘13

Explain how your research and planning skills developed over time and contributed to your media production outcomes. Refer to a range of examples in your answer.

Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to the concept of narrative

June ‘13

Digital technology representation