Flight of the Conchords and Key Media Concepts
How can FOTC be seen as a Post Modern Text when analysed by key
media concepts.
Media Language
Media Language
Media Language
Media Language
• Is the singing diegetic/non diegetic?• Playing with sound levels (when Sally and
Jermaine breakup and when Bret and Coco talk)
• Montage sequences• The conversation about what Jermaine did
wrong is cut up and we miss parts
Media GenreMusical• Burst into song as part of
the narrative• Song used to explore
feelings• Songs used as a visual event• Use of ‘dancing’• But what genre of Music?• Name some of the songs…
Sit Com• Cast of regular characters• Reoccurring locations• Use of humour• 30 min format• Narratives based around
relationships we can understand
• Comic trap
Music Video?
Representation
• New Representations – what does it mean to be a New Zealander according to FOTC?
Ideology
• What Ideology do we have about New York?• ‘And because no mater who you are, if you believe in yourself and your
dream, New York will always be the place for you’ Michael Bloomberg• For centuries, New York has served as the gateway for millions of people
from all over the world in search of the American dream’ Hillary Clinton
• What does FOTC have to say about Capitalism?
Narrative
• We never ‘see’ the equilibrium. We start right in the middle of their lives
• Random conversation that have no real connection to the central narrative
• Anticlimactic endings• No happy ending
Audience - Text
• Needs to have a knowledgeable audience – how many jokes did you miss?– Fitzpatrick– The Tooth Brush Fence– It’s a Fleetwood Mac situation– Rumours– ‘What I really want is an Australian’– At the Expo
Audience - Text
• Music Knowledge– Pet Shop Boys– ABBA– Cream– Fleetwood Mac– Daft Punk– Michael Jackson
Audience - Institution
• Made by HBO (mass producer) but for a niche• Expected that the audience would have some
prior knowledge
Audience - Ideas• As Ideologies are challenged/broken there is
no ‘comfort’ offered to the audience