#txetbook

27.11.17 | Trying to make studying fun with the power of colours

These are some summary sheets I made ages back for my agriculture final, which actually really helped, although I didn’t do as well in agriculture as I would’ve liked to have done - but I still did well so I’m not complaining. 

I got my history exam results back today and I was told that I got top in the grade which is like amazing - I totally wasn’t expecting it, and it made me feel like all my hard work paid off and I’m just really happy now :D 

January Bullet Journal 2018

Masterpost on How to Study For Media/Film

In the WACE Curriculum the Media Production and Analysis is a class where you analyse media texts and then produce a short film/photographic portfolio. The production part is pretty self explanatory and down to your creativity, however the analysis part is much harder.

Analysis is much like English, but I do Literature so I can’t say to what extent this is true. You look at the codes and conventions and contextual factors that make up how a film is created and for what purpose.

Approaching the text

When approaching the text, it’s important to take in several factors:

are you looking at a specific director? If so, watch some of their other films. Notice things about their style that will be beneficial to your study of this text.

When was the film made? What was happening then? This is the context. Look at cultural, social, political and economic factors, as well as trends in the media industry.

Is the film commercial or independent? Note down the budget, distribution, financing and production, and this will inform you of the controls and constraints within the specific industry.

Context

Context is essentially what was happening within the film and outside the film. The context is important for deciphering what audience the film was made for, what kind of films were being made at the time, why the film was accepted/rejected by the wider audience according to their own context etc.

Leave the film alone and focus on the political climate in the world at that time. What was happening? In the industry? Make sure you look at all these factors and note them down. Later, you’ll find some connections between the context and the film itself in terms of content, values, audience etc.

Audience

The audience is the most important part of a film - they are who the film is being made for. Deciphering the target audience of the film helps to discuss the values being presented in the text as well as the way the audience is positioned to view certain themes within the text.

Are they a niche audience? Art-cinema?

What age group? Teenagers? Children? Adults?

What socioeconomic background? Wealthy, white middle class people? Working class people?

Is it a mainstream audience? If so, how does the film appeal to a widespread set of global values?

Codes and Conventions

Now you have why and who for the film was created. The codes and conventions will allow you to use evidence by identifying the techniques used to position the audience to accept an issue in a certain way.

Aesthetic Codes and Conventions

Mise en Scene:

lighting

colour

framing

costume

body language

set design

props

Cinematography

camera movement

pans

pull in/out

tracking

jib

angle

low

high

canted

Editing

seamless/linear

abstract/non-linear

ambiguous

transitions

titles and font

Audio Codes and Conventions

diegetic

natural sounds

dialogue

props

non-diegetic

sound effects

soundtrack

score

voice-over/narration

Narrative Codes and Conventions

Characterisation - The use of character as a vehicle to communicate themes and issues

Representing Themes and Issues

social issues (e.g. depression, anxiety, bullying)

political issues (e.g. inequality, feminism, racism)

cultural issues (e.g. stereotypes, discrimination)

economic issues (e.g. poverty, debt)

How these are represented

Character action and dialogue

Costume

Body language

Reaction from other characters

Plot - the use of plot and structure to create a film sequence and storyline

linear, three-part story structure

non-linear, irresolution, ambiguity

circular - loops around to end where it began

chapter-divided chronological story

flashbacks

When studying make sure you note all these things down. Make a mind map to see how they connect to one another if you’re confused, and then write essays and plan responses to practice as well as embed the knowledge in your mind.