Subversive Print Adverts

Contemporary Print Adverts that Conform to Familial Ideology

October Half Term Homework - 'Men, Women and Chainsaws Reading'

Men, Women and Chainsaws Extract by Ellie Buchan on Scribd

Blog post title: 'Men, Women and Chainsaws Reading'

1. What does Clover mean by 'female victim-hero'?
   
2. Why does Clover say that males relate to the females in horror films, in particular, the 'final girl'?
   
3. Why does Clover suggest that horror research is problematic?
   
4. Who does Clover suggest makes-up the typical horror audience?
   
5. Was there parity between horror audiences in regards to those who watched horror films at the cinema and those who watched them at home through rentals?
   
6. What are the two ways identified by Clover in which audiences identify with characters?

Magazine and Poster Analysis Guidesheets

How to analyse any media text

The Crazies (Eisner, 2010)

Blog you answers to the 6 questions given in class that relate to The Crazies. Do this like a Q&A, blog the question and then you response. Add images and clips for every question.

The Crazies questions

Subversive TV adverts

Interpellation

Interpellation, a term coined by French Marxist philosopher Louis Althousser, describes the process by which ideology addresses the individual.

To illustrate how interpellation functions in the context of ideology Althousser used the example of the policeman who shouts "Hey, you there!" At least one individual will turn around (most likely the right one) to "answer" that call. At this moment, when one realizes that the call is for oneself, one becomes a subject relative to the ideology of law and crime. According to Althusser, this is the way in which ideology generally functions. We are all always caught up in the process in which we voluntarily acknowledge the validity or relevance of the dominant ideology in which we live for ourselves and thus subject ourselves to it. The example of the policeman furthermore suggests that we really have not a choice in this matter. Were we to ignore the call, we would sooner or later be forced to adhere to it.

Interpellation draws on the theory (developed by Althousser and critics such as Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Julia Kristeva, and Jacques Lacan) that the notion of the autonomous, fully coherent and actualized human subject is an illusion, an ideological construction meant to further the agendas of capitalism and liberal humanism (and thus a central feature of their discourses). In fact, human beings are emeshed in numerous discursive and social structures that to a greater or lesser degree shape an individual's identity. Further, individuals in modern societies are not of "one mind,." but have contradictory and fragmented consciousness that includes a dimly understood subconscious.
[1] Adapted in part from Brooker, A Concise Glossary of Cultural Theory

Wrapping text around objects in Photoshop - a really easy to follow tutorial

Halloween (Carpenter, 1978)

Blog your answers for the 10 questions given in class that relate to Halloween. Do this like a Q&A, blog the question and then you response. Add images and clips for every question. You may quote from the reading but you must also then source the information correctly.

Halloween questions

Pre-production: All Necessary Paperwork

Here is a full list of all the planning paperwork you need on your blog. Please remember to blur / blank addresses, telephone numbers and signatures.

You must have:

• Synopsis
• Shot list
• Storyboards
• Recces (and photos)
• Location releases
• Talent releases (minor and adult)
• Prop and costume list
• Risk assessment
• Production schedule

Optional documents

• Budgeting sheet (and photocopies of receipts)
• Script
• Music clearances

The History of Horror: Research Task

Class presentations 2015

1. Roots in Classic Literature
2. The Horror of the Silent Era
3. Monsters and Mad Scientists
4. The Primal Animal Within
5. Mutant Creatures and Alien Invaders
6. Ghost, Zombies, Satanism and your Family
7. Hammer Horror
8. Slasher Movies and Body Horror
9. Format Fears and Moral Panics
10. The Ironic Horror
11. Gorenogrpahy: Gore Returns with A Vengeance

Horror: Genre Conventions

Representation of Women in Horror Quiz

1. Who wrote about the “final girl” in 1992?
2. In what book did they write about the “final girl”?
3. List three traits of the “final girl”/three ‘conventions’.
4. Who wrote about existing research on women’s roles in media texts in 1983?
5. What were the 4 roles mentioned?
6. In 1992 research showed that men dominated women on-screen, but by what ratio?
7. What was the only genre in which the ratio of males to females was more equal?
8. Name one of the three problems with the findings?
9. Why does the reading suggest that Ripley (Alien) is ‘more progressive’ than Lara Croft (TR)?
10. What are the 3 ‘C’s when discussing the portrayal of women in some lifestyle magazines?
11. Who wrote Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema?
12. (Briefly) describe what is meant by the ‘male gaze’
13. Give an example
14. Which magazine removed the male centrefold in the 1980s and why?

Narrative Theory in Relation to Halloween (Carpenter, 1978) and The Crazies (Eisner, 2010)

Narrative theory in relation to Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978)

and The Crazies (Breck Eisner, 2010)

You will need to approach this post from two different angles; firstly you must define, in your own words and backed-up with quotes, the four narrative theories that we looked at last week and secondly, you must relate narrative theories to the two films we have watched in class.

Follow this plan to ensure you cover everything needed:

Paragraph 1

• What is meant by the term Classical Hollywood Narrative?
• Which theorist did we look at for this theory?
• How useful do you think looking at the ‘CHN’ is for understanding media texts?
• Do Halloween and The Crazies follow the CHN? Why do you think this is?

Michael Myers reaching for the clown mask

Paragraph 2
• What are Propp’s various character types and how did he decide on the list?
• How useful do you think looking at the character types are for understanding media texts?
• Which of Propp’s characters are evident in Halloween and The Crazies?

Laurie Strode fighting Myers off

Paragraph 3
• What is meant by the term binary opposition?
• Which theorist did we look at for this?
• How useful do you think looking at the binary opposition is for understanding media texts?
• List 5 examples of binary opposition in Halloween.

Relative safety in the town of Ogden Marsh

Unsafe environment when trying to escape Ogden Marsh

Paragraph 4
• Find and type the quote from Bordwell and Thompson that was on the class sheet and then explain what it means.
• How useful do you think looking at this is for understanding media texts?
• List 2 events in the film that cause another event to happen.
• List 2 events in the film that we know happened but which we don’t see.

Dr Loomis visiting the hospital after
Myers has escaped

Judy visiting the nursery for their
unborn child

Representation: The Cabin in the Woods (Goddard, 2012)

Please blog responses to the following questions. You may present the answers in any way you see fit (but ensure it is 'bloggy').

You will need to complete the reading at the bottom of this post before you tackle these questions. Quote reading whenever possible.

The title of this post is:

The Representation of Women in Relation to The Cabin in the Woods (Goddard, 2012)

1. What were Jeremy Tunstall's 4 character roles for women and do they apply to The Cabin in the Woods?

2. How is Dana typical of Clover's 'Final Girl' theory? Please mention: the ending; Dana's appearance and her actions during the film.

3. Jules undergoes mental and physical transformations during the film, what are they and how do they cause her to become a horror archetype?

4. Is Mulvey's Male Gaze theory exemplified in the film and if so, how? Think about framing, camera angles and POV shots.

5. In the film we, as an audience, are made to be voyeurs; when does this happen and why is it important in regards to representation of character?

6. (Briefly) summarise the way women are represented in The Cabin in the Woods. Are they objectified and there to provide satisfaction for heterosexual males and/or do they fulfil another role/purpose?

  

Feminist Horror Film Theory (click here if the doc is blocked)

How to guides: 'Blogging up' your posts

Whenever you post something on your Blog, it is important to remember that you are, in fact, working on a Blog and not just writing a report/essay, etc. Therefore, you should make full use of the medium and ensure it is interactive and aesthetically pleasing, e.g.,

There are several things that you can do, in each post, to make the text look less ominous and easier to tackle, whilst also making everything you produce visually appealing.

Aim to attempt each of the following in every Blog post you have created:

1. Use video clips

Whether you are analysing a trailer, discussing a scene or referencing a media text, you could (and should for the trailer analyses and representation of women essay) embed and/or link to moving image media top highlight points and provide evidence of research and understanding.

To embed a clip; find the clip you want from YouTube (preferably) and click on 'share' beneath the video (you can see it under the video views bar).

Then select 'embed' and copy the code in the box that will magically appear! Ctrl + C is a shortcut for this or simply right click and select copy.

Once you have the embed code 'on copy', click on 'HTML' when composing a post and paste the code into the text box (that you usually type in). You can check to see if it has worked instantly by clicking back to 'compose'.

2. Adding images

Long paragraphs and segments of text are really unappealing to readers. To combat this you should use images to break up text. Images can also be used to back up points that you make in the text. For example:


"When watching Halloween, you can see that Laurie exemplifies the traits detailed in Clover's 'Final Girl' theory. Firstly she looks androgynous; she has a strong jaw and wears unflattering clothes such as baggy jumpers and calf-length skirts."

You don't always have to use images from films either, you could just as easily use logos, print-screens and uploads of your pre-production paperwork. Anything that exemplifies points made or which breaks up text is great!

3. Incorporating document and image sharing software

If you have written a long essay or report, you do not have to simply paste the text onto the Blog (although this is fine at times). Instead, it is worth investing time signing up to a site like Scribd or Issuu in order to demonstrate knowledge of other programs/software and the skills required to use it. The following has been published through Scribd and I recommend it for its speed and ease of use. The guide, if you take the time to read it, is a step-by-step guide to using Prezi, which is very funky presentation software. A completed Prezi can be found under label 'Z. Class handouts and resources' which will also help you with the distribution post, if needed. If you look at the script/code for any embedded documents in the HTML viewer, e.g., videos, Scribd docs etc., you can re-size and manipulate them as you would an image under the compose viewer.

4. Hyperlinking content

You may have noticed that some of the text in this post has been hyperlinked. This simply means that it has been joined to another place in order to direct the reader to other information. You can link to anything online by hyperlinking it and this is how to do it.

1. Highlight a word or group of words in the text (in your Blog post), such as a film title, actress or character (do not use the highlighting tool, simply use your mouse to pick out a word or two!)
2. Open a new tab in your browser and find a relevant web page from a site such as IMDB, Boxofficemojo, FDA etc., and put the URL 'on copy' (Ctrl+C)
3. Go back to your open Blog post and hit the 'link' button in the toolbar and paste in the URL.

The URL is the web address at the top of the page. 

5. Highlighting and emphasising key text

You might be wary of 'overdoing it' when it comes to 'Blogging up your post' with all of the above but remember that you don't have to go overboard. Simply highlighting text that is important or making key text larger will also make the Blog more accessible and exciting to read. To do this, just use the options in the tool bar at the top of the text box. You could even just change the colour of the text if you like.

To highlight text

To change the size of the text

To change text colour

And that's all there is to it. The most important thing to remember is that the examiner will want to see that yes, you are clever and can demonstrate knowledge but they also want to see that you can use technology and that you understand how to make the most of Blogs.

Sitcom Case Studies: Butterflies, My Family, Cuckoo & Raised by Wolves

Contemporary Adverts: Promoting Familialism (overt) and Gender Roles

The Oxo Family

Exam Booklet for Questions 1a & 1b

Last year's questions:

1a. Conventions from real media products

1b. Your main product in relation to narrative

Generic Prezi Guide

Magazine cover terminology

Photoshop Tutorial - A Reminder

Company credit template (Billing Block)

Use this template if you need help with your credits

MAIN PRODUCTION COMPANY NAME AND SECOND PRODUTION COMPANY NAME
PRESENT  “YOUR FILM TITLE” STARRING ACTOR 1, ACTOR 2 ACTOR 3, ACTOR 4 VISUAL EFFECTS BY COMPANY NAME MUSIC BY SOMEONE COSTUMER DESIGNER SOMEONE EDITED BY SOMEONE AND SOMEONE PRODUCTION DESIGNER SOMEONE DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY SOMEONE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS SOMEONE AND SOMEONE PRODUCED BY SOMEONE WRITTEN BY SOMEONE DIRECTED BY SOMEONE

Audience Research: Questionnaire Results

Step 1:

Analyse your audience research (questionnaires) to identify audience trends and viewing preferences

1a. Begin by sifting out the stupid responses - throw them away/discard them. Once you have at least 12 responses that are sensible, summarise the findings numerically, e.g., how many liked horror and how many didn't, etc.

1b. Look in particular for strong similarities or differences between your ideas and the responses, i.e., is your idea for a slasher horror film and did the majority of respondents say they liked slashers the best? Will you be changing your ideas as a result of the responses in order to meet the requirements of the market?

You don't need to write a huge amount as you are now going to produce graphs which 'visibly' show your results. This should be posted on your blog with the title 'How Audience Research Impacted Our Idea' (label E).

Step 2:

Use onlinecharttool or Excel to create easy-to-read
graphs and charts

2a. Open Excel or an internet graph generator and create graphs and charts which show your results clearly. Graphs are an excellent way of communicating information quickly as you can see results 'at a glance'.

You must produce a minimum of 6 graphs and you must use different types of graphs, e.g., pie, bar, etc. These graphs should be added to your post 'Audience Research: Questionnaires' (label E).

Look at the chart I have created below; what works well and what doesn't work quite so well?