TV Drama

4th Nov 20

Television: Industry & Audience

L/O: To research the history, companies & regulators in the television industry

Intro:

Paper 1 section A

You will be given an unseen extract from a TV drama to watch and analyse.

You will be asked 3 questions about the extract and 2 about TV in general.

You could be asked:

     How media language has been used to create meaning

     How the industry has influenced the meaning

     The audiences reaction to the extract

     The social, cultural & Historical context

In your own words write the definitions for the following terms:

Publicly owned TV Channel - A channel that is funded by governments & license fees for public service.

Commercial TV Channel - Is a privately owned channel that earns money by selling advertising time.

Convergence - The merging of companies joining together to work as one. 

Watershed - The time of day at which programming is aimed at adults and mature people.

Segmented market - This is when the market is segmented up into different characteristics or lifestyles.

Mainstream - The attitudes or activities of the majority of people regarded as normal or conventional.

Self-regulating - Not regulated outside bodies.

Franchise - License from company of a product to use formats/shows/ideas.

Channel-Surfing - When you switch between different channels looking for something to watch.

PBS - Public Service Broadcasting regulators demand to fulfil certain requirements to get license fees. 

Tv license - A license you require to watch or record TV programs as they are being shown on TV.

Scheduling - The arrangement, control and optimisation of Television programs. Deciding what and when 

Conglomerate - One big company that owns lots of smaller companies that tends to produce lots of other                              products

1. When was TV introduced into the UK

2nd November 1936, continued on 22nd September 1955 after WW2

2. In 1965, how many channels were there in the UK and what were they

ITV, BBC1, BBC2.

3. When did ITV Start Why was it different? 

22nd September 1955,  It was the first commercially owned channel that run TV advertisements.

4. Which UK channels have to follow PSB remits? 

Channels 3 4 5 and BBC

5. Who regulates TV now?

Ofcom

6. Who regulated Tv channels in the 1960's?

ITA, Independent Television Authority, the BBC was self-regulated at the time.

7. List the differences between TV in the 60's & now?

There are more channels today that in the 60's. All uk terrestrial channels have to follow the PBS remit, although it is stricter if a channel is publicly owned (BBC), this wasn't around in the 60's because it was only 3 channels. There wasn't channel surfing because TV tuning was very hard. 

60's TV:

1969, Apollo 12 moon landing

1960, The grand nationals is televised 

1960 BBC Television Centre

1964 BBC2 is launched 

18th Nov 20

Television Industry: Ownership & Regulation

L/O: To explore the ownership & regulation of BBC 1& ITV

PSB - Public service broadcasting

Remit - An area of responsibility or authority

Terrestrial - Broadcasting using equipment on the ground rather than satellite.

Royal Charter - Something granted by the queen which guarantees independently and outlines the duties and purposes.

In the UK PSB refers to broadcasting that is intended for the publics benefit rather than for commercial concerns (Making money). In the UK the BBC is the main PSB channel has a strict REMIT to follow, While other TERRESTRIAL channels have to follow a PSB remit but not as strictly as the BBC,PSB channels don't show advertisements.

Ofcom regulates the BBC Externally, Internally the BBC is controlled by a board of 12 - 14 members. The BBC is granted with a license to broadcast by ROYAL CHARTER, which must be renewed every 11 years. The charter sets out the BBC's public purpose.

BBC - " TO INFORM, EDUCATE & ENTERTAIN" - BBC's Ethos

The ethos is still based on the 3 ideas of "Inform, Educate & Entertain" 

https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/governance

Write down the key points for each of the following areas:

BBC's Mission, Vision & Values

Public Purpose(BBC Charter)

The Licence Fee

History of the BBC

BBC'S Mission:

"To act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of imperial high-quality and distinctive output and service which inform, educate and entertain"

BBC's Public Purpose

1. To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them.

2. To support learning for people of all ages.

3. To show the most creative, highest quality and distinctive outputs and service.

4. To reflect, represent  and serve  the diverse communities of all of the UK's nations and regions and, in doing so, supporting the creative economy across the UK

5. To reflect the UK, in its culture and values to the world.

Values:

1 Trust

2 Audience

3 Respect

4 Quality

5 Creativity

License Fee:

TV License - £157.50 for 1 year

The license fee funds BBC TV, radio, Online content and developing new programmes. The government sets the level for the License fee. 

For:

Independence from Government - No government influence

No commercial pressures

Don't strive to make profit, so don't have to make all popular formats

Can make more niche, quality programmes that appeal to a wide, diverse.

Against:

Outdates Scheme (Doesn't match the way we consume TV now).

Should be Pay-Per- View/ Subscription.

Still have government influence as they set the level.

Commercial Channels

Mainly funded through Advertisements.

ITV, Channel 4 & 5 are commercially funded channels which also have to fulfil PSB requirements.

Channel 4 has a remit to deliver high-quality, innovative, alternative programs that challenge accepted views and values. C4 is also commercially funded but publicly owned meaning profits for adverts go back into new programs.

Subscription based channels have no PSB requirements. 

They can make money through:

Subscription,

Pay-per-view,

Sponsorships,

Advertisement,

Product Placement - using certain items/products in the program.

ITV - " Our vision is to be ' More than TV' building upon ITV's unique and winning combination of creativity and commercial strength.

It has a not as harsh PSB, and is a non profit organisation so profit goes back into the company to make better TV programs.

It has to broadcast items of national importance (e.g Covid-19)

Produce a verity of Programs 

Produce accessible content

Number and names of Channels - 6, ITV, ITV 2, ITV3, ITV 4, ITV Be and CITV

Strategy - " Our strategy vision is to be a diligently led by media and entertainment company that creates and brings out brilliant content to audiences wherever, whenever and however they choose.

Other platforms available -In addition to linear broadcast, ITV delivers its content across multiple platforms. This is either through our advertiser funded OTT service, the ITV Hub, pay providers such as Virgin and Sky, and through direct content deals with services such as Amazon and Apple.How does it generate income aside from advertisements - Sponsorships, Product placements

25th Nov 20

TV Audience

L/O: To explore how audience consume Tv dramas and the appeals

What are all the ways audiences can watch TV programs today: 

Live Television 

Catch up Television 

Phones, Tablets, Laptops ...

Recorded before hand

Streaming 

Subscription 

Time Shifted Programs - Programs that you record and watch in your own time.

85% - Still watch the PSB channels.

Second Screening - Watching the TV show live and encourages people to discuss it on social medias.

Audience interactivity - Voting to decide outcomes engaging the loyalty to channel and commitment to                                          the TV show.

-----------------------------------------------------------Theory---------------------------------------------------------

Theory: The active audience:

This focus on debates as to wether an audience is active ( Doing something ) or passive ( Sit back and listen ). 

A passive audience accepts and believe everything the media text tell them. They are easily influenced and don't question and message conveyed.

An active audience interacts with the media text and make their own decisions about wether to accept  and believe everything. They question messages and may interpretations meaning differently.

Audiences in the 1960's would have been much more active: Because they couldn't channel surf, they only had a few platforms available to them, they couldn't second screen, interactivity wasn't as possible because not everyone had a telephone and their was no applications or mobile phone.

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Scheduling is therefore, massively important to both BBC & ITV. Competitive scheduling can benefit the main channel as it creates publicity. 

E.G BBC1's Strictly come dancing results show was scheduled at the same time as ITV's The X Factor. 

Peak viewing time is 6pm - 10.30pm

Audience Ratings are measured by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB)

WaterShed - Overseen by OFCOM and is between 9pm - 5.30am. During these hours broadcasters can show content that is not suitable for children up to the aged 15. 18 rated content cannot be shown until after 10.

Unsuitable material included sexual content, violence, graphic or disturbing imager or language. 

What is the difference between TV drama and Serial TV drama

TV drama - Typically follow main story arcs that span an entire series they often contain complex narratives and key characters that evolve as the season continues

Serial TV drama - Is defined as any TV drama that is organised into a series of episodes (as apposed to one offs) A serial has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion.

Most popular sub genre TV dramas divide into:

Crime - Sherlock

Period - The Crown

Teen - Titans

Medical - Doc Martin 

Science-Fiction - Doctor Who

Fantasy - Game of thrones

Political - House of Cards

The 1960

L/O: Research the social, historical and political context of the Avengers

You will be examined and graded on your knowledge of the social,cultural and historical factors that influenced the narrative, characters, props, sounds and themes.

1) The Beatles, The rolling stones and Lead Zeppelin. The music was more 
2) Sir Harold Wilson, Labour

3) Weed, LSD, acid - Hallucinogenic   

4) Contracetpive pill 

5) Vietnam War, Cold war, JFK was assassinated, Martin Luther King

6) Vietnam war, Cold war

7) Vietnam War - Uk and Us involvement, Civil rights

8) Women were slowly getting better education, 80% didn't have a college degree and had a divorce, only 30% of women were employed, 93% were married by the age of early 30's, 89% of women had children in their early 30s. 1 in 350 children had a mother who hadn't been married, while in 2012 22 in every 100 children had a mother who hadn't been married. Women couldn't get a credit card, women couldn't serve as a jury, couldn't experience equality.

9th Dec 20

Concerns over the Cold War 

In 1965 the Cold war was at the height. Britain was a part of NATO - 12 countries in the western block who would support over a agreement to help over a Soviet union. The Soviets formed formed a pact with seven other communist countries. Fears of being taken over from the inside.

Threat of Nuclear War

Anxieties about nuclear war were common as both the Soviet's and US were building up their armies and weapons.

In 1962, The Cuban Missile Crisis took place over a terrifying week when the two countries took over the world

Espionage

Both sides in the Cold War used ESPIONAGE - as a way of finding out what they opposition was doing as a way of planting false info. A number of double agents were found guilty of spying in the early 60's and either defected or were imprisoned, causing ESPIONAGE to be a common theme in  films and TV programs.

9th Dec 20

The Avengers (1965)

L/O: To research the TV show Avengers

1) ABC - A part of ITV

2) Mainstream adult audience 

3) 7th January 1961

4) 6 Seasons

5) 21st April 1969

6) £56,000 Per episode (£928,000 in todays money)

8) Able to be shot in colour, yet had ton be shows in black and white because people didn't have coloured TVs. ABC reportedly paid $2million meaning the 4th series could be shot on film, using lighter cameras and could be shot in the location and made everything more realistic looking, better sound quality didn't look as staged, and could be edited easier. 

9) John Steed Played by Patrick macnee, Emma Peel played by Diana Rigg 

10) The BBC was seen as a middle - class TV, and ITV was the working class and this was beginning to be cool. The Avengers was seen as more daring, youthful. 

The Avengers was Scheduled on Saturdays at 9:05 PM - peak time to attract mass audiences. The 4th series attracted audiences of 7 million and was often in the top ten ratings. 

6th Jan 21

The Avengers: The Town of No Return 

L/O: To explore the narrative, characters and appeal of series 4 episode 1.

The program would have appealed to the audience at the time because it is a spy type of movie and so this would reflex on the cold war which was going on because lots of spy's were used and so it would have given the audience what they would feel is as an insight to what the cold war was like for the spy's, being informative. However it would also be an entertainment and social interaction points because they would enjoy watching the program because of some of the jokes and funny aspects, but then they could go and talk about it to their friends and people would feel they are at an disadvantage if their friends were talking about the show and they missed it, influencing them to ensure they watch it in-order to not be left out. With personal identity they could use it as a way to identify to and empathise with the upper class role models, it could be used to explore or reinforce their own views and values, identifying the 'English Gent' - Steed. cool, calm and unruffled. Could identify with the tough, intelligent and equal female hero - Emma Peel.   

Information - Could gain info on the world of upper classes, or the life of spies around the world (Espionage). Could feel reassured that there are capable people protecting Britain from  foreign threats.

Entertainment - Enjoy the narrative, and de-stress themselves by watching The Avengers. Could enjoy the danger situations and the escape with humour and sophistication. Could enjoy the repeated narrative with just different weekly villains.

Social interaction - Could watch the program together due to only 1 TV, discuss with friends and if they missed it they could feel left out, could build a personal relationship with characters almost as a substitute for real life interactions. A sense of Britishness gained in Britain and abroad from the program. 

The program could also appeal to audiences because of the fantasy and spy genre which can be very interesting to audiences, but also the fact that this series in particular was highly funded so would have been able to be made much better which could encourage people back if they didn't like it before hand then the new more expensive may have been what the needed to want to watch the program. The mise-en-scene could entice people to watch because it would have shown off the latest's of fashion encouraging people to want to dress similar to that of Steed and Peel. It could be because of the characters have an appealing atmosphere, Steed a well dressed, well skilled professional spy.

8th Jan 2021

Context - The Avengers The Town Of No Return

L/O: To analyse the influences of the social and historical context in series 4 episode 1

Fifth Columnists - Secretly supported the enemy and undermined the country 

 

The Pub Owner 

The stereotype characters were:

The Pub Owner - Big moustache, in the army, 

The inspector - Well dressed, well spoken.

The enemy - Not as smart as British.

The women (Emma Peel) - Needs a mans help with things because she has been beaten by me.

The Vicar - Helpful, kind and well spoken (Until he is shown to be part of the enemy's side.).

The fat man - Happy/jolly, cant run away from dogs, kind.

 

The Ipcress File: It is a spy film with a British agent

Thunder ball: A very successful film series and very formal

TSWCIFTC: It was set around the same time and had the same context as The Avengers

The War Game: The plot was a fear of what could have happened

It Happened here: It is what is trying to be achieved through the village, Steed and peel stop this film plot from becoming the new reality

The Man From U.N.C.L.E: A similar genre

The characters are shown as smart, but not as smart as the true Brits and are stereotyped as being wrong about English people.

The comedic element is that of a few small mistakes by either the main characters or the enemy which helps bring a sense of  comedy to the film else it would feel to outlandish and boring.

The narrative is very easy for people to follow and doesn't involve you needing to watch pervious episodes in-order to be able to understand everything. 

Steed's Position - He's sitting a child's desk in the classroom, the fact of him being a grown man sitting behind a child's desk and how they both have a cool calm sense about them.

The social contexts of the time influences television programs because programs have to be social relevant or acknowledge the events of the time so that viewers will be interested in the program or that they will even be able to understand what is going on in the program and any potential references made to the context of the time.

In The Avengers television show the episode 1 of the 4th series is an episode completely based on espionage, because we have the main characters are spy's as well as the invading/infiltrating enemy's. 

This follows the social influences of the time because the Cold War was on going when this program was being aired and so people were very intrigued in the life of a spy but they were also very cautious and concerned about a possible invasion from the inside from enemy spy's. 

Television shows have to be influenced by social events and context because it helps viewers to get a background on the time at which the program is set as well as giving the audience the ability to guess or workout when the program is roughly set. Following social contexts also helps programs create a story based around that time period other wise the story wont fit with what is happening at the time of when the show is set, so the show must be influenced by social context of the time of when the program is set.  

13th Jan 21

Context - The Avengers: The Town of No Return

L/O: To analyse representation and influences of social & cultural context in series 4 episode 1.

The seaside town is represented as everyone being stereotypically British as helpful and weird, while the setting is an actual British town so the buildings are exactly British. Some of the props like the fake inspectors clothing were typical of an English gent. So of the dialogue between characters is quintessentially British with it being common catchphrases or just being Brtishly polite. 

The camerawork was very advanced for the time because the large budget for the episode and shows the serious attitude that was being taken to the filming of the episodes while the decoration of the Pub is that of a typical pub in England from the time so people would take the same attitude to the pub as any other normal pub in England. The sound is very clear for the time period as well because the large budget the sound quality could be better because of higher quality equipment. The woman headteacher would be a new step for the 60's society because women were starting to get equality and so this would be a positive step towards equality having a female headteacher and a new female teacher in that of Miss Pee, then the way how the male inspector shows British etiquette and manners to an outsider not from the local area shows how society was starting to become more equal in terms of gender. The portrayal of rural life is of people being very polite but also secretive/weird.

The portrayal of women varies throughout the episode with at the start Emma Peel, is in apartment practicing fencing showing her to be strong tough breed of woman, while later on in the scene Steed hits her bottom when she turns and lets her guard down, putting Emma back in the light of being a sex object. She is finally put back into a strong/tough light when at the end she fights the enemy's along side steed and then takes out 2 enemy's by her self showing she is an independent woman who doesn't need a man to help her out of a tough situation, this is EP being an anti-stereotype because she over came a man and woman all by her self. However she does follow women stereotyping when she is caught by the enemy's and is tied up and requires steeds help to get freed which and shows women to be lesser than men and so need men to get out of situations. 

The attitudes of sexuality were starting to change and become more so equal and the few situations in the episode where Emma is able to do things by her self shows this change is a good thing and is going well, while there are some scenes where she still needs Steed to rescue here and needed his help which also shows to people no matter how well things are going people still may need help and their is no problem with that. 

Both Agents are a part of the upper working class, and this can be seen by how they dree in expensive looking clothing as well as Emma having a nice large house. We can also see the changing in the ages because Steed is dressed as a typical gent in a suit and talks very posh and acts kindly, but has older style views. While Emma dresses in odd looking clothing which was becoming popular with younger people and so she would be able to afford this type of new 'fashionable' clothing styles and so would be looked up to because she wears new fashionable clothing.

20th Jan 21

Research - 2015

L/O: To research the 2010's (UK) in terms of social, cultural and political climate of the decade: research TV usage in 2015.

1. Conservatives, David Cameron. UKIP promised what the people wanted

2. Safety concerns 

3. Iraqi war, Libyan 2nd civil war

4. Poll tax, Anti-government

A police drama from 2015 would have a mixture of males and females, people of many different religions like: Christianity, catholic, Judaism, protestant …, There would be a younger age range because in this time younger people are the one's that are most likely to watch Television. Where's in 1965, there would be a mixture of male's and female's but it would be primarily male characters, while their religion would likely be a Catholic or Protestant because these are the most common religions in Britain at the time, while the age range of people would be middle age because they were the people who were the typical age of the English Gentleman and so would be recognised as an English program.

The threats and issues of each time period are quite different, this is due to in the more modern 2015 program this was post 9/11 so the main fears would have still been on terrorism or the wars going on over seas, such as Iraqi war, Syrian war as well as Isis and their attacks on Britain. While in the 1960's the threat was much more of a frightening on of espionage, the infiltration of spy's who were at the time quite active because of the cold war so people were concerned about the the country being taken over from within or the extreme but still imminent threat of nuclear war between Russia and the US.

The potential story lines from each era program would follow that of the current global threats and issues, so in 2015 the storylines would have likely been a terrorism plot being discovered and stopped just before it is executed. Then in the 60's the storylines would have been primarily espionage but also war/ nuclear war. 

22nd Jan 21

Television Industry

L/O: TO explore the Tv industry in 2010's and the effects of Tv shows and audiences 

1. 480

2. Live, Catch-up, streaming services.

3. Interesting plot, relatable and enticing characters, detailed set.

4. Plot twists, new characters, tragedies/big changes.

1. The producers included a few fight scenes, the main characters, comedic elements as well as professional over view voice. This is to entice people to go and watch the series and to encourage people who don't normally watch that type of program to go and watch it.

2. They have represented police life as a struggle of dealing with violent, vocal and people with no respect, showing police life to be a struggle.

3. They have represented personal drama's as ... ?

4.The media language used is very broad. There are a lot of authentic looking uniforms a part of MES as well as police equipment to go with that. the editing is very minimal just normal jump cuts between scenes as well as the BBC logo transition at the end. The way this may appeal to the TA is that it looks very authentic and so police fans may want to watch the program due to it looking authentic and well made.

You would expect a high quality program and a well made program from the BBC because they are publicly funded so must impress the public and show them that the TV license fees go to good use. 

1. A passive audience are just people who just watch the program and do not actively respond to it in any way. While an active audience will observe the program and everything in it, and will then go and respond to it either on social media or with other people. 

2.The audiences for The Avengers and Cuffs are very different because, The Avengers is a program with old fashion views and is made for and in a different time period and has different context, social and culturally. While cuffs is set and made in a different time period and has a more family friendly time slot and is made for families and has more modern backgrounds and contexts.

3. The producers of cuffs used comedic elements to entice families because lots of people like comedy and it can be family friendly comedy as well as it being mainstream lots of families will be able to understand the jokes and references made in comedic terms. The range of multicultural characters is the fit into the current society of equality and that no matter what culture or ethnicity i you can be a part of the police force or even better. The authentic locations is used because it helps people to believe the program and everything that goes on, this helps escapism and people to forget the real world for the duration of the program. The police procedural scenes that are used help to make the program seem more authentic and builds upon the authentic locations, but it also gives people an insight into the police life and so lets people to see what you would do in the police force and weather or not you would like to go into that line of occupation.

27th Jan 21

Cuffs Series1, episode 1

L/O: To analyse the narrative and characters constructed in the opening episode.

Characters: A good introduction showing a bit of their background as well as show most things about that character that is important to know for future references and help get an understanding of them and to relate to each character.

Storyline: Episodic so that you don't have to see every episode so that you aren't left behind or in the dark - story wise.

Setting: The station and town it's set in so the audience can get a feel for what the main location/place is like.

Appeal: The appeal would be the fact of the show being mostly about the police force and so that they will mainly attract crime fans.  

Characters

They all tell or show a bit of their background,

Jake - Gay, first day, father in the police, feud with Ryan

Jo - Has an injured dog, likes Chief, single

Carl- doesn't see his kids much, very physical/aggressive

Ryan - Has son, feud with Jake, he knows some of the locals (mentally ill person from beginning)

Narrative:

Lots of crimes to set the scene and give the force the work for the episode,

Starts with a harsh assault crime,

Shows many other incidence that they have to deal with,

Chase scene, 

attempted murder  

robbery 

ends with a body of the man they helped in the beginning

 P - This gives people a chance to see them selves in the characters and see what they could be like or what they used to be like.

I - This shows some of what the police officers have to deal with day in day out with smaller things from assaults or racism to bigger things like attempted murder, kidnapping or suicide.

E - The entertainment values that people get is from the little feud the main 2 characters, Ryan and Jake have to begin with or the fight scene when the 2 uniformed and un-uniformed officers go into the house and have to deal with a few perpetrators.

S - The social interaction side allows people to discuss the events and happenings of each episode being the parts they enjoyed or the parts that they would have changed, and who they liked the most how they enjoyed the episode to others who have watched the show.

3rd Feb 21

Cuffs & Social Context

L/O: To analyse the representation and influence of social and cultural context in Cuffs

Characters: The characters were stereotyped as ?

Props: Their was stereotypical fish and chips, ice cream, beach towels, wind breaks and deckchairs among other beach related items.

Character interaction: ?

Dialogue: ?

Stereotypes: Seagulls stealing food, similar to the seaside town from The Avengers 

? - How are these stereotyped for an English seaside town - ?

1. Their is a female detective showing women can be in that role and it isn't just for women, as well as their being a normal police officer in uniform who is a female.

2. Their is a gay male officer which defiantly wouldn't have been in the 60's (The Avengers) or if so would have been shown in a negative light. Their is also a family orientated officer (Ryan) which in the 60's would have been seen as a female trait. Their is also a gay lawyer who again like the officer wouldn't have been in a 60's show.

3. Their is also a family orientated officer (Ryan) which in the 60's would have been seen as a female trait. 

PC Donna Prager - She is represented as a powerful and kind individual through her kindness towards the public but a powerful and athletic person in the training scene near the end of the episode. She is further represented as a kind person when the police are called during their lunch break to a scene and she is one of the first to get up and head out for the car.

PC Misha Baig - ? We haven't come across her

PC Jake Vickers - He is represented as a strong and determined person, when he tries his bad cop in his first task to get the man to open the door after he has committed self harm, but also as a strong individual as he takes down the racist offender single handily with one punch but also when they find the man from the beginning handing from under the pier. This is primarily showing that despite being gay he can still do and be the same as a normal man no mater his preference. 

PC Lino Moretti - He is represented as a less powerful and dominant person in comparison to his partner a female, this shows that equality is being 'performed' and that women can be just as good or better than men. Lino also shows that women can be better because in the training scene near then end of the episode he Lino is the first to bow out showing women can be better. He is also a laid back individual and allows his female partner to do some of the work as well as him showing he is kind in letting the women show their just as good as men but also shows that Lino is a competent officer doing the minimum while also allowing others to show their skills.

1 Masculine

2 Feminine 

3 Masculine

4 Masculine

5 Feminine

6 Feminine

7 Masculine

Jake - Determined and  , Anti-stereotypical.

Lino - Lazy and Subservient, Stereotypical and Anti- Stereotypical. 

Carl - Fierce and  , Stereotypical

Felix - Secretive and Understanding, Anti-Stereotypical

5th Feb 21

Continue on from last lesson

L/O: Same as last lesson.

The visibility of LGBT characters increase their acceptance because they are shown as normal people with normal jobs. However, with the LGBT peoples having very good jobs like police officer and lawyer its shows just because they may have different ways doesn't mean they aren't good enough for good jobs.

Jake Challenges the typical stereotype of being a problem because he is desperately trying his hardest too fit in while stereotypical LGBT's try to make them selves different from other people and stand out. He also goes against stereotypes of having a more feminine job because he has become a police officer shows that because he is LGBT he can still get a normal male and female job.

The positive views of Multiculturalism in 2015 were starting to be more accepting and people were beginning to show equality, however there were some groups who were still very racist at the time.

The difference in ethnicity is shown almost instantly with the 2 black police officers and the fact that one of them , Ryan Draper, is a mentor for new recruits really shows the equality especially in the police force.  

Racism was still in Britain and was shown in the group of people who started off harassing an black Indian man, before eventually attempting to murder him. Later on in the program, the same man who committed the attempted murder starts to threaten and harass Ryan the black police officer, showing that no matter what job black people do there will always be someone who is going to try and belittle them with racism or ratial slurs 

The way that the racist groups are negatively represented is the way that they don't just harass the young black Indian boy, but to then when they eventually go and attempt to murder him which shows the racists to be murderers which is one of the worst type of person/people to be.

The powerful anti-racist message reflects on the 2015 society because everyone is disgusted by the actions and harassment from the racist peoples and causes people to steer away from being racist and being associated with racists. 

The different ages are represented as having complicated lives in the way, Ryan a middle aged man can not trust his son to stay in school so has a complicated time keeping him in line, while Jake is young and new to the force and so has got a hard time trying to fit in and get things right.

The younger are seen more physically fit and energetic because in the training scene at the end the younger Ryan and Donna are able to do more lengths than that of the older Lino. 

The youth are also shown to be more inexperienced because during the chase scene following a pickup truck which had just stolen an ATM Ryan started the running commentary back to the station and was good at it because he is slightly older and so more experienced but when Jake takes over the running commentary he is younger and so less experienced and so ends up telling the running commentary slowly and wrongly, thus showing the older are more experienced. 

The negative attitude towards the police force can be largely seen in two areas, 1 with the shop keeper who refuses to help the police due to the police taking a little while to help he when his shop was vandalized/shoplifted before the first episode so he has a negative view on the police so doesn't want to assist them because he didn't get help when he needed it due to budget cuts and less police officers. Number 2 with the lady who had her child kidnapped by her ex-husband she is constantly complaining about the police not getting her child back in an instant and having then let the kidnapper go because the officers were unaware of the what the man had done. 

Cuffs challenges this negative view by showing the police in a very positive way, catching a frankly Psychopathic racist, catching a kidnapper and returning the child to her mother, helping a man with mental issues who had just committed self harm and also in helping people when in need (With the nudists on the beech in the opening scenes, despite the negative view of the police that the nudists had of them).

 

The first episode of Cuffs shows a change in social and cultural context of the British society from the 60's. This is shown in many ways from; Gender, Age, Sexuality, Ethnicity and Attitudes towards the police.

Gender.

The masculine gender has changed drastically from the 60's because in Cuffs their are 5 male characters while in the avengers their were about 6-7. Also in cuffs the men are presented as equal to women and not better then women, like in the avengers. 

The female genders has also had a drastic change, much more than the male. In cuffs their are 3 female characters which are all strong, independent and capable women, where's in the avengers their is only 1 female character who is also shown as strong and capable but at many points needs a man to help her out of a situation but in comparison she can do some things by herself, while in Cuffs the women are independent and in a few cases they help the men out or are the ones doing the majority of the work, showing modern equality and women's capability's. Clearly the women are presented as much more capable and independent in Cuffs because the world was becoming more equal and weren't seeing women as lesser than men but equal to men.

Age

The older generations of characters in both Cuffs and the avengers are shown to be the most knowledgeable and smarter than the younger generations of people. The youth are also shown to be more inexperienced because during the chase scene following a pickup truck which had just stolen an ATM Ryan started the running commentary back to the station and was good at it because he is slightly older and so more experienced but when Jake takes over the running commentary he is younger and so less experienced and so ends up telling the running commentary slowly and wrongly, thus showing the older are more experienced. 

Sexuality

The sexuality has a clear separation between the programs. In Cuffs their are 2 LGBT characters, 1 a police officer and the second a lawyer, this shows the changing world adapting to equality for all genders, ethnicity's and sexuality's. While in the avengers their is no LGBT character because back in the 60's it would have been seen as wrong and those people would have been locked down and frowned upon. 

Ethnicity

The ethnicity is clearly more embraced and shown to be equal in Cuffs while not even apparent in the avengers. In Cuffs their is 2 black male police officers and 1 Muslim lady and they are all shown to be equal and are treated like normal people/police officers showing that in modern times we are more equal and don't judge people by their ethnicity. On the other hand the avengers has not got any black or Muslim people so their is no ethnic diversity. 

Attitudes towards police.

The attitudes are very different towards the police because of the social context's of the times each program was made/set. In the avengers the attitudes towards the police/spy's would have been that of a very positive one because people at the the time in the 1960's were very concerned about spy's taking over the country from the inside and so the people would see the police/spy's as their guardians and would have respected them. However the story is different in 2015 and Cuffs, because public attitudes where at a low and so people didn't trust nor respect the police and this is very evident in a few scene's the nudists on the beach at the beginning say to Ryan the police officer something along the lines of ' What's the point of you ?' immediately setting the negative tone the public had towards the police. Their is also another example with the shop keeper who refuses to help the police with the attempted murder in his own shop because the police didn't help him in his time of need when his shop was vandalised/shoplifted.

 

24th Feb 21

Analysing an Extract 

L/O: To analyse the use of Media language in a TV drama extract

26th Feb 21

first few seconds there are sea side sounds, then a radio sound to tell you this is a police show/scene. There is a briefing by the chief as well as a backing music to create a more relaxed atmosphere, but slowly intensifies with the event that is unfolding on the beach. Then dropping back down to a relaxed tone after the assaulters have fled

Sound has been used in a stereotypical way in using sounds of the ocean and seagull which are stereotypical seaside town sounds that you would hear instantly showing that this is a typical stereotypical seaside town light Margate or Blackpool. 

The police radio sounds has been used to create a more authentic meaning to the show letting viewers connect and get a more realistic view of the police day to day life and to make the show seem more realistic.

Finally the briefing by the chief shows that this show is aiming for a very authentic style and will also have a professional and realistic meaning, this also shows that it may be a positive show giving off messages and morals to take away because the chief mentions his son showing despite being a person high up in his work he is still looking out for his family and helping them do the best that they can.

3rd Mar 21

Analysing an Extract Pt2

L/O: Same as last lesson.

The use of the diegetic sound of the quire practice is used to give a false sense of people present while Mrs Peel is inside the church speaking with the priest, who also turns out to be an imposter. This parallel sound is used as a weapon against Mrs Peel who causes herself to look foolish when she edges her way through the door only to find it is a recording and discovers there is no-body actually there singing. This is the enemy's trying to give the impression of all is well and a sea side town with a small choir. 

The Non-diegetic sound when the imposter pries pulls a gun on Mrs Peel is used to show to the audience this is a turning point and has gone from being a small chat between the two characters to the priest revealing it is all a hoax and so is now in imminent danger.  

The use of no sound when Mrs Peel tries to escape the Church only to open the door and see two more people with guns pointed right at her shows that no sound is needed to show her trouble and situation that she has found herself in.

The backing music is used to contrast with the speech because it relays what we are seeing by increasing the tension in the music as the tension of the scene and speech increases to make sure that the audience know that the scene is building up to a climax and then the music sticks with it through the climax and to the end of the scene.

WWW: I had a good use of terminology and I think I answered the question well and with enough detail.

EBI: I think that I could have added some more links to context of the time in the 1960's as well as explaining how the media language was used.

10th Mar 21

Exam Preparation

L/O: To review and practice possible exam questions.

In the extract, the main focus point depicts the controlled and quick polices point of view more so than that of the criminals point of view which has only 30 seconds of the extract in-order to just set the scene for the police. As the views we mainly see the point of view from Jake and Ryan from when they are in the canteen and then when they head to their car to join in the pursuit once it has been called in, we spend most of our time in the extract with them because it shows how professional the police are as well as how efficiently they work when put under intense pressure. As the viewer we are made to feel sympathy for Jake because he has no lunch while his co-workers do and then once his arrives he has to abandon it because he and his co-workers are called out on this robbery. We are however also made to sympathise for the shop keeper because his shop gets majorly damaged as well as getting his ATM stolen from right under his nose, and all he can do is run into the back of the shop out of the way of any more danger. The extract has created this sympathy for both characters by showing the CCTV in the shop where we can see the whole shop set getting ransacked and the owner running out of the way into the back to get into safety. While the sympathy for Jake is put on the viewer by his facial expression when his food is delivered yet he has to leave it and doesn't know what to do, so ends up being called by Ryan to hurry up and therefore has too abandon his lunch. 

I think that the aspects that are shown in the clip very much depicts the police's point of view over the criminals, while also putting the police into a positive depiction.

5th May 21

Consolidation

L/O: to analyse the techniques used and their effects in the opening episodes of cuffs

Focus on the following:

How are the police represented compared to the crims, in terms of media language ( Any sounds, mise-en-scene or edited in a certain way).

How tension is created in the dramatic scenes.

Stereotypes used or subverted.

Police are presented in uniform with matching car, sirens as well as police radio(both diegetic sound) All help to identify its in the UK. 

Crims, all wearing similar t-shirts, with viking helmets and a blow up doll, and acting stereotypically drunk. The man out side the school is made to look like a pedophile because he's got, greasy hair and a trench coat and the music turns to a slow and sinister tone, as well as the fact he's standing out side a school and is looking a t one girl in-particular.

the opening scene is being juxtaposed with the speech saying the police will be under control, but then one officer is in a situation stopping a drunken stag party on a naturist beach which isn't being under control. Also the fact of a serious speech over a not so serious call out of a stag due crashing a naturalists beech. The speech saying 'earning the respect of the community.' but then a member of the naturalist beech saying' What is the point of you' clearly not getting the communities respect. 

we are instantly shown this isn't a serious police show because he's going on a naturalist beech to stop a stag due. We can see its from the polices perspective because at the start the sound goes all muffled except for the officers voice showing the focus on the police. 

The man in the house is portrayed as an alcoholic with mental problems, lots of bottles around the house, doesn't look well kept(i.e. cut and dirty clothing.) He's not shown as a crim because Ryan is very calm and kind to him because he's looking down on him and is being kind. when put in the chair he's very much looked down on to show he's not a threat and also willingly lets the police officers in. There is lots of rubbish and waste around showing what he says, things get on top of him easily. 

A high angled shot is used on the victim of the mother who's child has been taken, showing she helpless and is not able to do anything, as well as is looking up at the officer who has the power as well as the officer is being shown with a low angle shot looking up on him showing he has all of the power in the moment and is shown as the only one who can help the woman. 

The lawyer being shown as a stereotypical 'bad' guy by not being helpful to the police.

The teens are being shown as typical teens skipping school and running around the streets like a playground. We also see Ryan is a father and has a child who is skipping school

During the chase scene parallel editing flipping between the chasers and the back-up, with the music becoming very fast paced and dramatic. The 360 camera movement showing Jake's confusion and trying to work out whats going on. At the end of this scene in the station Ryan is very blunt by shutting down the suspect by saying they don't care about what your mother does, showing his professionalism.

In the office we see joe try and re-connect with Vickers because she says its been a while. We can infer he's married because he's got a child and it looks like he and joe were together potentially as an affair. 

Lino is shown as the comic relief because of his facial expressions as well as him having 2 lunches and being the slowest in the chase scene. In the dinning room Ryan seems to be more calm and less professional because he's with other officers and isn't fully on duty.

Durning the robbery the parallel editing between the scene and the back up which has increasingly fast cuts, the music gets very fast as well as the officers driving fast showing the urgency of the matter as well as the panic and confidence in the female officers voice shows the seriousness of the situation. Then in the chase the slow motion and slow sound shows jake 'holding his breathe' in the tense situation, at the end of the chase scene Ryan gets very annoyed that they have lost the pick up truck, this shows that he is very committed to his job. When booking a tow for the accidentally stung car, the man who 'stole' his child is slowly backing away, this shows that he is going to make a run for it and then sure enough he disappears when the call comes back that he's on the run for kidnapping. Durning the 'fight' scene Ryan vents his anger and dis like for jake because he is still frustrated about losing the crims, but also because no one else will say it to him.

During the press conference, joe is looking at Vickers ring showing she's 'disappointed' that she can't get with him. 

In the 'raid' the mis en scene shows hem as crims throughout the low key lighting, the drinking, the loud heavy metal angry music and dog. The tension is built up through the bottle being thrown at the police vehicle and the fact of no backup and that the suspect is needed because he is a part of a major investigation. The way the to 'office' cops deal with the crims shows their experience as well as there skill in the job and can handle a situation, again the slow mo and lack of sound shows Jakes confusion and with joe and the other officer the camera moves fast to show they know what they are doing, then when out side he shows his determination by taking down the racist to save Ryan who had recently had a rant at him, showing Jakes professionalism and kindness, the tension is built up here because it zooms in on the racist who has been looked at throughout the show, as well as the weapons he's got with the intensions of killing or harming Ryan, a black police officer. . This is then made comedic by Jake holding his hand in pain after punching the racist bloke.  

When the officer dealing with the kidnapping case is in a room constantly watching the video shows that there is something important in that moment and how he zooms in on the bed. When back in the car, Ryan has a sincere moment by saying thanks but also referencing back to the start when he asked Jake if he's a bed wetter, and so calls him a bed wetter. During the hotel scene the officer is very careful in what he says and does in-order to not scare or confuse the girl or cause the man to jump, and then when he does he grabs him to stop him doing something he regrets. The tension here is built by the tense and loud music as well as the quick jumping from looking at the officer and man quickly and at a similar level to show the lack of control over the situation. Over the whole show we see the lack of officers being a challenge they face as well as the lack of respect from the community. Finally, the officers invite Jake to train and show he's been accepted as part of the team, while also showing again Lino is the comedic character by laying on the floor after only a few lengths showing his lack of stamina. Joe is shown as a non-stereotypical woman for her age because she has a dog instead of a family and she was with Vickers but also is having a Microwave meal however is succeeding in he job. At home Ryan comes in to give his son a drink showing he loves him and is a single dad and despite the earlier actions still loves him. The officer who helps with the kidnapping case is shown to be in a tough situation that he potentially can't go home and so goes to a dungeon looking place. In the closing scene the hung body of the man with mental problems shows that the officers should have stayed at the hospital with him like Jake said but Ryan obviously didn't want to stay because he was in a place of safety and hadn't did anything wrong but also shows Ryan's ignorance and didn't want to be old by a new boy. Joe looks to Vickers as he walks off showing she's still got feelings form him. 

12th May 21

Consolidation

L/O: To explore exam techniques and key assessment areas

Q1 Media language

Analyse the extract on one area of media language giving 2 - 3 examples. They could be about:

Sound

Editing 

Camerawork

Mise-en-scene

MES - Costumes, hair and makeup

         - Props

         - Settings/Location

         - Lighting (High or low key)

         - Blocking (Character placement)

Q2  Media language

Analyse the extract using Media Language and representations and make a Judgement. You could be asked:

How Particular viewpoints have been shown

How Certain groups have been represented

How the Audience have been positioned

Q3 Long Essay 

Use both extracts and your knowledge of TV to make a judgement. You may be asked:

How particular viewpoints have been shown

How certain ideas or values have been represented

How the audience have been positioned

How the context has effected the meaning 

Theory

Q4 TV Industry & Audiences

Will asks you about the TV Industry and audiences in general. I could ask you to refer to either TV Drama we have studied. You Could be asked about:

Scheduling

Regulations

PSB

Technology

Audience appeals (Uses and Gratification, P.I.E.S)

Q5 Context

Ask you about the social, political or historical context of the Avengers.You could be asked about:

Influence of social context

Influence of political context

Differences between 1965 and 2015

Effects of context on program

THE AVENGERS