Media blog 2

1)  Introduction to TV Drama 2)  Capital: Case study and analysis 3)  Capital: Marxism and Hegemony 4)  Deutschland 83: Case study and analysis 5)  Deutschland 83: Postmodernism 6)  Industries: The rise of foreign-language TV dramas 7)  Industries: The impact of new/digital media on television 8)  Assessment: 750-word exam question

“Realism is a vital component of television drama”. To what extent does an analysis of your television close-study products support this view?  [25 marks]  Realism is often used in Film and TV to give the audience a true indication of what life is like which engages the audience as they can identify with the characters and setting or can be used for gaining knowledge about a time or place. Some may argue that realism is a vital component in television drama as if the drama is unrealistic or lacking key components in props,clothes,setting etc it will make the audience not want to watch the show. This is shown in Deutschland 83 as it has been praised for its accuracy when portraying historical and cultural components of Germany in 1983. The show uses an accurate depiction of costume,props and setting making the military uniform as realistic as possible as well as the East Germany houses and clothes of the friends and family was accurate as it establishes how class,culture an...

1) What does the 'industry' concept in A Level Media Studies refer to? This refers to the companies that create and distribute media texts. 2) What does David Hesmondhalgh argue with regards to how the creative industries have changed since the 1980s? Hesmondhalgh argues that there has been a significant shift in cultural production 3) Choose the three most significant points Hesmondhalgh makes regarding the changing cultural industries. Why are these the most significant in your view? Cultural industries have moved closer to the centre of economic action,globalisation makes it easier for media texts to circulate across borders,deregulation has reduced public ownership. 4) What is technological convergence?  Refers to the tendency that as technology changes different technological systems evolve toward performing similar tasks. 5) How are technology companies challenging traditional broadcasters in the TV industry? Technology companies are challenging traditional ...

Independent: British viewers can't get enough of foreign-language dramas 1) What does the article suggest regarding the traditional audience for foreign-language subtitled media? Foreign language dramas are now fully mainstream compared to fifteen years ago. 2) What does Walter Iuzzolino suggest is the key appeal of his 'Walter Presents' shows? It is a unique proposition as the shows will be diverse and entertaining. They test what people like and enjoy rather than going for a niche. 3) The article makes an interesting claim for the popularity of subtitles in the multi-screen age. What does it suggest? Subtitles force you to focus and pay attention to what you're watching,"you have to be glued to the screen" which creates and intensity to your viewing experience. 4) What are the other audiences pleasures of foreign TV drama suggested by the article? An audience pleasure would be surveillance as people "love getting that insight into a differ...

1) Read the section on Strinati's five ways to define postmodernity. What examples are provided of the breakdown of the distinction between culture and society (media-isation)? The characters Bruno and Borat created by Sacha Baron Cohen Xfactor contestants performing cover versions of cover versions of songs 2) What is Fredric Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness'? How can the idea of 'historical deafness' be applied to  Deutschland 83 ? Jamenson argues that as mediasation increases the culture finds itself losing historical context. H istorical knowledge is often based on media representations.This can be applied to Deutschland 83 as it is a historical representation of Germany during the Cold War. 3) What examples and theories are provided for the idea of 'style over substance'? An example given of style over substance is the reality TV programme Big Brother as it promotes celebrities that are known for their looks and being famous rather th...

Read the following reviews and features on  Deutschland 83 : The Guardian - Your next box set: Deutschland 83 The Guardian - Deutschland 83 Pity the Germans don't like it 1) Find one positive aspect and one criticism of  Deutschland 83  in reviews. Positive:  'It's a perfect moment in a near perfect series' Critcism: 'actual events...deliberately misconstructed 2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show? The series focuses on Martin as an undercover spy but doesn't make the viewers empathise with a stasi agent on a human level.It back tracks into the stereotype that stasi officers are cruel and corrupt. 3) Find three 'below the line' comments from either of the Guardian articles. What did the audience think of  Deutschland 83 ? Do you agree with the comments?   Always happy to have my knowledge topped up!' Deutschland 83 is a serious thriller driven by jeopardy  of the all out nuclear kind. Th...

1) Type up your feedback in  full  (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential). WWW: Detailed,focused answers in each question EBI: Consider social-realism more in q3 2) Read the  mark scheme for this assessment  carefully. Write down the number of marks you achieved for the three questions: _/3; _/6; _/9. If you didn't achieve full marks in a question, write a bullet point on what you may have missed. 3/3\6/6\6\9 Social-realist films like Chicken document important aspects of British life that rarely feature in bigger-budget films aimed at commercial success. 3) For Question 2 on the promotion of  Chicken , use the mark scheme to identify at least one strategy used to promote  Chicken  to an audience that you didn't mention in your answer and why it was used. The key lesson from this question was to make specific reference to the CSP in your ans...