How are individuals and social groups represented?
To begin with, there are several social groups represented in stranger things. The first is that there is a difference between rich and poor. We see this with the Byers family who are living in poverty, with the boy working to pay for the family. In comparison to this, there is mike who lives in a sheltered upper middle class family with a nice house and living comfortably. The next social class is that of the different age demographics. We see there are teens who are shown with Nancy, and steve. The stereotypical focus of these teens is about relationships, and with nancy she is very studious. There is then the adults who we see are more oblivious to the bigger problem and rather immature about it all (Joyce being hysterical). The kids though take control and attempt to find their friend.
How are the main characters represented through the use of media language? What social groups can they be seen to fall into?
The main characters are presented with media language via their mise en scene. The boys dress in typical quite nerdy clothing, showing they fall into the social group of nerdy outcast kids - not popular like older steve is. The next person is Jim hopper. Jim we see is waking up on the sofa in a bad state with drink surrounding him. He then gets up and begins to smoke, and walks into work late. We see he doesn't follow the stereotype of a usual police officer who is alert and strong, as jim is lazy and unfit. This though we see could be due to the fact that we get the impression he has lost his daughter, due to the panning down of the image of the girl. This may then make the audience feel sympathetic of him.
Which individuals or groups are under-represented in the drama? How do you know? Why might this be?
In it we see that sexuality isn't as broad in Stranger things, with no Gay relationships being present. This could be due to the fact that in the 80s gay relationships weren't legal, or had only very recently become legal. Due to this it would not be accurate of the time to include it.
Furthermore, the ethnicity side of things, there is only one black character and no other ethnicities apart from white.
Which individuals or social groups are mis-represented in the drama? How do you know? Why might this be?
We see that Jim hopper is misrepresented. This is because we see this person who should be looked up too and respected as being together and protecting society, is not taking care of himself and waking up with drink on a sofa. He then almost disregards the case of Will at first.
What stereotypes are used? Are any of the main characters stereotypical and if so, why might they be represented in this way? How do we respond to them as a viewer as a result?
Stereotypes are used explicitly in ST. We see with Nancy she is a stereotypical teen girl, being very studious though also focused on boys.
Are the stereotypes we see used in a positive or negative way?
Stereotypes that are used in this are mainly used in a positive way in the sense that they relate to them at the time. Nancys stereotype of being a typical studious girl works to build her character, as without this the person and dilema she is in would not work the same.
How much influence will the producer have had on the way individuals, social groups or social identities are represented?
The producer would have had a big influence, as they would have decided exactly how they want the characters to be. Though, some of it will be pre dis positioned from the time that they have decided to set the series, as the will need to follow the common stereotypes from that time.
Why might the producer have decided to construct this representation? Which aspects of media language are used by the producer to help construct these representations?
He would have constructed this representation in order too make the whole series accurate. How are events, issues and social identities represented?
Firstly, the issues of poverty are displayed with the Byers family. This is clear because she is a single mother, though the son is having to work in order to provide for the family. It represents the hardships of being a single mother. They are represented in a way that helps build a character portfolio and form the story.
What events or issues are represented?
Firstly, the issues of poverty are displayed with the Byers family. This is clear because she is a single mother, though the son is having to work in order to provide for the family.
Did you already know about these events or issues? Are they usually under-represented or not? Why might they be the focus of representation in this drama?
They aren't exactly underrepresented, but they are used as it is the mother already going through a hard time, so emphasises how bad her situation is.
How true to their historical and socio-cultural contexts are the representations? Do they offer a realistic version of the events/ issues portrayed or a different viewpoint? Why might this be? How does it use media language to achieve this?
Do you feel the events or issues have been mis-represented in this drama? Is the representation positive or negative? If so, what reasons can you give for this?
How much influence will the producer have had on the way the events or issues are represented? Why might the producer have decided to construct this representation and what aspects of media language are used to create this?
Friday 25 January 2019
Wednesday 16 January 2019
Minor or major character?
Do they conform to any stereotypes?
What are there characteristics?
What is there contribution to the narrative?
MIKE WHEELER:
1. Mike wheeler is a major character in the series because he is one of the group of boys who are trying to find their friend - but as well as this he establishes himself as the leader and matures greatly in the process.
2. Mike conforms to the stereotype of a typical slightly nerdy high school child, in the sense that he plays Dungeons and dragons with his friends. We then also see he is getting bullied by bigger kids. Though, throughout the series as he matures he overcomes these stereotypes as he acts more as the adult whilst the adults are more frantic.
3. His characteristics is that he is quite childlike in the sense that he rides his bike with his friends, and plays games whilst his mum tells him when too go bed. Though, we start too see a more mature side to him appear as he tends to be the one to take control of the situation, such as when they meet eleven everyone is confused, though mike keeps her calm.
4. There contribution is that he leads the group of boys to save his best friend, whilst also bringing eleven in to.
JIM HOPPER:
1. Jim is a major character because we see he is introduced at the beginning with all the others.
2. Conforms to the stereotypical lazy police officer in a small town where little happens.
3. Depressed, lazy, becomes determined.
3. They start the investigation to find where will has gone. - Sub plot of his daughters death.
JOYCE BYERS:
1. Major character - mother of will byers.
2. Stereotypes a worried and protective mother.
3. Characteristic of being very nervy, almost insane. Though also grows a sense of dtermination along with Jim.
4. The mother of Will byers. reports to police her son is gone.
DUSTIN HENDERSON:
1. Major character - helps find Will.
2. Conforms to stereotype of geeky kid in American life.
3. He s immature, innocent, geeky.
4. He is in wills group of friends, joins the hunt to find will.
WILL BYERS:
1. Major - he forms the plot.
2. Conforms to stereotype of innocent little kid.
3. He is innocent, scared, weak, kind.
4. He is the person who goes missing, thus causing everyone to need to go hunting for him and find what took him.
LUCAS SINCLAIR:
1. Major character - helps find Will.
2. Conforms to stereotype of geeky kid in American life.
3. Hes immature, innocent, geeky, confident - says he doesn't like eleven.
4. He is in wills group of friends, joins the hunt to find will.
JOHNATHAN BYER:
1. Major character - wills brother
2. Conforms to stereotype of the unpopular kid
3. He is mature, sad, strong
4. He helps find his brother the subplot he develops a relationship with Nancy.
NANCY WHEELER:
1. Major character - Mikes sister, helps find will.
2. Conforms to stereotype of typical studious girl.
3. She is positive, sensible, kind, determined.
4. She has a relationship with john, also helps get will.
STEVE HARRINGTON:
1. Major character - originally dates nancy, finds out about will and helps.
2. Conforms to cool popular highschool boy.
3. He is cool, scared, dominating.
4. Has relationship with nancy, finds out about will missing so helps.
BARBRA HOLLAND
1. Minor character - nancy best friend, dies soon.
2. Stereotypical nerd, unpopular.
3. She is kind, insightful, controlling
4. She is the first to be seen getting killed by demogorgan.
BENNY HAMMOND:
1. Minor - diner owner.
2. Overweight typical cafe owner.
3. Suspicious yet kind and caring - helped eleven even when she stole.
4. Dies soon, but establishes the power the gov have.
MR CLARKE:
1. Minor
2. Nerdy science teacher - kind to kids.
3. Nerdy, insightful, helpful
4. Helps to discover the machine which can contact the other world where the demogorgan is.
CONNIE FRAZER:
1. Minor
2. Evil masculine villain - killed benny to catch eleve.
3. She is evil, rutless
4. She shows how serious eleven is and how corrupt the gov are.
SCIENTISTS:
1. Minor
2. Sterotypical scientist - white lab coat.
3. Scared, scientists usually looked up too for protection of these things, here he is running and killed.
4. At start is in intro, shows audience how powerful monster is, scientists cant control it.
TED WHEEELER:
1. Minor
2. Typical american dad - doesn't know much of kids lives, simply follows wife.
3. Dull, lazy, monotone
4. Gives little input to family or the situation.
KAREN WHEELER:
1. Minor
2. Typical housewife
3. responsible, cares for joyce
4. Simply thinks will is fine and gone out. Helps joyce by being supportive.
Do they conform to any stereotypes?
What are there characteristics?
What is there contribution to the narrative?
MIKE WHEELER:
1. Mike wheeler is a major character in the series because he is one of the group of boys who are trying to find their friend - but as well as this he establishes himself as the leader and matures greatly in the process.
2. Mike conforms to the stereotype of a typical slightly nerdy high school child, in the sense that he plays Dungeons and dragons with his friends. We then also see he is getting bullied by bigger kids. Though, throughout the series as he matures he overcomes these stereotypes as he acts more as the adult whilst the adults are more frantic.
3. His characteristics is that he is quite childlike in the sense that he rides his bike with his friends, and plays games whilst his mum tells him when too go bed. Though, we start too see a more mature side to him appear as he tends to be the one to take control of the situation, such as when they meet eleven everyone is confused, though mike keeps her calm.
4. There contribution is that he leads the group of boys to save his best friend, whilst also bringing eleven in to.
JIM HOPPER:
1. Jim is a major character because we see he is introduced at the beginning with all the others.
2. Conforms to the stereotypical lazy police officer in a small town where little happens.
3. Depressed, lazy, becomes determined.
3. They start the investigation to find where will has gone. - Sub plot of his daughters death.
JOYCE BYERS:
1. Major character - mother of will byers.
2. Stereotypes a worried and protective mother.
3. Characteristic of being very nervy, almost insane. Though also grows a sense of dtermination along with Jim.
4. The mother of Will byers. reports to police her son is gone.
DUSTIN HENDERSON:
1. Major character - helps find Will.
2. Conforms to stereotype of geeky kid in American life.
3. He s immature, innocent, geeky.
4. He is in wills group of friends, joins the hunt to find will.
WILL BYERS:
1. Major - he forms the plot.
2. Conforms to stereotype of innocent little kid.
3. He is innocent, scared, weak, kind.
4. He is the person who goes missing, thus causing everyone to need to go hunting for him and find what took him.
LUCAS SINCLAIR:
1. Major character - helps find Will.
2. Conforms to stereotype of geeky kid in American life.
3. Hes immature, innocent, geeky, confident - says he doesn't like eleven.
4. He is in wills group of friends, joins the hunt to find will.
JOHNATHAN BYER:
1. Major character - wills brother
2. Conforms to stereotype of the unpopular kid
3. He is mature, sad, strong
4. He helps find his brother the subplot he develops a relationship with Nancy.
NANCY WHEELER:
1. Major character - Mikes sister, helps find will.
2. Conforms to stereotype of typical studious girl.
3. She is positive, sensible, kind, determined.
4. She has a relationship with john, also helps get will.
STEVE HARRINGTON:
1. Major character - originally dates nancy, finds out about will and helps.
2. Conforms to cool popular highschool boy.
3. He is cool, scared, dominating.
4. Has relationship with nancy, finds out about will missing so helps.
BARBRA HOLLAND
1. Minor character - nancy best friend, dies soon.
2. Stereotypical nerd, unpopular.
3. She is kind, insightful, controlling
4. She is the first to be seen getting killed by demogorgan.
BENNY HAMMOND:
1. Minor - diner owner.
2. Overweight typical cafe owner.
3. Suspicious yet kind and caring - helped eleven even when she stole.
4. Dies soon, but establishes the power the gov have.
MR CLARKE:
1. Minor
2. Nerdy science teacher - kind to kids.
3. Nerdy, insightful, helpful
4. Helps to discover the machine which can contact the other world where the demogorgan is.
CONNIE FRAZER:
1. Minor
2. Evil masculine villain - killed benny to catch eleve.
3. She is evil, rutless
4. She shows how serious eleven is and how corrupt the gov are.
SCIENTISTS:
1. Minor
2. Sterotypical scientist - white lab coat.
3. Scared, scientists usually looked up too for protection of these things, here he is running and killed.
4. At start is in intro, shows audience how powerful monster is, scientists cant control it.
TED WHEEELER:
1. Minor
2. Typical american dad - doesn't know much of kids lives, simply follows wife.
3. Dull, lazy, monotone
4. Gives little input to family or the situation.
KAREN WHEELER:
1. Minor
2. Typical housewife
3. responsible, cares for joyce
4. Simply thinks will is fine and gone out. Helps joyce by being supportive.
Friday 11 January 2019
Stranger things:
What are the formal codes and conventions of Long-Form TV Drama?
A long form TV drama follows Todorovs theory of narrative. this is the idea that the series starts with a state of equilibrium at the outlet. There is then a disruption of the equilibrium by some action. Next, is a recognition that there has been a disruption. Then moving too an attempt to repair the disruption, and finally a reinstatement of the equilibrium. There also tends to be some form of main plot that is built up throughout the series, accompanied by many mini plots. This plot usually has a problem that needs to be solved maybe with a bad person.
How similar or different are the formal conventions used in Stranger Things?
With stranger things, it follows the usual conventions as there is a problem to be solved, but we see there are multiple narratives throughout which collect together to form the whole plot. Also, stranger things is a mix of a sci fi genre and a horror. This mix is more uncommon, because there usually tends to be a set genre which it stays as. On the other hand, a main point is that this show is displayed on Netflix, so technically doesn’t follow the usual TV drama genre as it isn’t shown on a Tv channel.
How does this help to develop the genre and the way in which audiences respond (positively or negatively) to long form TV dramas? The genres of the set texts for example, Stranger Things as a Science Fiction/Horror hybrid genre drama or Deutschland 83 as a Spy Thriller genre drama.
What codes and conventions are used to help audiences recognise their genre?
Usually different genres will have specific conventions that appear each time. These are all very recognisable to people who watch, which allows them to decided which genre they prefer. For example, with sci fi, the genre tends to have a future setting and include things like ufos and aliens. Neale's theory of 'repetition and difference' states that genre is a repetition with an undenying pattern of variables, and this different is absolutely essential in the economy of genre. He also stated that genre can be defined by two things. Firstly, how much it conforms to its genres individual conventions and stereotypes, hence a film must match the conventions to be part of a genre.
What similarities and/or differences are there between the genres in Stranger Things? How do these help to popularise the form?
Stranger Things displays the genres of sci-fi mixed with some horror. This is because the setting is very common as it’s nothing in the future so relates more to a horror film, though the monster in it is of an alien form as opposed to a ghost or something.
How is the episode, and the way the events unfold within it, structured?
The episode starts fairly naturally, introducing the main characters and setting the scene. From here, we have the equilibrium disruption occur where the boy gets taken and there is then an attempt to resolve it. So far, it follows a rather conventional structure, though usually the very start tends to introduce the problem which needs to be solved.
What are the formal codes and conventions of Long-Form TV Drama?
A long form TV drama follows Todorovs theory of narrative. this is the idea that the series starts with a state of equilibrium at the outlet. There is then a disruption of the equilibrium by some action. Next, is a recognition that there has been a disruption. Then moving too an attempt to repair the disruption, and finally a reinstatement of the equilibrium. There also tends to be some form of main plot that is built up throughout the series, accompanied by many mini plots. This plot usually has a problem that needs to be solved maybe with a bad person.
How similar or different are the formal conventions used in Stranger Things?
With stranger things, it follows the usual conventions as there is a problem to be solved, but we see there are multiple narratives throughout which collect together to form the whole plot. Also, stranger things is a mix of a sci fi genre and a horror. This mix is more uncommon, because there usually tends to be a set genre which it stays as. On the other hand, a main point is that this show is displayed on Netflix, so technically doesn’t follow the usual TV drama genre as it isn’t shown on a Tv channel.
How does this help to develop the genre and the way in which audiences respond (positively or negatively) to long form TV dramas? The genres of the set texts for example, Stranger Things as a Science Fiction/Horror hybrid genre drama or Deutschland 83 as a Spy Thriller genre drama.
What codes and conventions are used to help audiences recognise their genre?
Usually different genres will have specific conventions that appear each time. These are all very recognisable to people who watch, which allows them to decided which genre they prefer. For example, with sci fi, the genre tends to have a future setting and include things like ufos and aliens. Neale's theory of 'repetition and difference' states that genre is a repetition with an undenying pattern of variables, and this different is absolutely essential in the economy of genre. He also stated that genre can be defined by two things. Firstly, how much it conforms to its genres individual conventions and stereotypes, hence a film must match the conventions to be part of a genre.
What similarities and/or differences are there between the genres in Stranger Things? How do these help to popularise the form?
Stranger Things displays the genres of sci-fi mixed with some horror. This is because the setting is very common as it’s nothing in the future so relates more to a horror film, though the monster in it is of an alien form as opposed to a ghost or something.
How is the episode, and the way the events unfold within it, structured?
The episode starts fairly naturally, introducing the main characters and setting the scene. From here, we have the equilibrium disruption occur where the boy gets taken and there is then an attempt to resolve it. So far, it follows a rather conventional structure, though usually the very start tends to introduce the problem which needs to be solved.
Wednesday 9 January 2019
The Cold War was firstly between the Soviet Union and the United States their respective allies
.
It lasted around 45 years - starting in 1947 and ending in 1991.
The war had several effects for the residents. Firstly, as military spending had major cuts in soviet Russia, vast amounts of people were made unemployed leaving the soviets in poverty and sadness. Also, after Russia embarked on economic reforms in the 1990s, it suffered a financial crisis and a recession more severe than the United States and Germany had experienced during the Great Depression.Russian living standards have worsened overall in the post–Cold War years, although the economy has resumed growth since 1995. Also, in America there was much fear of nuclear attack devices being used, meaning Americans lived in dearness of inhalation of the toxins.
The separation of Berlin began in 1945 after the collapse of Germany. The country was divided into four zones, where each superpower controlled a zone. In 1946, reparation agreements broke down between the Soviet and Western zones. Response of the West was to merge French, British, and American zones in 1947.
The biggest cultural differences between east and west Germany, is the communist traits that the east possess. The east obey authority much greater. East Germany was much more controlled, and also much poorer. They did not have access to things like westerners had like video games or fruit etc.
.
It lasted around 45 years - starting in 1947 and ending in 1991.
The war had several effects for the residents. Firstly, as military spending had major cuts in soviet Russia, vast amounts of people were made unemployed leaving the soviets in poverty and sadness. Also, after Russia embarked on economic reforms in the 1990s, it suffered a financial crisis and a recession more severe than the United States and Germany had experienced during the Great Depression.Russian living standards have worsened overall in the post–Cold War years, although the economy has resumed growth since 1995. Also, in America there was much fear of nuclear attack devices being used, meaning Americans lived in dearness of inhalation of the toxins.
The separation of Berlin began in 1945 after the collapse of Germany. The country was divided into four zones, where each superpower controlled a zone. In 1946, reparation agreements broke down between the Soviet and Western zones. Response of the West was to merge French, British, and American zones in 1947.
The biggest cultural differences between east and west Germany, is the communist traits that the east possess. The east obey authority much greater. East Germany was much more controlled, and also much poorer. They did not have access to things like westerners had like video games or fruit etc.
In November 1983, Soviet nuclear forces went on high alert. After months nervously watching increasingly assertive NATO military posturing, Soviet intelligence agencies in Western Europe received flash telegrams reporting alarming activity on U.S. bases. In response, the Soviets began planning for a countdown to a nuclear first strike by NATO on Eastern Europe. And then Able Archer 83, a vast NATO war game exercise that modeled a Soviet attack on NATO allies, ended.
What the West didn’t know at the time was that the Soviets thought Operation Able Archer 83 was real and were actively preparing for a surprise missile attack from NATO. This close scrape with Armageddon was largely unknown until October 2015, when the U.S. government released a ninety-four-page presidential analysis of Able Archer that the National Security Archive had spent over a decade trying to declassify. Able Archer 83 tells the story of the fateful NATO exercise through a selection of declassified documents that archive staffer Nate Jones has pried loose from several U.S. government agencies and British archives, as well as from formerly classified Soviet Politburo and KGB files, vividly recreating the atmosphere that nearly unleashed nuclear war.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)