CLASH MAGAZINES

PREP Write freely about the house style of Clash music magazine. Your focus is on 'media language', that is, how the musicians are represented, layout, font, colour and so on.

Clash is a very niche and clean magazine, the masthead is always in the same place, and in bold white writing, besides the exception in the bottom left image, which shows a more complicated 'collage' like effect with a complimenting pumpkin orange. The artist's name's are usually seen along the bottom of the magazine with a photo of them as the front cover, a 'falling' effect with the issue number is used as well.
A range of artists are included, from popstars like Zayn, Rappers like Travis Scott and Rockstars like Marilyn Manson. The house style is maintained despite these differences. Each cover shows the featured artist, some of which are slightly obscured by the use of blurr or by their own physical features giving each artist a certain 'vibe' suitable to themselves and their genres.For example Manson features in a more 'moody' monochrome cover in comparison to those like Travis, who are in more colourful vibrant settings.

LEGO AD BREAK QUESTION

9 Analyse the representations found in the UK television ad break for The Lego Movie. [10]


A range of different representations are found in The Lego Movie Ad Break showing a wide variety of different stereotypical characters, for example from thugs to teenagers to the very 'normal' people, a variety of people are found making the ad break widely entertaining and relatable as it shows everyday  characters, and even some famous characters, to be depicted as a nostalgic childhood character. This helps identify the target audience, despite how many of the adverts are for older people for example Insurance companies like confused.com, and medical organisations like The British Heart Foundation, they bring a comical edge and childish play on their companies/organisations message, making it memorable while advertising a new movie.
The Lego Movie Ad Break also  depicts different characters within the movie which crossplay into the adverts, for example Emmet a 'nobody' who goes on to do amazing things, and WyldStyle a fierce, empowering woman who has clear strength as a woman. These are not traditional characters for expected genders, as Wyldstyle is undermined being a young woman, but always pulls through as she is so persistent and fierce, and Emmet proves to not be such a masculine figure, yet still pulls through in the ending. The ad has some sense to real-life to it, but for the most part, it is comical and a play on real life.

BOB MARLEY MOJO

PREP: Refer to Extract 1 in the insert. Analyse the representation of Jamaican Reggae music and musicians such as Bob Marley in this MOJO front cover. (5 marks)

From this MOJO cover, it is easy to identify the representation of Jamacian Reggae music, by the use of stand out colour, strong pull quotes and the way in which Marley is standing. Marley is presented as smiley and confident, showing the reggae is all about a positive attitude, combined with powerful pull quotes "from gang war to one love..." this representation is heightened, as it depicts reggae to be political in someways, yet positive and powerful. The element of politics and power also is enhanced with the other pull quote "1976 a year of reggae revolution". "Revolution" being the emotive noun. 
Compared to more generic MOJO covers, Bob Marley goes against genre conventions, of being serious and portraying the 'hard life' but a brief feature of rock-star David Bowie is more in tune with the generic means of the MOJO music magazine.

MOJO Q4

PREP for TUESDAY 22 January 
MOJO Another quick and easy revision prep, worth 5 marks. Base your analysis on MOJO's March 2019 issue. the exam question won't have the covermount (free CD) so don't refer to it.

 

Mojo is a music magazine prodominatley aimed at males who have an intrest in rock music, most covers connote a serious intimidating tone, so having Joni Mitchell with a beaming smile on the front cover is a break of stereotypes for both the magazine and fans. Joni despite smiling in the cover has pull quotes such as "My gift was born of tragedy" which is more like the usual tone in which we see Mojo to be in, this pull quote explains the tough reality of being a rock-star and that it is more than meets the eye, something which is broadly touched on in Mojo covers.

Other stories about bigger artists like David Bowie are included, these stories also cover a sober issue of "baptism! betrayal! the untold story!", this makes the reader have sympathy for who is included making them more likely to pick up the magazine as they wish to find out more.

Q8. THE OBSERVER

PREP
To revise the 'media language' question, you focus on the layout. It is a quick and easy question, worth 5 marks and only 2 examples needed. Please copy the question onto your blog and write the 2 examples taken from the recent Observer online. The answers below will help you.
Exam q.8 (5 marks, write 1/2 a page; give 2 examples)

A very restraint colour palette connotes a clear sense of formality and sobriety, there is a strong blue header with clear set out columns and articles making the layout clean and articles easily accessible. The neutral tones also help maintain a serious 'feel' to the newspaper which can be used to identify less popular but still current news stories. The website has its columns ordered from most important to less to help a viewer find what they need.
The use of serif writing furthermore connotes formality, but the use of occasional sans-serif writing helps create a modern feel to the newspaper, as it is modern and covers modern issues. Pictures are used to enhance the likely-hood of articles being clicked on as they are both gripping and relevant to topics covered.

THE OBSERVER VALUES

Study the online newspaper extract to revise exam Q. 9 (below). To make this prep quick and easy, all you have to do is copy / paste the text below and identify all relevant articles or features that represent the newspaper's values:

  1.  The major use of newspapers is to offer a sense of knowing what is going on in the world.The Observer knows that its readers are serious and interested in international affairs. This is evident in hard news articles about..... Brexit, Prisons, Police arrests and US news

2. The Observer meets its audience's need for a range of cultural, sporting and artistic news. It provides these with... articles about a range of topics, for example music,  current affairs, historical events, education as well as branching out to scientific studies, there is a wide range of articles based on a variety of different topics.

3. The Observer does not shy away from 'difficult' issues that could make uncomfortable reading, such as... the rise of serious crimes, Trump threatening a National Emergency, a Saudi teen having a long travel to safety, the harsh truth of the Brexit deal

4.  The Observer has sections which are designed to appeal to different types of readers.The Observer reflects the diversity of its readership in articles on... Music, Studies and Politics are all covered which may be interesting to a diverse audience as they share different interests

5.  Newspaper readership can still be used as a symbol of one’s social identity. The term ‘Guardian reader’ connotes a certain

type of social attitude and The Observer  similarly reinforces

a set of social and political attitudes, and thus identity, in its

representations. For example, Observer  readers like to think

of themselves as open-minded and this is reflected in the

Observer’s practice of allowing both sides of an argument

equally to be put when the newspaper is clearly on one side

of this argument. There is an example of this in....

 The title of the main article 'Labour set to call vote to topple...' clearly shows that the newspaper is more left-wing but doesn't directly criticise more right-wing parties

 

6.  The entertainment function of newspapers may take the

form of humour.  It may take the form of diversion into

a celebrity world of ‘glamour’. It may take the form of human

interest stories in which readers are invited to sympathise with

the subjects of the article. Newspapers further offer games,

puzzles, crosswords and the like. At the higher end, sections

such as the New Review in the Observer may offer the pleasure

of extremely well-written think pieces and literature reviews. An example of this is....

In this particular extract there is only 1 piece which completely supports this - the article about music, but it says 'again' meaning they have had previous stories about it, as well as having no way of introducing the two names 'Dua Lipa and Anne-Marie', suggests again that previous articles have been covering them.

 

 

SK8ER BOI AND TEENAGE DIRTBAG COMPARISON

PREP: To revise for q.2 (4 marks), copy / paste each of the following descriptions into your blog post. Write either SB or TD at the start of each, to indicate either Avril or Wheatus. Some answers may refer to BOTH so put both initials.

SB- This video is documentary style mostly hand-held camerawork, de-saturated colour and fast-paced editing.
TD- This video has saturated colour, more controlled camerawork, slower-paced editing.
SB- This video consists of mostly montage shots.
TD- This video has more developed editing with cause and effect.
SB- In this video, the singer values rebellion, which is seen in the narrative.
TD- In this video, the singer values 'fitting in', conformity, albeit to an oppressive system, which is seen in the narrative.
SB- This video is set in LA, a big city, with its connotations of street credibility.
SB- The mise-en-scene of this video is American suburbia with its connotations of conformity. 
TD- This video is intertextual in its narrative (=it makes references to high school drama).
TD/SB- In this video, the singer performs to camera.
TD- In this video, real locations and 'everyday' costume for the performers connote a sense of naturalism.
SB/TD- In this video, there is a sense of linear narrative (a story is told, in the order it unfolds).

REVISION - Q1, CUFFS

Analyse how camerawork is used in the extract to create meaning. Refer to at least two examples from the extract in your answer.
Worth 4 marks. Write half a side of A4. (in the exam: tonight, you write on your blog)

One example where camerawork is used in the segment to create meaning is when the two Community Support Officer's are walking in the town centre. Firstly, the movement of the camera, by using a following shot with a hand-held camera this creates a sense of real life and makes the situation which the PCSO's are about to be involved in feel personal to the audience, so they make a link and can sympathise with the officers. Furthermore, using a variety of shot types creates meaning, for example, using a shot reverse shot gives the emotion and feeling of the officers to the audience. The first shot is of the officer's faces beforehand, where they are evidently carefree and only slightly observant to their surroundings, the next shot is of a threatening digger exploding onto the civilized scene. The final shot of the shot reverse shot gives the PSCO's feeling after seeing a worrying sight, they visably look fearful and anticipate that something is about to go wrong.

In response to recieving a urgent call, a backseat shot is used to again provide a sense of real life urgency and therefore meaning. This shot is also used to enhance the seriousness of the situation, by having a clear view of what Jake and Ryan are experiencing, and how fast they are going to get to the scene where havoc is breaking out. A close up perspective shot of the police car tyre is also used soon after; this magnifies how ubruptly Ryan changes his route when he is on route the wrong way, again elevating the sense of importance with the whole scenario. This use of camerwork mainly provides exigency and causes an intense atmosphere, which feels personal to the watcher.

CUFFS, EXAM QUESTION 3

How far does the extract try to create a sense that it is portraying 'real life'?

• In your answer you should: analyse aspects of the extract giving detailed examples 
• judge how far these aspects create a sense of watching 'real life'

The use of natural realistic locations used in the extract from cuffs creates a sense of realism, for example the police officers at lunch in a Cafe example how they could be just like us (the audience) waiting casually on any day of the week. The PCSO's walking casually in a town centre also proves the police service to be a real life documentary instead of a police drama.

The use of camera angles also adds to the realism of the drama as a whole, with shot reverse shot being used connoting everyday conversation, which is evident in situations such as when the PCSO is being threatened by the thug with a crowbar, and when the police officers (like Jake, Lino, Donna and Ryan) are having their lunch in a Cafe and speaking about casual topics, like how their day has been, two complete opposite situations which are both made realistic. Other uses of angles, like hand held camera work can present (similarly like the natural locations) that the drama is infact a documentary, taking the audience to believe they are in the situation with the police officers involved with the chase. 

The use of casual generic conversation also creates a sense of naturalism. With scenes prior to the attack on the shop, like the PCSO's speaking casually while walking along a shopping centre, and the police officers sitting in the cafe before receiving a desperate phone call from PC Misha Baig. 
 

QUESTION 1, CUFFS

How is sound used to create meaning? Give at least two examples. (5marks)


The use  of diegetic noises for example whirring machinery in the beginning of the extract show the strength and brutality of the forklift being used to smash a window. The whirring noise creates an atmosphere suggesting it uses great force accelerating, with the screech of tires as it turns roughly round the corner. The diegetic noises create realism and enhance violence in the way of sound.

Ordinary diegetic conversation going on in the cafe, again presenting a calm and carefree atmosphere is suddenly broken when interrupted by a distressed police officer on the radio, which is an off scene sound, enhancing not only the urgency of the situation in town, but the desperation of the PCSO wanting and needing assistance . The police seem in a rush and are willing to go to duty as they push their chairs backwards creating a diegetic noise, and run into the cars, with heavy footsteps, proving them to wear heavy uniforms, but making no fuss.

When the officers get into their cars from the cafe, an upbeat non-diegetic sound track is added in which connotes a sense of urgency. The sound track creates tension and suspense for the watching, and may be getting excited for the hinted scenes of actions they are about to see.

EXAM Q8

PREP: Analyse the use of media language to create meaning in the Online Observer Homepage. Give two examples from extract 3.



 
The dark blue banner of 'The Observer' connotes a modern and sophisticated feel to the tabloid as a whole, especially when used with the font 'Sans Serif' which appears formal yet modern- suggesting new and exclusive news. There is pink and blue in sections which may be more alluring to certain genders, the pink to women, and blue to men - which is mainly noticeable in the sports section with the majority of the headlines being blue. However the colour of the separate boxes for 'Food and Lifestyle' , are gender neutral and could be  engaging to older ages, especially with the titles of 'Wines for a family gathering'.

Articles skewed towards male audiences will usually be located in the sport section because of the positive reports about their nations sports team that the audience will most probably support - which men are usually most linked to. This appeals to the audience because of their personal identity and values. With the headline reading 'Return of Vunipola will give England confidence' , paired with a strong photo of a glorious run of a rugby player, we can only assume after seeing just the headline that the subject of the article will be flattering and biased to the home side (England), to encourage a reader to come back in want of the patriotic praise they will receive from the sport articles. The term 'Courage' and 'England' used in the same sentence will also increase the chances of the reader thinking of their nation as courageous. Sport, society and politic news and opinions will lead the reader into thinking they are members of a common culture, and in hope to feel more accepted and normal they will come back for more information they can agree with.

'Can I forgive the man who raped me?' is an eye catching bold headline which will draw in the reader because of their desire to know what is going on in the world. The headline is a question which makes direct conversation with the reader, instantly drawing them in. A hard news story on a delicate topic such as rape will open the reader's eyes to different view points, which is a thing a lot of readers are curious about, especially with harsh topics like rape when we are addressed with the first person, hinting at personal experience.

FRANCIS NGANNOU PHOTOSHOP

This was a piece of work I did but it didn't come out as I would have liked it it looks (in my opinion) unfinished and empty but, I believe with more time working with it, I can add more and make it look better.

PERFUME ADVERT

I made a perfume advert for a Victoria's Secret fragrance, called 'BOMBSHELL', starring Daniela Braga as the face of the perfume who herself is a Victoria Secret model, with a pink tone skyline of San Fransisco, with the Golden Gate bridge submerged in misty rosey clouds. I came across a few issues on the way, mainly regarding the cropping of the model, though I finished it all and completed it with a tagline of 'BE THE BOMBSHELL'

EXAM QUESTION - GENRE CODES ON POSTERS

Exam question: Analyse how genre codes have been used in The Lego Movie poster campaign to appeal to a family audience. (10 marks) Write the equivalent of a page and a half A4 in the exam. This is a major question.
 

 


















The title is the most eye catching thing about this movie poster, in my opinion. The title is in a light grey colour but the red 'LEGO' is added to give a pop of colour to catch the eye of such a familiar household brand. The font is designed specially to again remind us of the world wide franchise. In the individual posters, the biggest text is of the name of the voice and the character with only 'is' between the names. The same 3D 'The Lego Movie' title is at the bottom right corner of the individual posters to familiarize us with the movie and it's branding.

The tagline of 'The story of a nobody who saved everybody' appeals to our more sensitive side and creates empathy for Emmet - the assumed protagonist, when he is labelled as a nobody. The tagline is short and memorable because of the repetition of 'body' in the 'nobody' and the 'everybody'. Emmet is also portrayed as an 'everyman' and shows that he could be anyone, you, me or anyone in the audience adding to the empathy we already have for him. 

The tagline is complimented by the point of central visual interest which is the savior, Emmet (or on the individual posters, the character which the poster is about). Going in a staggered line in order of the characters and the importance and the role they play. An explosion behind them, with a large Sir Business chasing menacingly creates a sense of frantic panic and danger, though the 'saves' in the tagline gives us safety and a knowledge that everything will end out okay in the end, despite the antagonist behind them, taunting and trying to catch them.

A sense of nostalgia for parents and familiarity to kids makes the movie suitable for all as the over all theme is LEGO (which is recognizable to almost everybody who will have access to the movie) As an international sign of fun and creativity, even if you were not to be familiar with LEGO, you would still be able to guess that the movie will be about the characters creativity because  of the posters and advertising. The posters are made up entirely of LEGO-like bricks, from the title font, the background of a bustling city to the (collectable) minifigs which are the characters themselves. The nostalgia can also extend to the characters and voices, with the likes of Morgan Freeman, Chris Pratt and Will Ferrel will appeal to the adult audience.

The characters in the movie and shown in the posters will also suit a wide range audience, iconic superheroes such as batman, green lantern, superman and Wonderwoman are also known by everyone, so there will be a minimum of one familiar face in the movie, though even though, the new characters give the audience even more opertunity to relate to a character in the movie. From young boys being attracted to the likes of the humble and hillarious Emmet or the super cool Superman, girls can be drawn in by an excitable and feminine character like Unikitty -(who will appeal to mainly young girls). Older girls can be inspired by Wonderwoman or WyldStyle two very strong (and rare) female leads.

The poster also conveys what genre(s) the movie will be, which appears to be an action, combat and comedy. We can tell this because of the explosion and action shot ; of course implying the movie will be action packed with spectacle scenes like those of explosions. The theme of comedy seeps through Emmet's face showing an comical 'fear face', an uncommon face for a hero to be pulling. The chosen characters - mainly the superheroes shown in the poster, hint at a possible combat theme, as we associate them for fending off the evil (physically) in the coolest of ways.

From a franchise like LEGO, we as an audience wouldn't expect it to be nothing other than a family-friendly movie. Portrayed by the use of characters - which are familiar and popular to many households therefore everyone, the famous voices which will typically appeal to an older audience or even to teens because of the gaming like element which is hinted by the use of danger and action which are also a common running theme in popular video games.