How are social groups represented in music videos?

For this task I have chosen to analyse all three versions of the Band Aid videos with the song 'Do they know its Christmas Time'.
In the first video made in 1984 (the original) it begins with a medium close up of a copy of a newspaper with an article stating Band Aid and using a picture of the participants who are involved vocally this can demonstrate that within the music world that several care about the world around them and not just themselves. Then progressively it be seen that there are several different shots to show each other the participants involved, for example, there is a usage of noddy shots to show all the equipment involved in making and producing the song and video. In addition, there is a usage of point of view shots towards the begining to portray to the audience where this production is intially taking place, then furthermore, throughout there is a constant use of close ups of the participants, cutaway shots of the crew who are putting in a lot of effort to achieve their desired outcome, also there is a mixture of wide and very wide shots to show the artists arriving and certainly when they are all performing together as on group this could be done to represent the rest of the world coming together to help.
Moreover, within this video there are several meanings to as in why these particpants are doing this song and that there several under wrapped deeper meanings to the video as well. For example, even though that the most popular music acts are coming together to attempt to save all of the people in Africa from stravation, and even poverty and aids etc. However, if you was to talk about race and the majority of one ethnic group it can be seen that that majority are richer and the Africans are seen to be less fortunate that it seems to be a issue of the rich helping the poor and in away can be seen as undermiming them. This can be seen as unethical but due to the low economy over there and the growing population that the wealthy people are constsantly trying to fix these issues, which sadly I feel will be even more impossible to fix due to the population being to dense. 
However, considering how it was portrayed in 1984 the 1989 version shows several clips of the situation to build and create a situation which will enable there audience to sympathise to the on going problems in Africa. At the start of this version it starts off with a reporter in Africa explaining the situation and moving the camera through the crowds of them, this can show that because of the ongoing population that problems are getting worse and action needs to take hold. Same as the original all the camera angles are near enough the same and showing that all of the artists taking part passionately care. But now compared to the original the minority ethnic group participants have increased so it demonstrates how far society has progressed since 5 years ago.
Finally, in the more recent version shot in 2004 it can be noticed that there is now an equal amount of participants of each ethnic background shows that respect of other backgrounds and cultures have becoming a conserable lot more acceptable and that equal rights such wealth are equal between these groups in society as well. Also to end that again all the shots taken are made up of similar camera angles with similar representations.
In conclusion the social groups here being talked about has allowede black people have become more respected within society and are now equal to white people.

TV Scheduling

Here is my research on television scheduling:

Television scheduling is part art, part science. The art comes from predicting which programmes viewers might watch together in blocks, going from one show to another on the same channel on the same night. The science comes from analysing ratings and demographics in order to discover who is watching a particular show, and how/when.

Before the video recorder, watching a TV show was a shared social experience. Whole nations would all "tune in at the same time" to watch a popular show, especially if there was some kind of cliffhanger set up or resolution, or for the finale of a drama. In a small country like the UK, where all viewing happens in the same time zone, this causes a phenomenon known as TV Pickup, a surge in the National Grid that occurs immediately before and after a record-rated show, as everyone switches on their kettles or other small appliances after walking away from their TV. In the age of time-shifted viewing, it's very rare to see the kind of power surge that occurred after the 1984 broadcast of The Thorn Birds finale (the biggest surge experienced after a TV drama), but surges still happen, after big events like major football matches or a royal wedding.
If people watch the same TV show at the same time, then that's what everyone wants to talk about the next day at school or work. In the days before time-shifted TV, episodes of shows became hot topics the following morning 'around the water cooler', discussed simultaneously in newspaper reviews and ordinary conversation. "Water Cooler TV" is still a phrase bandied round by TV executives, but it's now used to describe the global discussion that goes on about TV shows via social media networks like Twitter and Facebook, as well as via blog posts.
Social media is useful to TV networks for generating excitement prior to the broadcast of a show, and for ensuring that as many people as possible tune in during the original time slot. The creation of Facebook pages and Twitter feeds for shows and characters is a vital tool for building fan loyalty. This is particularly important for the finale of a talent show like American Idol or BGT. Because so many people discuss the content of a show via tweets and status updates as it happens, spoilers abound on the internet for anyone who's not next to a TV set.
However, social media is a double-edged sword where international drama sales are concerned. When viewers in one country get to see a show first, their online discussion may spoil things for viewers in other countries, especially where the death of a character or a plot twist is concerned. Networks are well aware of this problem, because it generates demand for pirated shows. Unable to wait, a fan might illegally download episodes of their favorite show so that they can keep up with the online chatter - and know what happens! Dexter was the most downloaded TV show of 2011, because Season Six was broadcast in the US long before it appeared anywhere else.

Scheduling strategies

Block programming

Block programming occurs when the television network schedules similar programs back-to-back. The concept is to provide similar programming to retain viewership.

Crossprogramming

Crossprogramming involves the interconnection of two shows. This is achieved by dragging a storyline over two episodes of two different programs.

Bridging

Bridging is being used when a station tries to prevent the audience from changing channels during a junction point - the main evening breaks where all channels stop programs and shift gear (Ellis, 2000). This is achieved in a number of ways including: having a program already underway and something compelling happening at a junction point, running a program late so that people ‘hang around’ and miss the start of other programs, or television advertising the next program during the credits of the previous.

Counterprogramming

Counterprogramming is used when a time period is filled with a program whose appeal is different from the opponent program because it is a different genre or appeals to a different demographic.

Dayparting

Dayparting is the practice of dividing the day into several parts, during each of which a different type of radio programming or television programming appropriate for that time is aired. Daytime television programs are most often geared toward a particular demographic, and what the target audience typically engages in at that time.

• Sign-on
• Early morning news
• Early morning
• Late morning
• Daytime television
• Early fringe
• Lunchtime news
• Early afternoon
• Late afternoon
• Early evening
• Evening news
• Prime time
• Late-night news
• Late night television
• Graveyard slot
• Sign-off (closedown)
• Late fringe
• Post late-fringe

Hammocking

Hammocking is a technique used by broadcasters whereby an unpopular program is scheduled between two popular programs in the hope that viewers will watch it. Public television use this as a way of promoting serious but valuable content.

Hotswitching

In Hotswitching, the programmers eliminate any sort of commercial break when one program ends and another begins; this immediately hooks the audience into watching the next program without a chance to change the television channel between programs.

Stacking

Stacking is a technique used to develop audience flow by grouping together programs with similar appeals to "Sweep" the viewer along from one program to the next (Vane and Gross, 1994, p. 175).

Stripping

Stripping is running a syndicated television series every day of the week. It is commonly restricted to describing the airing of shows which were weekly in their first run; The West Wing could be stripped, but not Jeopardy! as the latter is already a daily show. Shows that are syndicated in this way generally have to have run for several seasons (the rule of thumb is usually 100 episodes) in order to have enough episodes to run without significant repeats.

Tentpoling

In tent pole programming the programmers bank on a well-known series having so much audience appeal that they can place two unknown series on either side, and it is the strength of the central program that will bring the others along to victory.

Theming

Having special theming days (such as for a holiday), or theme weeks such as Discovery Channel's Shark Week.

Scheduling strategies

A typical scheduling strategy used in Argentinian radio and television is called "pase" (Spanish for a "pass" as in a player passing the ball to another player of the same team). A few minutes before the end of a live broadcast show, followed by another live broadcast show, people from both programmes will share some air time together. This may be used for people from the starting programme to anticipate its contents of the day, or to participate in an ongoing discussion in the previous show, or simply for an entirely independent debate or chat that will not be furthered after the "pase". On the radio, where newscasts are usually broadcast every thirty minutes, often in coincidence with the end of a show, the "pase" may take some minutes before the news, and sometimes some minutes afterwards, too.
Alternatively, if there is no "pase", light jokes or comments can be made in a show involving people of the following show, so that some viewers or listeners might be interested in hearing what the reply will be.
Also, when a station has a new show starting, or if it needs to boost its ratings, part of its cast will be featured in other programmes in the same station, inserted in the dynamics of the programme they are in. For example they will participate in game shows, be interviewed by the journalists of the station, make cameos in a series, substitute for the usual staff of other shows in their habitual functions, etc. Additionally, hosts of live programmes may mention repeatedly the new show and its time slot, trying to encourage their own viewers to watch it.

Why do audiences enjoy watching crime dramas?

It is known that several people love to watch crime dramas but behind the basic reason why they watch it for example, for enteratinment there must be several other contributing factors, so below I will explain several other key elements why they do.

Television crime dramas can be seen as having a engaging narrative which offers a space for debates about policing, criminality, gender, race and social and cultural values, this then engages the audience to allow them to want to watch the next episode to find out what will happen, also the subjects brought up in these drama may even be relatable or interesting enough for us to want to find out more about them. There are several key elements to crime dramas such as, they all have a resolution to a mystery, question of morality, debates about the innocent and guilty, verisimilitude meaning there are several representations of ordinary people in everyday environments, cliffhangers, suspense, enigma, typical dramatic irony to perhaps make the audience laugh to relate back to its purpose to entertain and set pieces and conflict. Refering back to the point about enigma for this you could say how information is distributed to the audience for example  the creators want to keep you on your toes and to give the impression that the characters are in mystery. Furthermore, there is power struggles between divisions of the police, government and the police and the judiciary system and the police, possibly conflicts could also occur between these divisions as well. Additionally TV dramas in general can sometimes been seem as escapism (companionship) for example the elederly who have very little to look forward to in life and feel as if they are getting involved with the show and can sometimes allow some people more to talk about and can also be seen as a comfort as well.

Furthermore, it seems that over the years stereotypes in crime dramas have become more modernised in their views and actions, for example the traditional police and inspector has changed in the way they are presented to the audience as well percieved by the audience. For example, in 'Inspector George Gently' he can be seen as typical old fashioned inspector with a stereotypical mac wrapped over the arm and the police team in this drama seem quite laidback compared to in 'Good Cop ' they are seen to always be on their toes because crime has got worse now compared to about 20 years back. Moreover, crime dramas can provide the audience knowledge of the world around them that they are unaware of and also there is a element of personal identity when they try to compare themselves perhaps to the characters and attempt to perhaps feel some empathy for them as well for example in 'The Accused' you could say that perchance the audience can empathise for the wrong personal due to feeling that deep down that they would want the character to get a way with the crime instead of getting found out'. Linking it to the use of the gratification theory because of it we use dramas to conceivably  please ourselves and to allow us to feel some gratitude. Within this theory there are for different categories known as Information (Insightful), Diversion (Involvement), Identity(Comparisons) and Companionship (Getting to know), which can link to several reasons I have stated above in the earlier part of my essay.

So on the whole there are several factors which contribute to why people choose to watch crime dramas day in and day out and how there perception of certain types of characters involved in them have changed.

Shot types

* EWS (Extreme Wide Shot)

The view is so far from the subject that he isn't even visible. Often used as an establishing shot.

* VWS (Very Wide Shot)

The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing him in is environment.

* WS (Wide Shot)

The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible. AKA: long shot, full shot.

* MS (Mid Shot)

Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving an impression of the whole subject.

* MCU (Medium Close Up)

Half way between a MS and a CU.

* CU (Close Up)

A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.

* ECU (Extreme Close Up)

The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail. Variation: Choker

* Cut-In

Shows some (other) part of the subject in detail.

* CA (Cutaway)

A shot of something other than the subject.

* Two shot

A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.

* (OSS) Over-the-Shoulder Shot

Looking from behind a person at the subject.

* Noddy Shot

Usually refers to a shot of the interviewer listening and reacting to the subject.

* Point-of-View Shot (POV)

Shows a view from the subject's perspective.

* Weather Shot

The subject is the weather. Can be used for other purposes, e.g. background for graphics.

Conventions

* Well constructed plot
* Relatable aspects
* Exaggeration

Denotation- a literal meaning

Connotation- hiding meaning assosiations, emotional and otherwise

Ideas for further reading

* Douglas Kellner- 'Television Images, Codes and Messages'

"a genre refers to a coded set of formulas and conventions which indicate a culturally accepted way of organising material into distinct patterns. Once established, genres dictate the basic conditions of cultural production and reception."

* Martin Esslin 'The age of television' 

* Bardwell & Thomson's 'Film Art'  

TV Drama Introduction Lesson 1

TV Drama

Here is a list of types of television drama's:

* Soap opera (Eastenders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street) 
* Costume/ period drama (Downton Abbey, Miss Marple, The Tudors)
* Medical/ emergency (Casualty, Holby City, ER)
* Literary adaptations (Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, Emma)
* Crime drama (The Bill, Hustle, Minder)
* Contemporary Melodrama (Burke & Hare, Sweeny Todd, Lady Audley's Secret)
* Comedy drama (A touch of cloth, Beaver Falls, Doc Martin)
* Sci-fi/ fantasy (Dr. Who, The Vampire Diaries, Angel)
* Spy Drama (Spooks, Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, Smiley's People)

Conventions of TV Drama

What set of rules, codes or formulae does TV Drama follow?

* Scripted, fictional narrative
* Central characters
* Often continuous story lines
* Key themes
* Verisimilitude (relatable, realistic settings, characters and story lines)
* Could be a one-off/ special, mini-series, serial
* Serials can be progressive story lines, continuing from week to week and developing across a series, or can be self-contained each episode, despite featuring the same characters and settings.
* Distinctive style of directing/ shooting

Introduction to exam work

Hi welcome to my media exam work, this blog will contain a variety of revision, homework tasks and extra research.

Within the exam I have to sit and the end of this year there is two parts to it, below is a copy of the syllabus for my exam work.

What the exam covers: 

* Textual Analysis + Representation
* Institutions and Audiences

Section A (50 marks)

Candidates answer questions on a unseen moving image extract and link to an aspect of representation written in the sequence.

Section B (50 marks)

Candidates study a specific media industry from: film, music, newspapers, radio, magazines or video games.

The specific industry we have been told that we are studying is Film and at the moment in class we are studying about TV Drama's.