REPRESENTATION OF AGE

TV DRAMAMonday 31st October 2011

LO: To micro analyse TV drama through the representation of age

How is age represented in this

image?

Q: What is a stereotype?

A: An oversimplified representation of a social group

Positive and negative representations of youth and old age

YOUTH OLD AGE

POSITIVES Active

Sociable

Innocent

Strong

Long future ahead

Adventurous

Fun

Wise

Authoritative

Well educated

Freedom

Wealth

Stability

NEGATIVES Lazy

Rebellious

Rude

Hormonal

Vulnerable

Naive

Dependent

Weak

Vulnerable

Fragile

Mentally incompetent

Not in control of their own bodies

Lonely

Dependent

Boring

Unwilling to try new things

MISE EN SCENE

Costume, make up

Lighting - high key, low key, interior, exterior, artificial, back lighting

Production Design

Props

Performance (body language, facial expressions)

Space

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Close up, extreme close up/long shot, mid shot, two shot, POV, high/low/canted angle, over the shoulder,composition, framing, rule of thirds, power points, deep/shallow focus, depth of field, tracking, panning, zooming, tilting, craning

SOUND

Sound bridge, motif, non-diegetic/diegetic, ambient, instrumental, soundtrack, tone, tempo, dialogue, sound effects, foley, synchronous/asynchronous, incidental, music score

EDITING

Fast/slow pace, long/short takes, fade, dissolve, cut, transition, 180 degree rule, montage/continuity editing, match on action, eyeline match, cross cutting/parallel editing, simultaneous action

MISE EN SCENE

Costume

Lighting

Production Design

Props

Performance (body language, facial expressions)

Space

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Close up, extreme close up/long shot, mid shot, two shot, POV, high/low/canted angle, over the shoulder,composition, framing, rule of thirds, power points, deep/shallow focus, depth of field, tracking, panning, zooming, tilting, craning

SOUND

Sound bridge, motif, non-diegetic/diegetic, ambient, instrumental, soundtrack, tone, tempo, dialogue, sound effects, foley

EDITING

Fast/slow pace, long/short takes, fade, dissolve, cut, transition, 180 degree rule, montage/continuity editing, match on action, eyeline match,cross cutting/parallel editing, simultaneous action

How would these representSuperior or inferior qualities?

MISE EN SCENE CINEMATOGRAPHY

EDITING SOUNDAGE

1. Who is being represented in this clip?2. Are they being represented as superior or inferior? (Support this

answer with evidence from the next question)3. Pick one point from each micro element to comment on how this

social group is being represented.

EXT: How does this clip construct a stereotypical representation of this social group?

In the clip there are two different age groups being represented i.e. the youthful daughter, her older boyfriend and parents. Youth is being presented through mise en scene. For instance the girl’s costume is jeans and hooped earrings usually worn by young girls. Whereas her boyfriend who is much older was dressed more maturely as he was wearing a blazer and a formal/casual top with jeans. However her father was wearing a brightly coloured patterned shirt and trousers yet his costume seemed less mature compared to his daughter’s boyfriend. Thus using a stereotypical view on older people as they are seen as mature

P.E.E.

• Now write a PEE for at least two points• From your notes

• Point – your comment about the area of representation e.g. Youth is represented through diegetic sound.• Evidence – your micro element that tells us this e.g. The dialogue is colloquial.• Explain – link the two e.g. This conforms to a stereotypical view of young

teenagers, that they are rebellious in speaking their own language.

Is this a typical representation of age?

How could age be represented through sound?

The type of background music used would help represent age e.g. a teen show would use current music

from the music charts.

How could age be represented through mise en scene?

Age could be represented by the type of costume the character e.g. a middle-aged man would wear suit. The décor of teenagers room would be very cluttered with

posters and photos. Whereas a middle-age person would have minimalistic styled room.

How could age be represented through cinematography?

How could age be represented through editing?

January paper - Section A TV DRAMA

Marking Criteria

Frequent and Accurate use of media terminology

Consistent evidence from the extract offered. Offers frequent relevant examples from the extract

Clear analysis of how the technical aspects are used to construct the particular representationUnderstanding of the constructed nature of representation

10

Terminology

20

20

Use of Examples

Analysis/Explanation

Weak Responses

Described the action rather than analysedFocused primarily on one area and neglect othersStray from the relevant question- discuss gender/social class etcWere concerned with TV Drama as genre rather than focus onrepresentationUse terminology rarely or inaccuratelyWrite a short response, intro and conclusion included

Strong Responses

Use note taking effectively and were well practiced in working under timed conditions.Understood the constructed nature of representation and were able to explore this through all four micro elementsUsed media terminology frequently. Selected the most relevant examples form the extract and analysed how the technical aspects constructed age.Could see the range of representations rather than ‘old’ and ‘young’Considered whether these representation were conformed to or subverted stereotypes

P.E.E.

• Now write a PEE for at least two points• From your notes

• Point – your comment about the area of representation e.g. Youth is represented through diegetic sound.• Evidence – your micro element that tells us this e.g. The dialogue is colloquial.• Explain – link the two e.g. This conforms to a stereotypical view of young

teenagers, that they are rebellious in speaking their own language.

EditingWeakest area of analysis. Some candidates making no reference at all.

Stronger responses discussed the use 180-degree rule and continuity editing.

These candidates also referred to eyeline matches, shot reverse shot, simultaneous action and use of ellipsis.

Also some discussed the pace of editing to represent age

SoundWas tackled well by some but too much focus on dialogue.

Clear distinction between diegetic and non-diegetic sound by some candidates.

Need to address use of music in more detail-tempo, pace, sound bridges and link specifically to representation.

Mise-en-sceneOften very well discussed but at times too much focus on this area. Some entirely focused on mise-en-scene

Concentration on clothing and props but little exploration of lighting.

Must link to how it constructs representation.

CinematographyWell handled by most with the most confident use of terminology in this area.

Problems for some in just identifying camera shots/angle/position and not linking this to the construction of representation.

1. List four sub genres of TV Drama

2. Define the term ‘representation’

3. Define ‘stereotype’

4. Sum up the typical representation of old age in three words

5. Sum up the typical representation of youth in three words

Answers

1. Medical, Police, Teen, Period.

2. The description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way or as being of a certain nature.

3. A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

4. Wise, authoritative, fragile.

5. Naïve, rebellious, active.