TV Drama Sub- Genres

• What are the sub-genres of TV Drama:

• Soap Operas or Continuing Dramas: ‘Eastenders’, ‘Coronation Street’…

• Crime and Police Dramas: ‘The Bill’, ‘The Wire’, ‘CSI..

• Medical/Emergency Dramas: ‘ER’, ‘Casualty’….

• Sci-Fi/ Fantasy Dramas: ‘Dr Who’, ‘Heroes’…

• Literary adaptations: Pride and Prejudice’, Oliver Twist

• Contemporary melodramas: ‘Skins’, ‘Waterloo Road’

• Comedy Dramas: ‘Shameless’, ‘Desperate Housewives’

Connotation and Denotation- recap

• Denotation?

• Connotation?• What something might stand for or represent, e.g.. To

give someone a red rose might suggest love.

• The mise-en-scene in a film or TV show can connote complex ideas to the viewer very quickly.

• Brainstorm issues and keywords around ETHNICITY

Learning objectives:

To consolidate our understanding of how representational issues around

ethnicity are constructed through the technical aspects.

Past Papers• Since this topic began in Jan 2009 the question has focused on

the following areas:

• Jan 2009: Age- Monarch of the Glen• June 2009: Gender- Dr Who

• Jan 2010: Ethnicity- Hotel Babylon

• June 2010: Gender- Primeval• Jan 2011: Gender- Hustle• June 2011: Class- Merlin• Jan 2012: Sexuality- Fingersmith

• June 2012: Ability/Disability- Down from the Mountain

• Jan 2013: Age- E.R

• June 2013: Region- Doc Martin• Any guesses for what might be next?• All of the past clips can be found on Youtube.

Possible AS Exam Question

Answer the question below, with detailed references to specific examples from the extract only.

1. Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of ethnicity using the following:

• Camera shots, angles, movement and composition• Editing• Sound• Mise en scene

Conflict and culture clash

• Ethnicity analysis will focus on how differing ethnicities are- binary opposites.

• Eg: Moral v immoral

• There might be a ‘clash’ of cultures, perhaps a conflict for superiority.

Connotation and Denotation – recap

What can you say about the denotations and connotations of this still image?

What can you say about the connotations of mise-en-scene and cinematography in this still from ‘Eastenders’?

What descriptive words would you use?

Ethnicity representation

• Task: With your partner list the stereotypical qualities of one of these ethnicity groups.

• What adjectives could be used to describe them?

• Oriental Asians• Italians• Latinos• Indian-Asians

• Remember all characters have been constructed, they are all the product of someone's imagination. They all offer a certain view of what it is to be that particular age.

What can you say about the each of the demographics and the connotations of the mise-en-scene and the cinematography in this still from

‘Coronation Street’?What descriptive words would you use?

• Writing task: Discuss the ways in which the image represents ethnicity through mise-en-scene and cinematography.

• Write one paragraph for each.

• Remember to think adjectively!

Micro analysis- ethnicity• We are going to watch a short clip 3 times.

• In groups make notes on how ethnicity is constructed using

• Cinematography• mise-en-scene• Sound• Editing.

• How does the clip construct issues of ethnicity through the technical aspects?

•

Peer assess

• Swap your writing with the person next to you.

• Is the point clear and is it specific?• Is there clear evidence from the still?• Is there a detailed explanation.

• Give the work a grade.

Words to connect technique to audience

• This technique – suggests….– implies….– shows….– connotes….– develops….– establishes….– might symbolise….

• To consolidate our understanding of how representational issues around ethnicity are constructed through the the technical apects.

Editing questions

• Write down a question you would ask someone else in the class about editing?

• Continuity editing – “invisible” editing ( establishing shot, match on action, shot-reverse-shots, 180 degree rule etc)

• Rhythm – pace of editing:– Quick for action sequences?– Slow for character studies?

• Cross cutting – alternates 2 (or more) lines of action that occur in different places, usually at the same time

• Transitions – uncommon in TV drama, except for straight cuts. They explicitly connect shots in some way. Examples include:– Fade– Wipe– Dissolve

• Effects – making the editing obvious:– Motion control: speed up, slow motion, freeze frame– Picture effects: black and white, split screen (vs cross cutting), captions,

tinting, colouring

Some editing keywords

Sound questions

• Write down a question you ask someone in the class about sound.

Some sound terms

• Diegetic and non- diegetic• Music score• Dialogue • Ambient sounds• Sound effects and the foley artist.

• Amplification – made louder• Bass – a low tone• Cacophonous – a non-rhythmical noise• Crescendo – a build up of sound to a climax• Discordant – sounds that conflict, are inharmonious• Melody – a series of notes that form a distinct pattern• Monotone – a single tone• Oscillating – sound that goes up and down in pitch and tone• Rhythmic – a regular pattern of beats• Synchronised – sound working together with the visuals• Symphonic – a collection of instruments in an orchestra.

Looking at a past paper

• Firstly lets look at an actual paper and discuss it.

• Assessment task: you are going to assess a past script. Look at the syllabus criteria and give it a mark out of 50.

• Some comparative connectives: – Having said this– Although– Whereas– Despite – Moreover– Furthermore– Nevertheless– Additionally– However– As well– Indeed– Instead– Rather– Elsewhere– Alternatively

• Introduction:

• Don’t make any grand generalisations• Refer to the language of question • Give some context to the text

• Conclusion:

• Briefly summarise your main points• Don’t introduce any new points• Make it interesting and stand out (e.g. ask a provocative question, evoke an image, use a quotation)• Don’t just repeat introduction!

Keyword brainstorming in pairs

• Brainstorm general descriptive keywords (e.g. connotes, archetype)

connotes

represents

symbolises

subverts

stereotypes

archetype

stock type

constructs

audience

post-feminist

post-modernantagonist

protagonist

complex

multi-faceted

patriarchal/matriarchal

status/power

portrays

subservient

passionate/dispassionate

tensionmood

atmosphere

appropriate

hybrid

tyrant

(anti) hero

reinforces

• Survivors (gender)• http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p006hp34

• Eastenders• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHjfdeVvJP0