Paddington essay

The big issue is representing padington as part of the immigration problem that the uk faces. That I mean by thisnisnthat they are seen as different to people who live in the UK and in this case are presented as ‘animals’ this opens up the stereotypical ideas of what goes along with being an immigrant. People make them out to be less of a person or have less right just because of the geographical location in which they are born. The big issue are trying to combat this by using a familiar face that people already know and love to show that they shouldn’t be feared or made out to be different and actually we should be welcoming them in and do the right thing. The advantages of doing this is that it makes people think and question how they are treating those around them that are in this situation and how they should actually be treating them. This could mean that the next time they are involved with immigration that they will think back to this image because it is memorable and maybe act differently. People also refer to the big issue as talking about the things that normal news outlets don’t talk about because they are not about making a profit as they are a social enterprise who’s only goal is to help people who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness looking back at the article you can see that they have chosen to use the word ‘us’ this is to show that if we are going to solve this problem it can’t just be a couple of us everyone has to chip in and do their bit. It also shows that they are the same as us and that we should be welcoming them in because if it was the other way around we would want them to help us. The article is also set at Christmas time which is a time of giving and how buying this newspaper at the very least is helping the immigration problem within the world.

In conclusion I think that this poster does a great job of putting immigration into a positive light and really makes people think about how they are treating people who come from other backgrounds.

D83 audience profiling

Demographic
The demographic for D83 would be a ABC demographic who are well educated because they will have to have an interest in the cold war and at the same time they would need the attention span in order to read all of the subtitles and sat up to date on them.

Psychographic     
the two that i would chose are as followed, the first being resigned because i think their strict personality would be able to deal with the subtitles and those who are not would probably get bored and want to stop reading the subtitles 
the second being reformer because it is not a well known show so they would have so have seen it for themselves and still want to watch it. this means that they don't care what others think and they want to watch the show because they enjoy it 

how does this affect the text?
this will affect it because it means they are able to use more sophisticated words in order to get the details about the cold war out. they will most likely use slang words and jargon from the time in order to  make it feel as authentic as possible.                                                                                                               

How does this effect advertising
They will be wanting to use the sorts of colours that are going to be in the show so that you see the colour scheme and recognise the show easier. This will mean they will base their whole marketing and advertising on the show and making it relate to the show. They will also have photos of the characters in order to make sure you know who they are. For this program this might not help because the show isn’t well known so people won’t give it a second glance because people want to see a star they know this could lead to them putting other things in their posters and advertising.

Who is the owner of the product?

Who are they? How are they structured as a company? Do they own any other companies or are they owned by another company or conglomerate?

Are they a specialised company? What other similar products do they/have they produced? How successful are they?

How are they funded? Where does the company’s funding come from?

Are they vertically or horizontally integrated?

How have they diversified?

What aspects of the production, distribution and circulation processes do they own?

How do they ensure their product is distributed and circulated?

How does this help with funding their products?

How does this help to reach and maintain audiences?

How do they reach their audience?

Do they have global reach? How many viewers/subscribers do they have? How many viewers have there been for the drama and/or the first episode of the first season?

How do they measure their audience?

How do they maintain their audience?

How does the organisation market their brand to the audience?

How do they market the product to the audience? Can the drama be seen to be innovative programming that their audiences will enjoy?

What is context?

Context in relation to a media text can be broken down into the following: social, historical, cultural, economical and political.

The difference between social and cultural context

Society is a community within which people live and interact with one another. 

Social refers to the people who live in a specific place and interact with one another within the social environment. Social contextrefers to these people and the structure and function of institutions that operate within a society such as family, education, religion, communications, government etc... It also helps us to understand social conflicts that may arise as a result of the structure, functions and interactions of the people who live within it. We all live our day to day lives in the same society following the same structures and functions. Social context focuses on the relationship between media products and the society within which they are made in relation to social groups, attitudes, changes, conflicts and inequalities.

Culture is the way the different people who live in that society behave - you can have one society or social structure (American, British, Swedish, German) but many cultures or sub-cultures within that society. 

Cultural refers to what creates the identity of the people who live in any given society. Culture refers to the beliefs, meanings and practices that guide the shared behaviour of individuals within a group in any given society. This includes the attitudes, values, habits, customs and traditions of the shared culture. Culture can be seen to include all aspects of ‘life’ including language, the products we make, the things we do and how we do them. There can be lots of different cultures and sub-cultures within a society, which is why we might all behave, think and act a little bit differently even though we are all living our day to day lives in a similar way.

TASK: Write down your own definition that explains the difference between social and cultural context.

Context in Regards to Long Form Television Drama

Social Contexts

Knowledge and understanding of the influence of changes in gender roles, of gender, racial and ethnic inequalities, social attitudes to sexualities on television programmes. Knowledge and understanding of the influence of social anxieties and/or contested social values on television programmes, for example the perceived rupturing of the ‘American dream’ illustrated through allegorical representations of social anxieties such as domestic terrorism and surveillance and also more broadly through wider western social values towards security and family and home and the perceived breakdown of the ‘nuclear’ family.

Social Contexts within Stranger Things

The episode intertextually reflects 1980s family and gender relations and is set within a Speilbergian, mostly white, world of suburban family life, representing mothers as figures struggling to hold the family together, fathers as absent or insensitive and distracted, and young boys as establishing a fierce loyalty and masculine camaraderie in the face of a hostile world. Mike’s teenage sister, Nancy, is represented in contradictory ways: she anti-stereotypically excels at science while still fitting stereotypes of the teenage girl (reflecting theories such as Gauntlett). The episode shows the influence of social anxieties about the consequences of scientific experimentation.

TASK: Answer the following questions for Stranger Things.

1. 1. In which country is the drama set? 
2. america- hawkins indiana 
3. 2. In which country is the drama made? 
4. america- Atlanta 
5. 3. What is the social identity of the people in the drama? 
6. wheeler family is a nuclear family and the byars family is a broke family 
7. 4. Who makes the drama?
8. the diffur
9. 5. Are they a small independent organisation or a large multi-national / global conglomerate? 
10. pretty small but are helped by Netflix 
11. 6. How is the social identity of the country of production reflected in the drama? 
12. 7. What aspects of social and day to day life are reflected in the drama (being with families, going to school, legal and political systems, being religious etc.)? 
13. 8. How are these structures reflected in the drama – as usual or to be questioned? 
14. 9. How does the drama influence our own participation within the social structure (confirms it as the right thing to do or questions it?) 
15. 10. Is there any social conflict apparent in the drama? 
16. 11. How does the drama represent social changes?

Cultural Contexts

Knowledge and understanding of the influence of national cultures on television programmes, for example the cultural importance of television dramas in reflecting, re-interpreting and re-enforcing national cultural identities and representations of social groups, events and the individuals within those (and on occasion, challenging and subverting those representations to try and instigate cultural change and domestic conversations on representations and identity). Knowledge and understanding of the influence of cultural globalisation and hybridisation on television programmes and recognition that key character types may share certain generic traits in their representations across westernised television culture.

Cultural Context within Stranger Things 

The episode shows the influence of the cultural icon of the American small town community developed by Hollywood cinema, not least in the 1980s. This representation has global recognition (by international audiences used to being positioned as Americans), given the global success of the Hollywood blockbusters of that era.

TASK: Answer the following questions for Stranger Things.

As reflected in the settings and characters within the drama (1980s): 

What do we see people doing in the drama? 
What attitudes, values, habits, customs and traditions can we see them taking part in that identifies their culture (as American, Germans, Danes etc…)?
What do they wear? 
How do they speak? 
How do they spend their spare and recreational time? 
What do we see them listening to or watching? 
What do they eat? 
Where do they go out? 
How do they interact with one another? 
What values or beliefs are they seen to hold? 
What intertextual references to other cultural products are there? 
How do audiences consume and interact with products (either of the set drama itself or how we see them consuming media within the drama)? 

As reflected at the time of the drama’s production (2016):

How does the set product typify cultural trends and preferences of what audiences like to watch? 
How do audiences consume and interact with the products? How have current cultural trends and uses of technology influenced this? 
How does the viewer’s own cultural background or social identity affect the way in which they may respond to and interpret the drama? 
How does the drama support or reinforce the cultural background of its target audience?

Historical Contexts 
Knowledge and understanding of the influence of key historical events on television programmes, for example, 9/11 and the ‘war on terror’ and how this affected the American psyche and been reflected and re-interpreted through television dramas; for example, how the reunification of Germany influenced the region and has been reflected and re-interpreted through television dramas.

TASK: Answer the following questions for Stranger Things.

When was the drama set? 
What significant events or issues happened politically, socially, culturally at that time? Write a list.
Does the drama represent or refer to any historical events?

Political Contexts 
Knowledge and understanding of the influence of attitudes to politics on television programmes including how television programmes can reflect, reinterpret, amplify and satirise national political institutions and the mechanics of their working, including an understanding that Western programme makers have the freedom to criticise and satirise their own domestic politicians and political systems. A knowledge and understanding of the need for the audience to have political knowledge itself to understand the basis of some representations in political dramas.

Political Context within Stranger Things

The episode reflects anxiety about the power of the central state in relation to the local community: the episode represents a shadowy world of possibly sinister enforcement agents, suggesting an all-powerful secret state, whereas the local police, by contrast, are represented in a humanised way – they are good-natured but made lazy and complacent until forced into action. However, the representations are perhaps deliberately stereotyped for intertextual effect – to recreate the world of 1980s films – which may suggest a more polysemic reading.

TASK: Answer the following questions for Stranger Things.

What is the political context at the time in which the product is set or made (e.g. political leadership at the time, significant political events or issues)? 
Is there any political conflict evident in the drama? 
How does the drama reflect political debates and issues? 
Could the drama be seen to influence political debates and the way in which its viewers may think or feel about these political issues? 
How is political power seen to be used or achieved in the drama? 
Does the drama contribute to shaping ideas about politics and political power? 
How could the political climate in which the audience watch the drama affect their own response?

Economic Contexts 
Knowledge and understanding of the influence of high budgets on flagship television programmes, e.g. the opportunities for character development in ‘authored’ high budget programmes allows for more complex, individualised three-dimensional characterisation rather than stereotyping. Responses may also show knowledge of the disparity between production budgets for US television dramas and European television dramas and their sources of funding and how budget can influence representations through allowing more or less choice to programme makers when constructing representations, for example, with regard to locations, settings, costumes, filming, lighting, sound and editing technology.

Economic Context within Stranger Things 

The episode reflects the continuing success of streaming services such as Netflix who need to maintain the brand with innovative and original programming.

TASK: Answer the following questions for Stranger Things.

How is the company that made the drama funded? 
What income revenues do they have? 
What is the budget for the drama? 
How does the owner(s) of the product use or develop processes of production, distribution and circulation? 
How successful is the company in comparison to others in the market? What profit have they made? 
What technological developments have there been that allows the current processes of production, distribution and circulation? 
What developments in technology may there be that could change processes of production, distribution and circulation?

The contexts in which the drama is set (1980s).

TASK: Answer the following questions for Stranger Things.

When and where is the drama set? 

What genre is the product?  

What is the political, social and cultural climate that the drama is set in? 

Are there any intertextual references to other media products, historical eras, and social identities?

How are these represented in the drama?

How accurate are these representations to the real event or issue? 

What viewpoint or ideological messages do they offer? 

How may the meanings constructed by the product be interpreted by different audiences? 

The contexts in which the drama is produced (2016).

When and where was the set product produced? 

Who owns and distributes the set product? 

What other dramas do they produce? 

What was the budget for the set product?  

Do the dramas they produce offer similar representations? 

Are there any intertextual references in the first episode of the set product?

How is the set product distributed? On what platforms? 

Is the product available globally? Which countries isn’t it available in and why is this? 

What circulation platforms are there? How is the product viewed and consumed? 

Who is the target audience? Which wider audiences might enjoy the product? 

How can audiences access and consume the set product? 

How was the drama received in different countries? 

How might their viewing contexts affect what they view and how they interact with the product? 

Which factors might affect the interpretation of meaning for different audiences of the same product? 

representation questions
-How are individuals and social groups represented?
The 'kids' are represented as normal kids for example they are playing dungeons and dragons. one of them being dustin goes up and offers nancy a slice f pizza which shows that he is trying to be kind to er as kids do but her being a teen just slams the door in his face because al she wants to do is talk on the phone to who ever she is talking to. this could have been a boy or one of her friends but who ever it is she is trying t cover from the boys.


-How are the main characters represented through the use of media language? What social groups can they be seen to fall into? 
l

the dialogue that they use for the boys is that they are trying to make it sound exciting but at the same time it changes to a light hearted sound that is played throughout the show. the mise en scene for them is that they ride bikes which shows that they are kids trying to be independant
-Which individuals or groups are under-represented in the drama? How do you know? Why might this be? 
Sexuality is under represented in this because they do not have gay relationships in any of the scenes m. This could be because back in the time it would have been set gay people would have been very few and they would not have been publicly known because of how it was look down on 
-Which individuals or social groups are mis-represented in the drama? How do you know? Why might this be? 
Jim hopper is because he is first made out to be a drunk that is all over the place and does not look after his house which shows that he is lazy and doesn’t care. This is weird because the police are always seen as neat and tidy and regimented so that they can get their work done. They are all on time and care for everyone whereas he doesn’t seem bothered at first about the boy going missing -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?  
Most of the stereotypes that we see are negative and what I mean by this is that you get the bully’s who are shown as bad and what is wrong with schools today. You then have the teens such as Nancy who don’t seem to care about anything other than being seen as cool and popular and doesn’t look out for their friends and family

-Are the stereotypes we see used in a positive or negative way? 
How much influence will the producer have had on the way individuals, social groups or social identities are represented? 

-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? 

-How are events, issues and social identities represented? 

-What events or issues are represented? 

-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?

-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?

stranger things characters

Joyce Byers:

1. major
2. he conforms to the stereotype of a mother as she works long hours to provide for her two sons, also when Will go missing she does everything and anything she can to try to find him.
3. adult, mother, white, single parent
4. her contribution to the narrative is being the worried mother who is doing all in her power to find Will and make sure he is safe, just in the first episode you can tell how worried she is even though Will hasn't been missing for that long

Will Byers

1. major
2. just looking at the first episode its hard to get a good look into Will's character as he gets taken about 10 minutes in, but from looking at the bits he's in and hearing his personality from his mum and brother he does seem like a stereotypical teenager as he is seen playing board games with his mates and listening to popular music with his brother, as well as riding his bike around. 
3. youth, innocence, white, boy
4. his contribution is that he's gone missing, this gives the group of boys a motive and a storyline to follow, it also sets the scene for the series as it shows what the other characters will be fighting against   

Jim Hopper (cop)

1.  major
2. at the start when we first see him he doesn't conform to any stereotypes as it seems like he's a drunk as he's surrounded by beer cans, also due to the death of his daughter he goes above and beyond what a cop should do.
3. cop, law, adulthood, white
4. his contribution to the narrative is as he's a policeman he's looking for Will but it also shows the comparison as both the police and Will's friends are looking for him so it shows what they do differently 

Mike Wheeler

1. major
2. from the first episode he conforms to the stereotypes of a young teenage boy as he is first seen playing a board game (Dungeons and Dragons) with his friends in his basement
3. youth, white, boy
4. out of the group of boys we follow Mike around the most, he also seems to be the leader of the group of friends

 

Eleven

1. major
2. in the first episode we don't really see much of her or get to know her character, but from the short bits we do see her she doesn't conform to any stereotypes, however she is only wearing a hospital dress which leaves us wondering what happened to her especially as the scientists kill the owner of the diner to get her
3. youth, mysterious, 

Connie Frazer (social worker)

1. minor
2. no cause social workers don't shoot people
3. adult, woman, murderer
4. she shoots the owner of the diner to get to eleven, this shows the audience how badly the scientists want to get to eleven

stranger things

1. What are the formal codes and conventions of Long-Form TV Drama? 
Episodes 
Plot twist 
Main characters 2. How similar or different are the formal conventions used in Stranger Things? 
They follow it because they have the main characters that are faced with a dielema and have to fix this, it is full of plot twists that keep the viewers intrusted 3. 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. 

4. What codes and conventions are used to help audiences recognise their genre? Make reference to specific examples. 
At the start of the episode they are playing a game with each other showing that they are from a younger demographic and this still enjoy playing with toys and games 5. How may these two set products contribute to changes or developments within the genre in their current form? 

6. What similarities and/or differences are there between the genres in Stranger Things? How do these help to popularise the form?
The difference between sifi and horror because they have a monster that you don’t know where is it but you have the girl 11 who can move this with her mind which is sifi 

1. How is the episode, and the way the events unfold within it, structured?
They have a problem that they are faced with and then they need to come together to try and fix it. This is a recurring theme throughout the show 2. How does the episode begin and finish? 

3. What are the story beats* between the beginning and end of the episode? 

*Story beats are the points of action upon which you hang your basic story. When you connect the actual individual action points, they build up to story, like a puzzle. These are the story moments that are the X happens, and then Y happens… and then Z happens… and on.

4. How is the pace set by the narrative structure and the events as they unfold? Does this support or challenge the narrative conventions of the genre?
The pace gets faster and faster throughout the show and I would say it is fast because will gets taken within the first 15 mins of the show this shows that they are not wasting time and want to get straight into the action 5. Are there multiple story-lines and how are these set up within the narrative structure? What are the benefits of multiple story-lines? 
Yes they have the story line of 11 and then you have the boys together and then finally you have nancy and Steve 6. How can these help to develop the media form of Long Form TV Drama? 

7. How can these additional story-lines attract an audience? 
It gives you more than one thing to think about which means that when something is solved you then have to work out the other story lines problem and this keeps them interest 8. How effective is this structure in the way in which it communicates multiple meanings? Refer to examples from Stranger Things.

9. How does the chosen narrative structure help reinforce the genre conventions (science-fiction/horror) of the product?