Class and Status

Within this media clip, the representation of class and status can found. By deconstructing the clip, we are able to anaylse these representations and understand the way in which the characters have been classified in terms of class and status.

Immediately - as soon as the clip starts we discover that the two youths have a child. We know this because of the narrative that can be heard. This sound is diegetic and synchronous due to the fact that it is part of the storyline and can be heard on screen. The narrative indicates that the two are arguing about their child together. The working class are typically associated with having loads of children or having children at a young age. This demonstrates that the two are in the working class category as they follow the stereotypical behaviour of the working class. We also hear a gunshot within the scene when Maxine gets shot by the lad. This sound is diegetic as it is part of the storyline but asynchronous as we do need see him actually shooting her on the screen - just the reaction and sound of the gun. The fact that the lad had a gun is something that is associated with violence and crime. It is stereotypical for the working class to be the most likely to carry a gun for uses of crime. Although the upper class have guns, they only use them for hunting rather than shooting other people. This is a clear demonstration at the fact that the lad is working class. When the lad is walking down the street, we hear police sirens and the police officer shouting demands. Both of these sounds are synchronous and diegetic. The fact that the lad listened to the armed police officer indicates a sense of high status. This is due to the fact that the lad obeyed the rules of the police officer and therefore indicates authority from the police officer.

The clothing indicates to the audience the class and status of the characters involved. The young couple at the beginning of the clip demonstrate the working class. We know this because it is common to see those who're unemployed or in poverty wearing jewellery that can be seen easily. The fact that the girl is wearing big hooped earrings and the lad is wearing a gold chain around his neck indicates that they're working class as it is associated with those in that category to be seen wearing accessories like that. The fact that the lad has a gun indicates that he is a lower class as it is commonly associated with people who're involved in crimes and drugs dealing. The other people within the clip to have guns are the police. The difference between the size and capacity of the guns that the police have compared to the gun that the lad has indicates that the police have more power than him and therefore have the authority over him. Thus demonstrating that the police are of a higher status than the young lad. The use of police cars, guns and police officers indicates a sense of realism within the scene. This makes the audience see that the police are more powerful than the lad and therefore can detain him. 

The short cuts during the shooting scene indicate a sense of fast pace. This fast pace therefore highlights the overall appearance of the scene. The fast pace allows for the audience to see the reaction of both of the girls to the way in which the lad is behaving. The fact that she is encouraging him further also demonstrates that they're argumentative and that she doesn't care if it goes wrong. The short cuts also allow for the audience to see how they behave around one another. The fact that the girl is seen to be arguing with him even though she knows he has a gun in one of the shots shows the audience that she is a lower class as she isn't thinking about her own personal safety - just ensuring that she wins the argument against him. 

When the young lad is seen to be walking down the street and the police turn up, the shots used make the audience feel like they are against the young lad and his behaviour prior to that scene. The shots shown indicate that the cameraman is behind the police officers and therefore captures some of their blurred bodies in the shots. By doing this, it allows for the audience to feel like they have status over the young lad - much like the police officers. Although the police officers have a higher status than the young lad, they are still considered working class and middle class as they work in the police force but have that sense of authority in which the boy doesn't have.

Media Ownership

Media ownership from StephWebb

Disney

Disney from StephWebb

The Inbetweeners

The inbetweeners from StephWebb

“Cross-media convergence and synergy are vital processes in the successful marketing of media products to audiences.” To what extent do you agree with this statement in relation to your chosen media area?

“Cross-media convergence and synergy are vital processes in the successful marketing of media products to audiences.” To what extent do you agree with this statement in relation to your chosen media area?

In order to answer the question above, we must first establish what cross-media convergence and synergy actually are in terms of media. Cross-media convergence is defined as the combining of two or more mediums i.e. TV/film/computer/websites/radio etc. Whereas, synergy is the releasing of 2 or more products at once that promote one another. Synergy works when different elements of companies work together. This is best done by a media conglomerate (big companies that own the different elements). Synergy has a much larger effect than if one product were to exist alone. They have a mutually beneficial relationship as they are symbiotic. The marketing proportion of a film is defined as the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising. In order for the film to be successful, it must be marketed correctly and efficiently in order to advertise and make sales.

Cross-media convergence and synergy are very important processes when dealing with the marketing of films. This is due to the fact that these different types of marketing allow for a larger effect. This therefore means that a wider audience can be reached and this means that there is a higher chance for a potential profit to be made. Cross-media convergence and synergy have been used for films like Skyfall and Ill Manors. Sony Pictures' Skyfall was released at the same time as Sony-owned soundtrack CD (which placed at number 1 for weeks in the charts). This CD charting benefited both the soundtrack and the film. This was due to the fact that the soundtrack made money and profit but also promoted and created hype about the film.This was similar to Ill Manors where the film was released the same time as Plan B's CD and soundtrack which charted number one in the UK charts. This benefited both the soundtrack and film similar to Skyfall. Due to the fact that the artist who sung Skyfall was more famous than the artist who soundtracked against Ill Manors, the popularity and hype was bigger for Skyfall than it was for Ill Manors. Due to the fact that Sony are a wide company, they were able to release a new TV and adverts which featured Skyfall when promoting it. Both of the DVDs were advertised on the websites of each individual film. Due to the fact that Skyfall are a bigger company than the company who created Ill Manors, merchandise was able to be marketed in order to create a hype about the film. The selling of the merchandise encouraged people to talk about the film. By selling merchandise, profit can be made and therefore gross of the film becomes more than that of Ill Manors.

To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in the media area you have studied?

Digital distribution affects the marketing and consumption of films within today's economy. Digital distribution is the use of techniques that deliver the content of a media product in a digital format. This means that things like the web 2.0 have become a more important factor in institutions and audience's lives when it comes to the way in which media is marketed and consumed. The marketing element is the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising. By advertising to the targeted audience, more awareness is raised and therefore consumption is easier for the targeted audience. Consumption is defined as the way in which an audience watches a film. The consumption of a film can be the make or break of the profit given to be institutions.

Digital distribution has changed massively over the years. This is due to the fact that there are more possibilities for the audience to consume a film through a variety of different technologies. An advantage for institutions of digital distribution is the fact that it is a lot cheaper than traditional distribution. This means that a film's file can be created and given to cinemas or put on DVDs using one file compared to traditional methods of distribution where loads of roles of a film would have to be made and distributed separately. Although there is a profit to be made, it would tend not to be much. This is due to the fact that most people still tend to think that the web 2.0 is a free service and therefore don't tend to pay for films when watching online streaming. The problem with digital distribution is the fact that copies can easily be remade and due to the fact that the film is on a film, it can be hacked into and downloaded illegally. This download would then get put onto the web 2.0 where a lot of people watch it illegally. This means a loss for institutions as the distribution of their film is being distributed by someone else rather than themselves. DVDs are an important digital distribution as they can have a massive impact on the revenue of the film. This point is proven in the fact that The Hunger Games have sold over 5.3 millions copies since it's release in 2012. By digitally distributing their film through DVDs, there is a bigger chance of a profit due to the fact that people may not be able to attend the cinema during the timeframe which the film is shown and therefore buy it so they are able to watch it.

Digital distribution - DVDs, TV, VOD (Video on Demand), online streaming.
- Cheaper and quicker to do than traditional distribution.
- Disadvantage: higher chance of piracy (being downloaded illegally).

The marketing of a film through digital distribution can determine the success of reaching the intended target audience. The latest digital technologies allow for Institutions have an ability to be able to use digital distribution to promote their film. Digitally distributing a film is much more effective than traditional ways of promoting a film i.e by putting posters around the area. The audience is more likely to see the digital way of marketing due to the fact that in this day and age, most people have access to the internet. Institutions are market their film through technologies like TV and online. A benefit of using online services like social networking sites is that it's extremely cheap for institutions to promote their film and in return they can create a lot of interest of hype about the film. The Hunger Games was one of the few successful films to create a hype about the film before it's release in cinemas. A Facebook page and Twitter page where people could get updates, teasers and interviews with the cast members prior to the release. By doing this, they benefited massively as they gained a lot of interest from an audience who wanted to go and see the film. They also benefited in the fact that marketing using social networking is extremely cheap as costs are small. Currently, it is free to make a page on Facebook and Twitter and therefore it wouldn't of cost the institutions much. By releasing a trailer and teasers of the film, it encouraged people to go and watch it. This digital technology would not of been possible years ago and therefore the difference between the amount of people who were aware of a film through digital distribution marketing compared to those who were aware of the film through traditional distribution marketing is huge. Most of people's time is spent on their phone/on the interest. It therefore is hugely important for institutions to market their film digitally as the potential audience would be much higher than if it were to be traditionally marketed. Since the development of the TV, it has been easier to market films through TV adverts. Although this is an expensive option for institutions to fund, the amount of people who it reaches/attracts is beneficial towards the promotion of the film.  

Marketing - on the web 2.0: social networking sites, trailers, interviews and teasers online i.e. Youtube or Facebook helps spread awareness of upcoming films without high cost - setting up a Facebook page and Youtube account is free and therefore no loss is made on the marketing of a film. The audience are still made aware of the film with little cost.
- TV adverts: expensive to produce and continually shown but audience is reached on a bigger scale (wider audience).

Digital distribution through consumption allows for the audience to be able to view the film at their connivence. Audiences can now watch films through DVDs, TV and online.

Consumption - DVDS, TV, online, mobile devices etc.
- Easier.
- Home viewing.
- More convenient 

Gender representation

Within this clip of Doctor Who, the representation of gender can be analysed through the use of camera shots, sound, editing and mise-en-scene in order to evaluate whether this clip follows media stereotypes in regards to gender or whether it challenges the common conceptions of femininity and masculinity.

As soon as the clip begins, it is possible to see a contradiction within the emotions of the man and the woman. The tracking shots of both of them allow for the audience to understand how they're both feeling. The man's facial expression indicates a sense of smugness due to the fat he is currently the one who has the most power within the room. The woman's facial expression shows how vulnerable she is as she walks towards the man. This vulnerable behaviour is stereotypically associated with female characteristics. While this is happening, we hear diegetic and synchronous noise that has been put into this part of the clip. The volume of the music has been made loud in order to create the suspense as he thinks he is in power. The music therefore creates a powerful and loud atmosphere to fit with the scene.  We also see the woman get onto her knees after she is told to do so by the man. This shot demonstrates the authority that the man has over the woman. The way she is looking up towards him also gives a sense that he is higher up because he is on the stairs but also because he has more power than she does in that moment. 

An over the shoulder shot has been used to demonstrate that the woman is throwing the object to the man in which he had requested. Within this shot, we see a woman dressed in a red dress behind the man. She is seen to be standing still and not saying a word. The way she is dressed implies that she is there to look good rather than to help the man out.  The use of red represents love and danger. Her hair has also been made up to make her look more appealing for the attention of the males who're watching Dr.Who. This representation gives the male audience a reasoning for them to think of her as a sex object.  

Although at the beginning of the clip, we see the man as the more dominant one of the two, towards the end we begin to see her answering back to the male. She starts to give attitude to the man and makes him worry about the situation that he is in. This change in power creates a dramatic atmosphere and therefore demonstrates transgressive behaviour as the woman begins to take control of the situation and makes the man feel uncomfortable/awkward at the fact that he has been played at his own game. 

I think that this clip shows a both the man and woman showing their own gender characteristics and also showing the opposite gender characteristics. The woman is first vulnerable compared to the authoritative man and then the woman becomes to main powered person in the room and the man starts to become vulnerable because his plan is being ruined. 

KEYWORDS THAT MUST BE USED:
- Realism = techniques that make the piece more realistic (what things look like).
- Verisimilitude (very similar too) = construction/appearance of being true/believable (what actually happened).
- Denotation = something that signifies something else (a symbol).
- Connotation = An idea that creates an additional meaning + it's primary meaning. 
 - Stereotypes - judging people and putting them into certain categories (large groups).