Textual Analysis / Gender and Sitcom Revision

Will and Grace - series 2 - episode 16

2008-05-19T04:39:00.001-07:00

Right then just to clear up any confusion, dont just write about any old sitcom episodes you are doing the two that i have posted below. You can reference and talk briefly about any other sitcome characters who might back up the points you are making from these ones though. But the majority of the stuff you talk about should be directly from these two clips.

Will and Grace

Spaced series 2 episode 5 part 1

2008-05-19T01:20:00.000-07:00

Spaced series2 episode 5: gone: part 2

2008-05-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Spaced series2 episode 5: gone: part 3

2008-05-19T00:11:00.000-07:00

textual analysis basics

2008-05-16T02:34:00.001-07:00

Advice for Candidates for Section A

•Do not just give a descriptive chronological commentary – analyse and interpret.

•Make useful detailed notes on the extract

•Identify moving image language techniques accurately

•Select appropriate examples from the extract to discuss – you do not have to cover the whole extract or every example

•Analyse why/how these aspects are used to create meaning for the spectator deconstruct what you see and hear, explain function, purpose and effect

•Refer closely to the set extract•Cover all five aspects – do not miss one out

•If you can do make links between different film techniques used, for example, between sound and editing

revision class summary

2008-05-16T02:20:00.000-07:00

Just to sum up a bit about what we were talking about yesterday after school, you definately dont need to spend long periods of the exam explaining gender theory but you could just name drop a few theorists and what they would say about certain events that happen in the episodes , just to show good background knowledge...

The episodes will appear on this blog soon i promise so watch this space......

Also i liked teh fact that you were getting into the spirit of things with the textual analysis practice on 'Rogue' : and the new name for this exam is ... 'the chat sh*t exam' i think it helped you lot to think of it like that. But just remember to chat sh*t with media terminology though yeah!!!

Safe

Camera Angles: help ?

2008-05-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

I have largely ignored the textual analysis part of this exam, as the feedback i got from you guys was that you felt comfident about that bit of it , but a s few of you have asked for help with camera shots then here you go. You can click on this picture for a close up of examples of the major types of shot and angle.

this website is great for a detailed explanation of different shot types and teh effect they create:

Camera Angles

Ok , in your exam you are expected to be able to comment on the different angles used and the effect they create + much more in terms of special effects / dollys / crane shots etc.. but only two or three examples are needed:

Superman is often shown in medium shot to highlight his physique, the camera always shoots him form low angle so the audience look up to him and are aware of his power etc..

Any more help needed then leave a comment

Cheers

The top tips for the Sitcom bit !

2008-04-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

1. You are mainly talking about 2 main shows so choose ones that have differing views or examples of gender. This will help you develop counter arguments and evaluative parts to you answer

2. Do talk about other sitcoms as well though and definately other types of media (like how women are portrayed in lifestyle magazines.

3. Make sure you know about 3 or 4 gender theories and who said them . Remembering actual quotes or at least terms is important (Laura Mulvey = Male Gaze , those sorts of connections )

4. Get some practice essays written and hand them in to me or miss to mark

5. Do lots of research and revise

6. It is very good to show awareness of general gnder and representations theory but you MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION, in the exam relate what you know to the specific question at hand.

7. Read the mark scheme that you can find a link to on this site, its so useful honest !!!!

8. Watch some sitcoms ! Find actual scenes and storylines that you think show stereotypes in gender or anything that can back up the theory. What sitcom storylines show a crisis in masculinity ? or a resurgence in feminism ?

9. Ask me for help with stuff

The gender bits the problem isnt it ?!!

2008-04-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

Right then i can see you all find analysing film clips easier than writing about gender in sitcoms, but that ok so do i to be honest.

Essentially what you need to do is :

Write an essay that combines media theory about representations and how men and women are shown in different roles with actual examples of this in sitcoms.

You need to mention theorists like 'anthony giddens' , judith butler, laura mulvey and others and explain what they say about gender and representations generally. But to back up what you say (and because you are answering a question about sitcom) you have to keep referring to examples from sitcoms you have seen. Its not as hard as it sounds.

For instance you could say "with the rise of modern day feminism and the 'girl power' movement, feminist media theorists such as Angela Mcrobbie have noted that there is a popular feminsim that is popular amongst young women today that seem to take on a more laddish persona. "They do this through a raunchy language of 'shagging, snogging and having a good time". This is much like the character of karen walker in will and grace, and this shows how contemporary soaps reflect this change in women's gender roles.

You see how easy that was!!!!!

This does mean that you need to know about gender theory and i cant stress how good David Gauntlett's book is for this (i have lots of photocopies of it in my room so if you need the first few chapters come and see me) but here is a link to its page on amazon, it is probably in the library or just go to waterstones and steal a few quotes form it or something

http://www.amazon.com/Media-Gender-Identity-David-Gauntlett/dp/0415396611/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208117462&sr=8-3

What i would suggest is finding out about 3 gender theorists and what their main ideas are and then finding 2 soaps that support their ideas and then 1 that doesnt. Start with Judith Butler.

wikipedia gender studies page - this should get you started

Theorists associated with gender studies

Julia Kristeva
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Otto Weininger
Judith Butler
Simone de Beauvoir
Bracha Ettinger
Donna Haraway
Karen Horney
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Luce Irigaray
Griselda Pollock
Hélène Cixous
Evelyn Fox Keller
Gayle Rubin
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick
Judith Halberstam
Michel Foucault
bell hooks
Audre Lorde
Kate Bornstein
Christine Delphy
Marie-Helene Bourcier
Gayle Rubin
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick
Jeff Hearn
Anthony Giddens
Chantal Nadeau
Kaja Silverman
Sylvia Walby
Karin Hausen
[edit]See also

General advice

2008-04-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

Please please please have a look at the mark scheme for the Jan 08 exam you did (the link to file is on the right hand side ) its really useful to see what examiners awarded marks for .

for instance when talking about camera angles of the Superman Returns clip they wanted you to use words like:

Camera Angle, Shot, Movement and Position

Establishing shot; master shot; close-up (and variations); long shot; wide shot; two-shot; high
angle; low angle; aerial shot; point of view; pan; crane; tilt; track; dolly; zoom/reverse zoom;
framing; composition; hand-held; steadicam.

Examples

• Sequence begins with a sequence of interior shot reverse shots and transitions to close up
shots in conversation between two characters
• Exterior high angle shot looking into the window
• Close up of Superman revealing despondent expression
• Tilt up of camera, tracking Superman flying into space, passing urban city at night-time
• Close up shot of Superman, with anxious worried expression on face and in classic flying
pose with arm extended, zooms gently to big close up

have a read of it its really useful - skeen skeen !

2731 - Welcome

2008-04-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

This blog is supposed to try and help those of you doing the 2731 resit this summer, please leave comments and questions you have about the exam so that i can try and answer them , also use the links and the past papers and stuff that are on this blog and you could find a lot of the stuff on the GCSE sitcom page useful as well so check all that out and you will be a 'badman' in the exam , i swear down bruv !!