Lego Movie: Intertextuality&TA

Monday 5th March 
L/o: To explore the intertextuality of The Lego Movie and the Target Audience; to apply Propps narrative theory

Postmodernism:
-Challenges genre conventions- may use a mixture
-Imitates other texts or takes a humorous take on society/culture
-Makes the audience aware they are watching

"Postmodernism questions what is real and what is absolute"

The Lego Movie is a postmodernist film because they use a range of genres: Romance, Fantasy, Action, Comedy.
Also, through the film, Emmet turns and speaks to the audience which suggests its trying to link to reality.
It challenges character rules for example Emmet is not your typical Hero and Wyldstyle in not the typical sidekick, she is Emo and stronger the hero.

Intertextuality:

Summary of the plot:

The Lego Movie focuses on a character called Emmet who is just a regular man and a builder. One day Emmet falls down a hole and finds out he is a prodigy by Virtuvius  and is given the piece de resistance. Emmet meets a girl called Wyldstyle  who is Batmans girlfriend and they travel through many different worlds to try and keep Emmet and the piece de resistance safe from Lord business from his destructive weapon. The Kraggle which is human superglue) that can end the world. Lord business has locked the super builders away to use their bran power for his weapon and then he locks up Emmets friends as they are super builders. The movie ends with Vitruvius dying and Emmet jumping out of Lord Businesses top floor office and into the real world. Then emmet is a normal lego figure controlled by a boy and his dad in their massive lego cit. Then Emmet manages to come to life in the real world and the human boy puts him back into the tube which sends him back to the Lego world and Emmet saves the world from the Kraggle with Wyldstyle and they fall in love.

The main themes of the Lego movie is that creativity and imagination in society is not as strong as it used to be.
They reference to Warner bros by using characters such as Batman, Wonderwoman, Superman, Dumbledore, Gandalf. It also relates to the matrix.
Star wars lego products are mentioned. The different lego worlds- promoting

Propps spheres of action:              
Vladimir Propp says that characters take up the role of narrative "Spheres of action"
He identified different character roles necessary to make up a narrative.




























                                     

Promotion of Media

Monday 19th February 2018
L/o: To research the process, industry bodies and regulators behind film.

Find out the process behind how a film is produced, distributed, marketed and exhibited. Who does what and in what order?  

 When you make a film, you need to follow an organised filmmaking process. It’s best to think of it as three distinct stages: Planning and getting ready to film (pre-production), filming (production), and completing the film and getting it ready to show (post-production). A studio  has to purchase rights to the film. People are brought together to make the film (screenwriter, producer, director, cast, crew). The film is completed and sent to the studio. The distribution company shows the movie (screening) to prospective buyers representing the theatres. The film may be exhibited directly to the public either through a movie theatre or television, or personal home viewing.

What is a Conglomerate? A conglomerate is a multi-industry company. 

Who are the 'Big six' Hollywood film studios? 

• Warner Bros
• 21st Century fox
• Paramount pictures
• Universal Pictures
• Columbia Pictures
• The Walt Disney company

Who regulates films in the UK? British board of film classification

Who produced the Lego movie? (2014)  Dan Lin and Roy Lee.

Who directed the Lego movie? Phil Lord and Christopher Miller .

How was the Lego movie funded? Talk of the films cost was financed by the village roadshow pictures . The rest was covered by Warner Bros.

Who distributed the Lego movie? The Warner Bros Pictures.

Exam Practice

Monday 19th February 2018
Exam Practice

Question:
Explain one way in which music videos use media language to differ from each other. Refer to one example of contrasting media language in two music videos you have studied to support your answer.

Media language- Location, Camerawork, Mise en scene, Sound, Editing and Performance type (Explain the effect)
(Include Theory)

Between the two Music videos 'Black magic' and 'Somebody to you' the media language contrasts using mise en scene. This creates a different effect and links different theory. The music Video for Black magic is a narrative video, its set in a high school , using this location gives the effect thats its boring and dull. The Location for the performance music video 'Somebody to you' is mostly set at the beach and also varies between a swimming pool and sports court aswell. Using these locations links to the Hebdige theory stating "youths as fun" which is the opposite to being set in a school, the effect being that they're having fun.

Within Mise en Scene, the costumes, hair and makeup differ. At the start of Black magic their clothes are unfashionable, their hair is up and makeup is subtle. By the end they have fashionable yet a less amount of clothes, their hair is down and styled nicely and they've got a lot more makeup on. The effect of this is the Laura Mulvey Theory claiming that females are represented for the male gaze. The effect of this is that for them to be popular and people take notice of them they have to dress more slutty. In Somebody to you theres not much to talk about they're hair and costume because it stays the same throughout. However you can tell that they wear fashionable clothing and do their hair nicely as they care what they look like, This then links to the Mackmillan theory claiming that males are more concerned with image. Effect being that the lead singer gets the girl.

The main prop used in Black magic is the book. Its a book with spells to cast on people. I think this relates to the Hebdige theory as 'Youths as troublemakers' because they're casting spells on people
but also as 'Youths as fun' because they use the magic to have fun like in the end in the lecture room they get everyone dancing. In somebody to you, their props are their instruments, the Hebdige theory is again applied as the 'youths as fun' because they playing music, singing and dancing.

Applying media theory

Thursday 1st February 2018
Lo: To apply media terminology when analysing music videos



In the somebody to you music video I think the Hebdige theory is applied as "Youths are fun" because there is a group of boys and girls playing sports, going on the beach and singing.








In the black magic video i think the Hebdige theory is also applied because there is the "Youths are trouble makers" at the start with the popular girl and then the "youths are fun" with little mix. Also the Laura Mulvey theory is applied with the the male gaze with the way they dress, walk and pose.






In the Dave Grohl mojo cover, the gauntlett theory is applied as an alpha male. But he doesn't control acts with violence.

Applying media language terminology.

Monday 22nd January
L/O: To apply media terminology when analysing music videos.

1. Narrative style and performance elements
2. Camerawork- shot type, angle and movement 
3. Sound- diegetic and non diegetic
4. Mise en scene- hair, makeup, costume, props and locations
5. Editing- cut types, length and speed, graphics, transitions

Video one- Black magic

1. Linear Narrative- story about them using magic to get fashionable and fall in love/ Performance- Singing and dancing to people in corridor and classroom
2. Either full length or mid shot throughout
3. Diegetic- school bell (suggests that its in a school)and outside noises at the start to establish setting/Non diegetic- background music
4. Location- school/ Costumes- geeky clothes to fashionable, Hair- all up at the start then down at the end/Makeup- None at start then at end subtle makeup/ Props- Magic book
5. Straight cut from one scene to another- natural editing except the magic features

Them at end of the video:

Them at start of video:

Video two- Somebody to you

1. Narrative- Story about him falling in love with the girl/ Performance- Singing on the beach as the band/Demi Lovato--Narrative based on performance montage.
2. Mainly  naturalistic, magical elements edited in, saturated colour 
3. .Diegetic-At start sound of waves to establish setting, Them singing and the band instruments / Non diegetic- Demi Lovato singing
4. Location- beach, swimming pool /Props- Instruments, Tennis, Volleyball, pool floats/Costume- swimsuits, shorts, top/ Makeup- subtle/ Hair- (Girls) Curled, straight or up
5. Fast paced editing and cross cutting- natural editing

Girls in the video:

Demi Lovato:

Music video work

Monday 15th January

Narrative is when the video tells the story.
Performance is when you just see the artists performing(dance)
A concept video is based on a single idea or theme.

Narrative and Performance videos are sometimes mixed together with a certain story being told but with performance put in aswell.

Types of Narrative based video:
Illustration- Narrative of the music video closely reflects lyrical content.
Amplification- Narrative may be slightly different however it uses different themes to complement the songs feeling.
Disjuncture- Where the narrative holds very little relationship to the song.

Music pair-
Little mix- Black magic
The vamps ft Demi Lovato- Somebody to you

Black Magic
Name of Artist/Group: Little Mix
Name of song: Black Magic
Genre: Pop
Date song was released UK: 21st May 2015
What the song is about: Drinking a potion, getting people to fall in love
Type of music video: Narrative
Describe what happens in the video: Unpopular group of girls turned popular and fashionable by magic
Who features in the video: Just little mix
Normally the artist/group is represented as: a group of fashionable famous friends
In the video, the artist/group is represented as: A geeky, unpopular group of friends at school.












Somebody to you:
Name of Artist: The vamps
Name of song: Somebody to you
Genre:Pop
Date song was released: 18th May 2014
What the song is about: A boy falling in love with a girl.
Type of music video:Performance
Describe what happens in the video: Girl is with her friends and main singer of the vamps falls in love with her.
Who features in the video: Demi Lovato
Normally the artist is represented as: A group of guys in a band
In the video the artist is represented as: A group of guys in a band

Mock Feedback

Monday 8th January
L/O: To review mock exam questions and make improvements.

Question 1:  Identify the target audience of MOJO magazine.

1. Age (20-40)
2. Gender (Male)
3. Social class (ABC1)
4. Interest in genre music (Alternative/Rock)

Question 2: Explain how the media language on the MOJO cover you studied represents and attracts the target audience.

1. Terminology- Media language is the masthead, coverlines, puff, main image, colour palette, typography.
2. Representation=Stereotypes
3. Specific examples from Dave Grohl cover.
4. Link media language to the target audience.

• Blue background/black clothes- masculine colour
• Long hair/serious face- rock singer stereotypes
• Dave Grohl- famous from the band Foo fighters
• Sans serif font- masculine

Question 3: How does media language used in the extract follow genre conventions and represent the target audience

1. Media language- Masthead, coverlines, puff,main image, colour palette, typography.
2. Correct terminology.
3. Identify genre conventions of Rock/Alternative music magazine used/subverted.
4. Link to target audience and representation.

• Block capitals and sans serif font- masculine
• Darker colour palette-blues/grey
• Famous rock artist-David Bowie
• He's stood confident-alpha male. Serious face
• Coverlines include rock artists-mostly male