Key Terms Glossary

Question 1

What is the 4 C’s Psycho-graphic Profiling?

Answer 1

A system of profiling the audience by their motivations.

Such as domesticated, materialism, confidence, experience and social awareness.

Question 2

What is ABC1?

Answer 2

Social class system.
Profiles people by their income.
Upper, middle and lower class.

Question 3

What is action code?

Answer 3

An action happens must be resolved.

Intended to build audience interest and suspense as to what is going to happen.

Question 4

Give an example of action code?

Answer 4

A question is asked or an activity commences.
This helps build audience interest as they may know the answer or might feel suspense as a contestant completes an activity.

Question 5

Define audience

Answer 5

People watching the TV game show.

At home or at the TV studio.

Question 6

What is Barthes’ Narrative Theory?

Answer 6

Suggest there are 2 main key narrative code that are used to keep an audience interested in what they are consuming.
Action and enigma.

Question 7

Define categories

Answer 7

Sub genres of TV game shows may have their own specific categories.
Such as trivia, sport, music, word and physical.

Question 8

Define celebrity

Answer 8

Is a person who has achieved fame in the public eye, through various media forms.
Usually associated with wealth, as a result of media text, which can lead to more wealth.

Question 9

What are codes and conventions.

Answer 9

We recognise a particular genre of a film/TV programme by its use of a specific format.

Question 10

The codes of a game show can be what?

Answer 10

Colour.
Font.
Music.
Camera shots.
Editing techniques.

Question 11

Define consumerists society.

Answer 11

Society is heading towards a consumerists society as people have things in life they do not need and their goal is to acquire them things even though they don’t need them.
The ideology with this philosophy is one of materialism, selfishness and greed.

Question 12

What is a contestant?

Answer 12

The person who participates in the TV game show.

This may not be a celebrity.

Question 13

Define cross media platform.

Answer 13

One media text being distributed in different mediums over different platforms.

Question 14

Give examples of cross media platforms.

Answer 14

Internet.
Mobile app.
Computer.
TV.
DVD.
Board game.

Question 15

Define demographics.

Answer 15

Study of the human population by age, gender, ethnicity, education, income and employment.

Question 16

What is an Enigma Code?

Answer 16

Anything which isn’t explained and remains a mystery, until the audience is satisfied.
This applies to more visual game shows eg Catchphrase, where the answer may not be immediately obvious, both contestant and audience are intrigued to know the answer.
Audience may see the answer on the screen and the contestants have no knowledge of this.

Question 17

Define Host.

Answer 17

The presenter of a TV game show.

Question 18

What is ideology.

Answer 18

Refers to shared values, attitudes and beliefs in our society.
We have rules and expectations about how we should act and behave.

Question 19

Give an example of ideology.

Answer 19

In the UK, we have a democratic government, a legal system which protects use and an expectation as to how we should live.

Question 20

What is an institution?

Answer 20

An organisation such as a broadcaster.

Question 21

Give examples of institutions.

Answer 21

BBC.
ITV.
C4.
Regulatory body such as Ofcom or The Gambling Commission.

Question 22

What is Levi Strauss’ Narrative Theory?

Answer 22

Levi Strauss has a theory which states that we understand the world through a system of power-weighted oppositions.

Question 23

Give example of Levi Strauss’ Narrative Theory?

Answer 23

Contestant vs Host.
Win vs Lose.
Knowledge vs Ignorance.

Question 24

What is Mise en Scene?

Answer 24

Meaning ‘in the frame’, studies focus on the settings, props, costumes, body language and lighting.
How they create a meaning to the audience.

Question 25

What is narrative structure pitch?

Answer 25

All media texts have a structure.
Each text must have a start, middle and an end.
TV game shows fit into this structure.

Question 26

Define pitch.

Answer 26

A pitch is a formal way of presenting your ideas and this is relevant to any industry sector.
Eg entertainment, business, commercial.

Question 27

What is representation?

Answer 27

Is the study of how people, places and objects are represented or presented to us by the producers of the media we consume.
People and places can be stereotyped, and the audience already have an expectation of what they expect to see in some representations.

Question 28

What is Richard Dyer’s Star Theory?

Answer 28

This theory explains how institutions for a specific objective, such as making money, construct celebs.

Question 29

What is Richard Dyer’s Utopian Solution Theory?

Answer 29

Dyer explored the idea that ‘entertainment’ provides a solution and a vision of an ideal life and world.
This can be applied to any form of media text that a consumer interacts with.
The game show gives them an opportunity to reach utopia, by winning prizes and money which would otherwise be out of their reach.

Question 30

Define schedule.

Answer 30

The day and time a programme such as a TV game show is broadcast.

Question 31

What is a subgenre?

Answer 31

TV game shows have a specific genre.

Within that genre there are subgenres where the style of the TV game show is different.

Question 32

Give examples of Subgenres?

Answer 32

Dating.
Activity.
Puzzle.
Panel.
Quiz.
Challenge.
Card.
Board .

Question 33

What is a synopsis?

Answer 33

Brief over view of the format of a TV game show.

Question 34

What is a tag line?

Answer 34

One sentence which sums up the main goal of the TV game show.

Question 35

Define TV game show.

Answer 35

A TV game show involves playing competitive games, which will include answering questions, solving puzzles, or taking part in activities.

Question 36

What is uses and gratifications theory?

Answer 36

Blumler and Kat’s theory states that we consume a media text for specific reasons.
Eg identity, entertainment, relationships, information.