narrative theory and media language

Question 1

What are the 4 key concepts of media studies?

Answer 1

Language
(what the text communicates, codes and conventions)

Institution
(people behind media, companies etc.)

Audience
(who uses it, purpose of media, how to classify different audiences)

Representation
(how are groups of people shown in the media, is it accurate/fair?)

Question 2

STATE:

Todorov’s theory?

Answer 2

All stories follow a PATTERN,

1)Equilibrium (life at the start)
2)Distruption/problem
3)Realisation of problem
4)Attempt to solve problem
5)New equilibirum (life at the end)

Question 3

STATE:

Propp’s theory?

Answer 3

Agreed that stories follow a pattern, and that they follow a HERO/PROTAGONIST sent on a quest,

• Hero
• Villian
• Helper
• Princess
• Donor (gives something to the hero to help)
• Dispatcher
• False Hero

(aka propp’s character types)

Question 4

STATE:

Bartes’ theory?

Answer 4

That there was a GAP in what is shown and the audiences understanding
i.e. audience creates their own meaning from what they see
Believed there were CODES AND RULES underpinning their meanings

ENIGMA CODES - things that create mystery, audience is deliberately held back info to keep them watching

ACTION CODES - things that help develop understanding, info that may hint or indicate at something later on (like cause and the effect ykyk)

Question 5

STATE:

Levi-Strauss’ theory?

Answer 5

Believed the human mind naturally think in BINARY OPPOSITIONS, and that a media narrative relies on opposing forces
-e.g. light and dark, good and evil
-generally one opposition is favoured over the other

These oppositions are used to show conflict or contrast, a comparison - these give the media narrative a meaning

Question 6

What could be an exception to Todorov’s theory?

Answer 6

Sitcoms do not follow the structure of Todorov’s theory,
-every ep ends at the start (Equilibrium) so they dont have to be watched in chronological order

Question 7

What are semiotics?

Answer 7

Signs and symbols and their “hidden” meanings, what they could indicate

Question 8

What are the two key components of semiotics?

Answer 8

Denotations: what you can see, the obvious meaning
(a stop sign has letters to guide the viewer, it tells them what to do)

Connatations: meaning by association, inference
(a stop sign may be red and the letters formatted in capitals, we associate red with danger or urgency and capitals as loud and important)

Question 9

What can media language consist of?

hint: there’s like 4 main things

Answer 9

• mise-en-scene, costumes (inc hair, makeup clothing), colour palettes and lighting, props, setting
• cinematography (camera angles + movement)
• sounds and music (non/diegetic)
• editing and effects (visual effects and different cuts, colour grading + CGI)