Textual Analysis

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Technical Codes

In this clip there is multiple use of camera lengths as a technical code. When we are first introduced to the contestant it is through a long and establishing shot. He is standing in the contestant room dancing and we can see the lack of people around him. Those that are around him are giving him strange looks which gives us the idea that the majority of people think what he is doing is strange or weird. When the contestant is being interviewed and when he enters the judges' room, a mid shot is used which allows us to see the cocky and big headed body language that he possesses. This is different when the judges are first reacting to his entrance and asking him the opening questions as a close up shot is used. We can immediately see that the judges aren't taking the contestant seriously and that Simon in particular is not impressed. The same shot is used to see the reaction of the contestant when his song choice is criticised which shows us he is confused and shocked in a way by their advice.

Audio Codes

In this clip there is the use of non diagetic sound for effect. This is when the background music is played during the introduction to the contestant as it is almost mocking them. The music is from rapper Eminem and the similarity between Eminem and the contestant is suggested through this. The music runs right up until the contestant starts singing and receives bad feedback from the judges which mocks the contestant as it suggests he is similar to Eminem until he actually starts performing. When the contestant is actually performing, the lack of non diagetic sound makes the audience focus on how bad the contestant actually is.

Visual Codes

The body language of the contestant suggests to the audience that he is quite cocky and believes that he has 'The X Factor.' We can see this because he walks with a swagger and talks about himself in an overly positive way. However at the time of this happening we can see in the background the looks on people's faces as they laugh at the things the contestant says and does which gives us the impression straight away that people don't take him seriously. The way the contestant is dressed and the use of a bright coloured earring suggests to the audience that he tries hard to look like a rapper such as Eminem with the use of the vest top. However from the facial expressions of the judges when he walks in and says his opening line immediately tells us how they feel about the way he dresses and his act as a whole. Most of them can't keep a straight face when he walks in which once again suggests people don't take him seriously. The ones that can keep a straight face look shocked or embarrassed for the contestant which supports the audience's view that the whole look isn't really working for him.




Technical Codes

In this clip from The Conjuring a number of technical codes are used for effect. The use of low key lighting is very effective in this scene which is a common feature of horror films. When the woman lights the candle it creates tension for the audience as they can only see her and not what could be lurking in the dark corners of the scene. It is also effective when the light dies out when she is down the basement stairs. The darkness lasts for a number of seconds and it is accompanied by some diagetic sounds to create tension as to when the light comes on to see what it is in the darkness making these creepy noises. At the start of the scene we see a point of view shot which is effective as it makes us feel that we are the one in the situation and that we are going through the horror with the characters. A medium to long shot is used towards the end when the candle is being lit which is tense for the audience because we are in the position to see anything that may be in the darkness behind her.

Audio Codes

In this clip there is use of both diagetic and non diagetic sound for effect. When the woman is in the basement as the beginning of the scene a constant eerie tone is played over the clip which seems to build up when the ball is thrown out. The diagetic sound of the ball bouncing is scary as it shows that there is actually something else in there with her. After this we hear some creepy sounds including a young girl whispering and a moaning sound. This is an abnormal sound and we hear it when the screen is fully dark which creates tension in the audience as they anticipate what could be in the darkness. If you were to watch the scene without the non diagetic sound it would not have the same effect as it would lose it's tension and make the audience more relaxed and not scared by the scene. The diagetic sound of the woman panting when on top of the stairs is effective as it leaves the audience with a similar breathless feeling after the events that have gone before it.

Visual Codes

From the reluctant and shaky body language of the character in this scene we get the idea that she is fully spooked out by whatever is in the room. This then passes the same sort of feeling on to the audience who will be anticipating what it is haunting her in the basement. When the shot is fully blacked out the audience becomes tense as they wait for a reveal of what is lurking behind the darkness. At the end of the scene the use of the shaking door from the outside creates a sense of mystery in the audience who can infer that the woman is being attacked or has seen something that has spooked her and she is desperate to escape. The fact we can only see the door from the outside is effective because it means we have to watch on in anticipation for the rest of the film to see exactly what it is haunting the house.

Audience Task

Who is the intended Audience?

The intended target audience for The Inbetweeners is young people aged 15-25. This can be seen from its use of young characters and its implementation of the characters within a modern social and school environment. It appeals to its target audience through its' mise en scene' in a variety of ways. This includes the clothes that the characters are wearing which could be considered as trendy or fashionable by they audience. It is things like this that allow the audience to relate to the programme as they may wear similar clothes themselves. Also they may have been in similar situations to the characters which can add comedic affect for the audience. The suburban setting gives the show a sense of realism and once again something that the target audience is used to and can therefore relate to.

What Use or Gratifications does the programme meet?

The Inbetweeners meets a number of different uses and gratifications. Firstly, people will watch the show to be entertained as it is a comedy programme and people will be able to sit and relax and find the  show funny. A lot of the audience will be able to relate to some of the things that happen in the show and they will find this entertaining. Another use or gratification the show meets is social integration. A lot of the viewers will be watching in order to join in with friends conversations and not feel left out if they don't watch the show. People watching The Inbetweeners may also gain advice or guidance on decision choices in the future as they will know the wrong way to do things if they are put in a similar situation to the boys in the show. Members of the audience who are not yet of a similar age may be able to use this in the future when they begin to have similar ideas and attitudes as the characters.

How is the programme constructed/mediated?

The show is constructed so that a lot of embarrassing or over the top events take place in the boys' lives for comedic effect. Everything that is in the show is in their for a reason because the show is not based on real life and is set up, everything the characters say are constructed for comedic effect. The costumes that the characters wear are specifically used so that the audience can relate to them and see them as trendy or maybe fashionable. The mediation in the Inbetweeners would leave people with the assumption that this is what the average teenage life is like in a suburban environment. They may also be left to make assumptions on certain characters in the show because of the clothes that have been selected and the lines that the character has to say. An example of this would be Will who has been constructed and mediated to leave us with the conclusion that he is a bit of a geek and that he is often left out from the cooler and popular social groups.



Who is the intended Audience?

The intended audience for Come Dine With Me is men and women aged between 30 - 50 who could be interested in food or cooking or maybe to just see the often strange characters. The show is on at around 5pm so the majority of people will have finished working. This opens up the size of the audience much more than if it was showed at midday as less people would be at home and the audience would end up being a totally different group of people. This show appeals to a number of different classes because of the time of day it is aired meaning that the target audience is very wide. The people who watch the show may do so to get tips and recipes for there families to try and these people would be mothers or fathers who are part of the 30 - 50 age range.

What Use or Gratifications does the programme meet?

Come Dine With Me meets a lot of different uses or gratifications. Firstly, people will watch the show for entertainment. A lot of the people on the show are often strange or interesting in some way which makes it entertaining to see how they get on with the people around them throughout the week. Secondly, people will watch the show for personal identity. If someone is interested in cooking themselves they will be able to relate to some of the things that happen in the show and some of the views or recipes that the people in the show have. People may watch the show for information. When each meal in the show is cooked, a link is shown to the Channel 4 website where the viewer can go to and see the recipe for themselves and maybe make it for themselves. Because of the time of day that the show is aired, people may be watching the show just to fill time. As I mentioned earlier this is a time period when most people have finished work for the day. If they are bored, Come Dine With Me is a popular show that they can watch to pass time.

How is the programme constructed/mediated?

The show is constructed so that the most interesting or entertaining characters are selected to feature on the episodes. The media presenter does this to add entertainment to the show and make people laugh at the strange things that the people do. People would be purposely selected by the media producer so that conflict can be caused at the dinner table. There is also use of construction or selection when the people are giving their verdict on the night as sometimes only certain clips will be used so that a negative or positive representation of a person or their food is created to the audience. Mediation is used so that the audience is forced to make an assumption or conclusion on a certain character because of the things that  the media producer has selected from the footage of the whole night. The audience could also make an assumption about the location that the episode is set in as if the characters on the show are all arguing between each other, people may think that everyone in the area is similar.

Representation Task

Class - Newspaper

This article taken from the Daily Mail is creating a negative representation of Tulisa as it is labelling her as a 'chav' and describes Louis Walsh's comment as a blast. The text shows that 60 year old Louis is making the 24 year old out to be big headed and under the illusion that she is a big celebrity. The headline and the comments would be embarrassing for Tulisa. The media producer is trying to represent Tulisa in a negative light by using slang insults and nick names like chav. The producer could have taken any of the things Louis Walsh said in his interview but they decided to take the line which insults Tulisa and describes her in a negative way. Although she is a well known celebrity and is probably quite wealthy, this article is suggesting that she is actually working class with little education and not very cultured. The Daily Mail is a newspaper with a reputation of representing people in different lights through selection of images and headlines and this is a great example of this. 

Gender - TV Show

The TV show Loose Women represents the female gender in a negative light as it assumes that all women in the UK are like the ones on the show in the way of being very opinionated and enjoy spending the day gossiping. This is evident in the clip I have chosen as the constant use of sexual innuendo represents women as dirty and unable to take anything seriously or maybe with intelligence. The media producer of this show is trying to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere for the audience to make it feel as if they are friends with the women. However in doing this, the female gender is labelled as this type of person which creates a negative effect. Also the fact that there is a not a black member of the cast could suggest that black women cannot engage in a fun and light hearted conversation like this one and that white women in the UK can't have a laugh with a black friend as they could with a white friend which is presented in this show. 

Age - Film



The film Kidulthood creates a very negative representation of teenagers and the youth in the UK. Throughout the film and in the clip above there is constant use of bad language and violence. Teenagers are often accused of being louts in today's media and this film backs up this idea. Anyone watching this would assume that this is what the majority of teenagers are like in the UK and the media producer has made this happen with the language and actions used by the characters in the film. It is very common in the media for people of this age to be represented negatively as we often see news articles reporting a crime committed by a teenager in the UK. This clip from Kidulthood supports this view making people have a stronger belief that this is what teenage life consists of. This is very unfair on teenagers as the majority are the complete opposite to what is portrayed by the media producer in Kidulthood however they will be affected negatively in the way they are treated by older people because this is how the age group is represented in films like this.

Race - TV Show



Top Boy creates a negative representation of Black British people as it is revolved around 'gang violence.' This creates a stereotype that all people who are involved in gang violence today are Black British rather than White British. The media producer makes this representation by the main characters in the show being from a black background and them being often involved in violence. This is a very one dimensional representation of ethnic minorities in the UK and could be deemed offensive by those who are from a background like the one shown in the series. This is not only a negative representation of race, it is also showing the area of East London and Hackney in a negative light. First of all it is suggesting that everyone in this area lives a life like this one and that they are also of Black British ethnicity. The show offers one lifestyle in Hackney and not for example ambitious black people fulfilling their education and gaining a career. Anyone of a different race watching the programme could be left with the idea that this is what every black person is like today, especially in London.

Sexuality - TV Show



The character Daffyd Thomas in the TV show Little Britain creates a negative representation of homosexuals as it stereotypes the way they dress, speak and the opinions that they have. The media producer has made this very over the top for comedic effect which could leave people to label every homosexual in this way. Anyone who watches this programme may be left with homophobic views as they may feel that any gay person they meet will act and dress as ridiculously as Daffyd Thomas. Gay people watching the show would also be very offended as it makes them out to be a laughing stock as they are the main source of the comedy in the sketches. Other people may begin to make fun of gays more after watching Little Britain which is negative for society, despite the fact that the creator of the character Matt Lucas is gay himself.