Marketing things

Representation essay

 How are different social groups represented in the clip you have analysed?

The representation of nerdy kids in school being picked on is a common representation which applies to the typical stereotype of the nerdy “weird” kids that usually get bullied. Stereotypically kids who are not following the mainstream “cool kids” are left out because they’re weird smart and nerdy .This stereotype is realistic to an extent  who don’t live by social norms and are considered outsiders are not
as accepted as those considered “normal”. Specifically in this era where as people were still heavily influenced by judgemental and traditional ideas. The kids are smaller than the bullies which shows them as timid, we can also tell that they have been used to this and let it happen as they don’t seem too bothered or shocked by the bullies. This is unlike will who in a case of danger show some courage and tried to fight back (gun). A well lit seen shows that the bullying isn’t hidden which tells us it wasn’t uncommon and considered socially normal. The bikes pulling up is a good way to add emphasis that will is missing as you are expecting a 4th bike to appear and it doesn’t Nancy Byers is represented stereo-typically as the smart pretty girl, a friend and a rebellious popular boy which is common in most school orientated or teenager orientated media, specifically in American school “cliques”.
US police officers are commonly portrayed on TV in a lazy manor; they’re eating donuts, playing cards, have their feet on the table. The representation makes no attempt to challenge stereotypes of a laid back, middle aged police force in a sleepy suburbia. Conventional for American police force because of the sheriff however this misrepresentation of plenty of everyday police officers.The police station is very bland and beige in colour scheme. The use of props helps donuts and cards. Cigarettes. Tracking shots. Relaxed body language suggests that the police force is not used to interesting things happening.
Interviews between people and police can be commonly observed in the general media however there is usually a clear character leading the scene. In this instance, each Joyce and Hopper are represented accurately; Joyce is concerned but she is resilient to Hopper’s suggestions and keen to get her voice heard. Hopper is also stubborn, refusing to admit that something drastic has happened in Hawkins. Stereotypes are used in order to establish the opposing ideas Joyce and Hopper have over Will’s disappearance. Hopper appears to be a stubborn, lazy, and almost uninterested sheriff, convinced that Will is completely fine. Joyce however, appears to be an unhinged single mother agonizing over her lost son.
Hopper could be perceived as mis-represented because he seems entirely uninterested in Joyce and Will whereas real life police officers would likely show some level of concern for a missing child case.
Hopper’s police stereotype is constructed  largely through make-up; his appearance is barely put together. Furthermore, the actor’s monotonous voice suggests a sincere lack of urgency. Joyce’s unhinged single mother trope can be recognized due to the iconography in the scene as well as the acting, some examples being the reliance on cigarettes, the constant pacing and shaking.

Representation

Representation

Narrative St

Narrative studies

Linear narrative

• Clear beginning, middle and end
• They follow a chronological time frame
• Action A leads to action B which leads to action C etc.

Fragmented Narrative - stranger things

• Fragmented narratives are also called non-linear, disrupted or disjointed narratives.
• They do not have a clear beginning, middle and end.
• Events or actions may be shown out of chronological order and not in the order they would naturally occur in, so C might happen before A for example.
• It is a narrative technique that can help to show parallel stories, a story within a story, dreams and so on within the same episode or serial.
• They are seen to more closely replicate the way the human mind works.

Enigma codes - Roland Barthes

• Planting questions in an episode
• Man in elevator is killed
• When we meet Eleven, where does she come from
• Social worker shooting,
• Will Nancy get with Jonathan

The events unfold in a chronological order but with a fragmented narrative due to the flashbacks

Dramatic Irony

Omnipresent Narrative

• A panoramic, all seeing, view of the world of the story, not just one characters point of view
•  Provides the point of view of many characters and their experience and feelings within the story
• Helps the audience see a broader background to the story from a number of contexts.

Closed endings

Open endings

• Cliff hanger
• Story-telling technique
• Continue watching
• Lftd shows continuation of story

Academic ideas about narrative

TODOROV: Equilibrium Theory

• Traditional narratives follow a 3 part structure of beginning middle and end which unfolds in a narrative arc of 4 phases:
•      1. Exposition 2. Introduction of conflict 3. Climax 4. Resolution
• The narrative is usually a chronological and linear sequence of themes, actions and motives
• Todorov identified that the 3 part structure has 5 stages:
• 1.  Narratives begin with a state of equilibrium
• 2. This equilibrium is usually disrupted by an event to create disequilibrium
• 3. There is then recognition of the disruption by the central character
• 4. The central character goes on a quest to overcome and restore the disruption
• 5. The quest is successful, there is a happy ending and a return to a (changed) normality or a new equilibrium.

Strauss - Binary Oppositions

• Strauss identified that we understand the world by the relationship that two opposites have together
• For example, we understand bad behaviour by knowing what good behaviour should be …
• He believed that narratives are arranged around the conflict of binary oppositions could include:
• Man vs women
• Good vs bad
• Day vs night
• Old vs new
• Right vs wrong
• Injustice vs justice
• Nerd vs bullies

Does the ‘conflict’ between the oppositions help to drive the narrative structure forward?

Characters

Episode walk through

Poster

LFTVD

Long for TV drama

- 2 questions: 30 and 15 marks-

- Stranger Things and Deutschland 83 (Same time periods) - 

- Series with a long narrative - 

- A TV drama that has a number of episodes that helps create a narrative and tell a story to an audience.

Network Television: (E.g. NBC, CBS)

• US network broadcasters must satisfy their advertisers and hold market share. They are also controlled by federal regulation.
• The impact of this on content is a reliance on highly formalised genre conventions and normative values which meet mainstream audience expectations but generate conservative drama. 

Cable Television: 

• Launched in the 1970s, HBO was the first US national subscription cable TV channel. 
• Other major US players include FX, Showtime, & AMC. Many are subsidiaries of media conglomerates (HBO/Warner, FX/Fox)
• These subscription based cable channels can take more risks with content and form. 
• By early 2000s The Sopranos and The Wire won awards, audiences and created 'water cooler' TV.  

UK TV Drama:

• UK broadcasters have failed to meet the challenge of the US cable channels move to long form with their risk - taking content and style. 
• BBC and ITV 90s > relied on genre-based, formula drama.
• Sky co-opted success of US long form with Sky Atlantic
• Commissioning remains tightly controlled with a conservative outlook

Subscription VOD (Viewing on demand)

• Content viewing via a TV still dominates in the UK.
• 3/4 UK households have PVR (Personal video recording) uptake but it has plateaued 
• Use of timeshift is increasing (You can watch whenever)
• Growth of SVOD (Streaming video on demand). Web based channels such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV is considerable. 
• Netflix dominates with 24% of UK market & 5 million subscribers. 10% growth 2015-16

Audiences:

• Rise in binge watching started with DVD in late 90s/early C21. Partially due to syndication problems in the UK.
• A move from 'Water cooler' to 'Shared universe' fandom (as with cinema)
• US long form drama often uses Easter eggs, and mid-season breaks to generate fan intensity and maintain a media profile. 

Why audiences love LFTVD:

• High quality drama
• Multiple episodes, hours, years
• Content can be dark and difficult but innovative 
• It now attracts some of the best and innovative writers and actors
• Time shifting, easily accessible 
• Keeps people invested
• Lots of creativity 
• Characters and themes change and develop
• Lots of different networks compete
• The show can cater to specific taste

'State of Nation' TV

• LFTVD challenged the simplistic story lines and stereotypical characters that dominate network TV in US.
• CULTURAL ZEITGEIST

- Genres: LFTVD can fit into any (E.g. Comedy, horror, thriller, mystery, drama, crime, etc.)

- Themes: Also can fit into any (E.g, Relationships, murder, power, war, coming of age, family, etc)

- Narratives: Can have vast variety of all different worlds which are completely different to normality

- Characters: Relatable and interesting to watch. Engaging so they are watched over long period

- Production Values: Good ones usually range from 4 million to 5 million per episode. 

- Methods/Platforms: Either on Terrestrial TV, Cable TV, Subscriptions, Streaming 

- State of Nation: Escapist for the viewers, not usual to their everyday life.

- Memes/Accessories: These can determine how popular the series is with the youth.

TV Dramas need:

• Various locations
• Stock characters - complex, able to follow for a long period of time. 
• Multiple narratives
• 1 hour episodes
• Dramatic cliff hangers - usually at end of season/mid season breaks
• High production values 

Stranger Things Intro

Overview

The series is set in 1983 surrounding the story of a group who kids searching for their missing friend. Along the way, they meet an unusual girl with supernatural powers. Throughout the series, they u unravel extraordinary mysteries surrounding their small town including government secrets, supernatural forces and Eleven, a girl with powers.

- The 1st season had 8 episodes, costing $6 million per episode.
- The show was created by the Duffer brothers (Twins). Ross and Matt (Born in the 90s)
- The show pays homage to E.T
- It debuted in July 2016
- represents 1980s nostalgia
- The shows resembles many other 80s films such as Gremlins, the Goonies, Ghostbuster etc.
- Winona Ryder, a famous 80s actress, plays Will's mother. This further links the show to the 80s
- The show increased in marketing through online buzz and fan artwork.
- It was also the little things in the background of scenes that referenced the 80s. E.g. Trapper Keeper
- When looking for a broadcaster/platform, the show was rejected by most mainstream.
- Netflix accepted as they were known as 'rebels' showing TV that was risky and different.
- The 1st series finished with unresolved issued meaning that they could be resolved in the 2nd series.
- Series 2 was set in 1984 and focused on the theme of video games whereas the first was boardgames
- The show references the work of Stephen Spielberg and Stephen King (Who liked the show)
- The show contained weaponized intertextuality due to fan service
- Stranger Things is a Pastiche (Opposite of parody)
- The character Eleven is compared to the characters E.T., Carrie and the girl from fire starter

ST Intertextuality