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Media Essay

How are different social groups represented in the sequence you have analysed? What role does the use of media language, signs and signifiers have in constructing and presenting these representations as real? Make a plan, go through the doc link and see what other students wrote for their scenes, take notes.

Multiple social groups have tried to be presented in the first episode of Stranger Things including; youth, parents and political parties. They are all represented through dissimilar ways. For example, media language, signs and signifiers all show them in different ways.

Interpreting different social groups, is the police and government. The government signs are hinted right from the off. Due to the identifiable personal that is dressed in the white lad coat that is stereotyped in most films to show the signs of discovery or unnatural sources. signifying intelligence as it is key to working in a white-collar job like this one. The camera work used creates a direct mode of address that shows us as equal to this scientist to give us a new perception of this scientist. The sounds of his footsteps show the normality of the government as they are still human and scared. The strobe lights indicate the hints of intelligent almost stuttering out of him as the adrenaline takes over creating this “normal” persona. The police are represented complete different to the government. Although they seem lazy and have that dull attitude, they are also secretly compassionate as hopper shows in the woods. Hoppers aura that is created as the way he strokes in late shows the laziness and the that boss has a non-caring attitude that suggest the opposite to the hard-working government. The representation then is given a sense of realism to the audience, as it is typical that the lazy sheriff who ha the most power is the lazy Sheriff as it has been dripped into the media through the cultivation, they through other medias. Camera looks up at hopper from a low angle shot to create this snse of entailment and power given to him just cause of his stature and mood, the producers do this in order to present the social group as having platforms.

Another social group which can be presented in episode one, Is the social groups of youths, there are multiple signs which show that they are teenagers, in the 1980s. The boys are on the bikes which is at first perceived as a sign. However, when I investigate these signs you can see that the boys use on their bikes a lot therefore showing their dependence and signifies their freedom and their trust and relationship with their parents. This further proved as the children can ride home late at night it seems so have trust yet also are used to doing this do so meaning they have been trusted for a while further proving the maturity and responsibility of each youth. So, on a whole this is showing the contrast to what a stereotype of youths are, as the boys are portrayed as intellectual. This is due to the complex game lasting10 hours and the fact they can be trusted to make their way home safely, shows an opposite to the stereotype of youths. Mike see’s this creature he appears to fear this when he runs to his house, therefore portraying the stereotype of a younger teenager who may act brave but is still a child at heart and still needs protection.

Stranger things walk through scenes

LFTVD- Language and conventions

Stranger Things Characters

Stranger Thing Timings

Stranger Things Poster

Poster: -

With the amount of characters shown on the poster, it shows that there will be multiple story lines. This also suggests that they are the main characters so the audience will be seeing a lot of them and get to know them if they watch the series. - The characters at the top of the poster look scared and are positioned so that it looks like they are hiding behind another person. This suggests that maybe throughout the series, there may be something that may threaten them. - The use of the stars in the sky connote space and the sci fi genre. This shows that the series may contain some typical sci-fi conventions such as the supernatural, monsters etc. The night also connotes eeriness. - The character in the middle of the poster is shown to be slightly bigger showing that she may be significant throughout the series. This could also be connoted as she is positioned in the center. The other characters are seen to surround her suggesting that they may be protecting her. This is reinforced by one of the characters holding a weapon - the baseball bat. - In the background of the poster is a ominous figure emerging from a gated area with a restricted sign on. This could show that he may be the antagonist/villain. - The title shown on the poster connotes a retro vine as it is written almost like a neon sign which could reference the 80's. This could suggest that the series may be set within this time period. This is reinforced by the clothing. The writing of the title also resembles that of a Stephen king film showing that there may be some intertextuality taken from some of his work. - The clothing, bikes and setting suggest that the series is set in America. This is reinforced by the man who is in a sheriff uniform. The fact that there is a sheriff may suggest there is crime within the series. - The 3 boys are positioned above the title meaning that they may feature as mains throughout. - Themes that are shown in the poster include facing adversity as they are all facing the same way, ready to fight. Also, the supernatural which could be suggested by the centre character holding her hand out in a way that she may control something. Friendship is shown the close proximity of all the characters. - The narrative of the series could include binary opposition reinforced by the use of the two colours contrasting, red and blue. Also, the fact that there are many children included shows that the story may be from their point of view. - There is much intertextuality shown between the poster and ET with the use of the bikes and the moon.

80s films (stranger things)

  Stranger Things screenshots

TV drama notes

LFTD- long form TV drama

network TV- US network broadcasters must satisfy their advertisements and must satisfy stake holders.
Launched in the 1970's HBO was the first US national subscription cable TV.
others one then followed such as- FX, showtime and AMC.
Trouble with Uk dramas- have failed as the US have so much more budget through adverts and sponsors so they can take more risks and use better and bigger equipment and props.
VOD- Viewing on demand
PVR- Personal video recorder-series link/ record.
SVOP- streaming viewing on demand.
Shared universe.
High quality
multiple episodes
context can be dark and innovative
best writers and actors
time shifting- recording- shifting(pause-rewind etc...)
easily accessible
keeps people invested
lots of creativity
characters change in surprisings yet natural ways.
lots of companies involved.
cable and streaming
cater to all tastes
allows shows to play with characters
more daring characters
moire daring with race humour genre
DVR- video recording
easier to be creative

state of nation- government/ army
cultural zeitgeist- spirit of moment

google slide for genre narrative themes characters production values memes state of nation platform
https://docs.google.com/presentation/u/0/

Ground breaking themes and genres innovating
more faults in characters more likable
terrestrial, cable,streaming

1x 30 mark-language,audience etc.....60 mins
1x 10 mark- industries.... 15 mins
various location
stock character
multiple narratives
1 hr episodes
dramatic cliff hangers
high production values

stranger things 6 mil first season, 8 mil second season

SA tv drama, number of episodes that help tell a narrative
technological change on the TV industry
how audiences consume and interpret
media lang to create meaning
valves, attitude and beliefs conveyed
economic context behind the large budgets given to US LFTD

Website

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