Media Language 2

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Narrative

Narrative and genre can be established through analysing the codes and conventions used within media language.

Terminology

'Narrative' is the technical term for the story that is created in a product.

Vladmir Propp

Character roles can have a large part in creating narrative.
Vladimir Propp theorised that in a product there are usually stereotypical character roles in order to create a narrative.
These include:
- The hero, damsel in distress/princess, villain, the donor, the helper, the dispatcher, the false hero.

Character roles

In contemporary media texts characters can embody more than one role.
The most common roles we see still are the hero, damsel in distress/princess and villain.

Enigma codes

Narratives can create enigma codes, which simply means puzzles.
To keep a product engaging for the audience the narrative may withhold some information until the end.
- This creates an enigma for the audience.
Creating enigma is one of the codes theorised by Roland Barthes in this theory of semiotics.

Structure

The way narratives are presented can be linear or non-linear.
If the narrative follows a traditional beginning, middle and end structure then this is a linear narrative.
If a linear uses flashbacks and flash-forwards this does not follow the traditional chronological order and so would be non-linear.

Resolution

The way narratives are resolved can have important significance.
The meaning of the narrative can include ideology.
This often reflects dominant ideology and widely held beliefs about the way society should function.

Genre

Narrative and genre can be established through analysing the codes and conventions used within media language.

Terminology

'Genre' is a french term for category and is important when defining a media product.

Repetition

Genres are made up of repetitions and variations, as theorised by Steve Neal.
Repetition is simple generic conventions.
- For example, a magazine should always have a masthead (name of the magazine) so the audience knows what the product is called.

Variation

Variation refers to the difference in each product.
- For example, in magazines the colour palette can change depending on the edition.
If all products used the conventions all of the time then products would be too similar and become boring for the audience.

Importance of genres

Genres help an audience understand what the product should include and determine if they would like them based on their experiences.
Genres can also act as instructions for producers for how to make a successful product.
The genre of a product can help people to understand the purpose of the product.
- For example, the purpose of a charity advert is to encourage the audience to donate and spread awareness of the cause. So, charity adverts will be different to adverts selling products.

Sub-genres

There are sub-genres within genres to help define the product further.
- In the horror genre, there are sub-genres of slasher, paranormal etc.
- Genres can also be blended together, which is known as a hybrid genre.
- Rom-coms are an example of this as they have borrowed conventions from both romance and comedy.

1Overview

1.1Media Language

1.1.1Media Language

1.1.2Media Language 2

1.2Audience

1.2.1Audiences

1.2.2Audiences 2

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience

1.3Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes

1.3.2Gender

1.3.3Audiences

1.4The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries

1.4.2Ownership

1.4.3Funding & Regulation

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry

2Component 1: Section A

2.1Magazines

2.1.1Magazines

2.1.2Pride

2.1.3Pride 2

2.2GQ

2.2.1Context

2.2.2Narrative

2.2.3Representation

2.3Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing

2.3.2Analysing Adverts

2.3.3Analysing Adverts 2

2.3.4Theories & Principles

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising

2.4Print Advertisements

2.4.1Quality Street

2.4.2This Girl Can

2.5Film Posters (Marketing)

2.5.1Spectre

2.5.2The Man with The Golden Gun

2.5.3The Man with The Golden Gun 2

2.6Newspapers

2.6.1Ownership & Regulation

2.6.2News Selection

2.6.3Media Language

2.6.4Genres

2.6.5Newspaper Conventions

2.6.6Representation

2.6.7Audience

2.6.8Theories

2.6.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers

2.7The Sun

2.7.1Context

2.7.2Narrative

2.7.3Language & Images

2.8The Guardian

2.8.1The Guardian

2.8.2Narrative

2.8.3Language & Images

3Component 1: Section B

3.1Video Games

3.1.1Video Games

3.2Film

3.2.1The Big Six

3.2.2Technology

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films

3.3Radio

3.3.1The Radio Industry

3.3.2Categories of Radio Station

3.3.3Technology & Radio Audiences

3.3.4Theories

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Radio

3.4No Time To Die

3.4.1Context

3.4.2Narrative

3.4.3Representation

4Component 2: Section A

5Component 2: Section B

5.1Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos

5.1.2The Music Industry

5.2Michael Jackson

5.2.1‘Black or White’

5.3Taylor Swift

5.3.1Bad Blood

5.3.2Intertextual References

5.3.3Media Theories

5.3.4Representation

5.3.5Social Media

5.4Bruno Mars

5.4.1Uptown Funk

5.4.2Analysis

5.4.3End of Topic Test - Music Videos

5.5Lizzo

5.5.1Context

5.5.2'Good as Hell'

5.5.3Media Language

5.5.4Representation

5.5.5Audience

5.5.6Industry

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