Social realism is a term used by media producers from different institutions in which they focus on giving the audience a true indication of the socio-political conditions of the working class, essentially critcising the power structure behind these conditions.
In reference to the history nature of this term, at the beginning of the 1960s British cinema brought down the old system of class/hierarchy pride, privilege and period dramas.
Social Realist films are usually a depiction of a true-to-life characters and locations and explores the political and social issues within the world. The lighting is normally 'naturalistic', meaning it does not use lenses or soft lighting.
Social Injustice
Racial Injustice
Economic hardship
Working class as heroes.
Work produced from artists to writers to filmmakers all have the same aim and try to portray life at the time. Raymond Williams defines 'Social Realism' as an extension by which previously under-represented groups in society become represented. These creative, fictional pieces of work are secular - they revolve around logic and reasons instead of mystical or religious matters.
Post Modernism
Rejects the traditional concept that one media product or text is of any greater value than the other. Everything should be deserved to reach a targeted audience with the correct meaning.
The distinction between the 'media' and 'reality' has deteriorated and in this period of time, we live in a 'reality' characterised by images and representations - which a lot of the time have been photoshopped. It is the idea that anything can be art and culture 'eats itself' as there is no longer anything new to produce or distribute.
Furthermore, postmodernism could reflect modern society's thoughts of alienation, insecurity and uncertainties concerning identity, history, progress and truth. Celebrity icons such as Madonna and Michael Jackson are clear examples of postmodernism because they have created / re-created different identities for themselves.
A variety of Films and Television Programmes exhibit postmodernism traits, for instance; the theme of 'Spectacle' - where the TV displays spectacle to attract the audience and hook them on a storyline. The Jeremy Kyle Show is a illustration of this as it sets up hapless and uneducated guests to appear on the show in an embarrassing way, wanting to fight each other.
Intertextuality
The shaping of a text's meaning by another text. It is the process by which the producer/director will create references to any kind of media text via another media text.
Intertextual figures include:
allusion, quotation, translation, parody, pastiche etc.
An example in TV is in 'Family Guy' when they edited a version of Star Wars. The whole episode is based solely around intertextuality where an audience member of Family Guy who has never watched an Film of Star Wars will be clueless in reference to the associations of the sci-fi. That episode is classed as a parody of the Star Wars films.
Another, is the celebrity Eminem's Vevo music video, 'Without me' in which his costume is the same as Robins' dress sense in the film of Batman. However, instead of the large lettered 'R' there is an 'E' for Eminem; conveying the idea that the artist believes he is as superhero like Robin off Batman as well as this being a parody.
Narrative
The media definition for telling a story. The way different elements in a story are organised to create a meaningful story, parts of these elements can be facts used in a documentary or character and action in a drama.
Different media's tell stories in a varied of ways. Narrative is informed by character, action and location.
Diegesis
The telling of a story by a narrator who summarises events in the plot and comments on the conversations and thoughts of the characters, events and things within the main or primary narrative.
In filmmaking this is used where the story is depicted on screen, as opposed to the story in real time that the screen narrative is about.
A collective view from a system of values, attitudes and beliefs which someone holds to be true or important to them or a group; these are shared by a culture or society about how that society should perform. These ideas held by media producers differentiate depending on the media text.
In a newspaper, the ideology of the editors could influence the way certain stories are represented and most newspapers are politically swayed in terms of right or left wing and can persuade their readers to vote for a certain wing.
In a documentary about asylum seeker, the representation of their story could be edited and influence how the filmmaker wants it to.
Oppositional reading
1 of 3 main responses an audience member may have to a media text, where they understand the preferred reading but choses to oppose it. For example, the campaign to stop the winner of The X Factor getting to Christmas number one charts.
Other 2:
Preferred reading - When the audience responds to the ideas in the way the media producer wants them to. Seasonal programmes such as The Voice UK / The X Factor - potentially a large scale view member voting and the purchase of the winning singer's single.
Negotiated reading - When the audience responds by accepting and rejecting specific elements. For instance, voting for the underdog in a talent competition or questioning the programme through social media platforms.
Naturalistic Mise-en-scene
A realistic style of mine-en-scene that appears natural and recognisable to viewers. The world and objects follow the law of nature and society and the elements have a logical relation. Mise-en-scene and the characters mutually define each other.
Linear Narrative
A story that is presented in a logical manner by telling what happens from one point in time to the next, without using flashbacks/forwards and the retuning to the present. The narrative includes a plot, characters, climax, setting and resolution. e.g., YA MAMA
Narrative Disruption
Where events are disrupted for example out of chronological order and does not follow the casual pattern of a story line. Where something within the narrative changes the course of the action.
Bravura
An impressive technical skill that is shown in an artistic performance or work.
No comments:
Post a Comment