Define these words

Describe: Give an account in words of (someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events

Narrative Conventions: is the term used to describe the storyline in a film. It is the sequence of events placed in the correct order to create meaning.

Explain: Make (an idea, situation, or problem) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas.

Analyse: Examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of (something, esp. information), typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation

Ambiguous: Open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.
Set up: The way in which something, esp. an organization or equipment, is organized, planned, or arranged

Expository: Intended to explain or describe something

Exposition: The part of a movement, esp. in sonata form, in which the principal themes are first presented.

Development: A specified state of growth or advancement

Plot Point: a plot point is a significant event within a plot that digs into the action and spins it around in another direction.

Epilogue: A section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened.

Closure: An act or process of closing something, esp. an institution, thoroughfare, or frontier, or of being closed

Dark moment:

Turning point: A time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, esp. one with beneficial results.

Climax: The most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex.

Protagonist: The leading character or a major character in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text.

Narrative structure: Narrative structure is generally described as the structural framework that underlies the order and manner in which a narrative is presented to a reader, listener, or viewer.

Cliff-hanger: A story or event with a strong element of suspense

Setting: The place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place:

Mood: A temporary state of mind or feeling.

Symbolic codes:

Atmosphere:

Technical codes:

VALS and TAGS

VALS (Values and Lifestyles)

Thinkers- is a category of people who are motivated by ideals. Order, knowledge and responsibility are important to them. They are well educated. Reasonable incomes.

Values are: Durability, functionality, value in products.

Believers- is a category of people who are motivated by ideals. Moral codes and established order are important to them.

Values are: Familiar products and tend to be loyal customers.

Achievers- Motivated by the desire to succeed and are goal orientated, they are not big TV watchers and are time savers because they are always busy.

Strivers- Want to be something, but can’t quite get there, they are active consumers (as much as allows).

Experiencers- they are motivated by self-expression. They will try anything, go out and do anything. They are people that are enthusiastic and are Avid consumers.

Makers- Motivated by self-expression, practical work is a focus, tend to be suspicious and they are people that tend to be unimpressed by material possessions. They are more comfortable with basics rather than luxury gifts.

Innovators- Large disposable income, and they are people who enjoy the finer things in life. They are successful and sophisticated.

Survivors- People with few resources are considered survivors. They will be loyal to familiar brands and are modest consumers.

TAGS (Target Audience Grouping System)

Liberal Sophisticates- Well off and informed.

(Low consumers of TV)

Young Hopefuls- Half of 15- 24 years. Low incomes.

(High TV and Radio)

Settled Seniors- 57% are over 55, low income but good savers.

They are conservative and tend to stick to well known and familiar brands.

(TV and Radio; Newspaper, but not magazines)

Struggling Young Families- Centred around family, stick to a low budget.

(Low Media Consumers)

Comfortable Full-Nesters- Higher incomes, older, family orientated.

(Low TV, high DVD; High Media Consumers)

Lonely and Dissatisfied- Primarily older, lonely, and seem to have no purpose.

(Low Media Consumers)

Affluent Acquirers- Young 15-39 age group, are active consumers in all forms.

(Low TV, High Radio; Huge Media Consumers)

The Next Generation- 10-14 age group, this category accounts for 9% of the group above the age of 10.

(TV Dominated and Very Active)

Jersey Shore

“Our ability to take any pleasure, or even interest, in shows like this- in which participants are depicted as energetic but essentially aimlessm oblivious of their own deficits, and delusional about their attractiveness and their importance in the world- hinges not on our ability to identify them but on our ability to distinguish ourselves from them.”

Are there any ways in which Jersey Shore is reflective of how teenagers really live?

• There are teenagers that live like this but generally only for a short amount of time at a time, eg Spring Break. Teenagers know it is not possible to live like that for a long period of time because it is not practical.

In what ways are their lives distorted from the truth?

• The people on the show are living a false life, due to the fact that they are now famous for the way they have been living. In a sense, they are living the real life as they have to work to be able to live in the house. But there is no way that a person can live off income from a t-shirt store and be able to party like they do.

Does this show mirror the way you live? Or is it more like you’re an anthropologist looking in on this society?

Based on what you’ve learnt so far about MTV’s relationship with its audience I want you to write a response to this question:

Analyse the relationship between a media product and its target audience.

Use the following points to focus your answer:

Techniques used to target the audience.

How/why the technique appeals to the audience.

• Specific examples and/or evidence
• Implications for the media product, target audience, and/or wider society.

MTV

MTV

1. Who are the programmes aimed at? How and why?

2. Label specifically with Values & tags

3. How do they research- methods? Why?

4. Focus/direction of programming/channel

5. Evolution of channel

MTV’s first purpose was to play music videos. The channel was launched in 1981 with the words “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll” by John Lack. The first music video ever played was Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles. Ironically, that is exactly what happened. Over the past two decades MTV has gone from music television to reality television.

The programmes played on MTV are all aimed at the demographic 14-30. Shows like 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom are popular for the girls because it is showing them what it’s like to be pregnant. The shows do not encourage girls to go out and get pregnant but to educate them on the struggle and sacrifice they go through. Boys however are more interested in shows like Pimp My Ride and Cribs because the language and humor used on those shows are appealing to them, as well as the theme. Boys dream of having houses like the celebrities, generally rappers on the show, with the fancy equipment and the expensive cars. As well as Pimp My Ride where they think of all the drastic changes they would like to make on their own cars.

MTV make sure their shows are what the public want by interviewing people in the demographic and looking at what they’re into. Since there are such a large number of people in the age bracket, there are a lot of different things people want to see. MTV tries to cover a large variety of genres, but can’t go too far out of the popular zone or the show won’t get many views and it would be a waste. They take the time to get to know individuals; what problems they have, music they like, what’s “cool” at the moment. “Cool” plays a huge part in programming because whatever’s “cool” will be popular to the people. Of course, “cool” changes all the time so MTV has to interview people often to find out what people are into.

Research

• ‘cool’ changes
• Need to know what people want
• Teens are the most researched people
• Subconsciously buying things you see in TV
• Teenagers are unresponsive to traditional brand marketing
• Finding new products that are ‘cool’
• Promoting music because it is ‘cool’
• Advertising to different types of people
• Understanding as people not customers

Jersey Shore

Why are we interested in the characters?

• The characters are funny to watch. It is amusing to watch them do stupid things and make mistakes in relation to their stereotypical personalities.

Do we relate to them or is it escapism?

• I think it is escapism because their stereotypical personalities are nothing like people of our generation. The things they do are irrelevant to our lives.

Who is the target audience? (specifically)

• 12-34

Pace of the show?

• Some of the show is relaxed and just following the characters around, watching them get along with their day, sometimes doing individual interviews. But there is also a lot of drama where things like fighting and bitching are involved and the pace gets faster.

What form is the show?

• The form is mostly fly on the wall, but there are also individual interviews where they talk to the camera.

Sex With Mom and Dad

This show is about teens taking to their parents about sex and sexuality. It is aimed at teenagers and is supposed to give them an idea of how to talk to their parents. The show is reality and involves different teenager’s experiences with their parents and how different people can handle the situation. The audience is captured by the language used and the drama that the average teenager goes through to give them an idea of how to handle things.