How far do changes to regulation of media reflect broader social changes?

How far do changes to regulation of media reflect broader social changes?

The purpose of regulation is to control and protect, by controlling what people watch and consume then they are protecting the young and vulnerable who may be affected by possible harmful content. Film is regulated by the BBFC which is non-statutory and no controlled by the government, OFCOM is regulated by the government and games are regulated by PEGI. Over they years they have become more liberal with there being more violence and explicit content being allowed, this is because of how society has changed and developed. Despite them becoming more liberal OFCOM doesn't make to drastic changes this is because they are a government controlled regulation body and because they regulate TV they have to take into consideration that everyone of all ages watches TV, because they are more widely watched they have to be mindful of desensitisation and how with the public needing more content that is developed and evolved from what they watch theirs a chance that over time people will become desnsitised to things like violence.
Regulation should become a bit stricter in order to protect desensitisation from happening so that people aren't insensitive to things. However with the changes in society and things like the snowball effect, regulation will become less strict and will rely more on self regulation so that people can watch what they want.
The gradual way the BBFC has become more liberal shows how society has changed, for example the video nasties in 1980's like Evil Dead which was banned due to moral panic about imitable behaviour. Which lead to the 1984 Video Recording Act which meant that all films had to get a film classification. However it was re released in 2001 with an 18 age rating. This shows the difference from when the C in BBFC stood for censorship when it was first made to now that it means Classification. Therefore showing how liberal society has become. As they had not banned a film since 2011 where they banned Human Centapiede 2 until there were 32 cuts made and it was released with a 18 rating, and since then there has only been one other Hate Crime.
From looking at are film case studies Deadpool rated 15, and 50 shades of grey are good examples to show how society accepts different things. The reason films with violence can get 18 certificate ratings is because of the Copycat theory and a fear that people especially children may imitate the behaviour. Deadpool is a comic book film and is stereotypical aimed for children however because it's rated 15 it shows that it's meant for a older audience and how they require more violence in the films. The reason the two films reflect social change is because it shows the desensitisation of the public. Deadpool has consistent strong language and has some sexual references. 50 shades of grey is based around BDSM and two people in a consensual relationship.The case studies show we have more tolerance to violence then sex. 50 shades of grey has sexual content and context however it's not graphic and there is no full nudity. Violence can be seen as catharsis for people however there's a higher chance of the public becoming desensitised, and it shows a fear people have of showing younger viewers different contents and depictions of sex life that aren't realistic.

Exemplar essay: Cut up sections

1) General definition, information

The BBFC and PEGI are the two organisations who certificate and rate media products. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) was set up in 1912 to protect the public from media material that may present harm risk. Originally the BBFC only classified cinema films until the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984 when it started regulating videos/DVDs. In 1984 the BBFC began to regulate video games as well. From 2003 the responsibility of regulating video games was passed from the BBFC to PEGI (Pan European Game Information). However, the BBFC will continue to classify all games that feature strong pornographic content and ancillary games attached to a wider, primary linear submission.

The BBFC are an non-government regulatory body to which films are submitted for classification based on their content. They aim to protect the public by providing them with information that allows them to make a more educated decision when selecting a media products. The BBFC also provide verification for as to why they have awarded media products the certificate that they have. Like with the BBFC video games are submitted to PEGI to be given appropriate age ratings. These age ratings are in place to give guidance to the video game customers, particularly parents. The age ratings given to video games are awarded based on their content and suitability, not their difficulty. PEGI used descriptors that are placed on the back of the video games packaging. These descriptors explain the main reason behind why games have been given a particular age rating

2) Specific points/debates

In the case of video games there is a huge amount of moral panic that is endorsed by the press in an attempt to show them in a bad light and suggest that they are causing a great deal of harm to younger generations

3) Thesis statement

Although these regulatory bodies are in place there are problems with the systems that prevent them from being used as a means of protection, for the public, from the media

4) Point

Problems are faced by these gatekeepers when it comes to media that they are unable to regulate

5) Evidence/Case study, Example

 For example, media platforms such as YouTube are unregulated due to the excessive quantity of videos submitted to this platform. 

Also piracy of video games and films cause major problems for these gatekeeping organisation. Piracy is a prime example where an advance in technology has posed a threat to regulatory companies aim to protect the public.

A Serbian film is a prime example of a film where by the BBFC have taken precautionary measures in an attempt to prevent the public from being exposed to potentially harmful media content

The Woman In Black was passed by the BBFC with a 12A classification following cuts and was later released uncut on DVD with a 15 age certificate

, Ann Maguire a Spanish teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds was stabbed seven times by Will Cornick (a 16-year-old student) and died as a consequence of the school boys actions

6) Analysis/ Argument

 For example, it is not illegal for a person who is of age to buy a particular media product for a person who is under the age certificate of a product and allow them to view it. In this respect organisations such as PEGI and BBFC are carrying out the service that they hope to provide by informing the buyer of the content and the potential harm that such products may cause to a consumer who is not of suitable age to be subjected to the media product.

7) Theory

8) Historical Context

9) Future prediction 

 There is never going to be full protection of the public from media but the regulators work to do the job to the best of their ability. Content is always going to be available on formats that aren’t able to be regulated and therefore the extent to which the public can be protected is limited.

Regulation

 your own response/opinion on what regulation is, who regulates video games, the press, film and TV and why it should or shouldn't exist. Be prepared to deliver this as a 30 second statement in class on video

Regulation is the way the public is protected from possible harmful content, this is done by the BBFC using age ratings. The regulation  involves all types of media like newspapers, magazines, music and video games. Video games, press, film and Tv are regulated by people who aim to represent society and its rules and therefore needs multiple people’s opinions and different points of view of different race, age, gender and culture. This allows for less chance of people with single minded views to show there content. In my opinion  we should regulate to an certain extent. As it help to prevent and protect people from seeing things that aren’t appropriate, like a child watching a slasher film. As well as preventing harmful content that is racist or homophobic. Regulation can also be used for other purposes like the workplace and schools, they are allowed to block content that is deemed harmful, this is useful as if something is deemed inappropriate it is not allowed. As well as because of technology advancement and virtual reality with games it’s Important to protect people who have a chance of not being able to distinguish a difference. However I think that even though there should be regulation, it shouldn’t be very strict as it can stop people seeing what the real world can be like and therefore they can be unprepared for things like violence or challenging situations that occur in day to day life. 

Revision

For revision I looked at the terminology wheel and made brief notes from memory about what the definitions were.

Creativity: Post Production

In my AS I created a music magazine for my chosen genre, which was rock/indie rock genre. For this I followed templates of other music magazines and used InDesign to create a layout and add the image I used taken on a Cannon camera. In A2 me and my production group are making horror trailer for one of are chosen concepts. We chose a slasher film about a group of teenagers exploring land and a manor house who are being stalked by a killer.  A key factor in helping make my products successful is the use of digital technology and the development of skills learnt throughput the years.

During my preliminary task I had limited skills in editing software’s like Photoshop. The task we had to do was create a college magazine, I took a picture of someone in my class and took it in school. For the post production of this I used photoshop and just cut the picture from the background using the crop and lasso tool, as a result of this and my lack of knowledge wit Photoshop the edges of the image were jagged, the impact of this is that the final result look poor as my lack of magazine knowledge also meant the angle of the shot was not right for it’s purpose and it should typically be a close up. To and audience this would present as not meeting the expectations of what a college magazine should look like, however shows the improvement made from AS to A2. 

My skills developed a lot from the preliminary task to my AS music magazine. By using digital technology and the internet I had gained a lot more knowledge of conventions and were able to apply them for example using the magazine Q which presented me with the layout and colour scheme for a rock magazine. While in post production for my music magazine I again was using Photoshop as well as using the lasso tool I used spot healer, blur and layers. As well as this I did colour grading to help create more of a low key red atmosphere that is conventional of rock. Using these skills I was able to create a more air brushed and professional look that helps the audience identify it as a music magazine, therefore making it more successful, my creativity is impacted on the skills I develop as lack of knowledge meant I didn’t have a wide range of tools to use in order to create a good piece of work.

My creativity also further developed for my A2 trailer as I was furthering my photoshop skills for the poster and magazine but also in Final cut which I had never used for the trailer itself. For my A2 poster and magazine I used layers, blending and eraser tool to create a background texture for my dominant image to go over the top. Whereas in my preliminary I simply cut out the image and put it onto a block colour in InDesign. With the trailer in Final cut I used the blade tool, transitions like fade and cut to black. Digital technology helped a lot with learning how to use Final Cut as I was able to find tutorials on YouTube. The reason I used transitions like cut to black was because of the research I did prior to post production, not only by looking at past trailers but also using social media to ask people about the conventions they want from a trailer and how it should turn out therefore the purpose of including them is so the audience can identify them. The impact of my development of skills in A2 is that because I know what I have to convey and include it creates a limit of how original me and my group can make the trailer however also makes the trailer successful because we are able to give the audience what they expect from a horror trailer, like fast paced montage scenes and jump scares.

I have a greater understanding of what’s needed in order to present the audience with something that is successful for the type of media I’m doing. But also how digital technology plays a key role in being able to develop the skills needed to advance my work. Creativity can be limited with development of skills as I am limited in how original I can make something, however despite the technical skills being conventional with the use of an audience the work I make can be interpreted in many different forms by whoever’s seeing it and the signifier and signified meaning is different.

Creativity: Digital technology

Digital technology is any devise or software that helps us create something for example using a iMac and final cut. Digital technology helps us be more creative we can become a producer and legitimises are creative voice. I can  edit a video, add sound effects and manipulate the colour off it and include transitions, however ten years ago there wouldn't have been the developed equipment to do this.

My AS preliminary task was to create a college magazine, within the first lessons on doing the course, my experience of digital technology was what I had already used in previous years. For example using my iPhone and camera to take pictures. Therefore when doing the preliminary task I already had experience. When doing research for my preliminary I used the internet and google to see how to layout the magazine but that was it. In production I used a cannon camera and in post production I used the editing software adobe indesign to piece the magazine together. I used minimal skill to create the magazine, as all I did to change the image I had taken was on photoshop where I cut out the background. From general life knowledge I already knew what a typical magazine layout was therefore all I did was copy other layout. Using digital technology however helped me use my now image that I took. This therefore makes it successful as it was recognisable as a magazine and had some originality with the use of my image.

My skills developed from my AS preliminary to my AS music magazine I know this because of my use of more digital technology specifically in post-production. I again used photoshop and indesign, but when editing my image in photoshop I made changes to the colour balance of the image. As well as this I added layers to the image and used techniques like blur and spot tool to give my image a professional look. This development gave me a chance to experiment with the different editing styles I could use that would suit my genre of magazine. I was able to make my image have more low key lighting and adjusted the tone to be more red. This helped the cover be successful as my genre was rock and typically rock magazines have a red, white and black scheme to them and with my photoshop skills I was able to recreate them.

In A2 I was able to move on from editing images to editing videos taken for my horror trailer. From the shots we took using a cannon camera I imported them into Final Cut and was then able to edit them to fit the structure of a trailer that we researched using youtube. For Final Cut I used the blade tool, fades to black as well as adding text for the titles. As a result of more research and planning with the use of youtube for make up tutorials, social media like snap chat to ask people about the trailer, I have a better understanding of what should be seen in a horror trailer, a downside to this is that my trailer despite having a new storyline follows other trailers and lacks creativity and experimentation. However my trailer is still successful as if I were to have done the trailer editing in AS my lack of skill would have meant the end result wouldn't look good and wouldn't be recognisable as a trailer.

Before starting the course I was able to experiment with the digital technology I already had like my phone and laptop, I was able to take pictures and find what lighting looks good. However as I have developed over the course I am able to have a greater understanding of what is needed in order to achieve a good piece of work, like the use of good photoshop skills.

Creativity: Real Media Texts

Conventions have rules and are followed so that the audience can tell what genre there looking at. You can reimage and slightly change conventions in order to give them some originality and make it so that things don't become repetitive. In AS I believe that I didn't properly understand semiotics and why there used however in A2 with further research and knowledge I have a deeper understanding of semiotics and how we use denotation and connotation to create meaning.

In AS I had to make a music magazine cover, contents page and double page spread, I picked the rock genre. In order to create a successful rock music magazine I had to follow the specific codes and conventions that are found in other magazines. A specific semiotic and convention that I found in rock music magazines was the use of the colour red. For example Q magazine has red, white and black as it's house style. The use of red and black gives connotations of violence and anger, which correlates to the rock genre as it's stereotypically a aggressive. Another convention of rock magazines is the poses and costumes used. In the music magazines Q and UNCUT they have stern looks on the musicians in the dominant image and it's usually a mid shot or a close up. I used conventions in the following ways, the person in my image is in a mid- close up shot with a straight face, the background of the image is a urban brick wall with some low key lighting she is also wearing dark denim. This was in order to convey the rock genre. This therefore makes my magazine successful as I've followed the codes and conventions that mean the audience can recognise it.

In my year 13 horror film trailer, I made a trailer and to do this I had to identify a number of key conventions like structure, lighting and pace. Some conventions of the horror genre slasher which is what me and my group chose is, the antagonist being in a mask, a dumb blonde character, jock character and a final girl who survives until the end. In my trialer we are using costume and makeup to connote the character and charater types, but also the use of special effects make up like latex and fake blood. I used Scream as a reference for the gore, as the film shows a good amount of gore but also how the protagonists and victims get up and close with the antagonist and the phallic weapon used to hurt them. I used the Conjuring 2 to help with structure, shot duration, use of title slates. We took these types of details in order to make are trailer successful and to make it look professional. I have planned the shot list to where we need to have a montage section at the end of the trailer to show how it's gained pace. However unlike films like Halloween and Cabin in the Woods we are not having a 'final girl' but a 'final guy'. We have decided to change this as a final girl is a typical convention of slashers but changing it to a male isn't so much of a drastic change that it's unrecognisable.

In AS I didn't have much understanding of reasoning behind codes and conventions like the use of the colour red, but I also didn't't do as much research into a wide range of real media texts. Whereas in A2 I have looked at over 30 horror trailers ranging in all the sub genres, meaning I have a clear distinction between the different semiotics used. Being limited to one genre of horror has limited my creativity in being able to try new things and break conventions because despite wanting to do something original in order for this trailer to be successful I have to have the typical conventions that audiences will be expecting. The conventions I have used have come directly from my audience research from people outside of my media class, therefore they will be expecting them. Because of more research and knowledge about meaning and denotation and connotation I believe my media A2 trailer will be more successful then my AS as I'm able to have deeper knowledge of reasoning behind specific things that should be done and because of this I am able to slightly change things about my horror trailer but while still keeping to conventions.
Conventions limit how much you can change about a genre in order to make it recognisable. However expanding knowledge about real media texts means I can communicate meaning in a deeper way.

Creativity: Research and Planning

Before starting the media course I had already started doing research and planning and using digital technology. This was by taking pictures like selfies, this has led me to have an understanding of what angles and lighting to use. The way research and planning is used is by looking at other celebrities and how they took pictures and applying to my own. Over the two years I have been able to gain a understanding of how important research and planning is, to create a product that is targeted to the audience and so that it fits in with other conventions of the genre and is recognisable.

For the first task we got given which was the preliminary task we had to make a magazine for the college. For this task I did no planning and didn’t draft what I was going to do beforehand. I also didn’t do any research of previous college magazines. This means I had no understanding of conventions or what rules there are to what it should look like. This therefore means as a magazine it’s unsuccessful as the lack of codes and conventions means it wasn’t recognisable. What I did use to make the magazine was any previous knowledge of what I have seen in magazines before. However I had no skills to imitate them completely and I had things like a basic rectangle box of where the text was and all one block colours.

My music magazine in AS I was able to understand a bit more how and why research and planning can help develop skills and make the magazine look better, specifically with the progression of all the different drafts from drawn to digital. For my music magazine I picked the Rock genre, I looked at magazines like UNCUT and Q to show me how the magazine should look and what conventions should be used. I found that typically the rock genre uses the colours red, white and black. I looked at between 15-20 magazines to see how they all use the conventions. I understood the use of a dominant image and a main cover line as conventions, to show quickly to the audience the genre of the magazine. However I did not fully understand the use of colour for rock, I know now it’s because stereotypically rock can be quite aggressive and the colour red is used to signify anger and evil. Knowing about the conventions limited my creativity as I had to stick to certain conventions in order to suit the genre.

While research and planning for my A2 film trailer I feel as though I had a deeper knowledge of the reasoning to why it was important in developing creatively and knowing more about how to create a successful trailer. I have looked at over 20 horror trailers from all different types of genres. Me and my group then picked the slasher genre and then watched more specific slasher horror trailers. We found the different conventions used to show the characters and how the meaning behind them effects the type of character. For example a convention of a dumb blonde is blonde hair and she will be wearing pink as she would be Girley and weak. I looked at trailers from the 1960’s to trailers now and saw how the character types evolved. The research showed that if we want the trailer to be successful it needs to be recognisable to the target audience as a slasher trailer.

AS music magazine to A2 music video planning has developed a lot. For the music magazine I did a few drawn drafts then did different drafts of a digital version. However for the video, I have done a detailed story board and shot list to show what I will be filming then went out and did practice texture shots and then we will film the real one. Research helped with understanding of how to plan what we needed to film by doing audience research and asking over 20 people different questions about trailers, like what they find most noticeable or scary. 

Summery of the definitions of creativity in a post-modern age

Technology is very important in media and what we create. Before making are trailer as a final product and before doing media as a course we were using are phones to take videos and pictures and we are very dependent on it. Without digital we wouldn’t be able to make a trailer, do wide research for it, shoot it, and edit it. Before technology came what people could do creatively can be seen as limited compared to now.

Intertextuality in media is, taking things and ideas from one thing or text and putting them in another text. It is taking influence. For example in my media trailer will have a mask and knife and a lot of blood. It is mostly taking inspiration from the film Friday the 13^th. However we will be taking the mask and making it slightly different with are own version, by cutting it in half and having a wound on the other side of the antagonist face. Bently has a quote that says “the making of the new and rearranging of the old”. I take this to suggest that creativity can be in different forms and that rearranging something that’s already been made and used can still represent being creative.

No originality in relation to creativity suggest that everything has been made before or that a new ideas are based of already made ones. An example of this for me is when I was making my music magazine for the double page spread I copied the layout from an article in Q magazine. I did this to make my magazine look professional and to hopefully look like a real music magazine. However in my opinion despite being copied from an existing magazine, what I have made is still original as the images used were ones I took and so was the article that I had written.  Therefore, meaning that even though you can have no originality if you change some of the context it’s still creative as you are making it into something new.

The act of production itself is creative because it is bringing something new into existence. Post modernism is about how all media is different and can be judged differently buy different people depending on who is the audience. The use of culture and social status can show the difference in creativity and how different people view and respond to it. As I live in London I have access to a lot more places than someone who lives in Wales and is surrounded by fields. Therefore, when making a horror trailer I have the ability to go to a lot more abandoned buildings, and decaying areas which are typical in horror films. Therefore, there can’t be the same judgment as the other person who also only has access to what surrounds them. Despite them both being differently creative.

Before starting media I was an audience to media texts, however I have become a producer. This is because of my summer media trailer that was uploaded to YouTube meaning it can be seen by anyone. I have developed with the use of technology and research. When I first started media I had made a simple college magazine where I hadn’t layered anything and had used simple rectangle blocks around the title. Whereas with my music magazine I was able to use photoshop and was able to adjust the colours and textures and add other filters over the top.

Theory: Media language

I will be writing about the future trailer me and my group will produce, which is about a rich man who resurrects a killer to attack and get rid of teenagers who are staying on some land he wishes to buy. The teenagers are taking part in drinking and drugs. The use of media language will be vital in the audience understanding of the trailer and how they can decode the semiotics of it. For example the antagonist wearing black to connote evil and the protagonist wearing black to connote innocence and virginity. However the meaning we put into our trailer may be interpreted differently by different people.

The first type of media language we will try to include in is symbolic codes, with the use of lighting and colour, positioning and sets and location. Will be the weapons used by the antagonist who is the masked killer of the teenagers. He will be using weapons like knives and axes these are a signifier for phallic imagery. The reason this is being used is because slashers are conventionally about a male killing victims. Sarah Dobb's theory of feminism in horror states that 'scream queens' are used just to be killed off, they will be killed by the antagonist use of the knife which allows him to get up close and personal with them and therefore exhibiting there male dominance. The denotation of a knife will be put into context with the male using it as a weapon therefore giving him power gives it meaning.

Technical codes will also be used for the trailer were doing. They will help with constructing the characters significance and can help the audience figure out how they are apart of the trailer. This will be done with the use of camera shots and angles like low angles, close-ups and high angles. There is specific meaning to all the shots. A low angle of the antagonist can make someone look powerful and dominating, in the trailer we do we will have a shot like this to show how the anatagonsit has the power and strength to kill the protagonists and victims. Opposite to this is a high angle, this will be of the victims to connote weakness and how defenceless they are. Also a close up on the victims face to show the fear they have, it also creates a sense of claustrophobia which signifies that there trapped and can't escape the antagonist.

Ferdinand de Saussure refers to the use of the signifier and signified for media language. For example a signifier can be the use of blood, which then signifies the loss of innocence specifically if shown on white clothing. These are used because the sign or symbol we see does not make sense without the actual object and the meaning it creates. A similar theory is Roland Barthes denotation and connotation. This lets us when making the trailer think more about the purpose of a symbol like mis-en-scene, written, audio or technical code and how the audience may see if it fits in with the sub-text which is that drinking and taking part in illegal activities is wrong and takes away innocence. This will be shown in the trailer by the use of blood as white represents purity and if we put blood on it it connotes a loss of innocence. 

Levi-Strauss's theory of binary opposites is another theory we will use in our trailer via the editing. Making the scenes with the victim slow and then with the antagonist fast. Suggesting how chaotic the killer can be with the antagonist being shown in a fast pace and also represent how overpowered he can be. With editing the use of cuts to black suggest urgency and that the next action happens fast. For example the montage at the end of the trailer will have fast cuts where a lot of action is shown in a short amount of time. The use of fades to black connote the need for intensity and wanting to drag out a situation in order to create the suspense needed for the horror.   

Theory: Audience

In this essay I will be looking at how audience theories apply to my group's media horror trailer. Audience theories are about how the audience takes consumes a media context and how they understand it.  There are two types of audience, mass audience which is where everyone reacts the same way and can influence people and active audience who as individuals can interpretation media in different ways.

 Cultivation theory is a representation of a passive audience it’s about how media can affect people’s sense of reality. For example if someone watches a lot of slasher horror films then then they might feel there’s a lot more violence towards teenagers in the world and a lot of psychopathic killers. There is evidence to prove this theory by a study that compared heavy, moderate and light media users, where they found heavy media users have ‘mean world syndrome’. In the summer trailer my group did you don’t see any violence just teenagers looking around an abandoned building, this therefore means that from watching the trailer, audiences can’t really change how they view the world. The trailer is therefore unsuccessful as it's lack of violence doesn't depict what the meaning is suppose to be, which is teen punishment. In the trailer we will be doing we could show more typical conventions of a slasher so that when people watch it they can associate it with other ones they’ve seen and make their own judgement. Such as how the world can be violent or how there's serial killers out there trying to kill teenagers. To make the new trailer effective we could use clothing to symbolise different characters for example the final girl could wear white which connotes innocence and another character could wear red symbolising blood and evil. 

Another theory that can be applied to horror trailers is the Catharsis theory, where the audience uses the media to help them as it can purge or cleanse negative emotions. This would be an example of an active audience, this theory is not necessarily bad as it allows an audience to watch a horror film that may be violent but instead of seeing it as something like what the copycat theory suggest they use it to purge their own aggression making them less aggressive. We could have improved are horror trailer by including more action and violence so that the audience doesn’t feel like they’ve wasted there time and that they get something from watching it. As the lack of violence suggest the trailer didn't fulfil it's purpose.

A theory that can be applied to our trailer is the hypodermic needle. This is where a message is injected into the media which would be are horror trailer and they are passive towards it. It can be applied to our trailer as it’s about a group of teenagers trespassing in an abandoned building and then something comes to attack them. This relates to are trailer as it shows the audience that actions have consequences and that they shouldn’t do something like that or there’s a chance something bad could happen to them.

 Denis Mcquail’s uses and gratification theory can also be applied to our trailer. With the tension free explanation that states that some audience use media to escape their own lives and to relive tension. When watching our horror trailer the audience can escape their lives which may be boring or sad and be concentrated and involved in the lives of the teenagers who are doing stupid things. As they want the thrill of someone else life or made up reality to make there's feel less boring.  However in the trailer we will be making we could utilise more of the uses and gratification theory so that more people can relate to it. For example the effective needs (personal identity), as it’s a slasher we will be making there are common conventions of personality type with the jock, explorer and the final girl. The use of these characters would mean a wider range of audience’s can relate to them and they can satisfy their emotional needs. The use of mis en scene could also appeal to the audience for example using props like chainsaws, and knives so that they get a feeling of tension as these won't be everyday objects that they see people being chased with and killed.

Another passive audience theory is the copycat theory which states that an audience can copy what media they see and that it can effect and influence them. A strength of this theory is that it can play off the fears of people, for example parents start actively monitoring what their children watch. If an audience watches are trailer they might get an idea they hadn’t had before, to go and explore a abandoned building. However they could be stopped by someone who hasn’t watched the trailer. However not everyone can be monitored for what they watch and if someone watches a very explicit violent horror they might want to do the same thing. 

Overall we could have used more of the audience theories that will help with the audience relate to the trailer and also how they react to it. In the trailer we do next we will need to take into consideration how to effectively put them in the trailer. Specifically uses and gratification, the effects model and the hypodermic model as these theories are about the actions and attitudes audience can have towards media.

Theory: Representation

I am looking at last years final horror trailer called The Collector and how representation applies to it. Representation can be applied to horror because of the use of the different characters and themes that all have a meaning and purpose yo why there, there. For example the final girl represents innocence that's the reason there not killed. Also how a knife can represent phallic imagery which can also represent male dominance with the use of penetration. The Collector is using teen punishment theory to imply that drinking and drugs is wrong and that's why there being killed.

Sarah Dobbs theory of feminism in horror relates to this trailer with the 'scream queens'. As there is a young female blonde who's being attacked who screams loudly. The lead up to that scene is shots of her sleeping and then looking scared. The fact that she's stuck in a room with the antagonist shows convention of scream queen as there not known for there intelligence. This suggest that it's conventional of a slasher and that the character doesn't really have a purpose other than to be killed off. This is implying that the trailer is misogynistic, this is conventional of horror films especially the slasher sub-genre as it's about male dominance and the male installing fear in women making them feel masculine. 

Another theory is Carol Clover 'final girl', the meaning of final girl is that she is suppose to represent purity. The final girl can be found in slashers like Halloween and Cabin in the woods. It can be seen to look like a final girl character in this trailer as the end scene is the antagonist going to this only other female. However a possible limitation is that it's not very clearly a final girl character as she is not shown anywhere else in the trailer so don't have any information about the character.

The theory by Derry about religion and sexuality isn't represented in the trailer ad there isn't possession or demons. However this not being represented in the trailer isn't a weakness as it's a slasher it has specific representations that make it recognisable like the masked figure. However they are drinking and taking drugs which can mean a form of temptation and sin which leads them being hunted and killed.

Teen punishment is represented in this trailer. The victims are young and attractive and are indulging in drinking and drugs. This trailer is mainly based on this representation. It is shown throughout, with the opening shot being a close up of two beer bottles. Then another one showing them all drinking. This is typical of a slasher horror and the trailer conveys it well despite not seeing the punishment you know the antagonist is there to punish or kill them.

Derry's theory of the human monster and the horror of the personality. The monster represents the demons of the people and how there no longer inncocent and pure, he's killing because of the activities there taking part in and the monster needs to punish them because of it. The use of the mask represents this and is similar to other horrors like Scream and Texas chainsaw massacre. The mask represents mystery and wanting to hide something with the monster being themselves. A strength of the trailer is that it doesn't show the masked man a lot and that it's based on a masked man killing other victims for doing something wrong, suggesting theirs something wrong with the killer making him do it.

Theory: Genre

Edited version after being marked

'How does the concept of genre apply to your trailer'

The media product I am going to write about about is my groups summer horror trailer. Which is set in a abandoned building, Neale's theory states that theirs a set of pleasures for audience's. My horror trailer follows some of the conventions as it has some jump scares that will scare a audience, jump scares are a typical feature of horror films and trailers. It is giving them what they want as there watching a horror trailer. The expectations that a audience is looking for is to know that it is a horror film but also that there watching it to be scared and to feel something as they've clicked it. For example for a slasher they will want to see a masked antagonist, or lots of zombies depending on the sub-genre.

Chandler's theory about type is about whether it's recognisable as a horror, the audience should be able to identify the genre through it's conventions. Whether there is specific conventions like jump scares, creepy music in the background and cuts to black. An example of where it's recognisable is the use of non-diegetic sound of a heartbeat it connotes the intensity of the trailer and tells the audience it's about suspense. As well as the low-key lighting throughout the trailer which is typical of horror films and trailers. Something that my group could have done differently is that the sub-genre was slasher however there wasn't a phallic object like a knife or a bat that makes it recognisable.

Rick Altman argues that genre offers the audience a set of pleasures emotional, intellectual and visceral. The trailer has conventions of the intellectual pleasure as it leaves questions unanswered, especially as you don't know what will happen to the male. However there aren't enough typical conventions for visceral pleasure which is to make them feel a physical emotion for example feeling it in there stomach and emotional pleasure for it to convey what a horror trailer should should be which is to make the audience jump.

My groups horror trailer has elements of Abercrombie's theory where he states genre is dismantling the boundaries becoming permeable this is about genres being able to mix and not be completely put into one sub-genre or category. For example are horror genre is slasher however the use of camera shots looking like a friend is filming. For example it has a shake and makes it look hand held.  It has aspects of thriller as they go exploring and the audience is made to feel like anything can happen. This therefore shows that Abercrombie's theory about post modernism for genre is relatable and can still tell and make a recognisable horror trailer.

Mittells genre theory also applies to my trailer as he talks about audiences having a choice when watching a trailer as they know they are picking to watch a horror and not a comedy. When watching  the audience can tell it's a horror trailer based on that it follows similar horror conventions, the close ups of the antagonist, background music and low key lighting. These conventions along with mis-en-scene create tension and atmosphere that allows the audience to be scared if theirs a jump scare and to be curious of who the masked figure is in the background.

Theory: Narrative

How does narrative apply to your work.

In the summer me and my group made a horror trailer, about a teenager and his friends who explore an abandoned building.

Narrative can be applied to my trailer using Todorov's structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium/resolution. In my trailer however we do not have a resolution which connotes that we have done something successful as if you put a resolution in it ruins the trailer a film plot and there would be in point seeing it as a trailer is designed to create suspense. Todorov's theory wouldn't be completely relevant as we don't have  a complete three act structure because of the no resolution. 

Binary opposition creates a way of understanding for the audience it makes a complicated world simpler. This theory is by Levi-Strauss. A weakness to our trailer is that the teenager is running away from another teenager although you don't fully see the antagonist he is wearing similar Adidas trainers. In order to develop out trailer we could have the teenage male running from a older man or in contrast a young child female. We would do this as the trailer isn't effectively scary. Binary opposition is used in trailers as it can make the antagonist and protagonist conflict easily recognisable. Making the story line easy to follow. 

My trailer is based around the protagonist teenager running away/being chased by the unidentified antagonist. Kate Domaille said that every story can be fitted into a narrative are one fits into 'the chase'. The fact that he's unknown connotes a sense of mystery and uncertainty the audience doesn't know why he can't be seen but there will be a story behind it.

Vladimir Propp argued that narrative have certain character types. A weakness could be that theirs no distinguishable character types for example the teenagers not a hero and theirs no other characters apart from the antagonist however Propp also said that the hero isn't always recognisable this leads the audience wanting to know how both characters fit into the narrative. Despite it making the audience want to know more about the trailer it means that it's not clear to the audience what's going on and can confuse them, suggesting that are trailer isn't very good for a horror trailer as it doesn't show enough of the narrative. Propp specifically made his character types so they are typical of a certain thing or person, my trailer fails to represent his narrative archetypes. If we were to re-do it we would make clear who the hero is we could do this by showing him with other characters so they have a reference, he could be shown to help save them. 

My horror concept

Media group horror trailer

Summery on the different media horror theories

Summery on the different media horror theories

Final Girl

Carol Clover introduced the theory of the ‘Final Girl’ and the theory is particularly common in slasher films. Carol Clover said that not all females are damsels in distress and that the final girl has the capability to fight back, this also results in the audience identifying with her. She also says that the final girl is not meant to been seen as a damsel in distress and so is seen as stronger and with the use of the most common weapon that the final girl grabs is phallic for example a knife which then masculises her.

How Genres (conventions) Change over Time

To keep horror fans interested the industry has to change and make new ways to show the horror genre, it has changed a lot over the years

In the 1920’s film makers had to rely on non-diegetic sound to create the horror and the tension, use characters from literature and use mis-en-scene to make it more realistic.

The 1930’s was the first time they could use diegetic sound which meant they could also include dialogue

1940’s saw a ban in Britain on horror as a result from world war two. However, the horror industry advanced from just using characters from literature and started making new ones.

Teenagers had become the specific target In 1950 for horror as they realised they were most likely to enjoy it

In the 1960’s the films began to finish with open endings and it wasn’t all a happily ever after, this was also the time when the genre started exploring the human mind for example Psycho.

The 1970’s saw an end to optimism and became much darker,

1980’s saw a technological development and so special effects were used a lot. The invention of the VCR meant people could watch horror films at home.

In the 1990’s people were bored of predictable stories which is why psychological horrors became popular.

Finally, the 2000’s started exploring stories about situations and fears of what could happen in the real world.

The Male Gaze

The male gave theory was made by Mulvey this is when the audience is put into the perspective of a heterosexual male. With this view it is assumed that you should like what your seeing. Also that the role of the female character in the film is to make the male character feel something. This theory is seen to denies women identity as they don’t have a proper purpose.

An example of the male gaze is in Cabin in the woods where there is a secret mirror and one of the boys can see into Dana’s room, the audience is the perspective of the male, however they are also being watched by the scientist.

What Zombies represent

Zombies represent death, dying, pain and suffering. Also the death of social order. Zombies represent society and its culture for example the human need for material objects and the need to go shopping and spend money an example of this is black Friday. They also represent binary opposition with ghosts with good vs evil and life vs death, it’s binary opposition with ghosts is that a ghost is a soul that has no body and a zombie is a body without a soul.

  

Post-modern Horror

This is when horror films adapt to different to the time period and introduce knew ways of doing horror films for example the genre development. They have found new technologies and different stories and ways of reaching different audiences. 

Conjuring trailer re-make

How and why trailers are trailers are structured this way

The purpose of a trailer is to attract the audience to want to watch it when the film comes out, therefore they need to make the shots they used appealing. 

The conjuring trailer is split into three sections. Section one has a slow pace and is where the trailer shows the setting and tone of the film. Then section two is shorter then section one and contains the story element of what the film is about and also shows the disequilibrium. Section three is a faster pace and in the Conjuring shows a montage with cuts and stock scenes, it is also where the story builds to a climax. Conventions of a trailer are the billing block at the end with the production company's involved and a date for when the film will be released. 

Trailers are structured in this way because they need to get the story line and the correct information about release dates and who's involved into a specific time limit.

Trailer timeline for The Counjuring 2

How are themes and Sub-texts raised in the film, and what is the film trying to say.

The use of teen punishment occurs after the five characters had been drinking and smoking which then led to two of them going to have sex (blond and the athlete). Because they were young and having pre-marital sex this meant the blonde one was the first to be murdered. Even though the focus of the film is that the girl who is the virgin has to be the last to die the ending of it suggest it wasn’t just about her being a virgin and ‘pure’ as in the final scene when they are being told about why they have to die the older woman says ‘the virgin’ looking at the female character who seems to which the older women replies ‘ we work with what we’ve got’ this suggest the ‘final girl’ isn’t pure and a virgin but is the less sexual or sexualised female out of the two. This also suggest that the film is trying to show that the world isn’t always black and white. The film was clever in surprising the audience of what they would assume would happen, as because horror films have become predictable and for the genre to grow and expand they’ve had to make changes. Cabin in the woods did this by letting the male character survive along with the virgin.  Knives, axes, guns, and wood is used to represent phallic imagery. These weapons are what kill the people use to kill the zombies and other monsters and other people like the scientist. The males mostly use them, this represents the masculinity and power as they are using their physical force to kill. The final scenes the final girl has the chance to kill her male friend as she knows it will save the world however she can’t do it and backs down, this shows her weakness as a female which is typical of female representations in horror films.