P2: TV Drama
Genre conventions
- A TV drama is a series of real life situations which are exaggerated yet relatable.
- Mise-en-scene
- Typical narratives
- Genetic stock characters
- Themes
Genre theory Neale
Neale argues, "that genre is a process by which generic codes and conventions are shared by producers and audiences through repetition in media products."This means that genres are not fixed, but constantly evolve with each new addition with each new addition to the genetic corpus (the body of products in genre), often playing with genre codes and conventions or becoming hybrids with other genres.
Genre codes and conventions are not just established in media products bit in products that refer to these producers such as critical writings or advertising and marketing material , what Neale referred to as 'the intertextual relay.
Neale's theory 'intertextual relay' is useful but slightly ambitious because is it equally is likely writer/producers intentionally follow conventions to represent their audience.
Common conventions in narrative are to do with the theories of Todorov 1997
- equilibrium
- disputation of the equilibrium
- recognition the the disruption
- attempt to repair the disruption
- a reinstatement to the equilibrium
Propp's theory of character
- The villain struggles against the hero
- The donor prepares the the hero
- The princess often marries the hero
Characteristics of television drama according to OCD:
- YV dramas can be placed into different categories (sub-genres)
- TV dramas can vary in length from 1/2 hr to 2 hr long episodes
- TV dramas have specific technical techniques
- story lines and narratives are fictional and have a vast range of themes/motifs
- The drama is framed in key locations/settings
Main genres
- crime
- romance
- si-fi
- mystery
- horror
- thriller
The BFI media conference
Narrative
There are three key theorists you need to be able to quote concerning narrative: Barthes, Todorov & Levi- Strauss.
Applying Neale's theory
-The Walking Dead (episode one, season 1)This episode follows Neale's theory that genre is a process by which codes and conventions are shared by an audience and producers though the repetition of media products because the media language share similarities from other zombie films. For example: in the film Zombie Land and many other zombie films the mise-en-scene will be very similar. It is common for it to be set in a city environment as this means there will be more people meaning more zombies. It can also be more clahsthophobic and be more dangerous. The outfits will be dirty and the makeup will include a lot of blood and gore. The main props used are weapons such as guns in this first episode, gins are also used in Zombie land following codes and convention. All of these props are used to create tension and an atmosphere that makes the audience feel involved making in much more entertaining. Vehicles are used to increase the pace of the film and move the storyline along.
Narrative- The narrative will include one main character that will usually a man that will then join a larger group of people.
Camera work- In The Walking Dead and Zombie land they will often use an arial shot to show the mass of destruction to make the character seem more vulnerable. Low angle shots are used to make a character seem more powerful and in control, sometimes the zombie. High angle shot are used to make the subject seem vulnerable which creates sympathy for them.
Sound- sound can be used to change the mood or feel of the scene, which can be very useful. The music used can help to attract or maintain the fan base. Using music that the target audience would be interested in listening to and help change the mood of the scene is an effective way to use sound.
Editing- Parallel editing is used in the walking dead to show the different point of views from all of the characters. It can also show the diversity of the characters and helps the plot unravel in a more interesting way.
Applying Todorovs theory
-The Walking Dead (episode one, season 1)
The episode starts with a disruption. The main character Rick see's a small girl walking towards him he goes to see if she is alright but discovered she is actually a zombie, he then shoots her in the head. This does not follow Todorov's theory as the episode is starting with a disruption and not an equilibrium.In the next scene we are now shown Rick and his work partner siting in a car having lunch as the normal world goes on around them, this is the equilibrium. We are not immediately shown this so this does not follow Todorov's theory. The equilibrium is happy and where the characters are content and everything is how it should be.
We now cut to a further disruption which agrees with Toodorov's theory that a disruption follows the equilibrium. Rick is out doing his job as a deputy sheriff but ends up being caught up in a shoot out where he ends up being shot. This is a disruption to him as this is unusual and would not happen in his day to day life.
Following that disruption Rick wakes up in hospital thinking everything in normal. This does not follow Todorov's theory since there are so many disruptions with no resolution to follow.
Rick breaks out of the hospital after discovering mass destruction and huge amount of dead bodies and makes his way to his house to find his family. This is another disruption which can be highly entertaining to the audience as it is so out of the ordinary.
We finally see a resolution where Rick goes to find his family and takes his car. We thing that he may finally be at peace and the story could end.
Another disruption occurs as the car breaks down.
Which is quickly resolved by him finding a horse instead.
The episode ends with a final disruption of the horse being killed by zombies and Rick being trapped in a vehicle. In Todorov's theory he states that an episode should end with the equilibrium being restored which this episode has gone against since it ends with a disruption. Ending with a disruption however may be seen as a better ending as it leaves the audience in suspense and wanting to see the next episode to find out what happens to the character.
Camera Work
Camera angles
Close up- much more dramatic than medium or long shots. They are you'd when you want to emphasise someone’s emotion or expression
Extreme close up- This an extremely detailed shot. These types of shot are generally used to show just one feature on someone’s face that would be missed in a wide angled shot.
Mid shot- The medium shots may be cut from medium shots straight to close up shots to make a more dramatic affect. Medium shots are the most common shots in films showing most of the person’s body. The medium shot is in-between the long shot and close up shot. The medium shot also includes the two-shot, when two actors are facing the same direction and the over the shoulder shot, when two actors stand facing each other e.g. sitting across a table from each another.
Establishing shot- A wider shot that would focus more on the environment than the characters. The establishing shot introduces a new location e.g. a school, someone’s house, and a street. The establishing shot would nearly always be filmed with the same lens and in the same position. The shot would also last a couple of seconds before it cuts to a medium shot and close-ups.
Low angle- low angles are normally placed below the actor’s eyes looking up. This makes the characters look more aggressive or dominant, it could also be used to show something lurking.
High angle- The camera above the actor or subject, looking down. It would be used make the charters look weak, small or frightened often used to show the small size of a child in comparison to the subject looking down on it.
Aerial shot- A shot taken from a drone, helicopter or a person on top of a building. Sometimes introducing the film or new location.
Point of view shot- the camera looking out of the actor’s eyes. The camera may be shaky to show the person walking. The shot after normally follows by a close up.
Camera Work
Camera angles
Close up- much more dramatic than medium or long shots. They are you'd when you want to emphasise someone’s emotion or expression
Extreme close up- This an extremely detailed shot. These types of shot are generally used to show just one feature on someone’s face that would be missed in a wide angled shot.
Mid shot- The medium shots may be cut from medium shots straight to close up shots to make a more dramatic affect. Medium shots are the most common shots in films showing most of the person’s body. The medium shot is in-between the long shot and close up shot. The medium shot also includes the two-shot, when two actors are facing the same direction and the over the shoulder shot, when two actors stand facing each other e.g. sitting across a table from each another.
Establishing shot- A wider shot that would focus more on the environment than the characters. The establishing shot introduces a new location e.g. a school, someone’s house, and a street. The establishing shot would nearly always be filmed with the same lens and in the same position. The shot would also last a couple of seconds before it cuts to a medium shot and close-ups.
High angle- The camera above the actor or subject, looking down. It would be used make the charters look weak, small or frightened often used to show the small size of a child in comparison to the subject looking down on it.
Point of view shot- the camera looking out of the actor’s eyes. The camera may be shaky to show the person walking. The shot after normally follows by a close up.Camera Movement
Tracking- A moving shot. The camera is mounted on a camera dolly track, a wheeled platform that is push on rails. Used in the days before Stedicams got popular. The phrase dolly-in means step towards the subject with the camera and dolly-out is the opposite whilst keeping the zoom the same.
Panning- Fixed on to a tripod, turning left or right. Often used to capture moving images like cars or people walking or to show a vast landscape. The best pan is revealing a piece of information.
Tilting- the up or down movement of the camera. Tilts are often used to reveal an object or tall vertical building.
Hand held movement- If the action is moving to quickly or too unpredictable for the camera to be on a tripod, so the camera needs to be more mobile and able to move more freely and follow the action of the scene. Normally held by a cameraman.
Hitchcock zoom- also know as the ‘dolly zoom’. It’s a rare but stylistic shot. The camera has to move on the dolly closer or further away from the subject while zooming in or out.
Extreme long shot
long shot
medium long shot
medium shot
Medium close up
close up
extreme close up
cut away shot
high
low
eye level
birds eye
worms eye
Todorovs narrative theory
10 mark question
Introduction
- 1 state what narratology is, show you know what todrovs narrative theory is.
- 2 The theory is partly relative but cant be applied as it is too simplistic, but it is a good thing because this is why long form TV drama is more successful as they are more complex so more stuff can happen
- 3 the theory is partly applicable but has limitations as it is for a film and not TV drama
- 4 say is can be seen in homeland and seen in Trapped
First paragraph: equilibrium
- explain the equilibrium of both case studies. Homeland has an equilibrium because its set in Washington around i
Second paragraph: disruption
- Homeland
- Trapped disruption
Third paragraph: resolutions
- Recognition that theyre might not be a resolution in logn for TV drama in one episode compared to a film
- some kind of resolution but a not a complete resolution as resolution is unravelled over a long period of time giving the narrative a change to further.
Fourth paragraph: conclusion
- can be argued that the long term TV drama is relevant to some extent
- ideas that equilibrium, disruption and recognition of disruption are relevant
- there are some similarities and differences between long form TV drama and film, talk about Homeland and Trapped there is an initial equilibrium
- complex plot is there even though they are different countries.
- how is effects the audience.
Draft of the 10 mark question
In both long form TV dramas in episode 1 an equilibrium is established. The equilibrium in Homeland is that the long form TV drama is set in Washington America. Carrie Madison one for the main female protagonists is getting ready to for work at her home. Having her going about her day to day life and setting the scene for the audience will therefore make the disruption a lot worse as having normality will make the disruption and falling action a lot worse. The effect is given in Trapped when Agnes’s family is having a meal and also having there a lot of normality to build up to the disruption.
The disruption in Todorovs narrative is important as it is the falling action following the equilibrium. This can be the most shocking part of the theory to the audience and will really make them want to watch on. The biggest disruption in Homeland episode one is when Brody the soldier who had been missing for eight years finally has been found. This not only is shocking that has been found alive but is also a huge disruption to his wife who has now moved onto Mike Body’s best friend. To the audience this is hugely shocking and will make them want to watch on to find out the resolution. The same applies to Trapped when a decapitated body is found the ocean.
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