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Research: Codes and Conventions

Documentary 1: Our Borough, Love and Hustle

Opening Analysis:

Genre Codes and Conventions
  • Relaxed, non diegetic music in the background
  • Non Diegetic narration in the background
  • Introduces and gives a brief overview of the topic
  • Diegetic dialogue
  • Shows short clips of interviews of people involved with the topic
  • Slower paced editing
  • Title sequence which includes the name of the documentary
  • Short non linear narrative
  • This all links to the target audience as it grabs their attention, it uses music they would listen to and only gives little information based around topics they are interested in this instance, mental health and crime
Representations
  • Young ethnic minorities represented in a negative light, as if all are trouble makers and commit crime
  • Working class community represented as reckless with the insight into it given
  • Young people aged 16 - 29 represented in a negative light as well, they are shown to be causing trouble in the streets partying and smoking
  • Links to the target audience as it shows the stories of people their age, and people they cna relate to perhaps experiencing the same issue
Ideology and Values
  • Left wing ideologies as they are showing issues whhich could be solved by community work and better lives for working class. This appeals to the target audience as left wing parties tend to have a younger following.
  • Socially aware and values community as they are showing problems which occur in society and on the streets of London. This appeals to the target audience as they would be aware of problems in theri society as well.
Media Language
  • Camerawork - Close up and low angle shot of King to suggest he is friendly and approachable and relatable for the audience. Long shot of police car and murder scene to suggest the issue is serious and when violence occurs it should not approached.
  • Editing - Slow paced editing with jump cuts so the audience understand more about King and his story, and the issue at hand. Also slow stop motion animation of King to so the audience can learn more about him.
  • Mise en Scene - Clothing is similar to fashion of younger people, which allow the audience to relate to them. The location is in a London suburb which allows the audience from similar areas to relate to the characters. King's faces is always well lit which suggests he is friendly and approachable.
  • Sound - Non diegetic narration from King and and diegetic dialogue which helps the audience to understand what is going on throughout the documentary. Slow paced modern music throughout which the audience would possibly listen to.
  • Narrative - Montage narrative throughout which allows the audience to learn more about each character in the documentary.
  • Titles/graphics - The BBC3 logo with the caption "BBC 3 presents", and after the intro the title scene which shows the name of the documentary
Website Analysis

Codes and Conventions
  • Thumbnail picture which allows the audience to gain an insight into what the documentary is about
  • Links to other documentaries and if in a box set the rest of the episodes
  • Links to help support users who are not able to access this media 
  • Colour scheme similar to the brand or company
  • Links to the rest if the website and news articles
How idelogies and representations are represented throughout the site
  • The thumbnails all have young ethnic people on, showing that they are inclusive of all ethnicities which is associated with left wing views
  • The person in the thumbnail is also wearing fashion younger people would wear allowing the audience to already relate to people in the documentary
  • The portrait thumbnail in the image match the model's eye level with direct address suggesting they are approachable and friendly 
How are the audience encouraged to interact with the site?
  • There are various links to other documentaries and the rest of the episodes in the box set
  • There are links to help support people who can't access this media as easily
  • There are links to various news articles with similar topics
  • There are links to other programmes on other channels
Use of social media and easter eggs
  • No links to any social media, however there are links to the rest of BBC 3
Links between the website and documentary
  • Characters used in the thumbnail are the focus of the documentary
  • The title of the documentary is used in the title
  • The BBC 3 logo is used in the title as well
Documentary 2: Stacey Dooley, Hate and Pride in Orlando

Opening Analysis:

Genre codes and conventions
  • No title was used in the opening three minutes which subverts documentary conventions however Dooley gave a short introduction to the topic
  • Non diegetic narration with diegetic dialogue
  • Calm, lofi music in the background 
  • Slow paced editing
  • Includes short interviews as an introduction to the topic
  • Short non linear narrative
  • This helps the audience to understand the basic information around the topic, slower paced editing with interviews helps this. The lofi and calm music would appeal to the target audience as it is music they would listen to 
Representations
  • LGBT community is represented in a postive light, it shows them coming together to mourn over those lost in the shooting, and paying their respects as if it were family that they lost. 
  • The Islamic community is represented as a harsh one to grow up in if you are an LGBT member. Dooley interviews a transsexual young Muslim male, who explains the difficulties of remaining accepted in the community. 
  • USA as a whole is represented in a negative light, it shows the diffculties and problems in American society due to mass shootings and attacks similar to these.
  • This all appeals to the targte audience as these are current affair they would be aware of, also learn more information about. 
Ideologies and Values
  • Islamic identity isn't valued postively in the introduction, they young male is suffering with remaining to his religion however they do not accept transsexual/transgender people in their community. 
  • There are more left wing ideologies values throughout the introdcution than right wing. Supporting the LGBT community and allowing acceptance of people part of this community is more often than not viewed as a more left wing value. 
  • Right wing American ideologies aren't supported as much in the introduction. Guns being used for self defence is seen as a more right wing value, and has been portrayed negatively here as a gun has been used to murder masses of people.
Media Language
  • Camerawork - Aerial establishing shot of the location of the shooting, this helps to show the extremity of the situation and express why it was one of the worst homophobic attacks in history. Use of eye level close up shots which helps the audience to learn about some of the people affected, and show the effects of this issue. Use of a handheld camera to interview people suggests these are issues which happen in everyday society.
  • Editing - Use of slow paced editing and long cuts throughout the introduction, this allows the audience to understand how people have been affected by the issue and give them time to understand, rather than fast paced editing which they might not be able to keep up with. Use of CCTV footage from outside the club during the shooting at the start of the introduction, raw footage from otuside the building helps to express how awful the shooting really was.
  • Mise en Scene -Use of various locations, Orlando itself, London and outsdie of a church. This it to help show that this is an issue that can occur all over the world and effects the whole community. It is seen as more of an attack on the community rather than the club itself.
  • Sound - Non diegetic narration from Dooley as well as diegetic dialogue from Dooley and people being interviewed, this again helps the audience to understand the issue better and learn about stories personal to people
  • Titles/Graphics - Subversion of conventions, no use of graphics or titles throughout the introdcution.
Website Analysis

Genre Codes and Conventions
  • Thumbnail gives an insight into what the documentary
  • Includes links to news articles and other BBC 3 documentaries
  • Includes a description, title, length and release date
  • Links to the rest of BBC and other channels in BBC
  • Colour scheme is similar the rest of BBC
How ideologies and representations are represented throughout the site

  • Thumbnail includes Dooley herself wearing clothes that a younger audience would wear. Also Dooley's name is in the title, she is recognisable across BBC 3.
  • The thumbnail shows colours of the LGBT community and includes a memorial for those who died, showing support for the LGBT community
How are the audience encouraged to interact with the site?

  • There are links to watch the documentary and any other BBC 3 documentaries
  • There are various support numbers for charities for anyone effected by the issue in the documentary
  • Links to the rest of BBC iplayer and news stories
  • There are also links for people to follow if they want to access the documentary if they can't access in this form of media.
Use of social media and easter eggs

  • No links to any social media or use of easter eggs
Links between documentary and website

  • The thumbnail is a clip from the documentary 
  • The description and title give an insight into the documentary
BBC 3 Website Analysis

Genre Conventions
  • Colour scheme similar to the brand, the colours of the website are pink, white and black similar to the BBC Three logo. This helps the website to be easily recognisable for the audience.
  • The brand's logo in various places across the website to help increase how recognisable the website is.
  • Various links to other BBC websites in the menu including news and other BBC channels to help the audience interact with the site.
  • Thumbnails with the links to the documentaries, along with the boxset as well. 
  • Titles for all of the documentaries along with brief descriptions for the main ones.
  • Terms of use and conditions, along with copyright at the bottom of the website.
How ideologies and representations are represented throughout the site
  • The thumbnails show various younger people that are suffering with issues that the target audience would be aware of. Suggests mental health is valued as important.
  • There are various news articles which discuss current affairs the target audience would be aware of. Suggests these issues are valued as important and should be solved. An example is stigma surrounding the LGBT community and homelessness.
How are the audience encouraged to interact with the site?
  • There are various links to other BBC Channels on IPlayer, BBC news sites and other forms of media.
  • There is a range of documentaries showcased on the face of the website for the audience to watch
  • Along with documentaries there are various news articles on the face of the website as well
  • The use of a search bar so the audience can easily find any documentaries they have in mind.
  • At the bottom of the face of the website you can email BBC giving and feedback or queries
Use of social media and easter eggs
  • Links to all of their social media at the bottom of the website. They have Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
  • There is a link to IPlayer where you can watch every documentary





Comments

  1. Fantastic analysis of both areas - well done!
    What you need to do now is, looking at these and any others you've seen, compile a list of the codes and conventions you'll need to follow for both the documentary opening and the website.

    ReplyDelete

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