Preliminary exercise: Science fiction continuity task

Statement of Intent: I am planning to make a short, minute long, video. It will feature a female student protagonist. The character will be wearing a school uniform as it plays into the plot of an undercover alien/robot carrying out an experiment on a group of students in high school. It will be set on the fire escape of C Block as the school setting adds to the plot. Additionally, the silver colour of the stairs is often connoted with sci-fi. It will only feature a single character as the isolation is intended to create a spooky atmosphere of mystery. The camera will follow the character through a long corridor and down the stairs (fire escape) in order to incorporate match on action. Furthermore, the character will be on the phone and we will only hear one side of the conversation so the audience will receive snippets of a conversation that should help with the enigmatic narrative.

Script:
[Several wide establishing shots of school grounds in various places: Different blocks]
No sound.
[Cut to C Block]
[Low angled shot]
Main character enters scene, echoing footsteps disrupts silence.
Character looks suspicious, keeps looking over shoulder.
[Close up shot/Handheld] [Tense music starts to build tension]
Follows character down corridor, shows fear
[Cut to medium shot]
Walking towards door
[Cut to shot of hand on doorhandle]
[Cut to character walking out door]
[Shots of character on stairs]
Character stops on stairs
[Music quietens]
Character pulls out phone
[Extreme close up of phone]
Dials number (008)
Character: Hello, this is integration unit 3 to Hub. We're already 2 men down. Requesting immediate                    assistance to the left wing of the base. The experiment has failed: they're onto us.
[Dramatic music]
[Flash of light]
[Screen goes black]

Setting: Takes shots of various places in school. Main part takes place in C Block.

Shot List:
1) Establishing/Panning shots-Different blocks
2)Low angled shot-Character walking down corridor
3)Close up-hand held shot of characters face
4)OTS shot-Walking down stairs
5)Extreme close up- Phone
6)Extreme close up-Doorhandle
7)Medium shot-Character pausing on stairs, out of breath
8) Close up- Character talking on phone

Kim Kardashian Hollywood CSP case study

Language

1) What is the objective when playing the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game?
The aim of Kim Kardashian Hollywood is to work your way  up the celebrity scale from Z-List to A-List.
2) What is an A-list celebrity? Why is it important in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?
An A-list celebrity is someone at the top of their game; they are very well known for what they do.
3) How do you download the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game?
On the app store or google play store.
4) What is the narrative or storyline of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood? Where is it set?
The narrative of the game is to interact with other characters and carry out missions/dates in order to gain fans/fame and make it to the A list. It's set in the USA.
5) What characters can you play as? What characters appear in the game?

You play as your own avatar and you interact with famous characters such as Kim Kardashian and also members of her family.

Audience

1) Who is the intended audience for the Kim Kardashian Hollywood game? Why do you think this?

The intended audience is young girls who are aspirers and fans of reality TV.

2) What audience pleasures are provided by the game? Use Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory.
One audience pleasure is escapism: players can temporarily live as a famous/influential character.3) Why is the game so addictive for audiences?

The game is addictive as it provides simple tasks to complete and you can watch your character level up.Read this article from Forbes on why the Kim Kardashian game is so successful. If the website is blocked in school, you can access the text of the article here.

4) Why does James Liu think Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is so successful?
Kim's star power allows her game to surpass other games in competition as her brand is very large; there's already lots of awareness.
5) What does James Liu suggest is the reason players keep coming back to the game?
The aesthetics of the game partnered with the realistic mechanic provide the player with game satisfaction.
Representations

1) What representations of women can be found in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?
The representation of women are that they are materialistic and concerned with image and can only attain success through actions such as modelling and dating.
2) What representations of race, ethnicity or sexuality can be found in the game?
The game provides a diverse range in race, ethnicity and sexuality.
3) How does the game both reinforce and subvert stereotypes in the media?
The game reinforces stereotypes of women being interested in fashion and modelling and dating. However, it subverts stereotypes as it also shows the woman as being successful in her work life.
4) What does the game suggest regarding modern perceptions of celebrity and how to get famous?

The game suggests that people can easily get famous even without obvious abilities or talent.

5) How might someone criticise the representation of celebrity in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

Someone might criticise it as celebrities are seen as something everyone wants to aspire to.
Industries

1) How much does Kim Kardashian: Hollywood cost?
The game is free but involves in app purchases to buy things such as outfits. 
2) How does the game make money?
Through adverts and in app purchases.
3) What subscriptions are available to Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

• Gold: 49.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Silver: 19.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Bronze: 4.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)

4) How was Kim Kardashian: Hollywood marketed and promoted?
Kim Kardashian was marketed heavily as being part of the Kardashian brand, attracting many fans. Furthermore it was promoted on Kim Kardashian's incredibly popular social media sites. Additionally, it was constantly being sold as having the ability to make you (your avatar) famous which is appealing to Kim's main demographic(aspirers).5) How does Kim Kardashian: Hollywood use media convergence to cross-promote the game and the Kardashian brand?
The game references the Kardashian TV show and also mentions the game in the TV show to simultaneously build the Kardashian brand and promote the game.

Lara Croft Go CSP case study

Language

1) Who is Lara Croft and when did she first appear in a videogame?
Lara Croft was the first female videogame character to be portrayed as a protagonist rather than a supporting role or a secondary character. She first appeared in the 1996 Eidos Playstation game Tomb Raider.
2) What classic films influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games?
The Lara Croft games were influenced by the Indiana Jones movies.
3) How has Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame?
Lara Croft has featured in films (the first starring Angelina Jolie; new 2018 version is rebooting the character). She has appeared on magazine covers more times than any supermodel. There have been advertising tie-ins, merchandise, comic books and  spin-offs featuring the character. The franchise has had numerous incarnations before Lara Croft Go in 2015. 
4) What devices can you play Lara Croft Go on?
The Lara Croft Go game can be played on mobile devices.
5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?
The game is a turn based puzzle game.
6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline)?
The narrative (influenced by Indiana Jones) follows the daughter of a famous archaeologist as she goes on journeys to save the ones she loves (her father).
7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the sub-genre of videogame?
The use of creatures such as snakes and spiders connote foreign places with venomous creatures-potentially a hot, dry country. The danger aspect highlights the action/adventure theme. Furthermore, her gadgets and weapons are synonymous with spies and emphasise her role as the hero.
8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game?
The games also feature a range of creatures (scorpions/snakes/spiders) under the influence of Queen Venom, who Lara must battle in order to complete a level.
9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?
The setting is in a jungle area with aspects of ancient relics and civilisation. This is a copy of the settings used in previous Lara Croft games in order to create brand loyalty and nostalgia for people that may have played older Lara Croft games.
10) Read this BBC article on the history of Lara Croft and Tomb Raider. How has the character of Lara Croft evolved over the last 20 years?  
The character of Lara Croft has gradually become less sexualised; her figure has become more realistic and her clothes are more practical for her activities. Rather than use her sexuality to attract users, they have instead relied on brand loyalty and female empowerment created by Lara.

Representation

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?
Women are usually portrayed as damsels in distress, and they often need saving by male protagonists.
2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media?
Lara Croft is quite sexualised and is scantily dressed, which is impractical and may be done to attract male players.
3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media?
She subverts stereotypes as she plays a female action hero and is an empowered, strong heroine.
4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change?
Some people believe the video game industry is sexist because for the first female hero in a videogame, they sexualised her in order to sell the game.
5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers? 
I think Lara Croft was intended to be an empowering feminist icon but in a bid to secure a male audience, they overly and unnecessarily sexualised her character despite her being an archeologist/badass hero. However, I do believe Lara is still being viewed as a feminist icon and she has a right to be as she was the first female videogame protagonist to have so much success. 
Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?
Pan European Game Information2) What is PEGI's job?
To rate the content of games and determine the appropriate age rating.
3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?
Square Enix created Lara Croft after buying the franchise off Eidos Interactive.
4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go?
Hitman Go and Lara Croft:Tomb Raider
5) What else is part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider franchise?
Indiana Jones

Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go?
An audience member might enjoy playing Lara Croft Go because of how similar the graphics/settings are to Tomb Raider.2) Where and when might an audience play a game like Lara Croft Go? Think about the device it is played on and the times of the day someone might want to play the game.
It's on a mobile device so it can be played on the go (e.g. on the bus).3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience?
4) Which of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory might apply to Lara Croft Go?
Diversion-the game provides entertainment
5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience?
Those interested in the quality of the innovative gameplay. Those with brand loyalty to the Hitman Go series. Those with brand loyalty based on the feminine empowerment displayed. Those with brand loyalty based on nostalgia or even the sexualisation of Lara Croft (especially if they played older Croft games when at a formative age)

Grade 8/9 extension tasks


Language
1) Watch some Lara Croft Go gameplay online or, even better, play the game yourself. How is the game constructed to attract and maintain the engagement of an audience?
The game is constructed to attract/maintain and audience as the simple graphics provide nostalgia and the simple puzzle games provide consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, the levels keep the audience playing the game as they should feel a desire to level up.
2) How is narrative, character, iconography and setting used to create intertextuality? (Links to other genres and media texts)
The iconography and narrative is supposed to be intertextualised with Indiana Jones(archaeology, adventurer, similar outfits). Additionally, the game is set up the same as Hitman Go.
Representation
1) Read this NME feature on the history of the Lara Croft character. Do you agree that she is now a 'feminist icon' rather than a 'trapezoid-boobed pinup'? What do these terms mean?
I agree that Lara Croft is no longer a 'trapezoid-boobed pinup' (referencing her initial , boxy figure) as the improved graphics have given a more natural figure and the graphic designers have also dialed down her drastically, unrealistic figure to make her look more like an athletic archaeologist. Therefore, she is able to be played as she an action hero, rather than focusing on her looks.
2) Have later versions of the Tomb Raider/Lara Croft franchise featured a less-sexualised version of the character? Does this suggest society is changing in its attitude towards women?
Lara Croft is increasingly being displayed as a less sexualised character. Her outfits are designed to be practical, rather than revealing or overly sexual. This reflects societies changing attitudes towards women: they are more than their looks, they can also be heros.

Magazines and advertising learner response

1)A decent try, you need to put in all the media terminology to bring this up.

2) Q1: 1
    Q2: 0
    Q3: 5
    Q4: 1
    Q5: 4
    Q6: 6

3) Magazine cover conventions:

• Central Image
• Slogan
• Colour scheme
• Bar code/date/price
• Title of publication

4) Reveal:

    Quotes from reality television stars use controversy ('sex' and 'jail' and 'stalker') to hint at the exciting stories inside.

    Cover lines use alliteration, exclamatory sentences/imperatives and direct address to involve and engage the audience with the content.

   Tatler:

    The setting is blurred which makes it look more exotic and uses an outdoor location juxtaposed with the glamorous outfit of the model.

    The use of strong makeup suggest luxury and socialising, which has synergy with the coverlines about socialisng and 'aristo'.

5) Nicola Adams-female boxer (boxing is seen as a masculine sport with very few females)

    Ade Adepitan-basketball player (able to be successful in sports despite his disability.) 

    Kanyah King-CEO of mobo awards (female people of colour can also be in positions of power.)

6) In the 1950's women were portrayed as submissive and often portrayed in the role of housewife. In the OMO advert, the woman has a startled expression as though the cleaning product is enough to please her. She wears makeup to show how a woman's appearance was seen as very important in the 1950's. Additionally, the anchorage text (with use of italics and repetition) creates a very condescending tone as though the women is inferior to others and she needs to be told very simply so she doesn't get confused.

In the Galaxy advert, the woman is still presented as a damsel in distress who needs saving from the bus by the male hero. However, the woman seems to carry an air of elegance and sophistication, suggesting she has more superiority in this advert and is not as simplistic as the female in the OMO advert. Towards the end, the woman is seen taking control of her situation and she is in charge which is a large difference from the naive women in the omo ad.

The NHS advert is vastly different as it incorporates women of ethnic minorities and portrays them in authoritarian roles. Women are shown as independent and academically able (female scientists). It also uses lyrics specifically aimed to empower women.

A Brief History Of Videogames: blog task

1) What were the first videogames like?
The first videogames had bad graphics and were mainly button pressing games.2) How have videogames changed over time?
Videogames have become more interactive with more detailed graphics.3) What do the most successful games have in common? Answer this in as much detail as you can. Think about audience pleasures - what do people like about playing videogames?
Most videogames provide escapism for players.4) What criticisms have been made towards videogames?
They are unneccesarily violent and addictive.

5) What is Fortnite: Battle Royale?

Fortnite is a multiplayer shooter videogame.

6) How many Fortnite players are there worldwide?

There are over 40 million players worldwide.

7) Why is it so popular? What are the audience pleasures of the game?

The game is free and fun. It uses bright colours and is promoted by famous youtubers/gamers.

8) Copy and paste two comments from 'below the line' of the Guardian article - these are comments written by Guardian readers in response to the feature. Select one comment you agree with and one you disagree with and explain why.

bfoxy 

7 Mar 2018 12:20 

56

A fantastic game for all the family. The violence is cartoon-like, not gratuitous or graphic. I limit my children to only playing the Playstation at the weekends. Simple.

I disagree as I think the childlike costumes and actions will be quite boring for adults and the game seems to be aimed at a particular demographic rather than the whole family.

Galaxy 'Chauffeur' advert: Blog task

1) Who is Audrey Hepburn?
Audrey Hepburn was a famous actress and fashion icon in the 1950's, during Hollywoods 'Golden age'.
2) Why did Galaxy select Audrey Hepburn for this advert? 
Galaxy selected Audrey Hepburn as she is a symbol of beauty and elegance and these qualities fit with the Galaxy slogan, "silk, not cotton". She was also very famous in the 50's/60's and brings a sense of nostalgia.
3) What are the connotations of Audrey Hepburn and celebrity in this advert? 

The connotations of Audrey Hepburn in this advert are luxury, high class and demure.

4) Why is the advert set in the 1950s? What audience pleasure does this provide?
This provides nostalgia and creates an atmosphere of innocence and 'simpler times'. This is used a lot in chocolate adverts.
5) What is intertextuality?
It's when one media product references other media products to interest the audience. In this advert, they often reference Roman Holiday which is one of Audrey Hepburn's most famous movies.
6) What Audrey Hepburn film is suggested in this advert and how is this effect created (e.g. mise-en-scene - CLAMPS: costume, lighting, actors, make-up, props, setting)?
The film is suggested is Roman Holiday. The movie, like the advert, is set in Italy. The actors, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, have been digitally recreated(Hepburn) or played by actors who look similar(Peck).
7) Which of Propp's character types are represented in the advert? (Note: you will not find them all). 

Hero, Gregory Peck

Heroine/Princess, Audrey Hepburn

Donor, Bus driver

8) How does the advert's narrative (story) follow Todorov's theory of equilibrium?
Equilibrium-Audrey Hepburn is riding in the bus.
Disequilibrium-The bus gets blocked and stops. The bus driver begins to fight with the fruit stall owner.
Equilibrium-Audrey Hepburn leaves the bus and drives away in the man's car.
9) What representations of gender can you find in this advert?
Audrey is portrayed as a damsel in distress but later on in the advert, she takes control(e.g. takes the drivers hat and puts it on her 'chauffeur'.)
10) Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted in the Galaxy advert? Give examples.
The stereotype of men saving women is being reinforced as Audrey is being 'rescued' from the bus by the man in the car.
Additionally, the celebrity is being portrayed as superior to the other bus passengers as she seems to be keeping her cool and finds a way off the bus.
Furthermore, Audrey Hepburn is seen as quite flirty and glamorous and she uses her charm to get off the bus.

Represent NHS Blood & Transplant campaign: blog tasks

1) What does BAME stand for?
   Black-Asian-Minority-Ethnicity.
2) Why is there a need for blood in the BAME community? 

  Only 3% of blood donors are black or asian and for diseases that mainly affect black/asian communities, it's better to use blood from people with black or asian heritage.

3) What does this advert want people to do once they've seen it ('call to action')?
This advert wants to encourage more young people from the BAME community to donate blood.
4) Why is the advert called 'Represent'?
The advert is called 'Represent' as it is aimed at getting ethnic minorities to donate blood-it's representing people of all races.
5) Why have the producers chosen famous BAME celebrities to feature in the advert? Give an example of three well-known people who appear in the advert and why they are famous.
Ade Adepitan-British television presenter and wheelchair basketball player.
Kanya King- Founder of the MOBO awards.
Mariah Idrissi-British Moroccan/Pakistani model, public speaker, and online personality.
6) Why is there a slow-paced long shot of empty chairs at the end of the advert?
The three chairs could indicate the 3% that donate and the reason they are empty is to suggest there is no one donating any blood. The slow paced shot accompanied by the music could be an attempt at creating an emotional connection with the consumer, persuading them to donate blood.
7) How does the advert match the key conventions of a typical rap music video?
The advert uses low angled shots in order to portray members of the BAME community as powerful and strong. The rapper also stares directly into the camera to communicate the seriousness of the message.
8) How does the advert subvert stereotypes? Give three examples (e.g. ethnicity, masculinity, femininity, age, class, disability/ability etc.)
They used a disabled man in a wheelchair for a basketball player.
The scientists are female, black and muslim.