Term 1 theory tasks(1)

1. Spaced Analysis
After watching episode 5, Series 2 of Spaced I have analysed a few traits which has caused the series to be successful. A few points I will
cover is: Intertextuality and Mise En Scene. These three aspects has helped developed the series to be humourish, especially towards its target
audience. I believe the target audience for this series is: Male adults aged 21-45. This is because the series was made in 1999 which includes
humour and references linking to the 90’s.
The references i selected from the series for intertextuality were: references to Ki-Ora and Monkey a Tv series . The Ki-Ora is a advert for a
drink from the 80’s. This means the characters in the tv series are referring to 80’s adverts as a way of having a flashback which brings joy to
them. This helps us identify the target audience due to the series containing references from shows and adverts from the 80’s and 90’s. This
makes the advert successful because it reminds the people watching the tv show of their childhood. Another reference that was displayed on
spaced was a reference to the tv series monkeys. This was shown through the actor by him being asked ‘what did he want to be when he grew
up’ and he referred to this as a monkey. This series is from the 80’s, which again links to the target audiences childhood. This adds both
humour and success because it reminds the audience of the past, which brings happiness and joy to them. Overall, the intertextuality side was
successful with bringing the films humour.
There were many references for Mise En Scene, which helped make the film successful towards it target audience. This included using
stereotypical costumers to identify characters such as: chavs. They were dresses in nike wear and a track suit. They also smoked cigarettes
and were really into drugs. This was effective because they were easily identified by the audience. They also referenced girl power. This was a
big 90’s concept where woman who had lad like behaviour were referred to as ‘Ladette’. A line used consistently was ‘pull me finger’ by a
female character. Girl power was big in the 90’s with the spice girls becoming a huge pop band and other influencers too. This added humour
and references to the 80’s. This is another reason that makes spaced successful due to targeting their target audience with humour and link
backs to peoples childhoods.
Overall, Spaced was successful and humourish. This is because they knew how to target their target audience, which brought childhood
themes to the overall episode. It also included adverts from the target audiences child hood, which made the tv series relatable.

2. Conflict Image
Lighting:
The lighting is dull and
dark. This adds mystery
to the overall scene. This
also makes the suspense
of the argument more
intense.
Colours:
Neutral Tones.
Beiges and whites, it shows
purity which contradicts the
scene as a conflict. This adds
innocents.
Costume:
The costumes are old
fashion styled, which
links into the model of
the car used as a prop.
The colours used in the
clothing displays
innocents and wealthy
people. This creates a
superior feel to the
overall scene.
Locations:
The location of this scene is in the middle of
no where. This adds mystery and suspense
due to it not being a easy assessable place.
Props:
Props used in this scene is
the car. The car lights are
visible as if someone if
spectating this argument.
This adds a sense of
mystery as if they are trying
to hide something that is
clearly obvious.
Camera Angle:
The camera angle is neutral, which adds a mutual aspect to the
scene. This makes the scene non bias.

3. Conflict Analysis
As you can see in the photo above, the lighting, props, costume, location and colours
makes this scene effective. To start with the lighting is dull, which adds a mysterious and
erie effect to the scene. This helps create suspense which makes the lighting a effective
part of the scene. Another aspect which enhances the scene success is the colours used.
The colours used are basic plain colours, like beige and whites. This adds purity and
innocents which contradicts the scene being a argument. This also links into the
costumer choice. The costumes are basic and old fashioned. This adds wealth to the
characters which gives off a sense of superiority. Especially with the male character
dressed in a suit and tie. The location of this scene is rather unusual. This is because its
located in the middle of no where, this is a isolated location which adds suspense and
mystery to the scene. This is due to the location not being easily accessible. The probe
used in this scene is a car with its lights shining on the characters. This is as if someone is
spectating their argument. It’s also as if they are trying to hide something that is obvious
due to the location being isolated and the symbolism of the cars lights highlighting their
troubles. Overall, this makes the scene successful because it add suspense and creates
unanswered question. This suspense makes the scene intriguing, which allows the
audience to review the film in more depth.

4. Amy Analysis
List the techniques used by the director to show Winehouse’s battle with drug addiction and why they may have been used.
The techniques used by the director to show Amy’s battle with drug addiction was interesting. They have included home footage from Blake, who appears in the
shot. This shows he played a big part in the role of Amy’s drug addiction. Amy is then shown under the influence of drugs, which again makes the audience feel
like Blake is to blame for Amy’s addiction. This is shown with close up shots, which makes it clear she is under the influence. Straight after this, their is footage of
Amy’s performance at the Eden Project in July 2007 where she appears to be struggling to stay awake. The song played with this song was ‘Rehab’ which again
links into her drug addiction. The scene then goes on to show still images and footage with Blake in. The footage is shown as horizontal which gives a trip like
effect to the footage. This then looks as if Blake is to blame for Amy’s addiction, due to encouraging her. This makes you feel sorry for Amy as she is vulnerable
towards Blake.
2. What do you feel is the overall effect of this sequence?
I feel like the overall effect of this sequence is to show factors in Amy’s life which lead her to become a alcoholic, a drug abuser, bulimic and anorexic. This
documentary gives the audience sympathy towards her, which creates a sense of blame. This is reflected in the individuals displayed through out the
documentary. Especially towards Blake, Mitch and even fame in general. They’ve used found footage which makes the documentary non bias but how they
have edited the footage, shows a correspondence of the individuals in her life. This shows there is always someone else to blame but herself in the
documentary. The footage has been taken from different resources which means the resources aren't from one source, which makes the overall documentary
seem like a true reflection of Amy’s life. However, they could have edited the audio by using Frankenbiting which means the editor could have changed the
meaning of what people have said. One person who feels strongly against the documentary was Amy’s father: Mitch. He stated that when Amy was asking him
about rehab, he said ‘she shouldn't go at that time’ the words ‘at that time’ were edited out. This makes Mitch seem as if he doesn't care for Amy’s wellbeing
due to not being supportive in her time of need. As the footage goes on in these scenes, it shows Mitch trying to film her whilst she was having a break from all
the fame and media. He added to her stress which shows her dad was mainly concerned over her money and fame and never tried to understand how she felt.
The sequences: Addiction to crack cocaine and Blake show a dark time in Amy’s life. She was completely obsessed with Blake which was leading her down a dark
road. This sequence helps pin the blame on Blake, her father and the fame. Blake played a huge part in Amy’s addiction. This is because Blake is shown with Amy
when she has been high or under the influence. This shows he didn't care what she was doing and encouraged her behaviour. They do this by including still
images and home footage of her and blake. This footage is shown as wobbly as if someone couldn't hold the camera correctly. This adds to the state she was in
at the time. This shows Blake is equally to blame in the documentary.
Amy hated the spot light and the way she lashed out was drugs and alcohol. Her dad didn't care for this and blake encouraged her and got her addicted to these
substances.

5. Factual Analysis
Can a documentary be objective? Why do you believe this?
I believe a documentaries objective and goal is to express the creators own views, by trying to better society. They do this
by dropping their own views into the documentary which makes us take in the information, believing it to be a non bias
source. This makes the overall documentary seem more truthful which makes the audience believe it is factual. However,
how the documentary is edited can alter the truth slightly to benefit the directors needs. This shows every documentary
has a objective, even if that means they are trying to portray a program as serious to making it funny.
2. How far should we accept what we watch/read? Why?
We should accept what we watch and read very little. This is because the information could have been retrieved from a
unreliable source or a random place on the internet, which makes the information faulty. Also, the information collected
could be faulty because it could be an expression on someone else views. This then makes the audience to believe this
information is true which then makes it become a vicious cycle of false facts.
3. How can we make sure what a documentary presents as fact, is true?
We can make sure the documentary is true by retrieving reliable and non bias sources. Also, by researching into a correct
sequence, means the documentary wont be edited as a illusion. It would be a true reflection. Also, researching into facts
and figures and retrieving resources from different locations, this can be from photos, articles and videos. With the right
research, it can make the overall documentary truthful and informative rather than being based off biased facts.

6. Factual Analysis
Compare the differing representations of people in ‘The Might Redcar’, ‘Benefits Street’ and ‘Skint’.
The programs ‘Skint’ and ‘Benefit Street’ are reflected in a positive light. This is because it shows how normal life is for under-privileged people
by using humour to present this. However, these programs display the ‘stereotypical’ person on benefits. This is because it displays a lot of
references around drugs and crime. Even though this is presented in a humour like way, it is still the main topic of where peoples benefit money
is going. It also displays the people on the program as dumb and chav like, which again adds the humour. With the program trying to make the
overall program as funny, it makes the program seems positive because it distracts the audience from the seriousness. However, the program
‘The mighty redcar’ it reflects the program in a non bias and realistic manor. It show the people as kind and fair but also expresses the struggles
they are going through. This sways away from the stereotypes by trying to get the audience to connect with the characters on a more personal
level. This shows ‘the might redcar’ are presenting the people as positive because of how heart hitting the documentary is.
• What do you think the aim of each of these programs is?
The aim for ‘Skint’ and ‘Benefit street’ is to come across as serious but with humour. This is because they both concentrate around topics like
crime and drugs, but shows the people involved as funny. This is because they have highlighted the stereotypes for people on benefits clearly.
Where as, in the ‘mighty redcar’ it shows people in a more realistic light. This shows this program is there to inform the audience by making us
feel sorry for the characters.
• Are these programs biased?
I would say ‘Skint’ and ‘Benefit street’ are bias. This is because they are reflecting the people on benefits how the audience wants to view them.
This is because they are following stereotypes which makes it more humour based rather than informing them.
Where as, ‘the mighty redcar’ is not bias. This is because the program is their to inform, which makes the information included realistic and
heart hitting.

7. • Discuss the topics covered in today’s lecture in reference to your own work (Fanzine/Factual)
1. Explain how you have worked to the expectations and conventions of the medium of factual production/fanzine with specific reference
to;
• The content of today’s lecture
• Factual theory and conventions discussed in previous week’s lectures
• Existing products exploring the same/similar topics
• How have you explored context (the background of your topic, who made it, when it was made etc.)
• How have you explored style (everything that is written/said
I have worked to the expectations and conventions of the conventions of my fanzine by conducting research into other
existing products. This helped give me a basis of what people included in theirs, which showed me how free willed creating a
fanzine is. This is because it has to do with personal interests and opinions. This can cause information that is read to be
inaccurate which can lead to the consumer taking in information which is incorrect and opinion based. This can lead to false
information being transferred to the consumer. For example: with my fanzine i created it on Jeffrey Dahmer who is a well
known serial killer. My fanzine was based negatively around him, due to my opinion being that he was a awful man.
However, there are people out their who adore and have sympathy for him. Their fanzines on him would be different from
mine. This is because they would try and justify why he murdered people, where as i discussed how disgusting and
gruesome his murders were.
I explored the context of my page by researching into different sources to gather key dates of different murders and to
gather key dates in Jeffrey Dammers life. This was from resources like wikipedia and fan pages of Dahmers. I also watched
interviews conducted with dahmer, from BBC 1 which allowed me to gather a more personal touch on the individual. This
interview included information from Dahmers father too, which also gave me information on Dahmers childhood.
For the style of writing, i have tried to stay more factual then opinionated. This is because i feel like the facts speak for
themselves. However, i have included all the gory details of what Dahmer did, which makes the consumer feels grossed out
and disgusted. This does put my views across, but due to the information being factual it still allows the consumer to create
their own opinions.

8. 1. Compare and contrast your work to one or more professional productions
• Discuss visuals – consider stylistic decisions, technical processes, use of information,
As you can see on the left, there is a picture of the front cover of
my fanzine (Jeffrey Dahmer) and a fanzine from someone else. As
you can see the professional fanzine looks more hand crafted and
simple. This works effectively due to the colour scheme being bold
and relatable to the theme. The font for ‘fusion’ blends in with the
design which creates a blending effect. This makes the font stand
out more due to it including the two most dominant colours on the
page. Ive done a similar design with mine, by highlighting the font
with orange. This helped stick with the colour scheme and linked
the font and the main design together.