Section a q1 and section b q1 assessment revision

1. Assessment Monday
Section A: How do the characters
and events fit the action adventure
genre?
Section B: How do TV comedy
programmes offer audience
pleasures?
25 Minutes
15 Minutes

2. SECTION A
REVISION
QUESTION 1:

3. Characters
• Strong protagonist
(usually male)
• Antagonist
• Love interest
• Powerful villain (usually
foreign)
• Underdog hero
Events
• Fight Sequences
• Ticking-clock scenario
• Chase sequences
• Explosions
• Stunts
• Dangerous setting
• Exotic setting
Mention if they include any
of the following…
Remember to briefly
comment on the effect and
use examples from the
clip.

4. HOW TO RESPOND TO
THE QUESTION
• Clearly state two genre conventions
and elaborate
• Explain the effect of the conventions
• Support the points you make with
examples from the text
• Use terminology (Antagonist,
Protagonist, Genre, Convention,
Iconography)

5. Example
The characters in the extract fit the action adventure genre
because there is a male hero who is represents good as he saves
another character. He is also stereotypically masculine, brave,
skilled and intelligent which he shows as he fights the villain on
top of the moving train.
Furthermore, the villain is…
Finally, the female is stereotypical because…
TOP MARKS: Refer to Propp’s Character Theory
The events in the extract are stereotypical because there is a
chase scene on the top of a train which involves dangerous
stunts, setting and fighting (good vs evil). Also the use of special
effects and dangerous props are used which is also stereotypical.
TOP MARKS: Refer to Todorov’s Narrative Theory

6. AUDIENCE
PLEASURES
RESPONSE
WRITING
LO: TO WRITE A RESPONSE BASED ON
AUDIENCE PLEASURES.

7. AUDIENCE PLEASURES
• Regular timeslot
• The narrative and problems are always resolved at the end of the programme
• Intertextuality
• Use of celebrities
• Different types of humour
• Relatable characters and situations (so we can also laugh at ourselves/friends)
• Audience escapism
• Audience feels superior to characters as they never learn from their mistakes.
• Easy to watch (30 minutes long and self-contained episodes mean audience can ‘dip’ in
and out of series).
• Pleasure gained from resolution at the end of episode
• Social and family issues often used (audience can relate to)
• Themes are easy for audience to understand
• Warm mode of address - everyone can watch and enjoy.
• Familiarity (e.g. Catchphrases)
• Predictability – For example: audiences know character well and know how they will react.
• New variations of the genre create interest

8. The
Simpsons
Room 101

9. RESPONSE PLAN
Overview: Overview of programme
/ Specify episode
Paragraph 1: Scheduling / Episode
Expectations
Paragraph 2: Stories
Paragraph 3: Characters
Paragraph 4: Other

10. EXAMPLE
In order to discuss audience pleasures I
will refer to two case studies. The first case
study is The Simpsons which…
Regarding audience pleasures audiences
gain pleasure from the fact that…
The storylines also play an important role
as…
Characters are important too as…
Finally, other pleasures involve….

11. AUDIENCE PLEASURES
• Regular timeslot
• The narrative and problems are always resolved at the end of the programme
• Intertextuality
• Use of celebrities
• Different types of humour
• Relatable characters and situations (so we can also laugh at ourselves/friends)
• Audience escapism
• Audience feels superior to characters as they never learn from their mistakes.
• Easy to watch (30 minutes long and self-contained episodes mean audience can ‘dip’ in
and out of series).
• Pleasure gained from resolution at the end of episode
• Social and family issues often used (audience can relate to)
• Themes are easy for audience to understand
• Warm mode of address - everyone can watch and enjoy.
• Familiarity (e.g. Catchphrases)
• Predictability – For example: audiences know character well and know how they will react.
• New variations of the genre create interest
Go through the sheet
and highlight where
you see reference to
an audience
pleasure.

12. AUDIENCE PLEASURES RESPONSE: EXCELLENT
Comedy programmes offer stereotypical audience pleasures as they will be entertaining and
offer escapism and with the help of two case studies: The Simpsons (Pranksta Rap) and Room
101 (Episode) these will be explained.
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom, now in its 28th season, which is scheduled to
be shown at 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday on Channel 4 (amongst other
channels). The scheduling and running time are pleasures as it is easy to watch, always on at
the same time and audiences can dip in and each episode has its own story.
The stories in The Simpsons appeal to audiences because the themes are easy to understand,
narrative problems are resolved and because they are relatable often be based on
social/family issues. For example in ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart (the son in the family) disobeys his
parents by going to a concert, going missing however eventually returns home to safety. The
show also offers intertextuality as it references American rap culture throughout.
The characters in The Simpsons also appeal to audiences because they will be familiar,
predictable and are often relatable to family life. For example in ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart’s
misbehaviour is stereotypical and the way different members of his family react is also
predictable too. Audiences will also gain pleasure from feeling superior to characters and the
way they behave, such as Homer getting stuck in the dog flap, and the use of celebrities such
as 50 Cent in ‘Pranksta Rap’.
My second case study is Room 101 which is a comedy chat show where guests discuss their
pet hates and try to have them consigned into oblivion. I will refer to Series 6 Episode 4 which
is scheduled on BBC 2 on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. which has the same scheduling
advantages as The Simpsons.
Regarding audience pleasures the programmes has a warm mode of address through its host
Frank Skinner, has celebrities as guests and offers different types of humour depending who is
on the show. For example episode 3 of season 6 has famous comedian Rob Beckett on who
will often use adult humour that is a little controversial whilst discussing a topic.
Regarding the structure of the show audiences will gain pleasure from the fact that there is a
competitive element, reference to social / family issues and that there is a winner at the end. In
this episode topics such as (examples) are discussed and the winner at the end is (name).
To conclude there are stereotypical audience pleasures in comedy programmes and
depending on the programme and its target audience these will vary however will always be
essential in insuring the show’s success

13. AUDIENCE PLEASURES RESPONSE: GOOD
Comedy shows involve audience pleasures as they will be entertaining and offer
escapism which I will discuss using The Simpsons (Pranksta Rap) and Room 101
(Series 6 Episode 4 ).
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom shown at 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on
Monday to Friday on Channel 4. It is easy to watch, always on at the same time
and audiences can dip in and out of each episode which are all audience
pleasures..
Audience pleasures are shown because the story themes are easy to understand,
always resolved and relatable because they are based on social/family issues. In
‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart disobeys his parents by going to a concert and going missing
however eventually returns home to safety. The show also offers intertextuality as
it is based on rap culture.
Audience pleasures are also shown because characters will be familiar,
predictable and are often relatable to family life. In ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart’s
misbehaviour is stereotypical and audiences will also gain pleasure from feeling
superior to characters, such as Homer getting stuck in the dog flap, as well as the
use of celebrities such as 50 Cent’.
Room 101 is a comedy chat show where guests discuss their pet hates I will refer
to Series 6 Episode 4 which is scheduled on BBC 2 on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. until
9:00 p.m. which has the same scheduling pleasures as The Simpsons.
Audience pleasures are shown as the programmes has a warm mode of, has
celebrity guests and adult humour. This episode has famous comedian Joe Lycectt
on who will often use adult humour that is a little rude at times.
Audience pleasures are also shown because there is a competitive element, social
/ family issues are discussed and because there is a winner at the end.
To conclude there are stereotypical audience pleasures in comedy programmes
and depending on the programme and its target audience these will be vary but
will be needed to ensure success.

14. AUDIENCE PLEASURES RESPONSE: GOOD
Comedy shows involve audience pleasures as they will be entertaining and offer
escapism which I will discuss using The Simpsons (Pranksta Rap) and Room 101
(Series 6 Episode 4 ).
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom shown at 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on
Monday to Friday on Channel 4. It is easy to watch, always on at the same time
and audiences can dip in and out of each episode which are all audience
pleasures..
Audience pleasures are shown because the story themes are easy to
understand, always resolved and relatable because they are based on
social/family issues. In ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart disobeys his parents by going to a
concert and going missing however eventually returns home to safety. The show
also offers intertextuality as it is based on rap culture.
Audience pleasures are also shown because characters will be familiar,
predictable and are often relatable to family life. In ‘Pranksta Rap’ Bart’s
misbehaviour is stereotypical and audiences will also gain pleasure from feeling
superior to characters, such as Homer getting stuck in the dog flap, as well as
the use of celebrities such as 50 Cent’.
Room 101 is a comedy chat show where guests discuss their pet hates I will refer
to Series 6 Episode 4 which is scheduled on BBC 2 on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. until
9:00 p.m. which has the same scheduling pleasures as The Simpsons.
Audience pleasures are shown as the programmes has a warm mode of
address, has celebrity guests and adult humour. This episode has famous
comedian Joe Lycectt on who will often use adult humour that is a little rude at
times.
Audience pleasures are also shown because there is a competitive element,
social / family issues are discussed and because there is a winner at the end.
To conclude there are stereotypical audience pleasures in comedy programmes
and depending on the programme and its target audience these will be vary but

15. STRUCTURE
1. Introduction
2. Overview of The Simpsons
3. Comment on stories (with examples)
4. Comments on characters (with
examples)
5. Overview of Room 101
6. Comment on guests (with examples)
7. Comment on structure of the programme
(with examples)
8. Summary/Conclusion

16. TABLE
The Simpsons Room 101
Entertaining and offer escapism Entertaining and offer escapism
easy to watch, always on at the same time and
audiences can dip in and each episode
Easy to watch, always on at the same time and
audiences can dip in and each episode
themes are easy to understand, narrative
problems are resolved and because they are
relatable often be based on social/family issues
Warm mode of address through its host Frank
Skinner, has celebrities as guests and offers
different types of humour
Characters will be familiar, predictable and are
often relatable to family life
Celebrities as guests
Audiences feel superior to characters and the
way they behave
Different types of humour
Intertextuality Competitive element, reference to social /
family issues and that there is a winner