Speycast #1

The first Episode of the Speycast (Speyside's Media Studies Podcast) will be up soon!
Please check back here.

Film Release Schedule

For your interest;

http://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule

Christmas 2013 Communications

May I wish everyone in Media Studies a very merry christmas.

If anyone would like to get in touch over the Holiday's to ask any media related questions, share any media related thoughts, spread any memes or even just to comment about any films they may have seen and enjoyed/hated, etc. then please comment on this post.

See you in 2014,
Mr. Harris

16 / 9 / 2013 - THE MATRIX Task

The questions in this task are related to the Key Aspect of AUDIENCE. When an Audience experiences a text (i.e. watches and thinks about a film), the filmmakers want them to react in a certain way, or to think of certain things. This is called the PREFERRED READING.

In The Matrix, many of the themes and ideas are hidden beneath the Kung-fu and Guns, but they are there. Maybe they are supposed to be subconcious, but I want you to identify and think about them. That is what the following questions are for.

Read them, discuss them and then write down your answers, either in your jotters or on the computer. You may want to use the Internet to research your answers.
Save all work to [Student In -> Media Studies -> S5&6]

1.What are the main themes of The Matrix? Just name them.


2.Draw a parallel between the world of the Matrix and our world.
Do we live in a matrix? Discuss ways our society enslaves us.

- What forces are controlling our lives: advertising, fashion, politics, formal education, class, etc.?

- Can someone be enslaved without knowing it?

3.Discuss symbolism in The Matrix:- The Spoon (There is no spoon)

- Symbolism of the characters and their names (Neo - Thomas Anderson; Morpheus; Trinity; the Oracle; Cypher) - The red pill and the blue pill

- Doors

4.How do we know that what we perceive is real? Do we ever distrust our senses?

5.How can Neo free himself from the Matrix? How is the idea of FREEDOM explored in the film?

6.Do we care about certain things independent of the experiences they create for us? For example, is being in reality important even if the experience isn’t pleasant? Is it better to live happily in the Matrix than miserably in reality? Why or why not?

7.Draw a parallel between choosing to live in Matrix - the current world we live in - or to know reality, to know about wars, the world of the starving, of the impoverished, of children enslaved in sweatshops, mines, prostitution…

8.If you were faced with the choice of reality vs. the matrix, which would you choose and why? Would you fight for freedom, like Neo and the rest of Morpheus's crew, or would you decide "ignorance is bliss," like Cypher does, and get reinserted into the matrix?   9.What can you do to set yourself free from “the Matrix”?   10.Can you also be like Neo and help others become free and stop being “batteries” that keep this system running? If so, how? What steps should you take? (Think of the film sequences and the different stages Neo underwent)

Unseen Analysis - Forest and Glenn

Go to;
Student In -> Media Studies -> Trailers

Open the Iron Man 3 Trailer #2 video in VLC Media Player.

You have one hour to answer all the questions. There is no limit to the number of times you can watch the trailer.

This must be done under exam conditions - no communicating with each other and no use of notes.

S5&6 - Homwork

Please answer this question and hand in your answer (handwritten or typed) on or before 20th February.

---
During the media production unit you planned, made and evaluated a media
product. This question focuses on the planning/pre-production stage. This
stage involved for example:

• researching your brief
• identifying available technology
• considering institutional constraints
• making a plan for the content and style of your product.

How did you use Categories and at least one other key aspect to make
choices and decisions during this planning stage? ---   Mr. Harris

S4 - Internet Meme's

A "Meme" is a unit of cultural information. It spreads through ideas. These used to be important to the development of our civilizations. Nowadays, memes are important to show us cats.

The earliest known lolcat - 1870 (no joke!)

You know memes, even if you don't know that's what they're called. They're spread through social networking, text, word of mouth, South Park episodes and email - basically, every way we use media to communicate.
Sometimes, they're just created by one person and they spread by themselves, usually for entertainment.
Sometimes, they're created by an Institution to advertise a product, service or brand.
Sometimes... they can impact the entire world! (Do a google search for "Mitt Romney Binders full of women")

Your task today is as follows - do a little research on Internet Meme's. Find out what an "image macro" is. Just how stylish is "Gangnam Style"? Who was Rick and why was he rolling? Do all your base really belong to me? Who is Leeeeeroooyyy Jennnnkiiinnnnnssss? Beware - websense will try and block you every step of the way; It's only trying to help. Keep going.

Once you think you've got a handle on the World of Memes - try and create your own.
The first person to get on South Park gets a credit stamp.

WE WILL REVIEW YOUR MEME'S ON WEDNESDAY!


The following was an early internet meme - reported to be an actual conversation between an American Navy Commander and a Canadian... Unfortunately, it's not true. Still good though.

This is the transcript of a radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.

Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a Collision.

Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States' Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that's one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.^[2]