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]

S5/6 - Shaun of the Dead task.

Below are some examples of Fan Art for Shaun of the Dead.
Notice how several images and ideas keep cropping up - these are important Codes (Key Aspect: Language) and show strong Representations of the characters.

List as many of these common codes as you can, and then create your own Fan Art for Shaun of the Dead.

6th November - S4 Media Studies

You can find copies of Int 1 Past Papers here.

Please take this one and answer all of the questions in PART 1 in your Jotters.

If you finish, you may attempt PART 2, QUESTION 3.

This will require you to create a Storyboard and then explain your answers. You must use media terms to get marks.

We will go over your answers tomorrow - anyone who has not finished PART 1 must complete it for Homework.

Mr. Harris

S5/6 Advert Task

You have been asked to watch AT LEAST three adverts for Homework.

Your job now is to create three presentations which answer the following question;

  "What techniques or tactics have the Advertisers used to make you want / think you need their product"

The presentations can be powerpoint (save to Student In/Media Studies to save on logging on or off tomorrow), MS Word (Print them off please) or Verbal (i.e. Talking). The presentations should be at least one minute long, at most three minutes and should contain REFERENCE TO TEXT (in other words, give examples from the advert to support your answer).

Mr. Harris

Exam Questions - Int 2

Choose one of these questions and answer it as best you can.
----------------------------------
1. Both fiction and non-fiction media texts have narratives that are carefully structured. With close reference to a media text you have studied:

(a) explain how a particular narrative has been carefully structured,
and
(b) explain why it has been carefully structured in the way that it has by referring to at least one other Key Aspect.

You should link and explain Narrative and at least one other Key Aspect inyour answer.
----------------------------------
2. Representations in media texts support or challenge cultural assumptions. With close reference to a media text you have studied:

(a) explain how the representations have been created,
and
(b) explain why the representations have been made this way by referring to at least one other Key Aspect.

You should link and explain Representation and at least one other Key Aspect in your answer.
----------------------------------
3. In order for a media text to be successful, the producers must include elements to please at least one audience. With close reference to a media text you have studied:

(a) explain at least one audience targeted by the makers of the text,
and
(b) explain what was included to appeal to the audience(s) by referring to at least one other Key Aspect.

You should link and explain Audience and at least one other Key Aspect in your answer.
---------------------------------- 4. The maker of a media text cannot just do what he or she wants. Institutions affect decisions made about what to include in the text. With close reference to a media text you have studied:
(a) explain at least two institutional factors that affected the text,
and
(b) explain, by referring to at least one other Key Aspect, how these institutional factors affected the final shape of the text.

You should link and explain Institution and at least one other Key Aspect in your answer.

28th August

Please can two of you come to Room 40 (Drama Room) to collect the Cameras, batteries and tripods.

Mr. Harris

Media Diary Task

Welcome back everyone,










Over the summer, you were asked to keep a diary of any and all media you interacted with, including Name, Medium, time spent, and context (i.e. who you were with, what you were doing).









Today, I would like you to create a presentation which summarises your media experiences;



Which media did you spend the most time with?

Did you focus on one or two different media or lots of different kinds?

Did you spend a lot of time by yourself, with others or online with friends?

Did you try out any new media over the summer? For example, did you read newspapers when you don't normally? Any new websites or T.V. shows? Did you watch any news?

What technology did you use? Cinema or iTunes for films? Internet, Mobile Phone or T.V. for news? etc.

Any other important information about your own personal media experience.

You will give your presentation in class this week.


Mr. Harris

Int 2 - Class Task for 19th June

We are looking at the medium of Film, specifically Hollywood (i.e. Fox, Paramount, Universal, etc.) or British Studio feature films (i.e. BBC or FilmFour produced films).


These films come in many different Genre's, or styles. For example, Romance, Horror, Action, Western, etc.

Choose ONE Genre, and find as many different film posters for that Genre as you can.
Collect them all into a powerpoint/word document for use next week - you will be creating a poster for a made up film in the SAME GENRE, using Genre Conventions (things that are common to a handful of these posters)

EXTENSION - If you finish this, repeat the exercise but with a more specific choice of Genre's, e.g. Sci-fi Comedy (Men in Black, Galaxy Quest), Docu-drama Horror (Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity).

Mr. Harris

Int 2 - Class Task for 12th June

We are looking at the medium of Film, specifically Hollywood (i.e. Fox, Paramount, Universal, etc.) or British Studio feature films (i.e. BBC or FilmFour produced films).

These films come in many different Genre's, or styles. For example, Romance, Horror, Action, Western, etc.

Choose THREE genres. Using the internet to research, list as many different films as you can for each of the three genres you've chosen. Try to include the Studio which produced the film as well.
(i.e. SCI-FI Star Wars/ 20th Century Fox)

EXTENSION - If you finish this, move onto the category of OTHER - Choose three actors and/or directors, and complete a similar list. For example, if I choose Tom Cruise, I would then list as many Tom Cruise movies as I could.

Mr. Harris

HOLIDAY TASK: Media Journal

Over the course of the holiday, I would like you to record every time you interact with Media (Films, Magazines, Computer Games, Websites, etc.) on the Media Journal which you have been supplied with.

By the time we get back you should all have a record of your media usage, and this will paint a clear picture as to the importance of Media in our lives.

You can download extra copied of the Media Journal template here if you need to.

Please comment on this post if you have any questions of queries about the task.

Hope you all have a good holiday,
Mr. Harris

Media Studies Links

The following links may be useful for revision purposes - have a peruse, and print what you think might help.

http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/mediastudies.html
http://www.mediastudiesgoodies.com/
http://media.edusites.co.uk/
http://getrevising.co.uk/resources/subjects/media_studies

The Cutting Edge (Movie Editing Documentary)

Create a Blog Task

Ladies and gentlemen,

The internet is a rapidly growing medium for communication and information. Therefore, it will be a frequently used tool in this class.

The Blog is a form of online journal – your task today is to create one. You will use it to post homework, communicate with each other, complete assignments, record your Media Journal and communicate with each other what you are learning in Media Studies.

The task is broken down as follows;

1) Go to http://www.blogger.com

2) Click on “Create a blog”

3) You will need to create an account. If you already have an account, you can go straight ahead and create a new blog.
NOTE: In a change from yesterday’s instructions – if you already have a media studies blog from last year, I would still like you to create a new blog. The purpose of this blog is different from last years.

4) Create a catchy title for your blog – a title which says something about you.

5) Modify/Design/Adapt your blog using any of the features available. If you would like to include a hit counter to see how many people have been on your blog, then search Google for a useable one.

6) Experiment with different styles, layouts, designs etc. Don’t just settle for the basics – make your blog look good.

7) Once you have finished your blog, comment on this post with your new Blog’s web address so that I can subscribe to it, and you can subscribe to each others.

8) Subscribe to each other’s blogs.

a. If you don’t manage to complete this task in class, please complete it for homework.

b. If there are any technical issues or access issues, please see the Technicians.

Good luck,

Mr. Harris

Previous Media Studies Films

Here are a selection of previous years' media studies films.
Some are the Media Production, some were class assignments;