Summer Research Powerpoint

Summer Reasearch Project | The Only Way is Essex

ITEM 2
ITEM 3 ITEM 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGDe21vmoAE

Series 2 trailer ITEM 1

Media Representations

Characters/cast members from the “reality” TV series “The Only Way is Essex” (TOWIE) are represented in these tv adverts. In all of these adverts from across all the series’ there has been, a common theme is glamour, vanity/narcissism with elements of celebrity status or wealth. They are being represented by the ITV2 institution – whos primary target audience is teenagers/young adults aged 15-25 – and the TOWIE producers.

They are being represented in a glamorous way to entice and attract an audience. The representation is not fair and accurate as it infers that everyone in Essex lives glamorous and lavish lifestyles. Additionally it also presents an incorrect representation that people from Essex are quite dumb or uneducated.

Media Languages and Form

The denotative levels of meaning are that there are men and women who are quite young – between 20 to 30 years old, they are in a studio recording a promo for the show. The connotative levels of meaning are that they are not that intelligent as they keep saying “erm...” or not really paying attention to the questions being asked (series 4 promo). Other connotations, in the series 3 promo, are that they are quite wealthy as they walk into a club and treated as VIPs, this is also reinforced by the use of references to James Bond films at the beginning of the trailer. Additionally a sense of drama can be connoted by when the girl – Lucy – says “What about us two weeks ago?”

The significance of the connotations is to create a sense of idealism, that their lives are perfect – apart from the drama – with their wealth, looks, social life, etc. This would attract audiences to watch for the purpose of escapism.

The non verbal structures of meaning are that the males are quite confident due to their facial expressions – them staring right down into the camera and winking or smirking and square on and close to the camera (series 6 and 4 trailer). The females come across as vain and worried about their appearance as they also touch or fix their hair briefly, this is also the case with some of the males too. Lastly their clothing is very over the top – not something you’d wear everyday – more like evening wear and additionally, the females are wearing a lot of makeup. This reinforces the theme of glamour, status and wealth.

The significance of the mise en scene is that their costume is quite over the top, with them looking dressed to perfection, although they are supposed to be normal people, they are dressed like celebrities. The lighting in the series 4 and 6 promo, it is very high key, therefore we know it’s being filmed in a studio. Likewise, in the other two, although it’s meant to come across as “real” the high and low key lighting is exaggerated to make the scenario seem idealistic to the setting. The audio is mainly them speaking to the viewers in the series 4-6 promo along with music in the background. The makeup is quite perfect and gives them an airbrushed flawless look which connotes vanity. The props used in the series 2 and 3 promos signify wealth; this includes their cars, champagne, etc. Lastly the settings in the first two promos are more realistic that the other two as they are on location which also reinforces their social, wealthy lifestyles. The other two promos are set in a studio which infers to the viewers the show isn’t fully real life.

The soundtrack or background music is different for each of the promos. For item 1 they have used a dance track which gives a party/clubbing feel with infers their lifestyle. For item 2 they use orchestral music which creates a prestigious feel for the characters inferring their status. The other two trailers, quite up beat music is used to give it a modern and youthful feel which is relatable to its target audience.

Narrative

The audience are positioned as omniscient to the narrative as they see it from the outside looking into it, additionally, they are not addressed. Heroes and villains are created as the producers have selected those people on purpose depending on their characteristics and looks. They know that if they bring a new ‘good looking’ male in the cast, it will cause tensions and rifts among the female members. This will therefore create the villains (“backstabbers”/ “innocent ones”).

The role of such features such as music set the tone for what’s going to/or happening in that particular scene. For example if it was slow orchestral music, the audience know it is going to be an emotional kind of scene. The editing also sometime creates a sense of enigma as sometimes a crucial part of information will be edited out to keep the audience guessing but will then be revealed at a later time.

The major themes of the narrative are glamour, drama, relationships and conflicts. This creates quite superficial values and ideologies, although these types of things are apparent in most peoples lives, it deviates from the more important issues concerning society.

Genre

This media text belongs to a hybrid genre of ‘constructed reality’ or ‘dramality’ television. The major generic conventions in this text are that it is their real lives and that the dialogue of what the ‘characters’/people say is unscripted. However, the fact that these people were selected specifically for the type of people they are gives an aspect of it being constructed, additionally, they are put into or encouraged into their situations by the producers of the show for the purpose of creating some kind of drama. This show has also been likened to the soap opera genre due to the constructed situations they get into. The generic themes of this text are glamour, drama, relationships and conflicts.

The characters are generically determined to a moderate extent – they are their own person and have not been scripted to say anything in particular and take their own course of action. However, the producers put them into certain specific situations, for example a place they might bump into someone they dislike, to cause them to create their own drama (conflict or conversation).

The audiences generic expectations can be seen as fulfilling as people who know of the Essex county know that it is quite a wealthy area consisting of the more wealthy and successful working class – whereas another wealthy area such as Chelsea contains more aristocratic and middle class people, born into wealth. This text explores their social lives and comfortable lifestyle they live in. However, it could also be deemed as cheating the text as the show gives off a stereotype that people from Essex are quite superficial and not very intelligent – not everyone is Essex is the same as them or has a similar lifestyle.

The text does conform to the characteristics of the genre as it has both unstructured and structured elements, additionally, the scenarios they get into are quite flexible as they might have a serious tone or light hearted/humorous tone.

Media Institutions

The institutional source of the text is from ITV2, Lime Pictures. The fact that it’s shown on ITV2 has shaped and influenced it to be something that appeals to their target audience. It contains more mature themes as well as slang to relate to their audience. Additionally they don’t censor out swear words unless they are majorly offensive or bad. The cast are also quite young so the audience are able to relate to them easier. The source is a commercial institution, the difference this makes it that it has sponsors from certain product brands (eg. surf washing powder). This has no direct impact on the text but the adverts in between make an impact on the viewers as it influences them to buy or become aware of certain products that have some sort of link with the programme. However it is also public service therefore can not be bias to a particular brand.

ITV2 is a branch off of, and under the institution ITV.

The text has been distributed during nights when their audience will be available – Sunday and Wednesday night at 10:00.

Media Values and Ideology

There aren’t any major values in this text as it isn’t very deep and is mainly created for sole entertainment purposes. The ideology this text portrays is a theme of narcissism and wealth – and that this is they way people should lead their lifestyles. And not caring about much else in life. It also rids of the usual ideology that portrays people as clever – the cast members don’t seem to mind being portrayed as dumb – as it is mainly for entertainment. The assumptions that underpin this text are that people from Essex are unintelligent, only care about the way they look and are always in the centre of drama or confrontations – these aren’t particularly positive assumptions.

The criteria that was used for selecting the content presented was that the type of people they selected for the cast wouldn’t be afraid to speak their mind or to instigate as this would create the drama element in the show. Additionally these people wouldn’t particularly mind being portrayed in a negative way.

Media Audiences

The text is addressed a target audience of age range 16 to 25, primarily females and secondary males  with the socio class D/E - teenagers/young adults.

The assumptions about the audiences characteristics that are implicit within the text are that they are quite superficial and like to watch something easy to watch just for entertainment, not for knowledge.

The assumptions about the audience that are implicit in the texts’ scheduling or positioning is that they are more mature but not old as it shown on nights at 10:00pm on Sunday and Wednesday – so on school nights – ideally shown at this time, after the watershed, to avoid them watching.

Due to the fact that the show has had six series in total and considering the fact that many of the main cast members have left the show to participate in something else, we can infer that the demand and rating for the show are still successful; therefore, the size of the audience, can be assumed, that it’s moderately large. Additionally, the fact that there are many repeats of the show throughout different points in the day reinforces the size if the audience. (These repeats are censored of certain parts are inappropriate.

The probable audience readings of this text are that they are not very intelligent which therefore makes it more entertaining and funny, “drama” and gossip is a factor in society that cant be avoided, they live materialistic and superficial lifestyles. The possible audience readings are that; although there is a disclaimer at the begging of the show stating “some bits are purely set up for your entertainment” some people may think that the show is fully set up and has no real elements to it, it could be said that it isn’t representative of the Essex population as the cast members are almost all white/English ethnicities.

The audience pleasures are mainly entertainment as there are rarely any deep social issues discussed and it neither being educational. The uses and gratifications in this text – Blumler and Katz’ theory – first and foremost; entertainment – audience may use this show as a form of escapism or relaxation – it could be also said that integration and social identity as well as personal identity are also the uses and gratifications in this text.

I, as an audience member read and evaluate the text mainly in a light-hearted and light entertainment manner. My age, gender and background has influenced my reading and evaluation of the text as this programme is mainly aimed at females which make it more acceptable for me to watch. Secondly, many of my peers watch this program and the themes are relatable for people around my age range. My background also affects my reading as I have relations in Essex and know that not all people are the way there are allowing me to take it light-heartedly.