tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22357097954481905612024-03-13T13:29:24.754+00:00Welcome to St. Alban's RC High School Media Blog!Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-89505101924218157262016-06-17T15:53:00.000+01:002016-07-17T18:50:41.202+01:00Women in film - the Bechdel test<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bLF6sAAMb4s/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bLF6sAAMb4s?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Sometimes also known as the Bechdel-Wallace test, the Bechdel test asks whether a work of fiction features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. (The requirement that the two women must be named is sometimes added.)<br />
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This <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test" target="_blank">Wikipedia link</a> has links and references to many other useful variants of this and other tests, and is well worth checking out if you are writing any essays concerning the representation of women, gender, or the codes and conventions of certain genres (e.g. Romance).<br />
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The following site <a href="http://bechdeltest.com/">http://bechdeltest.com/</a> contains a user-maintained list of films that meet the Bechdel test minimum requirements, in case you are interested in finding some in a hurry.Paul Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11328270003108084191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-4303094056785351842016-06-17T15:27:00.005+01:002016-07-17T18:48:11.923+01:00Men act and women appear - John Berger<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNwTD19LKdc/V4vE02_k7PI/AAAAAAAAKJ0/In6iWsA7F0Yxiyx1G6_n2AKk0Z6lKkJzQCLcB/s1600/MenActWomenAppear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNwTD19LKdc/V4vE02_k7PI/AAAAAAAAKJ0/In6iWsA7F0Yxiyx1G6_n2AKk0Z6lKkJzQCLcB/s320/MenActWomenAppear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When talking about representation (and especially the representation of men and women) John Berger is a useful voice to include in your discussions and essays.<br />
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Berger made <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/09/28/ways-of-seeing-john-berger/" target="_blank">four 30-minute films for the BBC in 1972</a> which later became the core of his book <em>Ways of Seeing</em>. In it Berger writes:<br />
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"One might simplify this by saying: men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves." (<em>Ways of Seeing</em>, p.47)</blockquote>
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In your MS3 research investigations or your MS1 discussions of representation, you will find Berger's position here has been absorbed into most cultural and feminist criticism to the point where it is assumed or taken for granted (see for example, <em>The Beauty Myth</em> by Naomi Wolf for an example of this).<br />
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You should be aware though, of the limitations of Berger's perspective. Although wide-ranging in its references and survey of the visual arts, and a really useful starting point, Berger's work is perhaps not as useful as Laura Mulvey's multi-layered and more comprehensive 1975 essay "<em>Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema</em>".<br />
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We'll examine Mulvey in more depth in another lesson and blog post, but there's nothing stopping you from reading her work and making up your own mind.<br />
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Further References:<br />
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John Berger<br />
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<a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/09/28/ways-of-seeing-john-berger/">https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/09/28/ways-of-seeing-john-berger/</a><br />
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John Berger and Laura Mulvey<br />
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<a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cjas/dominguez1.html">http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cjas/dominguez1.html</a><br />
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This Is Not Sex: A Web Essay on the Male Gaze, Fashion Advertising, and the Pose<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~tstreete/powerpose/index.html">http://www.uvm.edu/~tstreete/powerpose/index.html</a><br />
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Bibliography<br />
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Berger, John. <i>Ways of Seeing</i>. New York: Penguin Putnam, 1972.<br />
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Mulvey, Laura. <i>Visual and Other Pleasures</i>. New York: Macmillan, 1989.<br />
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Wolf, Naomi. <i>The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty are Used Against Women</i>. New York: Harper Perennial, 2002.Paul Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11328270003108084191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-86826728963607579342016-06-06T22:24:00.000+01:002016-06-06T22:28:13.246+01:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Year 13- MS4 Revision</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The helpful blog that we looked at today is below...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://missarcher.weebly.com/ms4.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://missarcher.weebly.com/ms4.html</span></a></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also the Pinterest Pages linked to the blog...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/vacaldew/ms4-this-is-england/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THIS IS ENGLAND</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/vacaldew/ms4-skyfall/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SKYFALL</span></a></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/vacaldew/ms4-tomb-raider-2013/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TOMB RAIDER</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">REMINDER to all- Go through EVERY booklet and PPT to check for elements that you can add to your revision notes/mindmaps. I have created the booklets to SUPPORT you but they will only do that if you USE THEM!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am running a Media drop-in lessons 4-6 if anyone needs any last minute support and I am available on mrscmccarthy@gmail.com. Also don't forget to check the Twitter page @mediastalbans for things that have been Tweeted over the last 2 weeks.</span> <br />
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<a class="irc_mil i3597 i2RfgtaokC3s-zixyDjKkw5M" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwiM5ObfqpTNAhUrI8AKHYBjDHkQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiM5ObfqpTNAhUrI8AKHYBjDHkQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmotherowl91.blogspot.com%2F&bvm=bv.123664746,d.ZGg&psig=AFQjCNHxEwmF2aophv8eqoNxM533blwvNA&ust=1465334455126999" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="irc_mi i2RfgtaokC3s-pQOPx8XEepE" height="523" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qbMu_43_9k/U2PEzKnhfPI/AAAAAAAAAPo/osUvqC07NzY/s1600/keep-calm-and-carry-on-revising-19.png" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="448" /></a><br />
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<br />Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-69508128162386466372016-05-28T10:19:00.003+01:002016-05-30T16:00:17.646+01:00MS4 Video Games Industry Revision<h2>
MS4 Video Games Industry Revision: Audiences</h2>
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Good morning, Medians!<br />
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Today's MS4 revision resources are focused on answering a question on Audience using the Video Games industry texts as your examples. I'll start off with some questions to get you focused and thinking, and then we'll add to this post over the coming days with lists of key points and some model paragraphs and answers.<br />
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(Thanks to those of you who have emailed me with questions and suggestions. You can join in by adding points through the comments below, or by emailing me on either my home or work email addresses, and I'll add your contributions to this post.<br />
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Is this useful to you? Tell me what we have missed and/or what else you need by email or comment.)<br />
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<h3>
<b>Questions</b></h3>
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Your questions are going to be something like these:<br />
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<ul>
<li>How do audiences respond to your three main texts?</li>
<li>Explore the different ways your three main texts appeal to their audiences.</li>
<li>How do your three main texts position their audiences?</li>
<li>How do your chosen texts attract their audiences?</li>
<li>What do your media texts offer their audiences?</li>
<li>'The main function of a media text is to entertain its audience.' How true is this statement for your three main texts?</li>
<li>What different pleasures do your chosen texts offer audiences?</li>
</ul>
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Don't be put off if you get an audience question that uses slightly different language (e.g. 'offer' or 'appeal' mean basically the same thing - 'how does the text interact with the audience?'). There are only so many ways that the examiners can phrase the questions.<br />
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Just read the question carefully several times, noting the keywords in the question, and writing down some points about each of those keywords. e.g. 'Appeal', 'Attract', 'Offer' all deal with the same process of how the text interacts with its audience, but each looks at it from a slightly different perspective, but they aren't different enough to matter.</div>
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Once you feel that you understand the question, then you can turn your attention to the texts that you are going to use in your answer.</div>
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<b>The Texts</b></h3>
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Remember that the texts we have studied are:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Angry Birds (focus on Angry Birds 2 (2015))</li>
<li>Tomb Raider (focus on 'Tomb Raider: A Survivor Is Born' (2013))</li>
<li>Kinect Adventures (2010)</li>
</ul>
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So you'll want several paragraphs on each of your texts, with each paragraph discussing one or more of the key points about that text. See if you can come up with any improvements or extras to these lists:<br />
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<b>Angry Birds</b></h3>
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<ul>
<li><b>Requires ownership of a smartphone or tablet </b>to play, so wide ownership of these devices provides Angry Birds with a huge pool of potential players as these devices are becoming so popular.</li>
<li><b>Audience demographic</b> is spread out among <b>male and female, young and mature</b> gamers (However, see the infographic below for data that suggests the players who end up paying for downloadable content tend to be males aged 18 to 24).</li>
<li><b>Free to download so no barrier </b>to getting started.</li>
<li><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cialdini" target="_blank">Robert Cialdini's theory about Reciprocity</a></b> argues that after being given something for free, consumers feel like they 'owe' something in return and so are more likely to make purchases when offered the opportunity later on.</li>
<li><b>Snack-sized/casual gaming</b> so it is easy to pick up/play/put down multiple times in a day</li>
<li>More <b>Ludology</b> than Narratology so no requirement to immerse yourself in any complex story</li>
<li>The <b>narrative is mainly hidden</b> in the background, and <b>merely provides a context for the game play.</b> So when we play, we are <b>enacting the revenge of the birds</b> (aiming at the pig castles, destroying the pig castles) rather than actually moving to where the eggs are and playing out the retrieval of the eggs (we get validation that eggs have been rescued in a cutscene style sequence at the successful end of each level).</li>
<li>The <b>audience is therefore positioned as being on the side of the birds,</b> and as some kind of anonymous helper who is responsible for the aiming and release of the catapult that sends the birds to their target. We experience the game <b>with the birds, not as a bird</b>.</li>
<li><b>Preferred Reading</b> - this type of free-to-play, casual game that I can carry around with me and play for a couple of minutes at a time without investing much time, effort or money is great!</li>
<li><b>Negotiated Reading</b> - It's nothing new, I can play these sorts of games on my PC or console, but I like the fact that I can carry this around with me and play when and where I like.</li>
<li><b>Oppositional Reading</b> - The graphics aren't as good as my console, the screen is too small to see properly, the interface is hard for my fat fingers to swipe accurately, and there's nothing to the game except repetitive goes and it gets boring quickly.</li>
<li><b>Uses and Gratifications</b> - <b>Entertainment: </b>It's just a bit of fun to distract you and cheer you up. <b>Escapism</b>: while you are waiting around for your bus / friend to arrive / doctor's appointment etc. you can forget where you are and that you are hanging around waiting, and for a couple of minutes you can escape into a mini-world of <b>short, rewarding episodes</b> / levels.</li>
<li><b>Appeal to audience:</b> the original Angry Birds did not sell many copies. It was not until Angry Birds was a <b>featured app on the Apple App Store</b> in the UK in February 2010 that it became a best seller, and it's No.1 spot on the UK App Store was followed by a No.1 spot on the US App Store by the middle of 2010, and it stayed there for 275 days. </li>
<li><b>Language:</b> tbd</li>
<li><b>Mode of Address:</b> tbd</li>
<li><b>Polysemic meanings:</b> tbd</li>
</ul>
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Back in 2011 the folks at market research firm <a href="http://aytm.com/" target="_blank">Ask Your Target Market</a> researched and compiled this useful infographic about why Angry Birds might be so popular (click on thumbnail to open the full size infographic in a new window):<br />
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<a href="http://www.themarysue.com/appeal-of-angry-birds-infographic/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--hAuL5B87nU/V0lzXjF1fkI/AAAAAAAAJgc/jf4LAKPRqEgDlgC021N1Lxy-FW1OKio2QCK4B/s200/angrybirdsinfo-e1315925137668.png" width="39" /></a><br />
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Notice how the infographic breaks down the demographic of which audience segments are the ones who actually convert from free to paid players (Males, and especially Males aged 18 to 24 years old). It also reports audiences describing the effect of playing Angry Birds as making them feel mainly 'Somewhat Relaxed' (32%) or 'Very Relaxed' (23%), with only 6% of players reporting as 'Very Anxious' and 17% as 'Somewhat Anxious' after playing, so generally beneficial effects for a majority of players.<br />
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Take a look for yourself by clicking on the thumbnail graphic above, and see what facts and angles are useful for your revision.<br />
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<b>Angry Birds Softography</b><br />
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(from: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds</a>)<br />
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<table class="wikitable" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 1em 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><th style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Year</th><th style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Game</th><th style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Genre</th><th style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Description</th></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">December 2009</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_(video_game)" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds (video game)">Angry Birds</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puzzle_video_game" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Puzzle video game">Puzzle</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The first game released of the series. It primarily involves shooting birds into pigs' fortresses.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MightyEagle_11-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-MightyEagle-11" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[11]</a></sup></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">October 2010</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Seasons" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Seasons">Angry Birds Seasons</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The second game in the series, featuring holiday-themed levels. It was also originally released as <i>Angry Birds Halloween</i>.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">March 2011</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Rio" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Rio">Angry Birds Rio</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The third game in the series, tying in with the films <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_(2011_film)" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Rio (2011 film)">Rio</a></i> and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_2" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Rio 2">Rio 2</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ABRio_12-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-ABRio-12" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[12]</a></sup></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">February 2012</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Friends" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Friends">Angry Birds Friends</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The fourth game of the series features weekly tournaments and is also available on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Facebook">Facebook</a>.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">March 2012</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Space" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Space">Angry Birds Space</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The fifth game in the series that features space physics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ABS-PCW_13-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-ABS-PCW-13" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[13]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-14" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[14]</a></sup></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">November 2012</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Star_Wars" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Star Wars">Angry Birds Star Wars</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The sixth game that ties in with the original <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Star Wars">Star Wars</a></i> trilogy (<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(film)" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Star Wars (film)">Star Wars</a></i> (1977), <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empire_Strikes_Back" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The Empire Strikes Back">The Empire Strikes Back</a></i> (1980), and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Jedi" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Return of the Jedi">Return of the Jedi</a></i> (1983)).</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">September 2013</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Star_Wars_II" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Star Wars II">Angry Birds Star Wars II</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The seventh game of the series that ties in with the <i>Star Wars</i> prequel trilogy and the television show <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Rebels" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Star Wars Rebels">Star Wars Rebels</a></i>. It is the first game compatible with Hasbro's Telepods, that allows the player to summon a specific character in the game.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">December 2013</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Go!" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Go!">Angry Birds Go!</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_game" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Racing game">Racing</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The eighth game of the series and it is the first to branch off from the puzzle genre to the racing genre.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">June 2014</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Epic" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Epic">Angry Birds Epic</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_video_game" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Role-playing video game">Role-playing</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The ninth game of the series that features turn-based RPG combat and a gear and item crafting system.</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">October 2014</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Transformers" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Transformers">Angry Birds Transformers</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side-scrolling_video_game" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Side-scrolling video game">Side-scrolling shooter</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The tenth game of the series, which ties-in with the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Transformers">Transformers</a></i> franchise, is a shoot 'em up game.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-15" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[15]</a></sup></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">June 2015</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Fight!" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Fight!">Angry Birds Fight!</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tile-matching" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Tile-matching">Tile-matching</a>, Role-playing</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The 11th game of the series, which is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match-3" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Match-3">match-3</a> game to match birds to have enough power to defeat the enemy and features a gear system that can be upgraded.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_16-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-autogenerated1-16" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[16]</a></sup></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">July 2015</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_2" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds 2">Angry Birds 2</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">This is the sequel to <i>Angry Birds</i> and the 12th game of the series that features the player picking the birds to launch into the pigs' fortresses in multistage levels.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-17" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[17]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-18" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[18]</a></sup></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">April 2016</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_Action!" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Angry Birds Action!">Angry Birds Action!</a></i></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Puzzle, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Pinball">Pinball</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">This is the 13th game of the series that features a top-down perspective in pinball-type levels, and the first game to feature the birds in their <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Angry_Birds_Movie" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The Angry Birds Movie">The Angry Birds Movie</a></i>appearances.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds#cite_note-19" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">[19]</a></sup></td></tr>
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<b>Angry Birds Gameplay</b><br />
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If you need to remind yourself of the gameplay but don't have the game to hand... then here are a couple of gameplay walkthrough videos for you to watch and take notes on.<br />
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Angry Birds II (2015)<br />
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Angry Birds Star Wars II (2013) ("Booooom!")<br />
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<h3>
<b>Tomb Raider: A Survivor Is Born (2013)</b></h3>
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<ul>
<li><b>Traditional gaming</b>, where you sit down at a PC and monitor / console and television in order to play.,</li>
<li>Is this game <b>gender-biased</b>? Will it appeal more to male gamers and why (is this due to a sexualised appeal)? Does it provide a positive female role model? Does Tomb Raider introduce gaming to a female audience? </li>
<li>What do we think the preferred reading of Tomb Raider is? </li>
<li>Is the <b>Preferred Reading</b> that this new version of Lara Croft and the new hybrid game style has successfully rebooted the then almost two-decades old franchise, and used realistic graphics and gameplay to update the game into the modern gaming era?</li>
<li>Is the <b>Negotiated Reading</b> that the audience can see improvements to the game (improved graphics, new less sexualised Lara Croft) but the gameplay format has changed from the original and familiar action platformer style game of the first 17 years of game releases, to a new and unfamiliar hybrid of action, survival and exploration style gameplay. Does this departure from the familiar format alienate the fans?</li>
<li>Is the <b>Oppositional Reading</b> that this is not a traditional and familiar Tomb Raider game at all? The graphics, gameplay and character of Lara Croft are all different to what fans are used to from this franchise, and overall it just feels like they made a game and stuck the Tomb Raider logo on it, it's so uncharacteristic of the previous games in the series. So ultimately it feels like either they reworked the game concept to revive falling sales of a popular but tired old franchise, or it was just an attempt to cash in on the Tomb Raider brand.</li>
<li><b>Requires ownership of a high-spec PC or games console</b> (Xbox, Playstation etc.) so the potential audience for this game is very large, but smaller than the smartphone/tablet audience.</li>
<li>Quite an <b>immersive narrative</b> so this is <b>simultaneously a) a barrier</b> to getting started ("I'll need to invest quite a chunk of time playing to get anything out of this.") which might put off casual gamers and <b>b) an incentive</b> to play ("The longer I spend playing, the more I'll become immersed in the storyline.") which would attract and appeal to more hardcore gamers.</li>
<li>The game's <b>high-quality 3-D graphics</b> (enhanced to full 1080p HD at 30fps for the Definitive Edition that was released a year after initial release) and immersive audio experience will appeal to <b>gamers who value realism in games</b> (photorealism in games is considered by them as being 'better' than older, less-photoreal graphics). Does this appeal more to those who favour Narratology do you think, as it helps them to immerse themselves into the story?</li>
<li>Gameplay is based around the <b>hybrid of Exploration, Action and Survival</b>. So there is strategy involved in choosing how to approach missions, and some innovative gameplay that will appeal to those who favour <b>Ludology</b>. </li>
<li>A balance of <b>gameplay features</b> to appeal to those who favour <b>Ludology</b>, and <b>storyline and immersive game world</b> to appeal to those who favour <b>Narratology</b>.</li>
<li><b>Audience is positioned to experience the game with Lara Croft</b> as they are always following her in a third-person over-the-shoulder action perspective. (This slightly less immersive than FPS (First-Person Shooter perspective) where we would be positioned as actually being Lara Croft, but in third-person mode we are still closely relating to Lara Croft as our avatar, but it is important to note that we are with her, not in her.)</li>
<li>Audience are essentially invited to take part in a narrative that takes a young Lara Croft and builds her into the <b>action heroine</b> that we are already familiar with. So there is a hero arc as we play as Lara and make her increasingly powerful and capable with <b>new items and experience levels</b>.</li>
<li>Audience are also involved in the <b>narrative of Lara Croft as a carer or nurturer</b>, as we are positioned to help care for her well-being and keep her alive, and simultaneously help her to care for / rescue / bring medical help to others within the game. Does this involve us in a traditional / stereotyped positioning of females as carers and nurturers?</li>
<li>Audience <b>responses</b> to prior versions of Lara Croft in earlier games had become <b>increasingly negative</b>, as Lara was seen as <b>increasingly sexualised (gratuitous 'less clothing and bigger breasts') </b></li>
<li><b>Uses and Gratifications - Entertainment</b> (it's fun playing Lara's story; we get an enjoyable adrenalin thrill out of the action gameplay).</li>
<li><b>Debates - Violence.</b> This game is a departure from previous Tomb Raider games in that it has <b>extensive graphical violence</b>, and tends towards the <b>cruelty</b> of say Mortal Kombat X fatality cutscenes where the <b>camera lingers</b> on the helplessness of the character as they are twitching and expiring. Is this violence in keeping with earlier Tomb Raider games and is it <b>appropriate</b> for fans of the series? Is this game aimed at teenaged fans of the earlier games who are now young adults and who look for more mature themes and realistic violence in their gaming experiences?</li>
<li><b>Debates - Sexism.</b> Lara Croft is a <b>female archaeologist and action heroine</b>. Is she now more of an <b>empowered feminist icon</b> than a <b>cyber-bimbo</b>? This game sees a slight <b>de-emphasising of the sexualised Lara Croft </b>we are used to in comparison to earlier games in the series. Although her <b>legs are still disproportionately long</b> (a trait <b>stereotypically</b> considered attractive in women), she wears considerably more <b>clothing</b> (although still sports some bare flesh), her <b>waist</b> is more realistic and no longer looks as though she is wearing an invisible cincher corset and/or has had a few ribs removed, and her <b>breasts</b> are smaller and less conspicuous (previously, and perhaps uniquely for a video game character in a way that references the world of <b>modelling</b>, she was known to have a <b>24 inch waist and a 36 inch bust</b>. Why might we as an audience be told these statistics about her? And should we believe the apocryphal story from the developers that a programming error initially made her breasts 150% larger than intended, but they decided to go with it? Does this sound like an attempt to excuse what is essentially sexism?) Using our understanding of <b>Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory</b>, we can briefly mention issues of gender representation in an essay about Audiences, as this issue will affect <b>audience responses</b> to this text.</li>
<li><b>Debates - Racism</b>. Lara began her female life (she was originally intended to be male, ripping-off Indiana Jones) as <b>Laura Cruz, a sassy Mexican explorer</b>, but the name was changed to avoid the negative (racist?) connotations for the <b>US audience</b> (where it was assumed the game would make most of its sales) and instead the developers chose a more marketable (i.e. more appealing to the US market) <b>Lara Croft</b>, a member of the <b>English aristocracy</b> (ruling class elite) who goes around the world <b>raiding and stealing</b> artefacts from other cultures and taking them back to Britain. This mirrors the controversial periods of history where Great Britain ruled over several other countries as <b>colonies</b> that were part of an e<b>mpire</b>. The issues of <b>colonialism</b> and <b>imperialism</b> are still at play in this game. Are they suitable issues that we can use them uncritically for our entertainment? Even the <b>locations</b> within the game are potentially controversial, being represented <b>negatively</b> as dangerous places populated by hostile 'natives', and being mainly locations considered <b>'exotic' to Europeans,</b> all of which are encouraging the acceptance of <b>'tomb-raiding' colonial and post-colonial perspectives</b>. </li>
<li><b>Spin-off Products: </b>Lara Croft has been used to advertise Lucozade (linking an athletic and popular gaming figure with a fitness / energy product to target a young male segment of the energy drink market); She has released two singles (only in France though. One of the singles was called 'Getting Naked'. Oh dear.) </li>
<li>DLC (Downloadable Content): DLCs were first available exclusively on the Xbox 360, with other platforms receiving access to DLCs at a later date.</li>
<li><b>Enigma codes</b> in the game (so are there any? I'll leave this for you to think about, and in a day or two we'll return and put what we think the enigma codes of Tomb Raider are)</li>
<li><b>Language:</b> tbd</li>
<li><b>Mode of Address:</b> tbd</li>
<li><b>Polysemic meanings:</b> tbd</li>
</ul>
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The changing appearance of Lara Croft:<br />
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<b>Tomb Raider Gameplay</b><br />
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If you need to remind yourself of the gameplay but don't have the game to hand... then here are a couple of gameplay walkthrough videos for you to watch and take notes on.<br />
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(Watch at least the first 15 minutes of this one, at least until Lara escapes to the surface, sees the lifeboat and gets given the sub-mission of searching for survivors, clambers up and across the crashed WWII aeroplane, finds Sam's pack and the two-way radio, and then receives the mission 'Take Shelter From The Storm')<br />
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<h3>
<b>Kinect Adventures! (2010)</b></h3>
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<ul>
<li><b>Requires ownership of the Kinect camera equipment</b>, so the potential audience for Kinect Adventures! is actually quite limited to a subset of the Xbox platform (not all Xbox owners own Kinect). <b>Also requires ownership of Xbox 360 or Xbox One.</b></li>
<li><b>Motion gaming</b> is not a traditional method of gaming, so this might be a barrier to traditional gamers. At the same time, hardcore gamers might also be put off because of the extra equipment and extra playing space requirements. </li>
<li>The <b>high level of physical activity</b> required to play the game might appeal to active, athletic, dance-oriented audience segments, but this also might put off gamers who prefer/are used to playing games sitting down and not moving.</li>
<li>A <b>sports video game </b>consisting of 5 adventure games and sports mini-games.</li>
<li>The actual <b>Kinect technology costs £130</b> so this could put off casual gamers for example.</li>
<li>Most Kinect sales were achieved by selling it already <b>bundled </b>in at a steep discount with new Xbox 360 and Xbox One purchases, so this tended to appeal to completists or segments of the audience who didn't want to miss out or were curious about this new type of gaming.</li>
<li>More <b>Ludology</b> than Narratology so no requirement to immerse yourself in any complex story.</li>
<li>There is a <b>simple narrative</b> in the Story mode that casts you as a world traveller who has to then take part in the various games as you travel around the world on your adventures.</li>
<li><b>Preferred Reading:</b> This is a novel and exciting way to play games in a social way with my friends and family, and even get fitter while we have fun!</li>
<li><b>Negotiated Reading:</b> It's a bit of fun and I quite like playing it when friends are round, but it isn't as good as the other games I've got and I wouldn't play it on my own.</li>
<li><b>Oppositional Reading:</b> With a control system that isn't as good as the Nintendo Wii, and needing a playing space that's bigger than my bedroom and living room, just to play some average games that I wouldn't buy, but I've got them because the Kinect came bundled with my Xbox when I bought it... nah, don't bother.</li>
<li>The <b>audience is positioned as being in the game twice</b> over - once as a <b>cartoon avatar</b> that responds to our bodily and facial movements so that we are actually being represented in the game as a version of ourselves, and then also as our literal selves when at the end of each level <b>photographs of us leaping about</b> are displayed on screen. So we experience the game as ourselves whilst simultaneously viewing an avatar of ourselves moving in conjunction with our own real-life movements. When we do see ourselves in photographs, this is disorienting because we have been watching cartoon avatars instead of our photorealistic selves, and the photographs are displayed in <b>reverse mirror image</b> which is not how we see ourselves when we look in a mirror.</li>
<li>Photos are uploaded to <b>KinectShare.com</b> which is a walled garden site for Xbox and Windows Kinect owners to engage socially.</li>
<li><b>Uses and Gratifications - Entertainment:</b> moving around is a fun way to interact with a video game. <b>Social Interaction:</b> you can play Kinect Adventures! alongside a friend, being careful not to hit each other in the face as you leap about waving your arms :-) <b>Personal Identity</b>: the game takes pictures of you while you are playing, and as well as showing them to you after each level so that you get a degree of confirmation of how silly / cool you look, you then get to choose which ones (if any) you'd like to upload to the Kinect website and/or various social media sites. So to a degree, you get validation of, and the chance to help shape, your own personal identity. <b>Education (Fitness):</b> I'm going to class fitness as a type of education, on the grounds that educating yourself involves a degree of self-improvement, and fitness is another form of that. If you play Kinect Adventures! regularly, you are going to experience a mild improvement in your fitness levels. It's no substitute for the gym though :-) But I think you can see how it is being marketed as a device to help keep you active and get you fit.</li>
<li><b>Language:</b> tbd</li>
<li><b>Mode of Address:</b> tbd</li>
<li><b>Polysemic meanings:</b> tbd</li>
</ul>
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<b>Kinect Adventures! Gameplay</b><br />
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This first video is an official Xbox pre-release (June 14th, 2010) promotional video for Kinect Adventures! showing the audience as an idealised family situation where everyone plays and is amazed at how great it is. You also see some two-player split screen play. Wooo :-) I think that Mom has the best moves down, tbh.<br />
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This next video is another official Xbox promotional video where the audience is shown as a series of talking heads trying to explain Kinect gameplay in such a way that you are persuaded to give it a try (two-step flow? :-) ...) and my favourite segment, where the guy in the blue hoodie tries to describe each game and gives us an extra emotion afterwards ('awesone', 'panic', 'bananas'), but in a cool, deadpan sort of way, like he doesn't quite believe what he is telling us :-) but in a way that tries to make him look like a real guy rather than a paid actor... also check out Mom at about 1:30 into the video, giving Kinect Adventures! the parental seal of approval as a wholesome game that is a joy to watch because it gets her kids moving, socialising etc.<br />
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This third video is a short review by someone who gets paid (either as an affiliate making money through you clicking through their link to sign up for something or to purchase something; or as a favoured reviewer who gets sent free equipment and games in exchange for providing influential (and likely to be biased, as they want to keep getting free stuff sent to them!) reviews that hopefully you'll be influenced by. This kind of 'astroturfing' is common in the internet age ('astroturfing' is an expression describing the creation of a fake 'grassroots' campaign, opinion, or movement. A 'grassroots' campaign would be where people just naturally expressed a point of view or opinion on something. As astroturf is fake grass, the expression 'astroturfing' describes how companies can create fake opinion formers and influencers in an attempt to make it look like lots of people unconnected with the company are in favour of their product). Interestingly, Morgan makes a joking reference to it at around 0:50 in this video, but unfortunately the joke is real.<br />
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If you search for 'kinect adventures gameplay' on Youtube, the top (or around the top) search result is DanQ8000's video 'Kinect Adventures HD Gameplay Part 1'. Dan does a PiP (Picture in Picture) recording so you can hear and see him in a small screen superimposed on the main gameplay screen. This is useful for seeing how the real life movements of a player match up (or not, due to detection issues) with what their avatar does on screen in response. Unfortunately, due to the fact that DanQ8000 swears an awful lot in his videos, I won't be linking to one here. But if you are 18 and not going to be offended by him, you can do the search yourself.<br />
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Finally (I know, right?) these last videos shows the screen as someone plays Adventures Mode. The Adventures Mode basically shows the different games as being located at different places on a world map, and you see a helicopter that presumably transports you from game to game along a dotted line on the map that connects each game location. There's minimal, almost non-existent story. You don't hear or see the player (although at the end of each level you get to see his wacky photos taken during the game), but you do get to see things like (in the second video) the warning popup in the top left of the screen when the player moves too close to the Kinect, telling him to go backwards, and telling him when he is in the right place / at the right distance. This first video shows what little 'story' there is, just in the first 3 minutes (after the text screens about his Dazzle (a device for ecording the screen as he plays)).<br />
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<h3>
<b>Audience Theories</b></h3>
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Remember too that you know several theories about how audiences respond to media texts.<br />
<br />
You can bring in discussions of these theories when you are discussing how texts appeal / offer things to audiences, or how audiences use / respond to texts.<br />
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<br />
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If you've forgotten any, or you want to refresh your memory, you can watch this short series of videos to get back up to speed:<br />
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<b>The Hypodermic Needle Theory</b><br />
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<b>The Two-Step Flow Theory</b><br />
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<b>Uses and Gratifications Theory</b><br />
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<h3>
Links and References:</h3>
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WJEC Exam Questions<br />
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http://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/qualification-resources.html?pastpaper=true&subject=MediaStudies&level=gceasa<br />
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<br />
<br />
Angry Birds<br />
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_(video_game)<br />
http://www.themarysue.com/appeal-of-angry-birds-infographic/<br />
http://static02.mediaite.com/themarysue/uploads//2011/09/angrybirdsinfo-e1315925137668.png<br />
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Tomb Raider<br />
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http://www.gamespot.com/gallery/12-things-you-probably-did-not-know-about-lara-cro/2900-261/<br />
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-26-tomb-raider-has-sold-3-4-million-copies-failed-to-hit-expectations<br />
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-17-tomb-raider-finally-achieved-profitability-by-the-end-of-last-year<br />
http://images.eurogamer.net:8080/2013/articles/1/6/4/7/7/8/2/138997501824.jpg<br />
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Kinect Adventures!<br />
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect_Adventures!<br />
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Umbrella-Kinect-Adventures/dp/B004WC560G/<br />
https://kinectshare.com/<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect<br />
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<br />
Audience Theories<br />
<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cialdini<br />
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Paul Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11328270003108084191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-30482388857045527842014-05-04T16:44:00.001+01:002014-05-04T16:44:45.837+01:00Coursework!<span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 51); font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; font-size: 16px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Reminder that final drafts of coursework for Year 12, Year 13 and resit were due in on Thursday or Friday. However, if you did not do this you MUST email work to me TODAY! I will still then at least be able to mark it before Tuesday. Thank you to all those who submitted work on time, much appreciated! Have a nice bank holiday all and I will see you Tuesday. </span>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-68473022784448800442014-04-28T00:11:00.001+01:002014-04-28T00:11:11.550+01:00MS1 Exam Revision SessionsAs mentioned during the half term session on MS1 (to those who were there!) I run additional revision sessions weekly on the lead up to the exam. Although I thought I would run these from next week, I can actually start this week!<div><br></div><div>So this week, afterschool in T1 until 4pm I will run a revision session. Also reminding Year 13 Resit candidates that we have an additional revision lesson that is compulsory Tuesday's lesson 2- Year 12's are also welcome.</div><div><br></div><div>Reminder that you guys should be following our department on Twitter for useful tweets relating to your exams!</div><div>@MediaStAlbans</div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-39505270524091487622014-04-11T23:01:00.001+01:002014-04-11T23:01:06.857+01:00Media Department Twitter AccountHi all, I have set up a twitter account for the department to keep you guys up to date, let you know about any key information, blog updates etc and hopefully share some interesting media related stuff! <div><br></div><div>Please follow us on @MediaStAlbans and feel free to check out some of the people we follow as they are media related too! </div><div><br></div><div>Hoping to use this to help support revision so please get involved! </div><div><br></div><div>Cheers, Mrs McCarthy</div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-39209043228265983282014-02-16T21:05:00.001+00:002014-02-16T21:05:24.302+00:00BAFTA'sTune into BBC 1 NOW for the BAFTA Film Awards...I wonder who will get Best Actor, Actress and Film??? Who do you think will walk away with awards tonight? Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-16878070245098412032014-01-25T09:41:00.001+00:002014-01-25T09:41:56.654+00:00Movies at Welsh Castles!!!Brilliant scheme being run next month where pop up cinemas will be at Castell Coch and Caerphilly castle! <div><br></div><div>Follow the link for details!</div><div><a href="http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/about/news/movies-at-monuments/?lang=en">http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/about/news/movies-at-monuments/?lang=en</a></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-81341781336141844422014-01-08T19:20:00.001+00:002014-01-08T19:20:35.478+00:00RESIT candidates!!!Wishing you all the very best for your exam tomorrow, praying that the stuff we've focused on comes up and that you all apply the knowledge and don't forget to plan your answers! Also remember to have breakfast, drink water (bring some to your exam!) and get some sleep!<div><br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sQU8ZT0sC6E/Us2lAGLHJjI/AAAAAAAAANM/QvDRj-73vzc/s640/blogger-image--1150792120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sQU8ZT0sC6E/Us2lAGLHJjI/AAAAAAAAANM/QvDRj-73vzc/s640/blogger-image--1150792120.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>Good news is you've all studied so do your very best!!!</div><div><br></div><div>See you in the morning, </div><div>Mrs M</div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-60670808932008796352014-01-06T23:26:00.001+00:002014-01-06T23:28:02.561+00:00Year 13 TaskTuesday's lesson you will be in my room. Those resitting the exam on Thursday will be doing a past paper and revision session. <div><br></div><div>The rest of the class still MUST attend. Your task is below and should be completed for Thursday. You may use Wednesday's lesson to complete this also I will not be in first thing due to a Hospital appointment with my son. </div><div><br></div><div>Task- You are to write 2 short essay's both with the same title but one will be focused on GTA 4 and the other on the Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle advertising campaign. </div><div><br></div><div>Essay question: How stereotypical are the representations in your chosen texts? (Please write as two separate short essays) </div><div><br></div><div>This is a sample exam question and should be relatively straight forward as the focus of last year's work was representation. You will probably need to remind yourselves of the information on GTA 4, if you don't have your handouts then see the common for notes and PPT's</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-56664930411820991242014-01-03T21:15:00.001+00:002014-01-03T21:48:14.971+00:00MS1 RESIT- Example TextsI know that you are finishing off your little revision booklets and I thought I would share some interesting print texts as most people seemed to be lacking print examples. I would like to see the booklets again but fully complete on Monday along with your mock answers (see post on MOCK EXAM).<div><br></div><div>The texts below have been selected for a variety of reasons from interesting representations, target audiences or audience responses and some for all of the above. </div><div><br></div><div>I would like to highlight a few...</div><div><br></div><div>• GQ received HUGE amounts of backlash via Twitter from the 1 Directioners as a fan base regarding their representation of the band on their special editions covers (there was one for each member) particularly Harry's as they felt he was misrepresented- it is worth noting that they (fans) are not actually the target audience for GQ!</div><div><br></div><div>• Pain and Gain could be used for National and Regional Identities (as the DVD cover is very much americanised), Issues for representation of Crime as this was based on true events and gender. Also the victim has written an article explaining his version and complaining about the misrepresentation of the events and his character in the film.</div><div><br></div><div>• TIME, The Guardian and Rolling Stone all feature very different representations of the Boston bombing (event). Rolling Stone were heavily criticised for their cover of one of the bombers as it was claimed that they had glamourised and glorified him. </div><div><br></div><div>• I particularly like the representation of Prince Charles on the Daily Mail, a lovely one to use for both events and age!</div><div><br></div><div>• The Impossible (2004 Tsunami) and Zero Dark Thirty (Hunt for Osama Bin Laden) are both based on true stories of real life events and could be used in an interesting way to discuss events. Their marketing also uses this to specifically target their audience</div><div><br></div><div>I also like the rest but feel they quite self explanatory. Hope this helps! </div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ACcbtTQuPXk/UscoeERP1sI/AAAAAAAAAM8/1aKx--Dh5fE/s640/blogger-image-189937639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ACcbtTQuPXk/UscoeERP1sI/AAAAAAAAAM8/1aKx--Dh5fE/s640/blogger-image-189937639.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oo7g-ggwSwU/Uscob1tso5I/AAAAAAAAAMs/eQ74GxC7cbw/s640/blogger-image-1760234602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oo7g-ggwSwU/Uscob1tso5I/AAAAAAAAAMs/eQ74GxC7cbw/s640/blogger-image-1760234602.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9szNvK4bgf4/UscoQ2lYiWI/AAAAAAAAALk/11ZvLxQWmbc/s640/blogger-image-1266731825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9szNvK4bgf4/UscoQ2lYiWI/AAAAAAAAALk/11ZvLxQWmbc/s640/blogger-image-1266731825.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7EmpfqP2Kes/UscoVXqh5gI/AAAAAAAAAME/wJBT5cP_79U/s640/blogger-image--633281936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7EmpfqP2Kes/UscoVXqh5gI/AAAAAAAAAME/wJBT5cP_79U/s640/blogger-image--633281936.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o0TmuytwDAU/UscoNIXYeUI/AAAAAAAAALM/TSFUCHoSQHA/s640/blogger-image--1356541094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o0TmuytwDAU/UscoNIXYeUI/AAAAAAAAALM/TSFUCHoSQHA/s640/blogger-image--1356541094.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ukgx9EZ6wNw/UscoWu1HC5I/AAAAAAAAAMM/phUxxAbdovA/s640/blogger-image--1094189713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ukgx9EZ6wNw/UscoWu1HC5I/AAAAAAAAAMM/phUxxAbdovA/s640/blogger-image--1094189713.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MIXAkmASIUk/UscoSK7xfyI/AAAAAAAAALs/2E0ojSW8C7A/s640/blogger-image--1955550791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MIXAkmASIUk/UscoSK7xfyI/AAAAAAAAALs/2E0ojSW8C7A/s640/blogger-image--1955550791.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tMCvjdS9SnY/UscoZAq3JNI/AAAAAAAAAMc/z-76fVlIJF0/s640/blogger-image--777276973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tMCvjdS9SnY/UscoZAq3JNI/AAAAAAAAAMc/z-76fVlIJF0/s640/blogger-image--777276973.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BWNb-Yx1Mr0/UscoTfJAIZI/AAAAAAAAAL0/z126-qchYRk/s640/blogger-image--888195088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ecP1-Pz73lc/UscoaRyjJbI/AAAAAAAAAMk/7-mfhG7dKOs/s640/blogger-image--1287453999.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-algoCkw_zoY/UscoPhgCPxI/AAAAAAAAALc/9JP9W42ANHo/s640/blogger-image--1966537357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-algoCkw_zoY/UscoPhgCPxI/AAAAAAAAALc/9JP9W42ANHo/s640/blogger-image--1966537357.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UdYmgdIpcvA/UscoX1AgdRI/AAAAAAAAAMU/NT_P8V_mnz0/s640/blogger-image--457285394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UdYmgdIpcvA/UscoX1AgdRI/AAAAAAAAAMU/NT_P8V_mnz0/s640/blogger-image--457285394.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gEriJSOcUdg/UscoL_bYQmI/AAAAAAAAALE/KzNYXuRkhmg/s640/blogger-image--142031217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gEriJSOcUdg/UscoL_bYQmI/AAAAAAAAALE/KzNYXuRkhmg/s640/blogger-image--142031217.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bnRwwS-PjrM/UscodKiLc9I/AAAAAAAAAM0/s690xYgq0pI/s640/blogger-image--1512481244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bnRwwS-PjrM/UscodKiLc9I/AAAAAAAAAM0/s690xYgq0pI/s640/blogger-image--1512481244.jpg"></a></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-38355822769779856392014-01-02T11:30:00.001+00:002014-01-02T11:30:43.919+00:00EXTRA REVISION SESSIONS MS1Hey guys,<div><br></div><div>I am sorting a few things to hopefully provide a few more sessions during the days so we may also have sessions Lesson 2 Monday and Lesson 1 Tuesday when I should have Year 11 who are doing their mocks. Will have to let you know first thing on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Sessions that WILL be happening:</div><div><br></div><div>• Monday lesson 1</div><div>• Monday lesson 6 (you could bring your lunch)</div><div>• Monday after school (this means no FILMCLUB)</div><div>• Tuesday lessons 2 (as normal) & 3</div><div>• Wednesday after school </div><div><br></div><div>Also Mrs Davies and I are swapping lessons on Tuesday so you'll be with me lessons 5 & 7 where we will do some revision tasks and the rest of the class will be working on corrections for their Research Investigations</div><div><br></div><div>Can I please stress that if you have timetabled lessons when I am running a revision session you must attend your timetabled lesson! As a result the after school revision sessions, Tuesday lesson 2 and Tuesday lessons 5 & 7 are vital that you attend. The other sessions will be for you to all bring your individual concerns questions etc and to have a space to revise and complete mock questions etc. </div><div><br></div><div>Any problems or questions let me know.</div><div>Cheers, Mrs M</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-87351563619213425432014-01-01T23:55:00.001+00:002014-01-01T23:56:59.370+00:00RESIT: MS1 Audio-Visual Revision MaterialSo I have put my thinking hat on, trying to get my head around what audio-visual material may come up and so far here are my thoughts...<div><br></div><div>TV material has been used frequently:</div><div>- Great Expectations means that historical drama would probably be ruled out for film too</div><div><br></div><div>- Rugby last year means that anything sports related is likely to be ignored</div><div><br></div><div>- News has been used a few years ago so may not come up.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Soooo I am hoping that this means either a film trailers, adverts, film or game extracts or music video. I would be surprised if music video comes up as there is not much coverage of the music industry within the course. It's been a big year for both the film and gaming industry so in an ideal world we would see a film trailer or advert for a game, which would play to your strengths having started studying gaming and advertising industry for Year 13 and focusing on the Film industry for coursework for Year 12 and 13.</div><div><br></div><div>As we know none of this is set in stone but it helps to be extra prepared in areas that are likely to come up whilst making sure you are prepared for all potential topics. </div><div><br></div><div>I am posting links for some material that I hope is along the lines of potential exam material for you to practice question 1 textual analysis and make notes on the representations within the texts as well as audiences, targeting and responses for questions 2 and 3. Please remember that extracts or the openings could come up rather than the trailers/adverts. </div><div><br></div><div>• The Great Gatsby Film Trailer</div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/TaBVLhcHcc0">http://youtu.be/TaBVLhcHcc0</a></div><div><br></div><div>• Bioshock Infinite Game Advert </div><div> <a href="http://youtu.be/XP1t9_EJL-Y">http://youtu.be/XP1t9_EJL-Y</a></div><div><br></div><div>• Gravity Trailer</div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/bXgOaeDfmRQ">http://youtu.be/bXgOaeDfmRQ</a></div><div><br></div><div>• Tomb Raider Survivor Advert</div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/6-1Xn0hZsIw">http://youtu.be/6-1Xn0hZsIw</a></div><div><br></div><div>• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Trailer</div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/keT5CRhhy84">http://youtu.be/keT5CRhhy84</a></div><div><br></div><div>• Sims 4 Advert</div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/jSV-A6IDKWY">http://youtu.be/jSV-A6IDKWY</a></div><div><br></div><div>Hope this is helpful! Will post again tomorrow with some more revision tips and support! </div><div><br></div><div>By the way, Happy New Year! </div><div><br></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-8523558526302861432014-01-01T15:06:00.002+00:002014-01-01T15:06:27.983+00:00MS1 Resit Candidates- MOCK EXAMPlease complete the mock exam below BY MONDAY 6TH JANUARY to ensure that I can mark it Monday and return it to you for Tuesday. Please stick to the suggested times as this will give you a better chance of seeing how prepared you are. On Tuesday we will go over the A grade response to this exam paper. <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WJEC AS MEDIA STUDIES MS1 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Media Representations and Responses<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Sample Exam</span></u></strong></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 ½ hours<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></i> </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Answer all three
questions. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The number of marks is given in brackets at the
end of each question or part-question. </span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are reminded that assessment will take into
account the quality of written communication used in your answers. </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No certificate will be awarded to a candidate
detected in any unfair practice.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You have two minutes to study the questions before the following:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Study the two Film Trailers for Sherlock Holmes (2010) and Nowhere Boy
(2010) -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">EACH TRAILER WILL BE PLAYED 6 TIMES: FOR THE FIRST TWO PLAYS OF EACH
TRAILER <u>JUST WATCH</u>. YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE NOTES FOR THE REMAINING 4
PLAYS.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THERE WILL BE A GAP OF 10 MINUTES WHEN YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE FURTHER
NOTES.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BOTH TRAILERS WILL THEN BE PLAYED FOUR TIMES AGAIN WHEN YOU ARE AS
BEFORE, ADVISED TO TAKE NOTES.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0hXhGt5XPg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0hXhGt5XPg</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzvS78qO0uI"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzvS78qO0uI</span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Analyse how narrative and audio-visual codes are used to
construct the trailers. (40) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(a) Choose one of the film trailers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suggest two different audiences and give
brief reasons for your choice. <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(6)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(b) Explore how the trailer you have chosen in 2a attempts
to target audiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(9) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(c) In what ways do different audiences respond differently
to the same media text? Refer to your own detailed examples. <span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(15) </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With reference to your own detailed examples, explore the different
representations of masculinity in the media today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 8;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(30)</span><br />
Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-55586501644296674562013-12-30T10:35:00.001+00:002013-12-30T10:35:22.289+00:00MS1 RepresentationHi all,<div><br></div><div>Hope you had a brilliant Christmas! I will be posting quite a few things this week, particularly in preparation for the MS1 Resit next week! I will post a mock on here to be completed FULLY and handed in on the Monday so that I can mark it for you and return it on the Tuesday. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Anyway... I watched a very challenging, interesting and thought provoking video that summed up the representation of women in the Media in 2013. This was made by an American group called The Representation Project, their website is below, have a nose at their posts and resources etc. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://therepresentationproject.org/</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-65094762520858475672013-12-17T18:33:00.001+00:002013-12-17T18:33:21.507+00:00All St Alban's Media StudentsPLEASE complete this survey, I know the people conducting the research and it would really benefit them and us as a school and media department. <div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DKMB5C7">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DKMB5C7</a></div><div><br></div><div>Cheers guys,</div><div>Mrs M</div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-20009318987298730882013-12-17T09:05:00.001+00:002013-12-17T09:05:33.612+00:00MESSAGE-Year 13So very sorry guys but I am not in as my little boy is poorly! <div><br></div><div>SOOO...I should be in tomorrow and I know that many of you have WBAC this week but if you are doing the resit exam I NEED to teach you guys on Thursday for the double instead of my year 12's. Can you please tell Ms Margerison? If you leave your booklets and any work to be marked on my desk I'll do it for Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Check out this link for a great media blog with plenty of info on theory. Can you familiarise yourself with this and your media theory booklets for Thursday and make sure you bring them in with pink booklets etc. </div><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://media-radar.blogspot.co.uk/p/theory.html?m=1</span></div><div> </div><div>Thursday's Resit lessons 5 & 7 are COMPULSORY if you are resitting MS1 so make sure you are there. Callum if you can join us too please?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>For today's lesson work on your investigations. A BIG plea is that you use the booklets, examples and videos etc that I have provided you as it will be obvious if you have not. Reminder that deadline is Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Secret Santa is today and I'm sad to not be there but I have left a big Merry Christmas gift bag for you to leave your pressies in to swap them. Luckily my neighbour is delivering my pressie for the person I have. Hope it's fun! </div><div><br></div><div>See you tomorrow!</div><div>Mrs M </div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-89362993097712419802013-12-16T16:42:00.001+00:002013-12-16T16:42:05.442+00:00MESSAGE FOR YEAR 12Unfortunately you won't have a lesson on Tuesday due to the Year 11 Mock Art exam so rather than giving you a task Mrs Davies has kindly suggested you spend the time beginning the tasks that have been set for over the Christmas holidays.<br />
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Thanks and see you all Wednesday,<br />
Mrs McCarthyMrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-79839131241167056032013-12-12T11:47:00.001+00:002013-12-12T11:47:49.549+00:00MS3 Key Ideas in Media BookAnother excellent source here for all of you Year 13's. Click on the link below to view the google book and click on the titles on the contents page to take you to the relevant pages. Reference this source as a book not a webpage please.<br />
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<a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9g2DzGywU2AC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=Key+Ideas+in+Media&source=bl&ots=EaQVGokxf2&sig=HP0ntdp-5ea_rkabe99oiKHCEHA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yKCpUur9G8XN7AbXxYBA&ved=0CF0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Key%20Ideas%20in%20Media&f=false">http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9g2DzGywU2AC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=Key+Ideas+in+Media&source=bl&ots=EaQVGokxf2&sig=HP0ntdp-5ea_rkabe99oiKHCEHA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yKCpUur9G8XN7AbXxYBA&ved=0CF0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Key%20Ideas%20in%20Media&f=false</a>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-44583844276526409762013-12-12T10:11:00.000+00:002013-12-12T12:58:56.487+00:00MS3 Thriller GroupMichael and Ethan have a look at the link below, its an online prview of an excellent book on Thriller's. You could reference this if you find some useful quotations but it should be referenced as a book.<br />
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<a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=yqRNiYpofMcC&pg=PA273&lpg=PA273&dq=narrative+and+ideology+in+the+british+spy+thriller&source=bl&ots=58vQlsKq9x&sig=xmxVqi8IXuniqEICvDnPecXHjNM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=g4WpUtLRKeTT7AbcxIB4#v=onepage&q=narrative%20and%20ideology%20in%20the%20british%20spy%20thriller&f=false">http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=yqRNiYpofMcC&pg=PA273&lpg=PA273&dq=narrative+and+ideology+in+the+british+spy+thriller&source=bl&ots=58vQlsKq9x&sig=xmxVqi8IXuniqEICvDnPecXHjNM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=g4WpUtLRKeTT7AbcxIB4#v=onepage&q=narrative%20and%20ideology%20in%20the%20british%20spy%20thriller&f=false</a>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-85076368444177001022013-12-10T23:00:00.001+00:002013-12-10T23:00:18.954+00:00Resit Candidates- MS1 Media TheoryThis link is to another Media teacher's blog and their post on a 'Rough Guide to Media Theory'. Please have nose <b>prior</b> to our lesson next Tuesday. Also have a peek at some of the other posts, they are really good! <div><br><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://brianair.wordpress.com/film-theory/rough-guide-to-media-theory/</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-12931432241298682142013-12-09T21:12:00.001+00:002013-12-09T21:12:40.031+00:00MS1 Resit Exam OverviewThis document gives a great summary of the exam and some tips on timing and structure- we will discuss this further in the morning. <div><br></div><div>A reminder that WJEC have confirmed that your exam will be audio-visual based.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://www.slideshare.net/ddoggart/ms1-summary-of-exam</span></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-71564981229049833182013-12-09T18:28:00.001+00:002013-12-09T18:29:09.042+00:00IMPORTANT! Year 13 Resit CandidatesYour exam is a month today! You must be at tomorrow's resit lesson, period 2. I will need all tasks set so far to be submitted so that they can be marked and returned to you for next week. I will be handing out essential revision tools tomorrow and setting an important task. <div><br></div><div>Tasks set so far- </div><div>- Representation examples (text for each type of representation) </div><div>- GQ and Saga past paper answers in bullet point format</div><div>- Sims 2 and Kidulthood past paper answers in bullet point format</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow we are looking at theories and refreshing on exam technique. Please bring your Media theory booklets (the pretty one's), your pink revision booklet and any outstanding work.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks, Mrs M </div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235709795448190561.post-57388587635427926212013-12-04T08:40:00.001+00:002013-12-04T08:41:50.290+00:00Year 12 MS2 Pre-production TaskApologies but I am not in today so your task is in preparation for tomorrow's lesson when I will be in. <div>Before films can be made, the writers or directors have to pitch their ideas to the production company. This can be a lengthy process involving several presentations and written documents such as a treatment. This process is usually started with an extremely short pitch explaining their film concept in the simplest and most efficient way. They usually get an opportunity to share between 25 words or 5 lines. In fact the original pitch for 'Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone' was- It's about a boy who goes to wizarding school. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Your task is to produce a brief initial pitch for your own film idea that you will be using for your coursework. Please post this on your blog AND bring a copy to the lesson to present to the class tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>Looking forward to hearing all your great ideas!</div><div><br></div>Mrs C McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09924808735879629848noreply@blogger.com0