Textual Analysis of Eastenders

Visual Codes
The first visual code I discovered in the first 5 minutes of Eastenders were the clothes that the characters wear. The characters are wearing normal everyday clothes so that it looks realistic and like a normal day. Bobby was wearing school uniform which indicated the time of the day which it is at the stard of the programme. The audience know it is the morning because Bobby is in school uniform and is being taken to school by Ian. Secondly, I identified the setting. The first setting we encounter is the cafe where 4 characters are engaging in conversation. The characters look anxious as they are talking about an issue. Their body language shows the audience that they are worried and confused. There's also scenes in a house, in the street, pub. The settings are things we encounter everyday. This gives the audience a sense of escapism as the audience can relate to this and its like they are having an insight on the characters life. When Tamwar is talking to Alice, he is shy and nervous and stumbling is words, portraying to the audience that he likes her.

Technical Codes
At the start of the show, the lighting is dark as Dexter and his mum are having a serious conversation. It shows the intensity of the conversation. The close up shot shows the audience the facial expressions of Dexter giving a sense of empathy as they can understand his emotion. There is a mid shot in Tamwars house and the cafe. The lighting turns softer in the cafe to set more natural day lighting. There's a mid shot of the characters as they walk into the cafe, this shows there posture and how they are walking in. They walk in quite fiercely and seriously as they know a serious conversation is going to take place. When Michael and Alice are having a conversation, cross cutting is used to make the audience feel involved in the conversation and they have close up shots of their face to show their expression during the conversation. Montage is used throughout the programme as it represents the passage of time throughout the day in the programme.

Audio Codes
Throughout the whole programme, there's digetic sounds like the characters talking and things we hear everyday such as objects moving, cars, doors opening/closing, footsteps. The non digetic sounds in this programme is the opening title music and the sound effects at the end. The sound effects at the end of the programme are the same throughout the whole series of Eastenders. It gives familiarity to the audience so they know that the programme is closing to an ends. Also, Eastenders usually ends on a cliffhanger so the music adds the to intensity and builts suspense, giving the audience a feeling of curiosity making them eager to know what is going to happen next. This gives them a reason to continue watching.

ww.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03bq8p8/EastEnders_24_09_2013/

Match of the Day - Audience Task

Match of the Day is BBC's main football programme. The intended audience is stereotypically men of any age. This gives the programme a wide audience. Match of the day gives the audience social integration. Men are always talking about football, and this programme shows the highlights of football so they can talk about the best bits. Also, if they've missed a football match, they can get the facts of it from this show so that they a can catch up and not miss out in discussion. It also gives the audience personal identity, they have an interest in football so they enjoy this show.

X Factor - Audience Task

The X Factor has a very wide audience because it is based on music, which a lot of people take an interest in. Also, it isn't just a specific type of music, it has a range of music. The intended audience would be families, younger people, and couples. This is because it involves social integration so people can discuss the show whilst watching it aswell as after the show has aired. X Factor is also commonly mentioned on social networking sites the evenings that it is showed. This makes people want to see what is going on and get involved in the action. It gives the audience escapism and entertainment. They can relax and unwind whilst watching the X Factor on a Saturday and Sunday evening whilst getting glimpses of comedy, usually from the auditions. The programme is constructed and meditated in different ways. For example, in the auditions, they will film all the people auditioning, but only pick the extremely good ones or the funny ones to be shown in the hour. Also, at the judges houses, we only see the best bits such as the upsets and singing but we don't see what goes on behind close doors as it isn't entertaining for the audience.

Have I Got News For You - Audience Task

The intended audience for Have I Got News For You is generally for older people such as 25+ due to its content. It is shown on a Friday evening post watershed which would mean the language used is inappropriate for people of a younger age. It meets the uses and gratifications such as information. If people are interest in current events from the week then it would be shown on Have I Got News For You but with a comedy twist on it. This meets the uses and gratifications of entertainment and escapism. The audience are still getting the information they are curious for but they are also getting entertained whilst doing so. They can escape the negatives of the headlines and gain a positive from the comedy aspect. It is constructed and mediated by them recording an hours worth of footage but then only using half an hours worth of the 'comedy gold' and best moments. Also this is because the host usually can say whatever they want and 'sail close to the wind' but by recording an hours worth and then only using half an hour then the producers can cut out any of the too inappropriate footage and only use the suitable and decent parts.

Hollyoaks and Hollyoaks Later - Audience Task

The intended audience for these programmes are teenagers to young adults. This is because of the young, attractive characters and the situations they face. It meets certain uses and gratifications such as entertainment and escapism as the continuous storylines keep the audience engaged and they can relate to or feel superior to the situations. It also meets social integration as when an event occurs, other people who watch the show who you socialise with will be talking about it and you can join in and converse about the show. The programme is constructed and mediated by filming a mass number of the same scene and choosing the one that the producers think the actors have performed best.

Social Intergration - Uses and Gratification

Social integration is where the media text the audience engages in can become a topic of conversation. For example, the film Incidious 2 recently debuted and many people went to go and see it. When people talk about the film and you haven't seen it, you feel like you're missing out and want to join in on the conversation.

Entertainment and Escapism - Uses and Gratification

Entertainment and escapism is when the audience can watch a specific programme of their choice to gain entertainment or to even escape from reality after a bad day. Miranda is a suitable programme for this as it is a comedy. The comedy aspect entertains the audience and also the situation the main character Miranda gets her self into makes the audience feel superior such as the her lack of love interest and arguments with her mother.  It is usually on in the evenings which gives the audience the chance to relax and enjoy the programme after their day.

Information - Uses and Gratification

Information is where the audience finds out about relevant events in society and the world, seeks advice on practical matters or opinion, satisfies their curiosity and can learn and gain knowledge. An example for this would be a news programme, such as Sky News. On Sky News the audience can engage in information around the world. They find out the latest global headlines, sport updates and other general information of what is going on in our society. If an audience, for example, is curious to know if any further action in Syria has been taken, they can look at Sky News(TV, website, mobile phone app etc) to satisfy their interest.

Personal Identity - Uses and gratification

 

Personal identity is when the active audience identify themselves as part of an audience for specific media texts. Great British Bake off is an example for this because if you have an interest in making cakes then this programme would be of an interest to you as it is based on your interest. The audience can relate to this and also gain ideas and thoughts of what to bake and how to bake it. The audience and hosts share interests which keeps the audience engaged to the media text.

How race is represented in the media

Apu is a middle aged Indian male in the Simpsons. He works/owns the Kwik-E-Mart. This is a stereotypical view because we think of Indian males or families to own a shop. It's not necessary a negative representation of race but it aids our stereotypical view. Another programme where this same stereotype is portrayed is Coronation Street with Dev. Dev is also a middle aged Indian male who owns a corner shop.

How class is represented in the media

This article is about Prince William but he is represented in a negative way. Straight away the headline, 'Let Prince William save lives, - he's no use to us sat on his bum', gives out the impression that the Royal Family, especially Prince William do nothing worthwhile for the country but still maintain their power. This denotes that the only reason they are of upper class is because they were born into the Royal Family and have not gained their class through their personal values and skills. Throughout the article the Royal Family are penalised for the amount of money they have but they do not do anything for it. "We're actually making him scrounge off the state" Fleet Street Fox says in the article after people paid for him to train in the forces, yet he isn't making worthwhile use of his training. Fleet Street Fox mocks the Royal Family and makes remarks on how we could privatise the Royal Family and make money off them. This article shows Upper class to be not all it seems to be, it is proven to be snobby in this article and Fleet Street Fox is highly opposing the class system.  The quote "If the Royals are to survive they have to prove their worth, just as the rest of us have to" shows the reader this. Fleet Street Fox believes that if we have to use our values and skills to get an income, then it doesn't matter if the Royal Family are of Upper Class, everyone should be treated equally and actually get money for their own doing. 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/privatise-royal-family-watch-die-2271004

How age is represented in the media

In the film, Attack The Block, age is represented in a negative way. It gives the impression to the audience that teenagers of our generation are 'chavs' and looking for trouble. Although Attack The Block has a comedy aspect to it, the way the characters are dressed and the way they talk gives this impression. It exploits teenagers as they are portrayed as idiotic and rebellious when infact its just a small minority of people in our society who are actually like that. It doesn't help the stereotype that people of an older generation think that teenagers are criminals, badly behaved, and 'thugs'. On the other hand, the comedy side of this film gives a slightly positive outlooks on teenagers, showing them having fun and that the life that they are acting out isn't all about being badly behaved. 

How sexuality is represented in the media

Currently in Hollyoaks, there's are several cases of homosexuality. The first one is between George and Vincent. Vincent had to flea his country because of his sexuality(homosexual) and then came to the fictional suburb Chester to restart his life but he carried on pretending to be straight because he has been forced to believe that homosexuality wrong. On the other hand, George is also homosexual but he is proud, this is a positive representation of different sexuality. When Vincent and George meet, George tries to convince Vincent that its fine to be homosexual but Vincent isn't convinced. This is a bad representation of sexuality but not from our nation(as Vincent is an illegal immigrant). The second case of homosexuality is between Tilly and Ester, they are in a happy and stable homosexual relationship and they have been accepted into society. This is also a positive representation of homosexuality. The third one is between John - Paul and Danny who are both teachers. The family has accepted their relationship but it is inevitable that they will lose their job if the school found out about the relationship. Overall, there are more homosexual characters in Hollyoaks yet they aren't judged which is very positive. The rest of the characters are hetrosexually - just like how we see our society. Some people believe homosexuality is wrong whereas other accept it, this is mainly to do with upbringing and personal beliefs. 

How gender is represented in the media

In the TV soap Coronation Street, gender is represented in a positive way. Males and females are treated equally as its a TV show based on everyday life. In everyday life we hardly get interference from sexism so that's why in Coronation street there is no sexism as it can be deemed offensive and inappropriate. It shows all aspects of different genders. It proves that men can be hairdressers and be heterosexual(David Platt). It goes against a stereotypical view of how things in our society are. When people think of a domestic relationship, they think its the male giving the abuse as they are perceived to have more power and are more dominating in a relationship. One major storyline in Coronation Street recently was the domestically violent relationship between Tyrone and Kirsty, however it was Tyrone who was receiving abuse off Kirsty. This shows that many things in reality go against our stereotypes we have grown to believe. 

http://youtu.be/4bgcHYhvY74