Siren Media

Media Terminology

semiotics – the study of the language of images
scopophilia – the viewing of images for their beauty, usually refers to the human figure
denote – the common sense meaning of what you see – what is actually there
connote – the meanings implied by what is actually there
audience – the group of consumers that respond to media products
genre – a category of media text defined by its codes and conventions
audio codes – the use of sound to signify meaning
visual codes - the use visual elements to signify meaning
low angle – the camera filming from a low angle to signify power
high angle – the camera filming for a high angle to signify vulnerability
rat-in-the-trap shot – a high angle shot that makes the subject look trapped
doppleganger shot – a reflective or mirror shot connoting a double meaning
narrative – the use of plot and story
representation – the process by which the texts constructs the story and the figures in it
controlling ideology – the ideas that dominate and controls our society
production values – the quality of a text usually related to the cost
media text – the media product, film, magazine, or advert that is the subject of study
referent – the graphic that may refer to another image, like the R in Sopranos
extratextual knowlege – the knowledge that the audience have that the characters don’t have
intertextual references – the way in which one text may refer to another

TV Tears

So anyhoo, I’m back on this blog just to see if anyone’s listening. This could become another loose end or a bright future for Ciren COllege blogging, but just for now here’s something about the future of TV that might entertain you – that is, of course, if you can access youtube!

DIY Creativity

Okay this is my blog so, just occasionally I get to indulge in a little unashamed self – publicity. Here’s a link to a book I have self published on Lulu  http://www.lulu.com/content/788743. feel free to buy it!

DRM

To you that’s Digital Restrictions Management aka – that stuff you ignore when you download music or anything illegally – and how is this relevant to New Technology? Because Apple and EMI have come to a deal – now EMI’s catalogue can be downloaded DRM free through iTunes – for a price (you may have noticed that the default price has gone up – those of you who pay that is) – so using music on your website, MySpace or hey, in your A2 music video, can now be legal – more or less, so long as it’s EMI, iTunes, you’ve paid the right price, accepted the agreement…….. well it’s easier anyway. For an explanation check out this podcast.nowshowdrm
For some DRM free music check this concert I went to last week Barenaked Ladies have been DRM free for a long time, in fact at their concert you could buy a USB with that night’s concert on it – giving away their DRM doesn’t seem to have affected their 10 million worldwide sales – now go and watch an XFiles with no lights on http://www.bnlmusic.com/
If you think new technology is tough, remember it has always been thus – check this out.

New Links

Check out this link see what you think
http://kinowords.edublogs.org
Plus a few others
Media Knowall
North Allerton College
Longroadmedia
Media Theory
And closer to home
Archway Blog

Do Something

If you actually feel like doing something, check the publicity here from Cre8 in Swindon.Deadline 23rd

Bond Beauty

This one’s for English and Media students

For those of you who remember that James Bond can be a cunning linguist you boffins might like to know that in Casino Royale the Macguffin (media terminology) rests on a code word ellipsis (lingustic terminology) so – if you go to see the film listen to the very beginning – what word never gets said by either Bond or his antagonist? Why is that relevant to ellipsis…?

 As to the film itself - free running, claustrophobic fights, red dresses in Venice and an objectified male – a high concept save of revived genre. bb.

A2 Start Up

SO now you’ve got your UCAS Apply login and you’ve already written you personal statement – well mostly, but now you need to get the grades to get into the unviersity, college or job of your choice. Our startups were on Critical Research. The topics are:Crime and the Media; Women and Film; Sport and the Media; Advertising. Your assignment for the summer is to choose a topic, choose some texts related to the topic and get going. Links for each topic below.

Crime and the Media
Crime figures and representation http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/sta_index.htm

http://timlambert.org/2002/10/malcolm/

News Values http://www.mediaknowall.com/gcsenews.html

Moral Panic http://www.mediaknowall.com/violence/moralpanicnotes.html

Sociology portal – www.sociology.org.uk/ladev.htm
This is a portal to several articles and sites on crime and the media

http://www.northallertoncoll.org.uk/media/crime.htm

Women and Film: This looks fun! Click on the pic!

For more go to: http://www.let.uu.nl/womens_studies/anneke/filmtheory.html

Download

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2294/is_n1-2_v38/ai_20816291/print

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/824060/index.html

Sport and the Media
Watch the World Cup – I’m watching Wimbledon

www.culture.gov.uk
covers sport sponsorship and funding, the 2012 Olympic Games etc

www.bbc.co.uk/sport
very comprehensive website covering a wide range of sports; news; and other relevant links

www.sky.com
Sky sport – very similar to BBC, more commercialisation

www.guardian.co.uk
search engine for articles about sport and the media

www.services.pa-sport.com/en/sports_media.html
PA sports services, deals with sponsorship and contract deals with TV

Advertising http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/

story_id=2787854http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/adclass/berger.html

Moving On

Okay, so exams are over and Year 1 moves into Year 2 and before you know it, you’re out, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Gap year, uni, job, apprenticeship or maybe one more year, that’s what you have got to decide in the next month or two. The biggest deadline most of you have to meet now is UCAS, look under Links and you’ll find UCAS, UCAS apply and a basic gap year link, but the first thing you will have to do is think about what course you want to do and how you are going to write your personal statement.

“You spend 3 years of your life at your chosen university so it’s important that you find out everything you can about it before you apply. Make sure the course is right for you, by checking out all the details on the web and in booklets and that the place is one you could happily live in. When reading applications I look for enthusiasm, wider reading and a personal statement that is exactly that: personal and that touch different or interesting”.
Dr Gail Ashton, admissions tutor, English, The University of Manchester

That’s what they want, you will get more info’ from your tutor but in the meantime, the college as a little advice for you on this link and if you want to know more about UCAS try this Wikipedia page and for more advice on personal statement go to this page at University Options.

English

SO, now you have a GCSE in English and you think that you would like try English Language and Literature at Ciren. Good for you, English, for me, is a nice civilised discussion of words, poetry and passion amidst the rush and tumble of the media timetable. If you’re doing both even better, but on this blog will be links and exercises, Wuthering Heights and poetry – start reading and writing.

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