er and radio times essay

Using a comparison of the two texts as a starting point consider the issues and debates that they raise

You should consider:

© Key concepts

© Media theory

© Wider concepts

Two texts to analyse: Cover of Radio times from 3-9 April 1976 and the title sequence of ER’s 13 series

The cover of the radio times is from 1976, almost 32 years older than the more modern contemporary comparison text of ER’s title sequence from the 13^th series. The aim of both texts however even though one is print and one is moving image is to summarise the actual text and attract a particular audience to view the text itself.

The Radio times cover was originally in black and white, this is because of the time this issue was printed, which is the 70’s and colour print wasn’t yet established. The ER title sequence however is much more modern, and is a moving text therefore changes the messages sent across to viewers dramatically. The title sequence is able to engage the audience with its fast paced editing and music. These elements of media language have a very large impact on its viewers.

Both texts focus on hospital dramas, from different centuries. From this representation differences within the years the audience is able to relate to the programmes. For the radio times there are just 5 female nurses, all white. This would help the audience in the 70’s relate to these characters. The women were seen in maternal orientated roles, which were familiarised with because women in those days were just starting the revolution of feminism. They were happy to see women in other roles apart from housewives in any programme, but what they did not realise was the lack of females shown. For example in angels all these women are nurses, none are seen as doctors which keeps them very low in the hierarchy of hospital jobs. Nurses are usually midwives, or give patients bed baths etc, again giving them a maternal role. ER is able to subvert this idea, and not only do they show woman superior to men but also portray different ethnicities. The audience sees Black and Asian people working alongside white people. These individuals are not just placed in an act of tokenism, because the female Asian is a surgeon, whose life is immensely focused upon.

The radio times cover shows the females happy with their jobs, all 5 women are smiling and looking at an x-ray, this was a misrepresentation because women were seen to be consistently happy. ER’s title sequence alone is able to portray all kinds of emotion, panic, anger, sadness, ecstatic etc. This is a much more realistic view of normal people’s lives, allowing more people to relate to the characters.

The ER is broadcasted on NBC in the U.S and on channel 4 in the U.K whereas “angels” was broadcasted on BBC, who also owned the radio times. The radio times was the only TV listings magazine in that time whereas now the audience has many TV listing guides. At that time the Radio times had become a monopoly because it was the only of what was to come on TV for the next week, whereas now we have the internet and other magazines, this shows how much technology has developed allowing competitors to rise for BBC, and because the BBC owned the Radio times they were able to heavily advertise their programmes more than other channels.

Both texts show women but none are objectified, women’s are respectfully portrayed in order to avoid any disagreements. In the 70’s the feminist movement had just risen therefore producers and directors were very wary of how women were portrayed. The costumes provided for the “angels” were all white not only connoting them as real angels but also “Madonna’s” as described by Laura Mulvey there are only two stereotypes that female characters conform to, and they are either a Madonna, who is pure in every form or a whore who is sexually objectified for the male gaze. These women were not objectified but were placed on the cover for other real women to relate to them. However a sexually objectified form of women has always created a stereotype of nurses. Nurses for men don’t usually mean a person looking after an ill individual, but more of treating them in other ways. Therefore these nurses were seen through a fetishistic gaze, by males.

In terms of props, iconic elements within both texts are x rays. The nurses are holding an x ray, something which is directly linked to hospitals and it is also used within the title sequences throughout in the background. This therefore shows that audiences are able to pick up on these iconic elements to identify the hospital drama genre.

Overall both texts, however large the time space between them have elements which allow the audiences to identify the genre, but have dramatically changed in terms of representation because of the feminist movement which allows females to grasp the essence of equality within the media.

EsSaY

The two trailers to be analysed are “scream” (1996) and “The Ring” (2002). Both of these films conform to horror conventions but one is more of a slasher film and “The Ring” is more of a psychological panic.
Both trailers aim to persuade audiences to go watch the film. They usually do this by leaving the audience wanting more.

“The Ring” (2002) is a remake of the Japanese film ringu (1998), which worked extremely well. The narrative was unique and interesting, therefore Hollywood producers decided on a remake, using American actors and a better known language, English. This was a great decision as it worked so well with audiences. There was a follow up called “The Ring” 2. The original ringu won 6 awards, and “The Ring” itself won 7 awards. “Scream” is a well established film because it had its follow ups “scream” 2 and 3. Films such as “The Ring” and “scream” give audience a sense of satisfaction and many types of pleasures of which they may not receive from other genre films. Horror films allow a sense of emotional pleasure, because they encourage the audience to feel like the characters, so sense of fear arises within the viewers. Visceral pleasure is also gained form this as the audience may sometimes feel as if they are on a “rollercoaster ride”. They are able to feel the emotions of the protagonist so when they are secure the audience feels happy but as they are chased and killed, the audience feels the quick pacing heartbeat and the fear of the characters.

The first shot in the “scream” trailer is of the phone. This is a crucial prop within these films as they usually give a sense of someone there but allows no visual appearance of this character keeping them a mystery for the audiences to solve. The camera itself is ignored by the female within the shot therefore giving a feel of voyeurism by the audience, they are watching here in her home when they shouldn’t be, alongside the stalker, who is calling her. This allows interaction with the audience persuading them more to like the film and the narrative. “The Ring” first scene however is of the inside of a VCR. This allows the audience to understand that the focal point of the film is the film they watch within it. We then move on to watching the film, with the characters in the film. Although this may sound confusing this again allows interaction with the audience as they feel part of the main characters lives.

“The Ring” trailer starts off with a voice over of a female describing the video they watch that kills people. The music kicks in when she talks about the phone call which says “you will die in 7 days”. The music is from piano, but has low notes and high notes together creating confusion and anticipation within the audience. When the main protagonist (who is a female) decides she wants to try and avoid her death, the music gets stronger yet more discordant as it changes to stringed instruments. The music builds up and a choir joins in making the last few scenes more dramatic than they seem. The music has a great impact on its audiences because it draws them into the film. The music then fades out with a “scream” at the end of the trailer. “Scream” trailer has no music for the first 30 seconds. This is so the audience pays close attention to the conversation between the character and the stalker. The dramatic sound from the window breaking alerts the audience of the narrative behind the film.

Both films focus on people watching things they shouldn’t. In “The Ring” it’s the death video and in “Scream” its scary movies. The stalker in “scream” has become this way because of his love of scary movies and tries to re-act them in reality. This shows the characters going against the 3 vital rules of the 2 wise monkeys. “See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.” Most horror films do follow the act of a sin, whether this may be pre-marital sex, alcohol and drugs or anything which may not be right. Horror movies show audiences they must never do anything against what they were taught since childhood. This could be talking to strangers or going out in the dark etc. However films like these may also create a sense of an un-existing moral panic. The trailer for “scream” includes titles which say “do not pick up the phone” and “do not open the door”. This creates fear in the littlest most basic things in life, but because of these trailers and because of the impact of this, the audience wants more and go to watch the film.

The trailers both work well in attracting its audiences because it involves them within the plot and makes them feel part of the film.

coverwork essay

THE RING
a. Form/Function-->trailer...to persuade audiences to go and watch the films
b. M-I-G-R-A-I-N-->black and white, fuzzy images to allow fear and authenticity...close ups of reactions, close up of pupils dilated, showing fear. music builds up anticipation.dreamworks.horrow/thriller.woman strong and independant, but rattled by the mystery, has a man in the story in order to complete the female almost allow hope for a relationship. child, boy...makes him vulnerable but more stronger than a small girl.samara...female...showing females and cruel individuals.
c. Other related texts
d. WC (SHEP)---social, historical, economical, political...social rep of female stronger independent
e. Issues & Debates
f. Relevant Theories

SCREAM

a. Form/Function-->trailer...to persuade audiences to go and watch the films
b. M-I-G-R-A-I-N-->phone ringing sound is shocking almost, hear the man on the phone, seems normal at first bright lighting in the comfort of her home, Dimensionfilms.music builds up to anticipation/climax, girls getting chased around by a killer. almost slasher. teenagers, sinful.
c. Other related texts
d. WC (SHEP)social...teenage wasted , alcohol and sex driven
e. Issues & Debates
f. Relevant Theories

scream

The ring

Genre:horror/thriller

similarities: calling on the phone.

unknown "stalker"

slow editing at first, longer the trailer runs the quicker the editing gets

med guardian

Monkey gets big-screen tea break

Monkey, the star of the fondly-remembered ITV Digital ad campaigns and the current face of PG Tips, is to appear in a Michael Palin-esque cinema extravaganza this Easter.

In a film called "A Tale of Two Continents", Monkey gets to have his first big-screen kiss as he embarks on a light-hearted romp through the history of tea.

"What the world needed was a hero," opens the voiceover for the trailer for the five-minute cinema advert by advertising agency Mother. "What the world got was a monkey".

The film, which features Monkey playing roles including tea-drinking Chinese Emperor Shennong, a jungle explorer and captain of a tea clipper, will run in cinemas from March 21 to April 10.

A trailer for the short film has been released to MediaGuardian.co.uk.

"Inspiration for the style of the film came from the old public information films that used to run where a central character is used to portray a message in an engaging way," said Nicola Waymark, the senior brand manager at PG Tips.

PG Tips has negotiated to take a five-minute slot of advertising space to run the mini-adventure before family films including the Spiderwick Chronicles, Horton Hears a Who, Gameplan and Hannah Montana.

The short film forms part of a wider PG Tips campaign to raise awareness of its tie-up with the sustainability organisation Rainforest Alliance to source its tea.

In the film, which credits Monkey as both writer and director, "Britain's favourite knitted chimp" says his intention is to "change the world one cup at a time".

The tie-up with Rainforest Alliance will eventually see all of PG Tips tea sourced from certified growers by 2010. It will be promoted by a more traditional TV and press campaign starting on Wednesday.

"While we are running a standard campaign we also wanted to find a different way to entertain and engage," Waymark said. "The cinema is a great environment with a captive audience that will respond to you as long as you get it right and Monkey has great appeal."

Monkey made a return to TV after almost six years last January when he was reunited with Johnny Vegas to star in PG Tips advertising. The duo rose to fame as the faces of the ill-fated ITV Digital service that closed in 2002.