Reception Theory

Audience response
Reception theory states that media texts are encoded by the producer; they are loaded with values and messages that the producer wishes to convey to the audience. furthermore, the text is then decoded by spectators. although, different spectators will decode the text in different ways that may not be similar in how the producer intended.

There are 3 different encode meanings
 Dominate
·         How the producer wants the audience to view the media text. For example watching a speech and agreeing with it.
·         An audience member might take this reading because, they have clear messaging, the audience member is the same age/ culture, relevant to modern society, easy to follow narrative, deals with relevant themes or they like the chosen genre.
Negotiated
·         This is a compromise between the dominate and oppositional readings, where the audience accepts parts of the producer’s view, but has their own opinion as well. For example no agreeing or disagreeing with a speech.
·         An audience member might take this reading because, the audience member likes the chosen genre, is of the same age as you and understands some of the messages, but the narrative is complex and this inhibits a full understanding.
Oppositional
·         When the audience rejects the preferred reading, and creates their own meaning of the text. For example they do not agree with a speech at all.
·         An audience member might take this reading because, the video has difficult themes, may disagree with the message, dislike the chosen genre, it has a complex narrative, doesn't deal with modern day themes, audience member may have different beliefs, or a different age group.


The factors that could affect the dominate, oppositional or negotiated reading:
·         Life experience
·         Mood at the time
·         Age
·         Culture
·         Beliefs
·         Gender

The Male Gaze

The Male Gaze

The concept of gaze is one that deals with how an audience views the people presented.

For feminists it can be thought of in 3 ways:

• How men look at women
• How women look at themselves
• How women look at other women 

KEY THEORISTS BELIEFS 

Jonathan Schroeder (1998) "to gaze implies more than to look at - it signifies a psychological relationship of power, in which the gazer is superior to the object of the gaze." - this is why feminists disagree with the theory as woman are being seen as objects and men with higher authority over them. 

Feature of the Male Gaze

The camera lingers on the curves of the female body, and then the events following are largely influenced by a man's reaction to these events. Woman are shown as objects. 

Also some people have noticed the sexualisation of woman when it isn't even necessary for the product/situation being presented.

Criticisms of the theory

The male gaze could be applied to a situation of the same sex admiring the look/body image/clothing of the other in jealous, not in a sexual outlook that the theory states. Also some woman just liked to be looked at. 

When looking at a music video such as 'Shes so lovely- scouting for girls' simple questions such as the colouring of a t-shirt or what shoes were worn by one of the main people they cannot be answered by the viewer due to the 'Male Gaze' . this term was constructed by Laura Mulvey in 1975; she believes the audience have to view the characters form a heterosexual male's point of view - this would be to only focus on the woman being presenting and not noticing much else.

Todorov's Theory for Transformers

Todorov's Theory for Transformers (2007)

1.State of equilibrium:

Normal geeky teenage boy who goes to school and fancies the hot, popular girl. His aim is to get the grades to be able to a contribution of money from his dad towards a first car.  

2.Disruption by event:

He gets the grade and buys a second hand car from his dads money. The car isn't all as it seems as the radio changes when it likes and has a mind of its own. The boy later ears his car 'being stolen' and in a desperate rage to get it back he follows the car to a derelict area to discover it can transform into an alien robot.  

3.Recognition of disruption:

The initial first transformer (his car) calls out to more of his kind to come to earth from outer space. The new force of transformers approach the essential car owner with the need of his help to retrieve his grandfathers glasses which contain a important map before the villain group of transformers reach it.   

4.Attempt to repair damage:

The different sides of transformers come into conflict in the last stage, the car owner and his new girlfriend (the popular girl) are involved in the battle as well as the army to protect the country and world all together. 

5.A return or reformation of a new equilibrium:

The fight is over and the 'Decepticons' (villain side of the transformers) are dead. The boy and girl are able to return back to school with the new equilibrium of still having his car but knowing of its advanced features of transforming and speaking. another part of the new equilibrium is that the other 'Autobots' (good transformers) stay on earth to work with the army to advance their weaponry.

Todorov's Theory

Todorov's Theory

This theory states that each film has 5 stages, they are:

• A state of equilibrium (order, normality- how it should be)
• Disruption of that order by an event- disequilibrium 
• Recognition that the disorder has occurred
• Attempt to repair the damage done
• A return or restoration of a new equilibrium (may not be the original normality)

6 shots of the opening scene of Up

The genre is a romantic adventure, this is shown in this shot because they are newlyweds and she is wearing a wedding dress, they also have just bought this house because of the sign outside, the bright colours highlight the fact that they are both happy at this moment in time and also are in love which fits into the romantic conventions of a romantic adventure film. The song is played all through the opening scene which has become iconic and the sign is foreshadowing their own adventure together, it being their life.

 This mid shot reveals the couple starting their adventure together and showing how close they are. The type of camera shot is important to highlight the characters facial expressions and actions. The look on the woman’s face looking up at her husband’s shows her pure love for him. The bright colours they have developed behind them symbolises their bright dreams and future as a long lasting couple.

This is a long shot of the house completed comparison to the house as it started this supports the idea that the sign outside the door when they first moved in there is a sign to show their adventure because the house is completed, the colours are bright and bold showing that this is a happy time and that everything is going good in their life and even the trees have blossomed to show that everything is much more happier. 

By the colouring of this long mid shot you can tell that something bad as happened shown by the gloomy/grey colours. The fact she is crying in her hands means she has had some bad news about having a miscarriage. At this point the music starts getting deep and dramatic to highlight the fact that she has just lost her baby.

This wide shot shows the dreams and future of the characters and also lets the audience know the direction of the story line as an aim to be fulfilled has been set. This shows characteristics of them both that tap into the genre of film also, they're both adventurous. in addition to their characteristics, the choice of clothing is rather casual and normal showing how the couple don't take themselves too seriously or have a lot of money to waste on fancy clothes.  The fact that the painting is brighter than anything else in the room draws the attention of the audience straight to it, this shows its importance. Although the colour choice of the painting is shades of blue which symbolise sadness and misery, this symbolises how something bad happens along the way of reaching their goal. 

A close up of the books ensure the audience realising the significance of it and how much it means to the characters. It is the starting point of the whole film and its story line. The dual colours of the books suggest that it is old and well worn meaning that it contains plans that have been dreaming of for a long time. also the slight sight of the woman's position laying in bed and quite clearly wearing a hospital dress shows that the passing on of this books is symbolic of her passing away within the next few scenes afterwards. 

Preliminary Task

Script:
In the common room sits a girl doing her work, he boyfriend is walking in ready to deliver her some bad news. He pulls up a chair and sits next to her. 
Girl: what's wrong with you, why you looking so worried?
Boy: I feel so bad, I've got.. (Interrupted) 
Girl: What, why, what have you done?
Boy: Please don't just go mad; give me a chance to explain myself.
Girl: Just say it
Boy: the weekend wasn't how I planned, I regret it so much
Girl: don't have to say it. You’ve cheated on me haven't you?
(Boy goes to hug her) 
Girl: don't you dare come near me. I hope she was worth it, you piece of shit.
(Girl gets up to leave but boy pulls her back, in the motion of it she turns and slaps him) 

SHOT/REVERSE SHOT: one character is shown looking at another who is off screen. Then the other character is shown looking back at the other.

180 DEGREE RULE: the camera stays on one side of the axis for the whole scene. If it crosses this is called jumping the line.

Pitch Presentation