Waterloo road Representation 

Character: Finn Sharkey

Finn Sharkey is a character in the drama series Waterloo Road. He’s a cheeky chap who likes to get into trouble. I would describe his behaviour as a ‘typical teenager’. He deceives his parents and teachers. We normally see him in his school uniform which is smart. Suggesting that he wants to come across as intelligent and a ‘moral student’ and I think that deep down this bad boy wants to be good. His appearance is very much the opposite of his personality. He’s represented just like regular teenage boys, being interested in girls and football. 

Uses and gratification 


'The need for information on the geographical and social world news'
Day after tomorrow
2012
Remember me

'The need for identity, by using characters and personalities to define out sense of self and social behaviour'
My sister's keeper
Harry potter
Mean girls

'The need for social interaction through experiencing the relationship and interaction from others'
Sex in the city
Dear john
Superbad

'The need for diversion by using the media for purposes of play and entertainment'
Shaun of the dead
Phone booth
The inbetweeners

Audience and institution

I believe that all media texts have a specific target audience. Reality shows, the news and soaps have a mass audience of all different types of people. Events like the World Cup, the Olympics and most recently The Royal Wedding also attract mass audiences in their millions from 'all walks of life'. However pregames such as skins have a target audience for students specifically. So their audience ranges from 16-20 year olds.
I would say roughly 70% of my media interaction takes place when i am on my own and 30% when i am with others. Media consumption can take place through watching films and T.v, whether it's at the cinema or on DVD. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter help people to interact with current affairs with friends and celebrities. Music is a big chunk in my media consumption  i have a Spotify account and Ipod to listen to music on, i also use websites such as YouTube to discover not only music but  interesting videos/clips. I also look through blogs for ideas and entertainment.

 How do i share my media experiences?

- Text
- Facebook/ twitter.
-Blog
- phone
- talking (word of mouth)

Britney Spears: Toxic

 This music video of Britney spears shows her as an air hostess, being sexually forward with the men on board the plane. In the first few seconds of the clip we see her shuffling up the isle with her skirt riding up revealing her bottom and frilly nickers. This would appeal to heterosexual men and homosexuals; it's almost playing out a fantasy by her being dressed up as an air hostess. The dress she's wearing has her chest area cut out, the mid shot focuses in on this and is immediately what  people are drawn to. The mid shot camera angle also makes us focus in on certain areas of her such as her waist, bottom, legs and facial expressions. There are a lot of cuts in this video; the next cut shows Britney sporting a transparent glittery all in one costume. In this cut we also see her rolling around on the floor  showing off her limberness . Her facial expression is sexually seductive/invitational e.g.  putting her finger in her mouth and leaning forward to show off the fact that her costume is transparent and the audience has full view of her chest.

 Julia Saner-oil rust

The 'gaze theories' are used in this clip of super model Julia Saner advertising for oil rust.
The video begins by using an extreme close up of her eyes, which are slightly covered by her wet hair which suggest she has sweat on her or it could be oil for 'oil rust' campaign.
She gives a soft/introverted look straight into the camera that makes her look powerful and intimidates her audience. There is also a close up as she strokes her wet stomach, which is sexually suggestive.
Her wet hair falls in her face and the gaze here would be sexual and invitational. 0:25 the chocolate box gaze is present where she gives a slight smile. Which projects to the audience as a seductive look .She the gives a satisfied smile and throws her head back which would again be a sexual soft/introverted gaze (0:29/1:44). She also gives a romantic look (0:33). A practical gazed is also used when she frowns (1:22) to suggest she is angry or concentrating. Finally at the end of the video/advert Julia saner show's us all the finger and looks cool/carefree.

Chocolate box: 


 'half or full-smile, lips together or slightly parted, teeth barely visible, full or three-quarter face to camera. Projected mood: blandly pleasing, warm bath warmth, where uniformity of features in their smooth perfection is devoid of uniqueness or of individuality.'

Invitational: 

  'emphasis on the eyes, mouth shut or with only a hint of a smile, head to one side or looking back to camera. Projected mood: suggestive of mischief or mystery, the hint of contact potential rather than sexual promise, the cover equivalent of advertising’s soft sell.'


super-smiler: 

 'full face, wide open toothy smile, head thrust forward or chin thrown back, hair often wind-blown. Projected mood: aggressive, ‘look-at-me’ demanding, the hard sell, ‘big come-on’ approach.'

Romantic/sexual:  


 'more general classification devised to include male and female ‘two-somes’; or the dreamy, heavy-lidded, unsmiling big-heads, or the overtly sensual or sexual. Projected moods: possible ‘available’ and definitely ‘available’.


(Marjorie Ferguson)








seductive: 

Seductive: similar to the cool/level look in many respects - the eyes are less wide, perhaps shaded, the expression is less reserved but still self-sufficient and confident; milder versions may include a slight smile.












 

Carefree: 

 ' nymphlike, active, healthy, gay, vibrant, outdoor girl; long unrestrained outward-flowing hair, more outward-going than the above, often smiling or grinning.'

 

Practical:

 'Concentrating, engaged on the business in hand, mouth closed, eyes object-directed, sometimes a slight frown; hair often short or tied back.'

Comic:
  'Deliberately ridiculous, exaggerated, acting the fool, pulling faces for the benefit of a real or imaginary audience, sometimes close to a sort of archness.'


Catalogue: 
 'A neutral look as of a dummy, artificial, waxlike; features may be in any position, but most likely to be with eyes open wide and a smile, but the look remains vacant and empty; personality has been removed.'

(Trevor Millum)

Freddie Ljungberg Calvin Klein advert

'The male gaze'

This mid shot of the male model striking a strong, looking straight into the camera to appeal to the public. By looking directly into the camera that is slightly a low angle shot,  it creates power/authority and makes us (audience) seem powerless.

 The image of Freddie show's of his muscular Physique that men might aspire to have. However men could also be intimidated by this.   The way his hand is placed on his boxers (product)  is  sexually suggestive and you are drawn to the product. We also see that he is wearing some sort of lip gloss and a necklace, this insinuates the model is metro sexual and comfortable with his sexuality. Where he is pulling his boxers down slightly, his hand is also in a fist which gives off an aggressive mood. His strong fist is also right where the 'Calvin klein' logo is, so we are again drawn to the product and the brand. 

The tattoo on his torso seems to be a panther or some sort of wild animal which possibly reflects his personality. It also gives him a tough look. Red is associated with romance, love, sex and possibly danger. Him holding onto the metal bar could be a phallex symbol. 

Eva Mendes for Clavin Klein 

This advert image is selling the world-wide brand Calvin Klein Underwear. Women and men view this image very differently. 'The male gaze' see's the model as an object. They see a beautiful female with a good physique. Both the long shots show the model with her legs open, which is sexually suggestive. He body seems to have been 'oiled up' or sweaty. The message to viewers to therefore that if you buy this underwear you're going to have a better sex life. This translates in her posing and facial expression also. 

The photographer has chose to take a low angled shot on the image to the right and the model has her hands on her hips in both frames. This makes the women look more powerful and incharge. Which arguable could intimidate the female viewer or homosexual. I believe that women feel slightly envious of the models body and this sexual image with a beautiful women in make us (females) feel unsexy and jealous. Therefore we would want to go out and but this underwear to make us feel more sexy and look like the models we see here and in general the media. 

The fact that she isn't looking directly into the camera is mysterious because we can't see her whole face, therefore there is more fantasy there for the male viewer. Her high heeled shoes also create fantasy, because normally it would be strippers who wear heels in there underwear.So it's something we don't see often in real life. 

 Example of camera shots:
 Mid shot.

 Long shot

 Close up

 Over the shoulder
 High angled shot

  Low angled shot

Representation on Lester Burnhams - (American Beauty).


Lester Burnhams is a character in the film 'American Beauty'. He is represented as an average american man in his 40's. He is married to a women who has complete control over him. They have one child, a teenage girl. Lester works in sales and his wife works in real estate. 

Lester's job is under threat due to cuts being made. His office is a small, grey boxed shape area which suggests boredom and dullness in his life. The lines on his computer screen which we see, signifies him being trapped. 

When we see Lester lying in bed with his wife a high angled shot is used and the elevating music is played. This creates a calm atmosphere. The use of the high angled shot makes Lester seen small and unimportant, it also invites the audience into his thoughts. We see facial expressions more clearly this way.

When Lester goes into his daughters high school to watch her dance we see a different side to him. In this scene he becomes very awkward and reverts back to his teenage years, having an erotic dream about his daughters friend. These kind of thoughts wouldn't be normal behavior for a middle aged, married man. So what makes Lester Burnhams different?

His house almost represents a show home, it's extremely tidy and not homely. This could be linked to the fact that his wife is a perfectionist in real estate. The walls are very plain, dull and everything is in place. Just the way his wife likes it. When the family sit down for dinner they sit at the table with candles, silver cutlery and red roses (that are a recurring important part in the film) 

It seems as if Lester has no fun. His wife shouts at him and belittles him all the time, especially infront of his daughter who won't talk to him anyway. As well as these factors, Lester has a failing job. Life for Lester Burnhams is boring and repetitive. 

Lester is also the voice over (narrator) in the film. Therefore we build up a biased opinion on the things Lester does/says because he has made us sympathize with him in his miserable life.  

Representation-The man

  From looking at this mans trousers we see that he is scruffy. the fact that they are rolled up could suggest that they are hand me downs and the oddly stitching was probably done by himself. He is stood in the middle of the street with people around him giving him a wide birth, his stance shows him relaxing and taking in his surroundings.

I turns out this man is a New Yorker and goes by the name of Doug Bilmaier. He works for  Ralph Lauren and is in charge of their vintage department...who'd have though it.

About me

I have chosen media because i'm intrested in Tv, music and film. Along with media i study Art, Sociology and English literature. I don't tend to read glossy gossip magazines, instead i read nme magazine and I-D magazine which focuses on my interests being fashion, art and music.


My favourtie films include: The Notebook, The Hangover, Superbad, My Sisters Keeper, Mean girls ans Edward scissor hands. Tim Burton is my favourite director.


Music: The vaccines, Lana Del Rey, Arcade fire, Biffy clyro, The black keys, Bon Iver, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, The coral, The courteeners, The drums, Foals, Hotchip, Kings of leon, Laura Marling and SBTRKT (to name a few). 

artist: I like Tracy Emins controversial work.My favourite pieces are 'My bed' and 'The new black'  I also enjoy the mystery man with the political message 'Banksy'. 


 
 This is one of my favourite Banksy indoor pieces.