Introduction to Newspapers

1) What type of news can you typically find in a tabloid newspaper?

You can find more photographs,shorter sentences and much more emotive language.

2) What type of news can you typically find in a broadsheet newspaper?

You can find more longer well built sentences, less emotive language,

3) If someone is left-wing, which political party are they likely to support? Which newspaper would they be likely to read?

Labour is left-wing and they should read the daily mail

4) If someone is right-wing, which political party are they likely to support? Which newspaper would they be likely to read?

conservative is right-wing and they should read the times

5) Why has there been a decline in newspaper sales in the last 20 years?

There has been a decline because the internet has increased in size 

6) Why is a free press important in a democracy like the UK?

 

So that the press can help inform and tell if the government is doing something incorrectly

Class: Industries and Audience

 Audience

1) What were the viewing figures for Class and why do you think it did so badly?

The viewing figures for Class started from over a million but then the last episode only had 0.28 million. I think it did so badly because most people didn't like the spin-off of Doctor Who since it was targeted towards much maturer audiences and wasn't as interesting as the original Doctor Who.

2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Class?

The audience psychographic groups that might particularly enjoy Class are Strugglers and perhaps Aspirers.

3) What audience pleasures are offered by Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.

Personal Identity: April (Student) playing a musical instrument. Concerned parents of April and Ram (protective over children) as well as parents' evening

Personal Relationships: Want to see what happens to April (protagonist)

Diversion (Escapism): Shadow Realm (setting - links to Sci-Fi)

Surveillance (Information / Facts): Discover April's father is back and she shares heart with Corakinus

4) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart?

Visceral: Shadow Realm (unknown world), Shadow Kin (aliens), the gory violence.

Vicarious: intrigued to establish whether April can defeat Corakinus.

Voyeuristic: binary oppositions (earth and Shadow Realm (alien world) experience aliens and their lives)

5) How did fans in the 'Whoniverse' (also known as 'Whovians') react to Class?
The Whovian in the video didn't like April and feels that she is kind of 'fake', but he likes the character of the headteacher and Mattheuz is his favourite character as well as liking the way the Shadow Kin are represented in a dark, scary way. The character of the father was also quite well acted to him. He didn't understand why Ram and April's relationship developed so quickly, saying they could have had more conversations as friends first and he's confused as to what happened in the end when April gives the heart to her mother and possibly gives her the ability to walk again, which he thinks would be the most typical reaction since it doesn't make sense. Class was very different to Doctor Who as it is more of an adult version but even BBC3 didn't know who Class was targeted towards. The whole TV series wasn't organised in a neat way and was all over the place.

Industries
1) What was the objective of BBC3 when it was launched?
The objective of BBC3 when it was launched was to educate, to inform and to entertain.

2) Why did BBC3 go online-only in February 2016? 
BBC3 went online-only in February 2016 because they recognised that teenagers don't watch much TV, they are usually on their phone using other streaming services.

3) How does Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
The episode of Class Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meets BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain' by informing and educating the audience through the genre of Sci-Fi. They are entertained through the dramatic moments within the episode and the building up of tension.

4) How did the distribution of Class contribute to the failure of the show with audiences?
The distribution of Class contributed to the failure of the show with audiences because it wasn't promoted and the airing time for it was late; the series was also aired with double-bills. The series was axed after only one series, it lacked a big selling point and no one knew who the series was targeted towards.

5) What advertising and marketing was used to try and promote Class to an audience? Why do you think this wasn't very successful?
YouTube trailer videos were used to try and promote Class to an audience as well as through iPlayer and Netflix. I didn't think this was very successful because the series was released on iPlayer right after it ended on the BBC show.

Comparison: An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart

1) How are the technical conventions different between 1963 Doctor Who and 2016 Class (e.g. camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene)?
2016 Class is more modernised with more colour whereas 1962 Doctor Who doesn't show much colours, just black and white occasionally. There is more music in 2016 Class to match with the way the different scenes are portrayed. The camerawork is more professional in 2016 Class but in Doctor Who, children would be able to watch it whereas the showing of Class contains quite a bit of sexual content.

There are more interesting props in Class as it contains petals that kill living things. Doctor Who has more appearances of the Doctor whereas Class rarely invites their Doctor; the plot is quite messy for Class.

2) What similarities and differences are there between An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart in terms of the science-fiction genre?
Co-owner of a Lonely Heart is the spin-off of An Unearthly Child; a similarity between both CSPs is that there is an unknown planet with aliens in it. An Unearthly Child involves the TARDIS but the Co-owner of a Lonely Heart doesn't though the Co-owner of a Lonely Heart still involves advanced technology as well as space travel. There are both aliens who look like humans and aliens who look different in both episodes, which is another similarity. There is futuristic weapons within Co-owner of a Lonely Heart but not in An Unearthly Child. They both have the colour of blue but the Class episode includes shades of orange as well. They both have electronic, suspenseful and tense non-diegetic sounds.

3) What similarities and differences are there between An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart in terms of how they meet the BBC's remit to inform, educate and entertain?
An Unearthly Child meets the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain' through the use of Science and classroom setting inside the series, whereas Co-owner of a Lonely Heart also uses Science but only partly meets their remit; it does entertain, it could educate others about aliens within Sci-Fi genre if the audience didn't already know about it but I don't believe the Class episode informs about anything. April argues with her History teacher, which is educating and this also happens in An Unearthly Child but instead Susan is arguing with her Science teacher.

4) How are representations of people, places and groups similar or different in the two shows?
A difference between both CSPs is that the doctor is shown in An Unearthly Child whereas the doctor isn't shown at all in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart. The plots are quite different as well as the episode from Class being more modernised and the BBC doesn't know who the target audience is for the whole series whereas there is a definite target audience from the 1st episode of Doctor Who. There is an acceptance of homosexuals in Class, but the idea of homosexuality isn't introduced in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart since it only focuses on Sci-Fi and doesn't involve relationships or any sexual content. Coal Hill Academy, which is a school, also features within both shows.

5) What similarities and differences can you find in terms of the audience pleasures for An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart?

Both CSPs have a range of characters that the audience can personally identify with. The audience would want to see what happens to Susan and April in both CSPs, so a personal relationship would be formed. They both provide diversion for an audience due to the Sci-Fi genre. An Unearthly Child provides surveillance for allowing them to develop their own ideas to do with Science and technology. They both give vicarious pleasure but Class provides more such as the voyeuristic and the visceral pleasures. In both CSPs, audiences can experience space travel through the characters.

Class language and Representation

Language 1) Write an NCIS analysis for the episode - using notes from the screening in class. Co-owner of a Lonely Heart Narrative: 00:00 - 03:10 Recaps previous episodes. Corakinus tries to regain control of his heart. April is seen carrying a sword. 04:30 - 11:17 April playing violin and discovers hand turns blue, when she gets injured. Mattheuz discovers Cabinet of Souls (not empty) and that Charlie is protecting it. Ram discusses leg to father. April challenges her History teacher and breaks her locker. 11:17 - 20:50 Ram and April's relationship develops, Huw (April's dad) confronts her, Huw paralysed the mother in an accident. Corakinus aware of April sharing his heart. 23:45 - 28:17 Ram and April are caught by her mother. Tanya is confronted by Charlie. Headteacher is suspicious of Ms Quill. Jackie (April's mother) establishes ex-husband's return. 28:17 - 32:55 Headteacher seeks advice from Ms Quill in return for her freedom. Charlie and Mattheuz argue about the cabinet until Tanya interrupts mentioning about Ram and April. 32:55 - 42:19 Huw confront mother about April's powers, which after April attacks him. She then gives her mother the heart and ability to walk. April tears through space and time using her blue sword to fight the Shadow Kin, which Ram then follows her through. Character: Shadow Kin, Corakinus, April MacLean, Andrea Quill, New Female Headteacher, Jackie MacLean, Ram, Tanya Adeola, Charlie, Mattheuz, Huw MacLean, Iconography: 00:00 - 03:10 Sword, Torches, Blue flames, Smoke, CGI characters of aliens ( bright orange eyes). 04:30 - 11:17 Violin, Wheelchair, Cereal bowl, Portal, Dramatic tense music, Blue bruise, Pink petal, April's orange eyes, Cabinet of Souls, Mobile phone. 11:17 - 20:50 Projector, Electronic tense/dramatic music, Car, Sword, April's orange pupils, Pink petal (enigma code), Alienated music, Red eyes, Blood, Heavy breathing, Soft music. 23:45 - 28:17 Foreboding music (dramatic sounds, non-diegetic), Reference to 'deadly' pink petals, Dead squirrel covered in petals, Sunglasses (dark - secret identity), Mobile phone. 28:17 - 32:55 Petals in bowl doubling after fed blood, Bleeding finger, Pink/red costume/lipstick of Headteacher, Bright orange and blue colours. 32:55 - 42:19 Tense/mysterious building music (non-diegetic), Swords, Increased heartbeat, SFX, fast-paced SFX links to rising action, Blood from father and Diegetic sounds. Setting: 00:00 - 03:10 Shadow Realm (placed underneath the universe). 04:30 - 11:17 April's Home, Charlie's Home, Ram's Home, School (Coal Hill Academy). 11:17 - 20:50 In Car, Outside, April's Home, Shadow Realm, Classroom. 23:45 - 28:17 Outside School, April's Home, Headteacher's Office. 28:17 - 32:55 Headteacher's Office, Outside, Shadow Realm. 32:55 - 42:19 Outside, April's Home and Shadow Realm (cross-cutting = juxtaposition)  

  2) How does Todorov's theory of equilibrium apply to Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Equilibrium: April is the co-owner of Corakinus' heart. Disruption: April reveals her superpowers to her father. Recognition: April's father confronts her mother about April's behaviour. Reparation: April is battling with Corakinus to survive. New Equilibrium: April travels to Shadow Realm to defeat the Shadow Kin. 

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do each of the main characters in Class fit into? Hero/ine (seeks something): Charlie/April/Andrea - Trying to save his race from the Shadow Kin/Wants to defeat Corakinus and gain control/Helping Charlie so she can seek redemption and gain freedom/independence. Princess (the reward for the hero, but also needs protection from the villain): April MacLean - Considered 'damsel in distress' and needs protection against Corakinus. Villain (opposes the hero): Corakinus - Fighting the heroes and being selfish/aggressor in this war. Donor (helps the hero by providing a magic object): Andrea Quill - She is the leader of the quest (Doctor) encourages her to support them in their quest. False Hero (falsely assuming the role of hero): Ram Singh - Companion to the 'hero', also helps the narrative progress. Dispatcher (sends the hero on his/her way): Huw MacLean - Informs April's mother about her superpowers. Helper (gives support to the hero): Tanya Adeola - Communicates to the rest of the group to inform the developments in the quest. 

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Enigma Codes (non-verbal code - mystery): Conversation between Mattheuz and Charlie about Cabinet of Souls. April becomes aggressive in her History lesson - potentially sharing Corakinus' emotions. Mother regaining ability to walk - links to Sci-Fi genre encouraging narrative to next episode. Action Codes (physical code): Pink flower petals - repetition of them seen as deadly. Blue swords - significantly links to Sci-Fi genre as links to violence of antagonist (Corakinus). Orange pupils - linking her and Corakinus together.

 5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience? Light v Dark: Planet Earth (Humans) and Shadow Realm (Shadow Kin). Humans v Aliens: Tanya, Mattheuz in contrast to Corakinus, Ms Quill and Charlie. Good v Evil: Heroes, Dispatchers trying to defeat antagonist Corakinus and retrieve April's heart back (restore normality). Love v Hate: April defending her mother and attacks and confronts her father.

 Representations

 1) How is gender represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Gender stereotypes are somewhat subverted as there are usually male heroes but in Class, April can count as a heroine as well as Charlie being a homosexual who's with Mattheuz. There are also reinforced stereotypes as teenage rumours are spread about relationships in school as well as how mothers worry about their children's sexual relations and safety.

 2) How is age (e.g. teenagers; older people like teachers or parents) represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Does the show reinforce or challenge stereotypes about young people? There is parent's evening inside the episode which reinforces the coming of age genre. Parents are protective over their children which is reinforced in the episode when Ram's father worries over Ram as well as when Jackie worries over April. There is a challenging stereotype about young people as April has a disabled mother and she is the one looking after her instead of the parent looking after their child.

 3) How is race and ethnicity represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Race and ethnicity is represented in Class as mostly subverted stereotypes as Ram is Asian and he does football. Tanya's African mother is upset at Tanya because she was talking to boys; this is a reinforced stereotype. 

 4) How is sexuality represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How does this reflect the BBC's remit to represent modern Britain? Sexuality is represented as free and not judging. This reflects the BBC's remit to represent modern Britain as people have now accepted homosexual people. Charlie and Mattheuz are homosexual; there are still heterosexual people within Class, therefore they aren't rejected or judged for who they are interested in. 

5) How is disability represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Why are disabled people generally under-represented in the media and how does Class try to address this? Disability is represented as causing a dysfunctional family. Disabled people are generally under-represented in the media because people don't usually look after them and some even think they are useless. Class tries to address this as a daughter is looking after her disabled mother; some children don't tend to look after their disabled parents so Class shows how they should be looked after and how disabled people can provide moral support.