Narrative Theory - Jelly Baby Task

The History of The Jelly Baby Four

All is good in jelly baby world and the baby four are all happy.

However black jelly baby was feeling out of favour.

He felt the team should be more adventurous.

However the rest of the team disagreed, and out of frustration, black jelly baby left.

He went to a secret hideout at the far end of town, while the rest turned  their back and headed off. 

Embracing his new evil side black jelly baby took the weakest of his friends, Orange. 

He took Orange all the way to his hideout and......

He killed him, as Orange refused to join him.

After realizing that they were missing a man the rest of the gang came to look for Orange, however to their shock they found him dead.

The Rest of the gang in their anger looked for black knowing he had killed Orange and surrounded him. A huge battle was initiated and finally.....

Red and Yellow mounted their revenge and defeated black jelly baby, and in so swearing they would defend good and battle evil in order to honor their late friend Orange. 

Aim of the Task:

The aim of this task was simply to learn how narrative works and what it actually means. We used Todorov's theory of equilibrium – disequilibrium – new equilibrium and used jelly babies to demonstrate this. From the task we learnt that narrative is not the story but the way the story is made up. Todorov's theory suggests that in the beginning of a story there is a balanced state that is considered normal. Then a problem occurs that leads to a disturbance in what is considered normal. Finally a new equilibrium is formed where another (new) state of normal is created. (For more read the narrative theory post)

Explanation of shot types with examples from your photographs

The following photos present shot types that me and my friends have taken in a range of areas. We did this in the previous lesson in order to aid our learning of the types of shots and their effects in different scenarios. Shots such as POV shots (point of view), close up; there are many other types as well.

Close Up
This (left) is an example of a close up shot. A close up is a shot that is zoomed into the face of a person. It shows the persons full face and is good for showing emotions. It can also be used when someone is thinking so you can see their facial expressions.



Over the Shoulder
This (right) is an example of an over the shoulder shot. It is taken just above the persons shoulder and shows part of the person's head, but the man purpose of the shot is to show both half of the back of the person, and what is over his shoulder.

Birds eye view
This (left) is an example of a birds eye view shot. It is taken from the view of above a person, as if it were from the perspective of a bird, hence the name. It is generally used in movies and TV shows to show a large group of people in an area usually walking busily.




Extreme wide shot
This (right) is an example of an extreme wide shot. It is taken to show a wide range of space leaving your view of the person in the shot as minuscule in comparison to the area around them. It is not the best shot to view the expressions of a person and therefore is usually used to show a group of people or is a shot that is increasingly zoomed out to show a person on their own. Emphasising loneliness.

High angle
This (left) is an example of a high angle shot. It shows the person from the perspective of being slightly above. It is probably best used to make the person look inferior to the person from which the shot is taken. For example a child being shouted at by a teacher or their parent, the child is seen as the weaker person.


Cantered shot
This (right) is an example of cantered or slanted shot. It shows the person at an angle, slanted, but it can also be used to show objects from the point of view of someone else. In movies and TV shows it is most often used to show someone falling or their view of something when falling.

Worms eye view 
This (left) is an example of a worms eye view. It is taken from below the person looking up, from a view of that like a worm. In movies and TV shows it is often used to show the view of someone injured and on the floor looking up. Whether it is an injured man looking at the person that has hurt or a person trying to help them.





Low Angle

This (right) is an example of a low angle shot. It is taken from slightly below the person, looking up. In most scenarios these shots are used to show someone dominant or in power. For example if a mafia boss was look down at someone, this would be the most suitable shot to use. 

2 Shot

This (below) is an example of a 2 shot. As simple as the title it is basically used show 2 people in one shot. Often used to show 2 people either having a conversation, fight, you name it, as long is shows 2 people in the shot.

 

Mid Shot

This (right) is an example of a mid shot. In using a mid shot the person aims to show someone in mid range. By that I mean it shows someone from head to waist. A simple yet effect shot and one we probably see most often in TV and Movies.

 POV Shot

This (below) is an example of a POV shot (point of view). It shows whatever the person taking the shot would see. For example if someone was walking towards a door, the viewer would see what the person sees (the door in this case). It is often used to allow the viewer to enter the shoes of the person and can also create a sense of tension.

Extreme Long Shot (below)

A lot like the extreme wide shot, also shows very little detail of the face. It mainly shows the full body of the person and what is around them. It is most often used to show the person alone like the extreme wide shot

Long Shot (below)

Closer than the extreme shot however is still yet to show much detail and therefore is not used to show facial expressions or anything of the sort but to show the person full on and possible show body language.

Mid Long Shot (below)

Closer than the long shot, we are beginning to see the face but not to the extent that we can define facial expressions and features. It is often used in the same sort of scenarios as a long shot as you see the same sort of things.

Mid Close Up (below)

We can now see facial expressions clearly, the shot also shows the shoulders as well as the head of the person. The shot can be used in various scenarios, whether you wish to use it and eventually zoom into an XCU or to show someone's face in a confrontation.

Extreme Close Up

This is an example of an extreme close up shot. Zoomed completely into the persons face to the extent that you can see a bead of seat falling from their face if they wanted to. It is a shot most often used to show the slightest of facial movements, whether it be a twitch, tear or sweat. Commonly seen in cowboy movies were there is a confrontation to show the sternness in their eyes.

Eye Level 

Another shot stated in the name. The eye level shot shows the eyes level with the camera in a close up shot. It is often used to simple show a persons face and their eyes starring at the camera. The viewer is made to feel a sense of eeriness as the persons almost stares into the viewers soul.

 

Sound Techniques

Sound Techniques

Dialogue

Conversation between 2 or more characters. It is appropriate to use this when trying to show simple talk between two or more people.

Diegetic Sound

Any noise or sound in the scene or that the character (not the actor) can hear in the scene. This is good for when you want both the character(s) and the audience to hear something in the scene. 

Non-Diegetic Sound

Sounds that the character can’t hear (e.g. trailer music). Most often used as background music to events happening or used influence pace in a scene.

Sound Motif

A sound that becomes associated with a person, thing or programme, (e.g. theme song). This sort of sound is often used several times in the piece or is used as a theme song and is consistently heard in each episode or film.

Synchronous Sound

The visual actions move at the same time as the music or sound.

Contrapuntal Sound

Sound that doesn’t match the visuals (e.g. happy music at a funeral).

Voice Over

Character or Narrator speaking but you can’t see them or see their mouth moving. Is appropriate to use trying to allow the audience to hear the character(s) thoughts.

Soundtrack

None Diegetic sound that plays over the clip. Appropriate for a trailer to play as background music.

Ambient Sound

Everyday noise you hear in the scene, to make the scene seem more realistic.

Sound Perspective

Refers to the distance of the sound, from the characters perspective (e.g. echo, clock ticking, e.c.t)

Mode of Address/Direct Address

The narrator or character addresses the audience directly

Sound Bridge

Sound bridges can lead in or out of a scene, it bridges across 2 scenes (sound blends to scenes together)

Editing Technique

Cut

The cut is the most common type of video transition that allows you to cut out errors or the end a scene. It gives the effect of a swift transition to another scene.

Cross Fade/Dissolve

A Cross Fade is gradual fade from one shot to another. It often used to slow down the shots and transitions to allow the viewer to clearly see what is on show.

Shot, Reverse Shot

         Used to show something or someone from over a persons shoulder (over the shoulder shot), allowing the viewer to feel as if they are behind the person looking.

Jump Cut

A jump cut is a transition between two shots that speeds ahead of time (jumps) forward. A section of the clip becomes removed.

Graphic Match and Cut Away

Cut between 2 different objects in which the two shots graphically match (look similar), linking to shots metaphorically.

Cut away

Visually cut to a different image and then back to the person talking.

Parallel editing

A technique that cuts between two separate events, which are happening at the same time.

Match on Action

Is a cut that joins two different views of the same action (for example someone’s body and feet when walking down the stairs).

Montage

Showing a long passage of time in a short clip, things seem to happening at once, and the end usually ends with a fade out.

Wipe

A wipe is a transition where the screen is cleared and slid into a different scene or shot as if someone had wiped away the past shot.

Mise en scene analysis

Mise en scene analysis

Definition: Mise en scene is how props and a scene are put together to portray a place in a movie or media footage in order to enhance the reality of a scene.  

There are 6 elements of mise en scene:

• Set
• Props
• Costume, hair and make up
• Character performance
• Lighting
• Shot Type

The shot below is taken from an episode of a show called 'Breaking Bad', were the main character, Walter, begins to spend the money he has earned on a car for both him and his son.



First of all, to analyse the set is to pick out and make connotations and denotations in relation to the scenery. The set is of a sunny neighbourhood. In the neighbourhood we can see houses and greenery and it looks like a good and rather rich one. From this we can connote that the character Walter is rather wealthy in order to be living in such a neighbourhood. We can denote that there aren't many houses and the setting is at a place and time where the weather is sunny and bright.

When analysing props we analyse the objects and items in the scene. Firstly in the scene we can see that there are two cars, likely to be of high expense there is also a beautiful stretch of houses and greenery behind. From seeing the two cars we can connote that the character, 'Walter' is a bold and probably carefree person. This is evident as he not only has bought one expensive car but two. What I can denote however is that he is a wealthy person as only someone with wealth could buy such cars.

From the shot it is hard to see the costume, hair and make up of the characters and therefore I cannot analyse that from the image. I can neither fully analyse the performance of the characters as I can barely see them and it is a still image, however I can suggest that they are rather happy as they are pulled up in the driveway with two expensive cars.

I can however analyse the lighting in the scene. It is a very sunny day and as a result the cars begin to glisten and shine. This has been done effectively as it draws the audiences attention to the cars, so that we the audience can greater realize how impressive the vehicles are. The warmth the light gives can connote happiness and joy, this relates to the feelings of the characters. The lighting denotes however that simply the weather is bright and sunny out.

From the shot we can also identify that the sun is out and the it is dry with nice lighting. The use of such lighting shows that were they are is a place in which the weather is nice and the areas are clear. This further shows an understanding of wealth as the day matches the cars, perfect. The light also shines nicely on the cars, almost making it sparkle. This enhances the beauty of the cars as the glisten in the sun light. It also further his wealth as his cars are beautiful cars. The colours in the scene are also rather bright and match the bright light from the sun. The bright colour of the props draws your attention to them (for example the car on the left) and shows the audience not only the quality of the car but also indicates Walter's boldness to buy such a car on a whim.

Finally the shot type used. The image shot type is a Long shot at a high angle. It allows the audience to see the important things in the scene (the cars) and the use of high angle helps show the glow of the cars and it makes the cars look big so that the audience are attracted to them.

Micro and Macro Analysis

Macro
Macro relates to the bigger aspects, the main themes of a media piece. 

Genre
The genre is the group of film or video that is done and is determined by the types footage involved. For example if the film includes fast paced, active scenarios the genre is most likely going to be action or thriller. The are a range of different genres: horror, action, comedy, romance and more.  

Representation
Representation relates to how finer aspects relate to the general representation of a theme. For example, by analysing clothing in a scene, you can further relate this to a person or place. This demonstrates how representation is used when analysing a scene or piece.

Audience
First of all, to define, an audience is a collection of people that view or listen to pieces of media. So when using the audience in macro analysis we are inquiring how the pieces of media relate to the audience. Whether it is for a target group, or what types of media link to the greater group of people. We also use it when link smaller aspects (micro) in our analysis. For example what impacts actions in the piece will have on the audience.

Institution
A media institution is a large organisation that owns smaller media groups in the industry. So when linking macro to micro analysis in relation to institution, we are linking how the scene or cinematography relates to the organisation. So for example how a setting relates to the BBC and what we are accustomed to seeing from them.

Narrative
The Narrative equates to the way events in a piece of media are put together and displayed to an audience. So when we begin to analyse the narrative we are looking at the way the media is pieced together. For example if linking the narrative to a micro piece, such as the mise en scene, we are looking for how the setting of the scene links to the overall putting together of the media piece. For example how a haunted house relates to a horror movie.

Micro
Micro is the smaller aspects of a media piece that link to the bigger pieces (Macro).

Cinematography
Cinematography is simply the technique of media photography, involving the development of the media and the shooting of it. When linking cinematography to a main theme, we begin to look at how the shooting and development of the film equates to themes like the Genre (how the shot types aid the presentation of the film and what type of film is being portrayed) and how the shots aid the other main themes.  

Mise en Scene
The Mise en Scene is basically the setting for a scene. When relating this to main theme, we begin to look at how the setting affects the genre of the film, for example a restaurant for a romantic scene, the representation, how pieces in the setting link to the representation of a person or even country, the audience, what the scene does to affect the audience, e.ct.

Costume and Props
The costume and props relate to how things in the scene link to the general themes. For example how a persons clothing or accessories relate to the representation of a person or place.

Sound
There are many sound effects used in media, for example diegetic and non diegetic sound. When being used in macro and micro analysis it relates to how the sound affects the main theme and what difference it makes to media.

Editing
The editing refers to how pieces in the media are altered or changed to fit the purpose of the media or whether it is to change or cut out excessive pieces in the media. When using it to analyse macro and micro it links to how the editing of the media aids the reflection of the media piece.

Macro and Micro Analysis

Analysis of Breaking Bad scene - Costume and props and Representation

In this scene the main character starts of at a garage where he sells his car to the mechanic. Upon opening the car door he picks up his hat, a black hat.

The hat is shown in a close up shot (above). This connotes that the hat has some power and has a relevance to the main character (Walter's) decision making a close up is also used to make sure that the audience is aware of it and its importance to the scene. When picking up the hat, the hat's focus increases as it comes towards us however when first spotting it, it is completely blurred. This shows that the creators of the scene plan to create a sense of intrigue as we the audience what to know what Walter has spotted and why it is important to the scene. Upon picking up the hat a change seems to be instantly struck in him. He gains a leap in confidence and minutes later we seem pulling into his house drive way with a new car for both him and his son. The hat here is the micro piece, it is a costume prop and when put on by the main character (Walter) it sparks something in him he gains confidence and because bold. This relates to the representation of the character, Walter. It shows us that he is a spur of the moment kind of persons that thinks on instinct and is not afraid to make a bold decision, even more so when he is wearing the hat.











Also when buying the first set of cars, his son feels that the car isn't as good as they could get, he shows this in his facial expression. A close up is then shown of Walter, wearing the hat and thinking about what his son has just let him know. The shot again connotes that the hat has power and strikes confidence in Walter as soon after, without hesitation, Walter and his son appear again in a new set of cars completely different. This also shows the boldness of Walter and in a sense it begins to represent America as a country. A rich country with power, not afraid to spend and be impulsive.