Q8 & Q9

Question 8: Analyse the use of media language to create meaning in the online Observer home page.                     Give two examples. [5 marks]

Media language is used to create meaning in the online Observer home page, as it's all set out in a formal and highly structured way. It's all set out in rows and columns in a very linear way which connotes its seriousness.

Another way in which media language is used to create meaning, are the colours used in the extract. The colours of the royal blue and dark red accent colours on the top of each headline represent another sense of seriousness  and it shows us how mature it is. This can be backed up by one of the headlines, which is 'May begs the public: unite behind me on Brexit deal.' This is a serious headline as it's about Brexit and having to leave the EU, this all links back to the choice of colours to make the Observer seem like a news company that people can trust.


Question 9: 'The representations featured in the online Observer reflect its values and beliefs.'
                    Discuss how far you agree with this statement. In your answer, you must:

•           Analyse the representations featured in the extract with reference to the Observer's                      values and beliefs
•           Make judgements and draw conclusions about how far you agree with the statement.                  [15 marks]

The extract of the Observer shows that it reflects its values and beliefs, as it includes a variety of different headlines based on completely different topics.

One of the main topics they talk about is hard news. There are 9 different headlines that say the word "Brexit" or "Politics" in it, which makes people want to read the extract, as it's quite serious. This also shows that they are presenting up-to-date news and it is hard news in Britain at this current time and having this as the main headline shows how important it is and how the Observer is a serious political newspaper.

There is also hard news on international affairs in this extract, as there's a headline on "US Immigration" and "Saudi dissidents." This connotes internationalism, as the Observer are interested in sharing news that's not just from Britain, but they enjoy sharing news from other countries around the world, which shows what else is important around the world.

Music and News - Q4

In this extract, the main splash image of Bob Marley, has been shot in a way in which we can tell he is a very friendly and happy person, and we can tell this by the way he is standing, which is very relaxed. This could connote that reggae musicians are very friendly people. The colours of this magazine are solid white, red, green and yellow. These colours are bright and bold and symbolises Jamaica as a whole. This shows us that Bob Marley comes from Jamaica as his surname is in those colours.

Majority of the bottom half of the magazine cover, is covered with the 'Jamaican Explosion.' The colours to the word explosion, are also in red, yellow and green, which symbolises Jamaica again. The image shows someone in an older time showing us the instruments used in reggae, which we can see look old and much different to instruments people would use now. This could show us the history and how far reggae music has come as a whole.

Music Videos - Q2

This video is documentary style mostly hand-held camerawork, de-saturated colour and fast-paced editing. SB
This video has saturated colour, more controlled camerawork, slower-paced editing. TD
This video consists of mostly montage shots. SB
This video has more developed editing with cause and effect.TD
In this video, the singer values rebellion, which is seen in the narrative.SB
In this video, the singer values 'fitting in', conformity, albeit to an oppressive system, which is seen in the narrative. TD
This video is set in LA, a big city, with its connotations of street credibility. SB
The mise-en-scene of this video is American suburbia with its connotations of conformity. TD
This video is intertextual in its narrative (=it makes references to high school drama). TD
In this video, the singer performs to camera. SB
In this video, real locations and 'everyday' costume for the performers connote a sense of naturalism. SB
In this video, there is a sense of linear narrative (a story is told, in the order it unfolds). TD

Observer Messages and Values - Q9

1.  The major use of newspapers is to offer a sense of knowing
what is going on in the world.The Observer knows that its readers are serious and interested in international affairs. This is evident in hard news articles about..... the politics in the UK. One of the articles talks about Brexit and its headline is 'Taking back control? Brexit seems to offer exactly the opposite.'
2. The Observer meets its audience's need for a range of cultural, sporting and artistic news. It provides these with... talking about music. One of the headlines is 'Brit award nominations topped by Anne-Marie and Dua Lipa - again.'
3. The Observer does not shy away from 'difficult' issues that could make uncomfortable reading, such as... 'How the Albanian mafia seized control of the UK drugs trade.'
4.  The Observer has sections which are designed to appeal to
different types of readers.The Observer reflects the diversity of its readership in articles on... the 'Christianity in China' headline, where they talk about jailing pastors, closing churches and rewriting scripture books.
5.  Newspaper readership can still be used as a symbol of one’s

social identity. The term ‘Guardian reader’ connotes a certain

type of social attitude and The Observer  similarly reinforces

a set of social and political attitudes, and thus identity, in its

representations. For example, Observer  readers like to think

of themselves as open-minded and this is reflected in the

Observer’s practice of allowing both sides of an argument

equally to be put when the newspaper is clearly on one side

of this argument. There is an example of this in.... 'Sleep-deprived pupils need extra hour in bed.'

6.  The entertainment function of newspapers may take the

form of humour.  It may take the form of diversion into

a celebrity world of ‘glamour’. It may take the form of human

interest stories in which readers are invited to sympathise with

the subjects of the article. Newspapers further offer games,

puzzles, crosswords and the like. At the higher end, sections

such as the New Review in the Observer may offer the pleasure

of extremely well-written think pieces and literature reviews. An example of this is.... 'Brit award nominations topped by Anne-Marie and Dua Lipa - again.'

MOJO MAGAZINE Q4

On the magazine cover, one of the first things to catch our eyes is the main splash. The main splash is the large image in the center of the page. In this case, it's of Ray Davies. Ray Davies' head covers the masthead as well. The masthead is the big text at the top of the page which has the logo of the magazine on it. As MOJO is a well known music magazine company, they have edited Ray Davies head over it as people will be familiar with MOJO. This also creates an effect as it could also show that he stands out more as he is on top of the title.


The colours on the cover work quite well as they have chosen a black background with a black and white picture of Ray Davies. The main colours we can see on the page are black and white with a bit of yellow and red. This makes the yellow and red stand out more and it shows that they're giving exclusive and informative information that you wouldn't want to miss on as it's all on a black background.

Finally, the cover lines on the side give us lots of information as well. The cover lines go on the edges of magazines so we know what else is inside of the issue instead of the main splash because not everyone would be interested in just the main splash itself. Also, the title 'Ray Davies' blends in with the cover lines in the sense that it's in the same place as the other ones. The only difference is that it has a white outline of each letter so it stands out a bit more.

SOAP OPERA

This photo is the title sequence. This shows us where the show is set, as the show is called eastenders, they got an aerial shot of above the east end.

In this photo, the person on the left looks upset and disappointed as she is in hospital and the person on the right looks upset as well as it looks like he wants her to get better.

This photo shows us two people. The man on the right looks like he has maybe been punched in the stomach ans he is holding it and he looks like he is in pain.

In this photo, the man looks like he is scared as he has possibly been threatened by someone about something as he looks shocked.

CUFFS Q3

HOW FAR DOES THE EXTRACT TRY TO CREATE A SENSE THAT IT IS PORTRAYING 'REAL LIFE?'


In this extract, we can see that some scenes try to create a sense that portrays real life.
An example of this happening in the extract, is when the extras get involved and get scared. In the extract, we see that when the police officers catch the criminals' breaking into the shop, they tell the extras to get away from the site to avoid any danger put towards them. After this, they start screaming, getting low and running away. This shows us how frightened they really are which also shows a sense of realism and how real the scene is.

Another example that shows how realistic the scene is, is the clothing the police and criminals' are wearing. This is an example of mise-en-scene as clothing is to do with the set. The police wear their uniforms and the criminals' wear dark black clothing with balaclava which is the stereotypical clothing for them. This shows a sense of realism as this is what we imagine them in and what we think of if they get mentioned, and that is what they show on the screen to us.

We also hear the sirens when they the police officers are in their cars on their way to the crime scene. This is one of the sounds that we hear that show some realism as when police officers need to get to the crime scene as soon as possible, they would put their sirens on so people can hear them and so the police can get through any traffic. This happens in the show as well because we can hear the sirens in one of the scenes when they are in their cars so this shows that they are trying to make the show as realistic as possible by using most features police officers would use.

A final example that shows the realism of the show is the timing that it would be on TV. The watershed time is 9pm which means that any shows aired on TV from 9pm and onwards would not be suitable for children. The show 'Cuffs' was aired on TV every week at 9pm. This tells us that this show is not suitable for young children to be watching on their own. In the extract, there is a scene where we see a group of 2-3 armed robbers, breaking into a shop and stealing different items. Parents wouldn't want their children to be seeing this, so that they don't do it themselves when they are older because they saw someone else do it. This shows a sense of realism because in real life, if there was a crime scene during the day, then police would tell everyone to clear the area as they don't wasn't anyone to get hurt and sometimes children are told to get away as well. The violence and swearing shows that the show is on at the correct time of night.

In conclusion, I feel that the extract does try really hard to create a sense that is portraying real life and I think that it does very well as nearly everything we see on screen about police officers, police scene etc, is done in real life the same way.