Representation

In the media world different groups are represented differently as to how some people perceive them. As a group, teenagers are represented in the media world sometimes accurately and sometimes completely wrong. In the media teenagers are typically represented as cliches or stereotypes. Shows and movies represent girls as a constant source of drama and limit people by being in cliques. Another stereotype would be a dumb blonde in a friend group, the one who is always slow to understand and one who is more noticed for her looks rather than her smarts. Boys are also stereotyped in many shows and films. Boys are typically stereotyped as the jock, the geek, or the bad boy, but shows and films have created a combination of the jock/bully archetype. Archetypes, similar to this one, exist in the world but are not as cliched or dramatic as shown in shows and movies.

An example of where girls are represented as a constant source of drama is within the show "Pretty Little Liars" and the movie "Mean Girls". In the show and movie a group of girls are featured and are typically best friends and they have created their own little clique. These groups of girls would typically reject anyone from joining the group unless the "alpha" of the group wants to allow the person to join, mainly for bad reasons. Along with the movie "Mean Girls" the stereotype of the dumb blonde is utilized. The character Karen Smith is the blonde friend of the group and is portrayed as this character who is slow to understand and agrees with anything anyone says. An example of where boys are represented as a jock, geek, bad boy, or the archetype of jock/bully is within the shows "13 Reasons Why" and "Riverdale". The character Zach from "13 Reasons Why" and the character Reggie from "Riverdale" fit the archetype jock/bully within the shows. The show "Riverdale" dramatizes the archetype therefore exaggerating the thought of boys with this archetype in the real world.

I feel that these representation characteristics are unfair. As a teenager, still in high school, I don't see these types of cliques, stereotypes, or jock/bully archetypes at my school. Everyone has their own friend group and there is no one group, or group of girls, that is classified as the group that is a constant source of drama. Boys at my school may be classified as a jock or geek but there are archetypes at my school that are a combination of both. There are characteristics of a dumb jock or dumb blonde. Times have changed and because I go to a big school I feel that everyone doesn't have the time to meticulously shuffle through the groups at the school and classify one as certain stereotypical group.

I would retain the representation characteristics of geek (both genders) and jock. Although these characteristics are not directly classified to one person, they are still relevant to the real world. Someone may characterize a person as a jock, but that person could also be very smart which could also characterize them as a geek. This could create the archetype of jock/geek. I would challenge the representation characteristic of the dumb blonde. I would do this because no one is characterized as dumb and just because a person, a girl in this instance, is blonde does not automatically mean she is dumb. This stereotype could be offensive to blondes because there are blondes in the world who are quite smart and automatically characterizing blondes as dumb is wrong.

Genre Research - Comedy

1. Genre: Comedy

2. Genre conventions - content
In the film genre comedy, target audiences vary as it can be split into many sub genres. Comedies aimed toward children are typically slap stick comedy or crude humor (i.e. Shrek films, Monsters vs Aliens). These films are targeting 5 to 13 year olds. Other comedy films are spoof films featuring very crude humor but with a more adult humor (i.e. Scary Movie). These films are targeting 15 to 18 year olds, but more toward 15 to 24 year old boys because of its crude humor. Romantic comedies, on the other hand, have subtle humor for they are supposed to be "laugh out loud" comedy (i.e. Love Actually, 10 Things I Hate About You). These films are targeted mainly toward women about the age of 13 to 24. Comedy movies have a main emphasis of humor. They are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement and is most often done by exaggerating characteristics for humorous effect. They are light-hearted dramas, crafted to amuse, entertain, and provoke enjoyment. The genre humorously exaggerates the situation, language, action, and characters. The genre often observes the deficiencies and frustrations of life, providing merriment and a momentary escape from day-to-day life. Comedies usually have happy endings, even if the humor may have a pessimistic side.

3. Genre conventions - production techniques
Comedies usually come in two general formats: comedian-led (featuring impeccable timing with gags, jokes, or sketches) and situation-comedies which are told within a narrative. These comedy elements may appear together and/or overlap. There are also comedy hybrids which commonly exist with other major genres, such as musical-comedy, horror-comedy, and comedy-thriller. Sub genres have also been developed through comedy, such as romantic comedy, crime comedy, sports comedy, teen or coming-of-age comedy and military comedy. Comedy as a genre also has many different kinds, types, or forms of comedy: slapstick, deadpan, verbal comedy, screwball, black or dark comedy, and parody or spoofs.

4. Institutional conventions - how is genre marketed?
Just like any other film, comedy films are marketed through trailers or teasers or clips of the movie revealed. Another way film is marketed is by the posters that are held up in different places for people to see. Comedy films can be marketed by revealing certain scenarios where one character could be clumsy and start falling all over the place and exaggerate the entire situation including the character's reaction.

5. Film sample #1: The 40-Year-Old Virgin
This movie embodies comedy because the movie exaggerates the missing necessities of Steve Carell's character.

6. Film sample #2: Dumb and Dumber
This movie embodies the genre of comedy because the film includes crude humor with more adult humor revealed through Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels' characters.

7. Other film examples:
a. The Hangover (2009) - Comedy
b. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) - Comedy
c. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - Drama/Comedy
d. Clueless (1995) - Comedy/Teen Film
e. The Big Lebowski (1998) - Crime/Indie Film 

Genre Research - Fantasy

1. Genre: Fantasy
2. Genre conventions - content

In the film genre, fantasy, the typical target for an audience appeals to both children and adults, depending on the film. Fantasy films take the audience to fairy-tale places where events are unlikely to occur in real life. Films could include a mythological or legendary sense. This would typically transcend the bounds of human possibility and physical laws. Fantasy would be in the context of imagination, dreams, or hallucinations of a character or within a storyteller’s vision. It is typical for a fantasy film to feature a hero that would often undergo some sort of mystical experience, and seek assistance from a powerful, superhuman force. The predominant characters in fantasy films are typically princes or princesses. Some other fantasy films would feature supernatural characters such as angels, fairies, gnomes or dwarves. At times, other characters who would represent the divine or evil spirits would be incorporated into the films, and often overlap with supernatural films. These types of fantasy films are often inspired or taken from myth or legend; it would fill the audience with a sense of awe and touch off deep primal emotions.

3. Genre conventions - production techniques

Fantasy films typically focus on the unreal factors to feature in the movies. For example, The Lord of the Rings filmmakers use forced perspective that makes use of the fact that objects in the distance appear smaller than those in the foreground. This creates a sense that one character may be bigger or smaller than a certain object or other character. Unique and original sound effects are created for fantasy movies to draw in audiences and make them believe the created worlds are real. Color is also used as a statement in fantasy films to draw attention to certain scenes and create tone for the film.

4. Institutional conventions - how is genre marketed?

Fantasy films are marketed through trailers, just like any other film, but incorporated snip-its of certain scenes to reveal the genre of fantasy. After fantasy films are released products from the movies are released, such as costumes, dolls/action figures, or other products.

5. Film sample #1: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

This movie embodies the genre of fantasy because the movie features supernatural characters such as dwarves and hobbits.

6. Film sample #2: The Chronicles of Narnia

This film embodies Fantasy because the film incorporates mystical creatures and includes context of imagination, fairytale settings, magic, and wonder.

7. Other film examples:
1. Edward Scissorhands (1990) - Drama/Fantasy
2. Labyrinth (1986) - Fantasy/Adventure
3. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) - Fantasy/Comedy
4. The Wizard of Oz (1939) - Fantasy/Adventure
5. Harry Potter Series (2001-2011) - Fantasy/Fiction
6. Maleficent (2014) - Fantasy/Action
7. The Avengers (2012) - Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Gabbie; I am a 17-year-old high school senior. I am currently taking a Cambridge AICE class: AICE Media Studies AS Level. This class allows me to learn various techniques about numerous media platforms. I have created this blog to share my research and allow others to have access to this first-hand knowledge. I am excited to share this with everyone. Hopefully, in the future I can share other discoveries with you. I hope you enjoy reading my posts!