PREP Watch the first 10 minutes (after the title sequence is over) of The Avengers on Clickview. Analyse how sound is used in the extract to create meaning. Find at least 2 examples. You can use any part of the opening scenes - both the opening scene at the seaside at Little Bazeley or the scene in Emma Peel's flat
- first identify an example - use terminology such as diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, dialogue.
- then give the example - " Little Bazeley is constructed as a seaside village through realistic sound codes such as..."
- "One example of how sound is used is when Steed makes conversation with Emma Peel..."
- then explain what meaning is created - "In the exchange of dialogue between the fisherman and the undercover agent who arrives from the sea they talk about...... which creates suspicion and comedy because....."
- "Steed's dialogue reveals his accent and shows that he is..." "What Steed says to Emma Peel suggests that he feels in charge because...." / "Emma's comment about the coffee and cream show that..." / "Emma's throwaway comment about having just finished a scientific article shows that..."
CLASSWORK In today's class, we watch the extract from Cuffs in which the police team's canteen meal is interrupted by a call for assistance at a robbery (starts at Chapter 6 - 2:32).
We practise analysing how sound creates meaning. We also briefly consider editing (cross cutting) and camerawork (framing and camera angles).
- first we introduce an example - use terminology such as diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, dialogue.
- then identify the example - "One example of how sound is used is when casual diegetic music is playing in the canteen and the police are chatting and making jokes in a friendly way as they are eating..." / "The diegetic sound of the JCB crashing into the shop window is loud, abrasive and shocking"
- then explained what meaning is created - "The use of dialogue shows the police as normal people in the real world, making the audience relate to them in a sympathetic way..." / "The crash of the plate glass breaking creates a sense of ...." / "The JCB sounds dangerous and frightening, making the audience afraid for the female support officers who have to deal with violent crime."
Using the OCR text book, we practise answering the prep question by reading the two sample answers and the assessment comments.
We also go through Blumler and Katz's uses and gratifications framework: audiences use media to gratify their needs.
- Entertainment, escapism, diversion - escape from everyday problems and routine, excitement & fun. Cuffs and The Avengers offer the thrills of action/crime /police procedural genres; they offer humour, fun and wit
- Surveillance - information which could be useful for living, like weather reports, financial news, holiday bargains - but also, in the case of Cuffs and The Avengers, audiences watch out of curiosity about how the police and government agents handle danger and national security
- Personal Relationships - using the media for emotional and other interaction, such as substituting soap operas for family life. Cuffs and The Avengers involve audiences in engaging, realistic sometimes dramatic family and personal relationships
- Personal Identity - finding yourself reflected in texts, learning behaviour and values from texts, such as rooting for Emma Peel and Steed against the nasty foreigners out to destroy British safety, or hoping that racist thugs like Benson will be returned to prison.
- The RP accent used by Steed, Emma Peel and the undercover agent denotes their social class and status.
- This accent connotes educated speakers and formal speech. It has connotations of prestige and authority, but also of privilege and arrogance. The accent reflects Steed's representation as a gentleman and the spy's attempts to impersonate a real British school inspector.
- The diegetic sounds of the walkie-talkie, police car siren and radio denote real police procedures. They have connotations of realism and authenticity.
