Class: Audience and Industry

 Audience

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

2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Class?

• Young adults
• Pre-teens
• Teens

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: Being able to relate to the fact that April's Dad isn't there - many experience this, April's Mum who is disabled etc.

Personal Relationship: Growing to love certain characters -Ram could be a good example, as we think he's stuck up/bitter  at the start (possibly/maybe), then he grows to actually care about the people around him, which we begin to admire.

Diversion (Escapism): The use of Corakinus' world - we are taken to a place that does NOT exist in real life, which is a form of escapism.

Surveillance (Information / Facts): Not sure about this one! But we learn a bit more about the characters, as well as more about science.

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: We get excitement from this show (the use of different relationships between people building up, what will happen next etc.) , but we also build up fear (once again - what will happen next - to the people we've learnt to like/love etc.)

5) How did fans in the 'Whoniverse' (also known as 'Whovians') react to Class? Watch the fan reaction video (and read the YouTube comments) embedded above or check the comments in the extension articles below to help with this.

Many fans in the whoniverse agreed with George's (the man in the YouTube video) points. Many said it left them questioning what will happen next and it lured them in, which resulted in a somewhat positive review of ' Co-owner of a lonely heart' .

Industries

1) What was the objective of BBC3 when it was launched?

To educate, entertain and inform.

2) Why did BBC3 go online-only in February 2016? 

BBC3 went online in Feb 2016 because young people (teens especially) don't tend to watch tv - as BBC3 wanted to create a teen - friendly channel, so they launched BBC3. Hence one of the other reasons BBC3 went online.

3) How does Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain

It informs/educates you about how life is like for teens/on another planet. And it entertains you ecause you are taken to another world - almost/literally, and it keeps you hooked onto it.

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, as it was shown online, then on BBC ONE quite late. As well as the confusing distribution model.

5) What advertising and marketing was used to try and promote Class to an audience? Why do you think this wasn't very successful?

• Video clips, fan fic(tion)/art, video clips, interviews
• Shown in America, where it was more popular.

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)?

• Way better FX - as there was no AI etc.
• Proper music (modern time music)
• Better quality - obviously
• More use of props

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?

• More colour (sci-fi stereotypical colours - blue etc.)
• More weapons

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?

4) How are representations of people, places and groups similar or different in the two shows?
In Dr Who - first, there was hardly any different types of people, nor different skin colours. In Dr Who, the majority of people were white. In Class, there was a wider range of ethnicity/colours/group of people etc. There are disabled people etc. In Dr Who, there was no different representations of people, just the average person.

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?

• Entertainment and diversion - Dr Who takes you to another world - literally, as well as class - Corakinus' world, the swords etc.
• Info and education - Educates you about science/aliens etc.
• Social interaction - Knowing when a new episode is coming via social media etc.
• Personal identity - some people can relate to April - having no father figure in their lives and more... 

Class: Language and Representation

1) Write an NCIS analysis for the episode - using notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed reference to moments in the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots and movement, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

Co-owner of a Lonely Heart

Narrative:

The narrative of ' Co - owner of a Lonely Heart ' is:

• It starts off with Corakinus killing one of his minions/slaves because they failed him.
• Then, we get a glimpse of a school scene, with Ms Quill talking to the new Headteacher and Ram and April develop a relationship.
• Then, we see April and Ram in a car. April's Dad ends up right in front of the car and April's Dad begs for her forgiveness.
• Corakinus then takes control over April and April ends up threatening her Dad with swords.
• Corakinus' slave then tries to fully repair Corakinus' heart. in which they fail. So, Corakinus kills them.
• In another scene - near the end, April's Dad appears 

Character:

• Corankinus
• Ram
• April
• Ms Quill (Andrea)
• Charlie
• Tanya

Iconography:

Setting:

It is based around normal settings (school, house, garden), except when we go to Corakinus' world - not an average/normal setting, but it could be a normal setting for a sci fi - dark, eerie, unrealistic.

2) How does Todorov's theory of equilibrium apply to Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Try and use the expanded version of Todorov's theory: Equilibrium - Disruption - Recognition - Reparation - New equilibrium.

E - Starts with Ram and April talking to their parents. Nothing abnormal.

D - A bit later on, Corankinus kills one of his minions as they fail to unlink his and April's heart.

R - April still feels her connection with Corakinus and starts acting weird in class.

R - April fights the feeling off and asks what she was talking about.

NE - Normal

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do each of the main characters in Class fit into? Alternatively, you may wish to discuss how characters do not fit Propp's character types.

April- princess/hero

Ram - hero/princess

Tanya- helper/sidekick

Ms Quill - hero/princess

Charlie - hero/princess

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Make specific, detailed reference to the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

Enigma:

• Ram and April together in April's room - as we know, Ram and April tend to be getting closer and closer and so we want to see what will happen to/with them.
• Right at the end, where April opens the tear between the shadow world and her world - makes us question whether or not something will happen to her and/or Ram.

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?

Representations

1) How is gender represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted?

Gender stereotypes are reinforced and subverted.

An example of this would be: April. Although April is quite brave and independant, Charlie, Ram etc. feel the need to protect her (this would be a stereotypical view of a Woman - they are needy of protection/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?

Class challenges stereotypes of teens. This is because the teens in Class are the protectors of their world, and it is their responsibility to make sure nobody gets hurt,or nothing goes wrong. Therefore, it challenges stereotypes because teens are seen - by society, to be lazy and not want to really participate in things/do anything. 

3) How is race and ethnicity represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are  stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
There is not really a stereotypical/non - stereotypical  view of race and ethnicity in all honesty, but there is different races and ethnicity - Tanya (black girl), Ram (asian), April/Charlie/Ms Quill (all white), so this show celebrates different ethnicity and race!

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?

(meaning gender or who likes who?)

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 a positive thing in class. Disabled people are under-represented in the media because they're different, and they apparently don't fit the "beauty standards" in society, which plays a major part in which they're under-represented.

Media assessment - Learner response

Learner response - blog tasks

1) Type up your feedback in full - WWW & EBI. You do not have to write your mark and grade if you don't want to.

Q3. "Good start, but you need to use the PEE structure (point/evidence/explanation)"

Near the end - "How does it do this?"

Q4. Near the middle - "Only the Woman is shown enjoying it"

"Good at end, but not answering the actual question"

And "Learn your CSP's"

2) Look at Question 3 in the assessment - the media analysis of the Under Armour advert.

Use CLAMPS to revise mise-en-scene and write about each element of CLAMPS for the Under Armour advert.

C - Costume: The player is wearing red and black rugby kit which has connotations of fierce, bold and full of strength.

L - Lighting: The stadium floodlights tell the audience all the attention is on the man?

A - Actor placement and movement: The rugby player is running kinda. The player's face suggests he is trying his best and won't give up - fearless. strong.

M - Make up: The player's face is shining under the lights which makes it look like he is sweating/working hard.

P - Props: The tyre is significant because it connotes strength and hard work, as it is not exactly easy to push a tyre.

S - Setting: the stadium setting suggests to the audience... (not sure)

3) Look at Question 4. What is Todorov's theory of equilibrium? How does it link to the Audrey Hepburn Galaxy advert? 

Todorov's theory of equilibrium is:

• Equilibrium (the story begins with normality)
• Disruption  (a problem occurs and creates a disruption to the normality)
• Recognition of disruption (characters become aware if the problem)
• Attempt to repair the disruption (characters prepare to overcome the problem/disruption)
• New equilibrium (the final stage of the story presents characters with a new normality) 

4) What social class is Reveal aimed at? (Extension - what do the cover lines on Reveal suggest about what working class people are interested in?)

The social class reveal is aimed at is the working class or lower - middle class.

5) Pick three cover lines from Tatler that reflect upper class British culture and society. Explain what they suggest about the lifestyle and beliefs of upper class British people.

" oops, all my clothes fell off! " , " Which is fine because all you need are the newest accesories "

- suggests that upper - class people care about the newest jewellery/accessories/newest trends.

" meet georgina bevan " , " she looks good in pearls " 

- also suggests that the upper - class care about their appearance/the way they look. 

" most invited 2017 " , " who is at the top of... " 

- suggests that the upper - class get invited to the best parties and are like VIP's.