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When the boogeyman goes to sleep at night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Selected context: Documentary styles and traditions - Freeman (2020) & Contact (2009)
Selected context: Documentary styles and traditions - Freeman (2020) & Contact (2009)
Discussion topic: Consider who the intended audience of the documentaries might be.
Discussion topic: Consider who the intended audience of the documentaries might be.
Consider the overall themes of the documentary.
What is the preferred meaning of the documentary?
What values and attitudes are appealed to in the documentary?
Consider the viewing context of the documentary, and how this links to the intended audience.
Discussion topic: The changing nature of the media and of trends, values and audience expectations.
Discussion topic: The changing nature of the media and of trends, values and audience expectations.
Consider how the documentary could create and awareness of changes in the following areas, over time:
Technologies: Consider the inclusion of archival footage, media control at time of production, distribution methods, accessibility of AV recording technology.
Styles: Consider the overall style of the documentary, and whether the producers challenged or reinforced genre conventions. Consider the style of media used in archival footage.
Narratives: Consider the theme of the documentary, and how narrative conventions were challenged or reinforced to communicate the preferred meaning.
Representations: Consider the representation of First Nations people, elite athletes, politicians, government officials, religious organisations and Australia as a nation.
Values: Draw on examples from the documentary to illustrate how values change over time. Values are embedded in media works.
Audience expectations: Consider whether the documentary could challenge or reinforce audience expectations of the genre, and of the content included in the media work.
Dominant Meanings
Dominant Meanings
Negotiated Meanings
Negotiated Meanings
Oppositional Meanings
Oppositional Meanings
Discussion topic: Consider the suitability of the documentaries as a vehicle for social or political comment.
Syllabus Links
Syllabus Links
Media languages
Media languages
An understanding of media languages is fundamental to the study and practice of media. In learning the languages of the media, students develop conceptual understandings and skills relevant to:
System of communication
The ‘system of communication’ is the process in which producers of media create messages and how audiences interpret the messages, producing dominant, negotiated or oppositional meanings. The system consists of communication models, techniques, technologies and audience context. Traditional, contemporary and emerging media can be explored and examined for their suitability of use in communicating the producer’s message. The increasing convergence and integration of media technologies and evolving audience contexts provides rich material for analysis of media techniques and communication models. Engaging with media of different times develops an understanding of the relationship between media work, audiences and context. Awareness of technologies, styles, narratives, representations and values from the past illustrates the changing nature of the media and of trends, values and audience expectations. Local, national and international media provide services for, and impact on, particular communities. Knowledge of how these communication systems work is integral for students to understand and produce media work.
Narrative, codes and conventions
Narratives are intrinsic to media work and the narrative elements of character, setting, conflict and resolution are essential components of storytelling. Codes and conventions are tools used in the construction and deconstruction of narratives. The way they are applied can be analysed in terms of genre and style. Producers construct preferred meanings, themes and viewpoints through the selection of technical, symbolic, written and audio codes, and multiple meanings are interpreted by different audiences. An understanding of how selection processes construct meaning, realism and viewpoints in a range of media is an essential part of the course. The analysis and production of alternative and experimental media enables narrative, codes and conventions to be challenged and for innovative styles to be created. (SCSA, p.3-4)
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