TV: Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart blog tasks
Class: Co-owner of a Lonely Heart blog tasks
Language and close-textual analysis
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:
Narrative: Father and Son have close relationship, Shadow Kin wants to steal April's heart, April receives evil powers that make her turn against her Dad and rest of family. Friends don't know what to do about April's evil powers.
Character:
April, Ram, Charlie Smith (Gay prince of Rhodians), Miss Andrea Quill, Tanya and Matteusz.
Iconography:
Setting:
Most of the scenes are around April's home which indicates a domestic life . There are many more scenes which happen in the shadow realm which significantly relate to the Sci-Fi & Fantasy genre. However the school is the main setting suggesting the coming-of-the-age genre as schools are a conventional feature yet the young people are on a quest.
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.
Hero- Charlie, April
Villain- Shadow Kin, as he wants to take over the world and April's heart
Princess- April, as she needs to be saved.
Donor- Miss Quill, as she gives charlie a place to stay
False Hero- Ram, as he jumps in after April
Helper- Tanya, as she Gives Ram help with homework.
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.
Applying Propp's character theory, Charlie fits the hero, April is the false hero, Tanya is the heroine, Shadow kin is the villain, the Doctor is the donor.
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.)
The petals are an action code as the audience wonder how much of a threat they are and what the others will do about it. Also the enigma code is when Ram and April jump into the portal together, leaving the audience on a cliff hanger.
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?
The stereotype that males are powerful over women is subverted as Ram cries over his loss of his girlfriend and April lends help towards him.
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?
Age is subverted as a 15 year old girl (Tanya) is taken up two year groups as she is too intelligent for her age.
3) How is race and ethnicity represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
Race isn't conventional as there is a range used for example ram is the school sporty boy and he is an Asian teenager. Tanya is a black teenager which isn't conventional compared to the 1960's Doctor Who
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?
Sexuality is subverted greatly as the main male cast is represented as a gay alien which subverts two different things. First, he is and alien and second he is gay which is very unconventional to see on a BBC coming of age drama series.
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?
April's mum is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair but she is portrayed as a stereotypical parent when she is looking after April. This is also emphasized by her saying "Don't let this chair fool you, if you hurt her, I will kill you." This shows that her protective maternal instincts are still there although her disability hinders her slightly.
Audience
1) What were the viewing figures for Class and why do you think it did so badly?
The viewing figures for class were low because they displayed the show on at a time the target audience wouldn't watch it at.
2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Class?
Reformers may enjoy Class as it has representations of groups that are often underrepresented or misrepresented in the media.
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:
LGBT is represented through Charlie's sexuality, viewers feel more comfortable.
Personal Relationships:
More is revealed about April's background so the audience may gain an attachment to her character because they may empathize with having parents that are not together or having a bad relationship with one of their parents and so they may gain a relationship for her character.
Diversion (Escapism):
The world of the Underneath, the Shadow Kin, the Rhodians, and the Quill and travel into space and time that is created in Class is a completely immersive world that can help the audience escape from the boredom of everyday life.
Surveillance (Information / Facts):
Disability is shown to give a realistic element to the show of citizens' lives in London.
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 pleasure. This is because in the episode finale scence has the flower petals and Shadow Kin corakinus which causes you to feel excited and adrenaline. Also voyeuristic pleasure. This is because it's filmed at school so we might relate to us being in it.
5) How did fans in the 'Whoniverse' (also known as 'Whovians') react to Class? Watch the fan reaction video (and read the YouTube comments) on the Class notes blogpost or check the comments in the extension articles below to help with this.
I think Whovians are confused about what happens in Class. This is because I don't think it's clear what happens like April and Ram didn't really talk much but now they're in a relationship after Ram's previous girlfriend had died. Also when April did something to her mum's heart and her mum fell out her wheelchair and it's not clear if she made her mum walk again or not. Therefore I think Whovians are not clear about what actually happens is class unlike Doctor Who where everything is made clear.
Industries
1) What was the objective of BBC3 when it was launched?
The objective was to Inform,educate and entertain.
2) Why did BBC3 go online-only in February 2013?
BBC 3 went only-line in February 2013 Because more people were using the internet.
3) How does Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
Class 'informs, educates and entertains' through racial and sexual equality, an exciting new genre of Doctor Who and vital lessons in each episode.
4) How did the distribution of Class contribute to the failure of the show with audiences?
The representation is class is very different to the representation in Doctor Who. In Class there is a lot of ethnic backgrounds but in Doctor Who there is no ethnicity.
5) What advertising and marketing was used to try and promote Class to an audience? Why do you think this wasn't very successful?
As Class was aimed at an older audience, there was a clear shift in the way it was marketed from traditional Doctor Who episodes (on a Saturday early evening slot). Also,because most of it was online with videos and interviews. This wasn’t successful because it didn't reach to a wider audience.
Language and close-textual analysis
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:
Narrative: Father and Son have close relationship, Shadow Kin wants to steal April's heart, April receives evil powers that make her turn against her Dad and rest of family. Friends don't know what to do about April's evil powers.
Character:
April, Ram, Charlie Smith (Gay prince of Rhodians), Miss Andrea Quill, Tanya and Matteusz.
Iconography:
- Sonic screwdriver (reference to Doctor who),
- Flower pellets from Doctor Who
- Sci-Fi
- Tardis
- bright blue colours.
- Shadow Kin sitting on throne- represents he is a king, plants that feed off blood- suggests alien life
Setting:
Most of the scenes are around April's home which indicates a domestic life . There are many more scenes which happen in the shadow realm which significantly relate to the Sci-Fi & Fantasy genre. However the school is the main setting suggesting the coming-of-the-age genre as schools are a conventional feature yet the young people are on a quest.
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.
Hero- Charlie, April
Villain- Shadow Kin, as he wants to take over the world and April's heart
Princess- April, as she needs to be saved.
Donor- Miss Quill, as she gives charlie a place to stay
False Hero- Ram, as he jumps in after April
Helper- Tanya, as she Gives Ram help with homework.
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.
Applying Propp's character theory, Charlie fits the hero, April is the false hero, Tanya is the heroine, Shadow kin is the villain, the Doctor is the donor.
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.)
The petals are an action code as the audience wonder how much of a threat they are and what the others will do about it. Also the enigma code is when Ram and April jump into the portal together, leaving the audience on a cliff hanger.
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?
- April's dark side vs good side
- Good VS Evil
- Humans v Alien - Charlie disguised as humans - positive alien vs Shadow Kin - more destructive, dangerous & menacing.
- Normality v Duality - Teenagers in school environment & dealing with social issues - petals multiplying endlessly - harming humans.
The stereotype that males are powerful over women is subverted as Ram cries over his loss of his girlfriend and April lends help towards him.
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?
Age is subverted as a 15 year old girl (Tanya) is taken up two year groups as she is too intelligent for her age.
3) How is race and ethnicity represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
Race isn't conventional as there is a range used for example ram is the school sporty boy and he is an Asian teenager. Tanya is a black teenager which isn't conventional compared to the 1960's Doctor Who
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?
Sexuality is subverted greatly as the main male cast is represented as a gay alien which subverts two different things. First, he is and alien and second he is gay which is very unconventional to see on a BBC coming of age drama series.
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?
April's mum is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair but she is portrayed as a stereotypical parent when she is looking after April. This is also emphasized by her saying "Don't let this chair fool you, if you hurt her, I will kill you." This shows that her protective maternal instincts are still there although her disability hinders her slightly.
1) What were the viewing figures for Class and why do you think it did so badly?
The viewing figures for class were low because they displayed the show on at a time the target audience wouldn't watch it at.
2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Class?
Reformers may enjoy Class as it has representations of groups that are often underrepresented or misrepresented in the media.
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.
LGBT is represented through Charlie's sexuality, viewers feel more comfortable.
Personal Relationships:
More is revealed about April's background so the audience may gain an attachment to her character because they may empathize with having parents that are not together or having a bad relationship with one of their parents and so they may gain a relationship for her character.
Diversion (Escapism):
The world of the Underneath, the Shadow Kin, the Rhodians, and the Quill and travel into space and time that is created in Class is a completely immersive world that can help the audience escape from the boredom of everyday life.
Surveillance (Information / Facts):
Disability is shown to give a realistic element to the show of citizens' lives in London.
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 pleasure. This is because in the episode finale scence has the flower petals and Shadow Kin corakinus which causes you to feel excited and adrenaline. Also voyeuristic pleasure. This is because it's filmed at school so we might relate to us being in it.
5) How did fans in the 'Whoniverse' (also known as 'Whovians') react to Class? Watch the fan reaction video (and read the YouTube comments) on the Class notes blogpost or check the comments in the extension articles below to help with this.
I think Whovians are confused about what happens in Class. This is because I don't think it's clear what happens like April and Ram didn't really talk much but now they're in a relationship after Ram's previous girlfriend had died. Also when April did something to her mum's heart and her mum fell out her wheelchair and it's not clear if she made her mum walk again or not. Therefore I think Whovians are not clear about what actually happens is class unlike Doctor Who where everything is made clear.
Industries
1) What was the objective of BBC3 when it was launched?
The objective was to Inform,educate and entertain.
2) Why did BBC3 go online-only in February 2013?
BBC 3 went only-line in February 2013 Because more people were using the internet.
3) How does Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
Class 'informs, educates and entertains' through racial and sexual equality, an exciting new genre of Doctor Who and vital lessons in each episode.
4) How did the distribution of Class contribute to the failure of the show with audiences?
The representation is class is very different to the representation in Doctor Who. In Class there is a lot of ethnic backgrounds but in Doctor Who there is no ethnicity.
5) What advertising and marketing was used to try and promote Class to an audience? Why do you think this wasn't very successful?
As Class was aimed at an older audience, there was a clear shift in the way it was marketed from traditional Doctor Who episodes (on a Saturday early evening slot). Also,because most of it was online with videos and interviews. This wasn’t successful because it didn't reach to a wider audience.
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