Communication
Is a symbolic process using symbols
with SHARED MEANING to exchange
ideas and information.
MASS COMMUNICATION-(in general)
requires symbols that can be relevant to
a mass audience that is:
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Widely Diffused
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Widely Diffused
Easily Distracted
Mass Audience symbols
Highly Diverse
Widely Diffused
Easily Distracted
Increasing Fragmented
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Mass Communication defined
Media Criticism Com
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Mass Communication defined
Mass communication occurs when a
small number of people send
messages to a large anonymous and
usually heterogeneous audience
through the use of specialized
communication media.
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Mass Communication defined
The units of analysis for mass
communication are the messages,
the mediums, and the audience.
Media Criticism
Understanding the MESSAGE
Teleliteracy
Visual literacy
TV Programs and their styles
Media Criticism
Understanding the AUDIENCE
Identification/Classification
Consumption
Measurement
Media Criticism
Understanding the MEDIUM (Television)
Transmission
Reception
History
Television viewing
appears to be
effortless. To some
extent it is, but it
requires a set of skills
referred to as
“Teleliteracy” and
“Visual Literacty”
THE MESSAGE
Teleliteracy
The understanding of visual and aural
production techniques not available in
human perception and not a part of our
physiological and psychological
repertoire
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema
verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema
verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Time Manipulation
-Flashback, time leaps,dreams
sequences,time lags.
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema
verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Time Manipulation
Extreme perspectives
-extreme zooms, aerial views, fast/slo mo,
replays
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema
verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Time Manipulation
Extreme perspectives
Audio tracks
-laugh tracks, mood music, voice overs,
transistions
Unnatural elements
The Point of view editing in cinema
verite(Pictorial storytelling)
Time Manipulation
Extreme perspectives
Audio tracks
Segmentation/discontinuity
-scene to scene, show to show, episode
to episode to episode
Acquired knowledge
Repeated exposure
Assimilation (making sense of collective
whole)
Suspension of disbelief
Cognitive Complacency
THE MESSAGE
VISUAL LITERACY
The Physiological & Psychological skill
necessary to visual scan, mentally
perceive & understand the outside world
or
The application of real world perceptual
abilities to TV’s 2 dimensional world
THE MESSAGE
VISUAL LITERACY
Acquired and mastered through social
experience & Interaction
Applicable to TV
Presentation/storytelling that replicate
real world experience ( Verisimilitudeappears real)
Dimension
Life is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Dimension
Life is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity- the ability to focus
on an object within a wide range of
vision, giving it clarity=Camera lens
Dimension
Life is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax – Understanding that
closer objects move “faster” within field
of vision. (TV is flat.. No “distance” just
illusion of it.
Dimension
Life is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax
Occlusion – Closer=bigger, capable of
blocking sight of further objects
Dimension
Life is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax
Occlusion
Paraproxemics- Closeness = intimacy
Distance, camera angles=power, Dutch
angle=something is wrong batman.
“The Graduate” “Push Nevada”
Dimension
Life is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax
Occlusion
Paraproxemics
Perceptual continuity-Point of sight, we
tend to focus on objects of importance,
dominance, attention ie phone ring,
Dimension
Life is 3D, TV is 2D so we must apply our real
world visual literacy to the TV World
Binocular Disparity
Motion Parallax
Occlusion
Paraproxemics
Perceptual continuity
EXPERIENCING THESE IN THE REAL
WORLD ALLOWS OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF THESE ON TV
Easy transference..Mr Rodgers, West Wing
Motion…Head/eyes
replaced by the
Camera/lens
Pan/tilt
Dolly
trucking
Zoom
Crane
Wire camera’s – Sports applications
HOW do we make TV?
How do we make TV?
By pulling from symbols that reflect both
internal reality and external reality&
creating an interaction of the two.
A balance of part fantasy/part reality
Reality breakdown
Internal reality
-artistic expression
-creative enterprise
-existing technology
-storytelling devices
-budget
External reality
-The human
conditions we share
-The times in history
we share
Reality breakdown
Internal reality
-narrative structure
-plot convention
-time frames-length
-dramatic formal
-Institutional
constraints-fines
External reality
-societal norms
-legal system
-cultural values
-rites and rituals
-fads and fashions
TV PROGRAMS
NON-NARRATIVE
NARRATIVE
TV PROGRAMS
NON-NARRATIVE
-non-scripted stories
-social actors
-directly address/
acknowledge
audience
-cheap to produce
NARRATIVE
TV PROGRAMS
NON-NARRATIVE
-non-scripted stories
-social actors
-directly address/
acknowledge
audience
-cheap to produce
NARRATIVE
-scripted story
-episodic
-actors-recurring
cast
Genre/Types of
programs
NON-NARRATIVE
NARRATIVE
Genre/Types of
programs
NON-NARRATIVE
-talk shows
-game shows
-sports
-reality
NARRATIVE
Genre/Types of
programs
NON-NARRATIVE
-talk shows
-game shows
-sports
-reality
NARRATIVE
Comedy
-cartoons
-Seinfeld
Drama
-soap
-family
-SCI-FI
Genre Evolution
Caused by Audience expectations due
to sophistication/boredom/competition
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from
old medium
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from
old medium
Classical – Matured and firmly
established rules
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from
old medium
Classical – Matured and firmly
established rules
Revisionist – experimentation, bending
or breaking of rules (genre bending) ie
“firefly” sci-fi-western, “Mary Hartman”
comedy-soap
Genre Evolution
Primitive – Original rules derived from
old medium
Classical – Matured and firmly
established rules
Revisionist – experimentation, bending
or breaking of rules (Genre Bending)
Paradic – makes fun of firmly
established rules
Genre Evolution
Examples
SITCOM
“I love Lucy”
“Father knows Best”
“Roseanne”
“Married….with children”
Genre Evolution
Examples
Western
“Lone Ranger”
“Gunsmoke”
“Wild, Wild West”
“F-Troop”
Genre Evolution
Examples
Comedy/Variety
“Your Show of Shows”
“Carole Burnett Show”
“SNL”
“Dana Carvey Taco Bell hour”
Genre Evolution
Examples
Reality
“Candid Camera”
“Cops”
“Survivor”
“Joe Schmoe”
TV Programs are unique
commodities
Immaterial
No Physical
properties of
ownership
TV Programs are unique
commodities
Immaterial
Novel
No Physical
properties of
ownership
One time event
TV Programs are unique
commodities
Immaterial
Novel
Nonexclusive
No Physical
properties of
ownership
One time event
FREE for all
TV Programs are unique
commodities
Immaterial
Novel
Nonexclusive
Near-zero Marginal
cost
No Physical
properties of
ownership
One time event
FREE for All
TV Programs are unique
commodities
Immaterial
Novel
Nonexclusive
Near-zero Marginal
cost
Rapid Product
Innovation
Short Shelf life
No Physical
properties of
ownership
One time event
FREE for All
Value diminishes if
not ever changing
Odds for failure are
great
Television in particular
requires that the
audience:
Return week after week
Season after season
Same time, same channel
TV Programs audience
Consumer
Consumed
TV Programs audience
Consumer
Target audience
Voluntary
Communal, yet
isolated
Selective, yet
uncritical
Delivered programs
Consumed
TV Programs audience
Consumer
Target audience
Voluntary
Communal, yet
isolated
Selective, yet
uncritical
Delivered programs
Consumed
Target manipulated
Demographic 18-49
Delivered to
advertisers