1 - Genre research

Five steps in your Blogging Journey

1. Follow the tasks below to create your new post.
2. Start with "Task 1" and then only move on to Task 2 after you finish Task 1.
3. You need to make sure you learn and understand the concepts you are looking into during these tasks in order to apply them properly to your main task.
4. You need to ensure you finish a post by the end of the lesson.
5. You need to publish your post at the end of the lesson.

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Task 1 - Write a short introduction explaining what you're going to do for this post... here's an example:

"In this post I am going to undertake research into the genre of my chosen brief.  The main reason for doing this is to highlight and analyse codes and conventions of a range of media texts in order to help me produce an effective media product of my own.

The genre of the text as described in my chosen brief is... and I'll be looking at the conventions of 3 media products that of the same genre".

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Task 2 – Genre research: How are genre conventions used in 3 media products? Choose 3 media texts similar to the ones you chose in for your NEA to help you identify and analyse relevant conventions of the chosen genre. 

For example:

• If you chose the TV Documentary brief - Look at 3 documentaries and identify key codes and conventions, e.g. the use of narration? Facts on the screen? interviews? You need to use screen grabs.  

Explain what makes these conventions effective in "driving the story forward".

• If you chose the Magazine brief - Look at 3 different magazines front covers and contents pages of the same genre (current affairs) and identify codes and conventions that makes them effective, e.g. type of photography? Layout? Typography? Language used? Colours (denotation/connotation)? Political affiliations and how these are evident in the front covers and contents pages? You need to use screen grabs.

• If you chose music video to a protest song - Look at 3 music videos and highlight conventions that are typical of that genre of music, e.g. extensive use of close ups? Is there always a narrative? Use screen grabs.

Key words and concepts to be used in this analysis:

• Mise-en-scene: props, settings, hair, make up, performance (body language), lighting (low/high key).
• Camera work: type of shot, camera movement and angle.
• Sound: diegetic, non-diegetic, sound effects, etc.
• Editing: slow motion, fast pace, slow pace, transitions (cuts, dissolves).

Recommended software:

PowerPoint, Prezi, emaze.

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Task 3 - Conclusion / Summary of research.

Write a short conclusion of your findings.
How did the research help you with your idea?
What elements of the existing texts you looked at would you consider adapting to your ideas?
How has your idea developed after conducting this research?