WEBSEX: WHAT'S THE HARM ANSWERS

The voiceover is effective because the directors have chosen to introduce them to the viewer which creates a trusting and honest relationship. This leads us to believe that everything the voice over/presenter says is the truth therefore creating anchorage between the text and the meaning.  The soundtrack is very modern and is representative of the demographic that BBC3 are aiming this program at. The combination of upbeat non diegetic sounds and superimposed special effects conveys a meaning of contemporary society and that the of sex is now being discussed openly and is no longer stigmatised. The dominant images that are shown repeatedly is the presenters iPad, which again is used to convey a meaning of modernity and the superimposed effects which show social networking sites when the camera is made to look like a computer screen.

One clear assumption that is made is that everybody is interested in sex, however there are people who occupy the 16-24 age group, that are not interested in the program for many reasons such as religion or moral values. However, the majority of people who are between the 16-24 age group are interested in sex and therefore will have a positive reaction to the text. The text appeals to the audience because this 16-24 age period is when individuals are exploring and understanding their sexuality and to increase their understanding, programs like these are vital. My personal opinion is that programs like these are further glamorising sex, how long before people having sex in the street becomes socially accepted? The combination of text, music, time slot and broadcast channel all suggest that this program is being aimed at the 16-24 audience.

This text belongs to the documentary genre. The conventions which are clearly present includes the use of a ‘voice over’, unstructured scenarios, use of an handheld camera, real life scenarios and interviews which gain personal viewpoints and experiences. The generic expectation is for the program to educate them about ‘websex’. These expectation are fulfilled and show the documentary from different sexual perspectives such as gays and straight people.

The people that this text represents are the people who the BBC aim the program at, because everybody is interested in the sexual life of their peers and the BBC and other providers have recognized this leading to the creation of similar shows like ‘The Joys of Teen Sex’. The subject that is being represented sex among 16-24 and focuses on how the web has made it easier for this to occur. The subject has been represented in this way because it not only informs and educates, but also entertains and this is something that must be addressed when aiming a text at the 16-24 age group. I think that everybody was represented fairly and accurately throughout the text.

The major ideologies, values and assumptions that this text thrives on is the social acceptance of sex being discussed and done outside of marriage. In the 1950’s this social acceptance was almost unknown about. These ideas are put across in a different ways. For example they address the changing position of women, which means less marriage and therefore more sex outside marriage, by using a female mixed race presenter. Also, the use of sexual words like ‘penis’ puts across the idea of social acceptance.

The institution that this text was being shown on meant that the film makers could take it one step further and show a more raw and honest representation of the subject. If this program was shown on perhaps BBC1, the film makers would have to make this a much more soft text during post production, however this is not what the 16-24 age group wants to see. This text seems to have sources through the presenters use of social networking sites. This text has been distributed through trailers in between post watershed programs such as ‘Hustle’ which shows on BBC1. The BBC Is a public broadcasting service which means they are government funded and because the text is broadcasted using a public broadcasting service, the text is also a public service institution.

WEBSEX: WHAT'S THE HARM QUESTIONS

What is being done by the soundtrack/ voiceover/ dialogue?
What sound and visual techniques are used to convey meaning?
What are the denotative meanings and connotations?
What is the significance of the mise-en-scene?
What are the dominant images and iconography?

What assumptions about the audience are made?
How might the audience react to the text?
How does the text appeal to the audience?
How do you read and evaluate the text?
Who is the target audience?

To which genre/s does the text belong?
Which generic conventions is the text using?
What are the audiences’ generic expectations are they fulfilled or subverted?

Who is being represented?
What is being represented?
Why is the subject being represented in this way?
Are there any stereotypes?
Is the representation fair and accurate?

What are the major ideologies, values and assumptions behind the text?
How are these ideas and values put across in the text?

How did the institution affect the text?
What is the institutional source of the text?
How has the text been distributed?
Who owns and controls the institution?
Is the text a public service or commercial institution?

TECHNOPHOBES WEB BLOG REVIEW

Tonight was the airing of BBC3's new program Technophobes and as a man with his own fears and mental challenges, as we all do, I found this new program untactful, mocking and frankly quite discriminating. How dare the BBC, who have been on the back foot recently due to the 'Top Gear India Special', choose to target another minority within our society. I doubt these 'technophobes' who have been painted by BBC3 as being retarded and crazy, pay for TV licensing to be nationally exploited and embarrassed. I expect the BBC to be under further criticism this week for this program.

CLICK HERE!!

The opening sequence of the program was had foretold the story to follow for the next 59 minutes. The childish non diegetic music that had been put on loop, mixed with childrens laughter was something that you would find on a channel like ‘Cbeebies’ and I wouldn’t be surprised if I had been told that was actually true. The visual part of the opening sequence was simple and straight forward showing pictures of the people they were going to follow throughout the program, however when mixed with the ridiculous music, created a disgraceful cocktail which the BBC will eventually have to drink.

The people who were to be followed around where actually nice people which makes this tragedy even worse, however the way that the BBC have portrayed them meant they were easily laughed at. However, I was not laughing and I can bet my last shilling that thousands of people were not laughing, however for the millions of people that this program was probably aimed at such as teens and young adults, they were probably laughing their socks off meaning that the BBC had done what they had intended to do, entertain their audience.

BBC3: TECHNOPHOBES ANALYSIS

Audience

This program can appeal to a wide range of audiences, however because BBC have chosen to show the program on their BBC3 channel, it is clear that this particular program is aimed at the 16-24 unisex age group. This means that it will appeal to people who occupy the lower groups of the socio economic group table. The reasons for this are the 16-24 age group could mean that they are students who are unemployed and be part of group ‘E’. Now because of the age group and socio economic group this product will be targeted at, it is clear that this program will be aimed at individuals who have a very ‘technologically enhanced’ lifestyle with ‘childish’ personalities as they would find humour in a ‘serious’ condition and therefore tempt them to continue watching which would be that it would be successful and popular. This program is likely to be aimed at an area where there are a high number of people who are within the 16-24 age groups such as major cities across the UK like London.

Institution

The decision to show this program on BBC3 means that this program will do less to Inform & Educate and strive to entertain audiences. If this program was to Inform and Educate, then it is likely that this program would be shown on a different channel, for example BBC4 or perhaps BBC2.

Media Forms

The choice of channel and program genre is a contrasting one as documentaries often inform and educate, however because of the choice of tv channel and the content being possibly funny to watch, this program will aim to be entertaining audiences. The main conventions of a documentary include a voice over, ‘real’ footage of events (with very little spectacle that one find when watching a blockbuster action film) and interviews. However in order for this program to also entertain audiences, they must include other codes and conventions not usually found in documentaries. For example, non diegetic sound such as music to distract the viewer and bridge two scenes together. This sound would have to be more up beat rather than something of the classical genre.  Also, scenes must be shorter and more fluent, instead of longer takes usually found in documentaries.

Representation

Due to the content of the program, and how it is likely to be filmed and edited for entertainment purposes, it is unlikely that ‘technophobes’ will be seen as a serious condition and therefore the program could have a ‘sarcastic charisma’ which will cause ‘technophobes’ to be mocked and ridiculed.

RESEARCH: DOCUMENTARIES

Expository Documentaries

• Expository Documentaries use narrators to address the audience directly and to present an explanation interpreting what is being seen by viewers in the mis-en-scene.
• This is done by the use of a narrator or commentator with a ‘Voice of Authority’. This is often used to anchor the meaning of the visual text for the viewer.
• In order to make identification easier, film makers tend to use voices of male, white, middleclass narration which would represent the target audience.
• Expository documentaries often engage the viewer by creating arguments and conflicting viewpoints. This type of documentary also attempts to persuade viewers.
• The typical conventions of an expository documentary include a voiceover, analysis and exposition of a topic and images used alongside voiceovers.

'An Inconvenient Truth' created by Al Gore in 2006 is a great example of an expository documentary.

Observational Documentaries

• Observational documentaries follow a person, or an event.
• This form of documentary tells a story of a journey as it unfolds.
• There are very rarely voiceovers and interviews used in this form.
• Takes are relatively long.
• The typical conventions of an observational documentary includes being filmed on-location, direct sound recording (very little use of non-diegetic sound), documentary maker is behind the camera, participant show no acknowledgement that they are being filmed. This is usually because they don’t know they are being filmed and represents a fly-on-the wall perspective of the text.

'Jersey Shore' by MTV is a good example of an observational documentary.

Reflexive Documentaries

• Reflexive documentaries tend to be much more sophisticated compared to other documentary forms.
• This sophistication is through the explicit acknowledgement of the camera and crew.
• This reflexive style of documentary is usually associated with experimental documentaries where the viewer is equally interested in how the film is constructed as they are the actual content.
• Tend to be the most truthful as it focuses on realism and exactly how events happen with very little special effects and non-diegetic sounds.
• The typical conventions of a reflexive documentary includes documentary maker’s presence is explicit.
Some styles and conventions are present with all documentary forms such as little use of diegetic sound for increased realism.

A good example of a reflexive documentary is 'Fahrenheit 9/11' by Michael Moore. See the trailer: