Glossary

Stereotype: A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Archetype: A very typical example of a certain person or thing.

Regional identity representation Doc Martin

DOC MARTIN….

Mise en scene

• work clothes
• Rushed 
• busy
• Lanes
• sea gulls
• small town
• vegetables-farming
• brick houses- very rural 
• Blue overalls

Camera

• Levels- doc martin standing- workers sitting

Sound
Cornwall

• "kinda like" "what appens is"
• Lacks nouns- less intelligent 
• Seem dim
• Working class
• Laid back
• Angry people(Doc )
• rude people
• "This happens all the time"- no cares- he's the worker yet he isn't doing anything to stop the leak

Editing

• Natural lighting
• not in a made up set- clear lighting

There is contrast- Doc martin seems educated and posh- in a suit- privilege area- higher class compared to everyone else- a snob- "he didn't care for hygiene either"
yet everyone else is laid back.


Doc Martin is set in a small village by the coast in Cornwall. A rural Cornish accent is used through out the piece which  have just watch. Although within this programme, there is a contrast in characters. The "Doc Martin" appears to be very well educated. We gather this information by the speech of this character. He is presented to be someone from perhaps South England- as he seems to be a middle class working doctor.  An example of Doc Martin being a snob is when he says "he didn't care for hygiene either", this shows snobby because he is looking down at the old doctors way, even though to there village character it is seemed as normal. The element of sound and accent is a the key part to discover the identity of the character is a programme.

When the clip starts we are presented with 3 males. 2 of whom are sat down in work gear and appear to be "trying" to fix a pipe. Although the older, bigger male is sat just talking to Doc martin, not doing anything and letting the younger man do it. This in itself shows an age hierarchy. Although within tho hierarchy stands another- a class hierarchy, this is helped be conveyed through the use of levels, the idea that Doc Martin (a man who appears to hold class) is standing up, whereas the 2 workers sat down. This helps show the superiority Doc Martin feels- even though he is an "outsider". Straight from the beginning we get a sense that he has control When asked a question, the fatter man replies with "Kinda like" "what appens is"- showing a lack of nouns and low intelligence. This creates a bias stereotype of those who live in places such as Cornwall as it suggests that everyone is illiterate and laid back- especially when the pipe burst and the workers just sit there and say "Ah this appens all de time", making Doc Martin do the work. However this is a bias stereotype because we see later on a women in a school- someone who actually cares for her work and does so in a presented honour- thus showing how not everyone in this village is a lazy, laid back worker who goes with the flow. Additionally, at the beginning of this scene the younger worker has a pencil behind the ear- this stereotypically wouldn't be found behind the ear of a high class citizen, whereas in terms of a local in a rural area, it may not be so uncommon- especially with a worker; this is therefore an example of how a prop confirms regional identity. If I were to eat a sandwich, I would make sure I had clear hands, although this laid-back worker has filthy looking hands although does not seem to care about the hygiene in terms of bacteria. The way he doesn't care creates a bias stereotype because it is suggested that all people act in this way, they don't care if they are eating dirt. Furthermore, they are not spending there time usefully, they would be getting paid for there time of working although what seems like they should be working, the seem to be just sitting there having general chit chat- procrastinating away from work, rather than actually doing it.

The use of the Mise en scene of the blue overalls on the  "plumbers" but lazy workers, are a stereotype in itself because you do not see all plumbers wearing these clothing. As these clothes look unkempt and just dirty it suggests hygiene is very poor in these areas. Although there are some times when people come in, such as Doc Martin, who are well dressed well spoken and try to prevent this. Doc martin's "uptightness" creates a contrast from all these other characters. When there is an old looking woman, with her vegetable truck, she appears to be struggling, so Doc Martin helps her out. This is important because even though he appears to be a "snob", he still cares enough to help someone in need out. Also shows the difference between his character and other characters because by the looks of the workers at the beginning, people in this area don't seem to be helpful- thus creating another bias stereotype within this regional identity which is being created.

The mise en-scene helps set the scene of a rural area- the hills beside the beach. Also, we see lots of seagulls- again setting the beach scene. The way this is set by the beach supports the idea that the locals are laid back- people go to the beach to relax, as they live there it suggests they are naturally laid back. The bricked lanes are very clique for a "sea side destination" as it creates a historical view, it seems old yet modern.

It is also quite clear to the audience that Doc Martin isn't trying to fit in- he isn't willing to comply with this locals as they are lower than him anyway. Also when "Bodmin" as mentioned it is unknown to Martin although he doesn't stop them to ask what it was, he just continued as he doesn't care- he doesn't want to learn the slang for these people. This is combined with his body language, he always appears to be looking down on these people, whether it's because they are sat down or he just appears to be higher than everyone else. Additionally, when they say "Bodmin" they pronounce it as "Baadmin", introducing us to their accent and trying to get used to the accent straight from the beginning. Also the use of the accent here helps portray regional identity because it stereotypically suggests this is how everyone from these rural places speak- even though it is unlikely to be everyone. Furthermore, the language of the workers highly contrasts Doc Martins because they are put together- if we were to watch a t.v programme with just one type of accent, it may seem to be normal. However with these two different accents, it puts empathises on the difference between the too. Even when the pipe burst the worker just carried on waffling about a stopcock which would be needed to help stop the burst, rather than helping fix it, making Doc Martin do it instead.

The use of the dog shows how the close packed town doesn't normally consist of crimes. This is because  it shows how the only thing the police was around to deal with was the cause of a lost dog, it's not as if it's a massive bank robbery.

Stereotype types

Birmingham stereotypes:

• Brummies are seen as dummies
• less intelligent 
• less attractive

Northerners:

• gray and chips
• cold climate
• working class
• dual surroundings

Southerners:

• more expensive
• tourists there 
• upper class

Essex:

• fake tan
• Teen mum
• underage drinking
• short clothes
• Quite dim
• partying

English:

• polite
• posh accent
• fish and chips
• tea
• moaning about whether
• scones 
• racist
• obsessed with beer and football
• very rich 

Londoners:

west Londoners:

• snobby upper class
• Hugh Grant
• posh

east London:

• poor
• common
• lower class
• criminalistic 

Irish:

• Drink a lot 
• pale
• gossip
• swear
• hard to understand-talk fast.
• religious 
• friendly but less intelligent
• farm

Scots:

• Angry 
• drunk
• like haggis 
• hate english 
• Patriotic 
• red hair
• sheep
• fight a lot 
• kilts 

Somerset/devon:

• Farms
• Countrysides
• cider
• less intelligent
• "Backwards"

Liverpool

• "Our" in front of something
• draw on eyebrows 
• hair rollers
• beetles 
• fake labels
• criminals
• "CHAVS"

Welsh

• Sheep

North England:

• poorer
• bad weather 
• builders
• workers

Regional Identity- refers to the part of the UK someone is from.

•  setting
• accents
• Dialogue 
• props
• makeup
• Class of character
• costumes

Shameless: 

-swearing 

"Course I will you daff bugger"

-drunk

2. Brookside

Liverpool

tracksuits

Gangs

angry 

"you can stick it"

violence 

3. TOWIE

botox

long out words

less intelligent 

eyebrows drawn

bold makeup

"Babes"

low cut tops

"Big teeth" "big lips"- fake

Questions to keep in mind when watching a media clip…

Where are they from within the country?
different areas shown? different personalities behaviours? 
is it being represented as important in their life?
are people portrayed as being better more powerful?
are people portrayed as being abnormal/weaker/ more pathetic than others?
how do they treat characters from different regions?
what is the message the clip is trying to portray?


DOC MARTIN….

Mise en scene
work clothes
Rushed
busy
Lanes
sea gulls
small town
vegetables-farming
brick houses- very rural
Blue overalls
Camera
Levels- doc martin standing- workers sitting




Sound
Cornwall
"kinda like" "what appens is"
Lacks nouns- less intelligent
Seem dim
Working class
Laid back
Angry people(Doc )
rude people
"This happens all the time"- no cares- he's the worker yet he isn't doing anything to stop the leak


Editing
Natural lighting
not in a made up set- clear lighting


There is contrast- Doc martin seems educated and posh- in a suit- privilege area- higher class compared to everyone else- a snob- "he didn't care for hygiene either"
yet everyone else is laid back.

Bathes theory Hello- Adele

Hello- Adele

After watching the music video of Hello sung by Adele, we are left with a variety of questions. Thus showing how Bathes theory can relate to music videos, but more importantly the Enigma code relates to them. The Enigma code is when a media text doesn't fully explain something making it become a mystery.

The enigma code in hello are as follows...
 1.What happened in the relationship between these two people
    Adele says "To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done"
    What was it that she had done?
     Was it even her who done it?
       Why should she say sorry?
         Is she feeling guilty/ missing her love?

2. Is the couple going to meet again?
      Is the love lost forever?
        Will he forgive her for whatever she seems to have done?
   

The semantic code within the video...

1.

The pull focus from a dirty window to the moving car- shows the loneliness and guilt seems to be pulling her in after what is suggested to be a very long time.

2.

The dead bugs on the window is symbolic it's self- it shows the dead love which used to be in the house.

3.

The wind- She can't hear properly on the phone- she's losing touch with her loved one.
 (ENIGMA CODE HERE- IS IT HER LOVED ONE ON THE PHONE HERE? IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE....)

4.







The pulling of the dust sheets- the uncovering of unsettled love, the sense of nostalgia.

5.

The lighting of the gas hob- the attempt of relighting love.

6.

Pouring water into a cup- the pouring of her emotions.

7.

Magnifying glass- She's investigating her lost love and trying to find him.

8.

Half her face- she feels like she is missing her other half without him.

9.

Overgrow postbox- Over grow/ outdated love, or that she has left it so long it is slowly being hidden- almost as if it wasn't there, it's becoming camouflaged. 

Barthes theory Luther

identify the character roles and describe them

Tesxts can be open and closed
 open is unravelled in a lot of different ways
closed are there is only one obvious thread to pull on

there are 5 codes
 Hermeneutic/enigma code- it refers to any element of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a mystery to the reader. trying to piece things together
proairetic/ action code- applies to any action that implies a further narrative action. For example, a gunslinger draws his gun on an adversary and we wonder what the resolution of this action will be.
semantic code- any element in a text that suggests a particular, often additional meaning by way of connotation.
symbolic code- this is typically done in the use of antithesis where new meaning arises out of opposing and conflict ideas.
referential code


Luther:

At the beginning of episode one of Luther, we see a man standing on top of a building, looking out at the city. This a use of a panning shot, moving upwards, then towards the man. At this point there is a "dong" sound, such as those that are used in meditation, showing the calming atmosphere this man has on the roof top. This equilibrium supports todorov's theory that the beginning of a media text consists of equality/ is peaceful. Also, as the pan continues the sun light moves across, showing the light "at the end" sort of idea. This implies that even though this person may have lost someone in the prior series (as we see from the beginning extract from the video), he is beginning to see the light at the end and is slowly moving on. Although the calming sound only lasts 20 seconds when a police siren abruptly starts along with another character, saying "your wanted". A complete contrast to what could have been expected at the beginning equilibrium. When the scene changes from the roof top, to a man in the car then what seems to be his partner at home, the camera angle differs, it's almost as if someone is following the man, watching him in the car, then around the shop. This creates an eary sense leaving the audience wondering who it is that is following him. This unanswered question supports Barthes theory of having an enigma code, the perfect/ normal place for an enigma code is at the beginning because it leaves the audience wanting to continue watching. If there wasn't an enigma code at the beginning and everything was told right there and then, what would be the point on continue watching? The pigeon is the first death in this episode, although as
it is only 5 minutes in top an hour episode, it suggests this won't be the last- especially considering the mysterious tension which is starting to build up. Throughout the opening on the episode, mirrors are very highly used, from the interior mirror from the car, to the mirrors right by the doors. This use of reflection suggests that these people are not alone and they are being watched . This is because they aren't actually looking into the mirror themselves when it's filmed- almost as if the mirror isn't even there. This is important to creating this build up because it can be implied that the use of the mirror symbolizes the mysterious character. Barthes enigma code is continued through when the female sees the person who we were lead to believe was her partner, although when she sees him, her faces drops and she says "who are you". Thus confusing the audience. So who is this man then if not her partner? Why was he texting her if she didn't know him? An action code is quickly used, when this new mystery man pulls out a knife, we are left wondering the consequences and still left wondering who and why? Another action code which is in the drama is when Luther handcuffs George Cornilious to a radiator, later making him say "I cannot forgive you for this, therefore there is now a bounty on your head". This leaves us wondering whats going to happen to Luther?

Todorov's theory is about the different events dramas and films tend to follow. As seen above, there was equilibrium, although there is a disruption of the equilibrium when Luther is called back to the police force as a serial killer is on the lose. Also we see how his partner was killed. Even though there was only equilibrium for about a minute, it still shows the breaking of it. When detectors started to investigate, dead bodies began to unravel, showing missing body parts. This is the recognition of the disruption of the serial killer. Their attempt to repair this damage, began by trying to find all the victims bodies, then tracing them all back- trying to find this serial killer.

If you were to watch this episode, not knowing who was who and not knowing what was happening, it may be somewhat confusing. The characters are hard to "read" in this media text, this makes Propps theory hard to link in with this show. However, you can begin to work out who is who though, for example, John Luther, the character who the show is named after, appears to be the main character, yet it is still questioned whether he would be classed as a hero or instead an anti-hero as the narrative theory suggests.

When we first see the serial killers "den", there are photos of a man all over the wall, these are covered in blood. This is a symbolic code because blood and the colour red normally represent death. Thus making the audience think either this is the next victim or he is the serial killer.

20 minutes in we begin to discover a pattern with the mysterious killer/ the villain- what Propp would label this character. The victims are left with a body part missing. Why does he need them?

The next scene is followed by the camera moving around an apartment with photos on the wall, which look to be covered in blood, then slowly moving towards a man. On the floor we see glasses- perhaps the glasses the mysterious partner who wasn't her partner man was wearing? then slowly the camera goes up the body, the first time we actually see this person! The reveal. Perhaps if you were watching last series this would be a shock, although being someone who hadn't watched this before just makes me think "oh this must be the killer". Even thought he answer of who is found, the question of why is still left wondering...

Another action code happens. Although unlike before with the knife, the effect is different, this seems much more as a threat rather than an offense which is about to happen. We can tell this man isn't going to shoot this character, especially as it's Luther so he can't be killed off straight away seeing as it's basically his show. This shows how Barthes theory of the different codes of being able to unravel something isn't always one for tension, just to show a "power" of a character.

Finally, Todorov's theory shows how when the serial killer is killed himself, this is when the new equilibrium is presented. Although because this is a drama, it suggests the audience can expect a new disruption will occur.
Characters in related with Propps theory:

Luther: the hero/ main character

Name unknown: dispatcher 

The villain: Steven Roads

The helpers: Theo bloom and Emma

The donor: Megan

Luther theorists notes

Luther: 
Barthes:  enigma code… the question of who is this mysterious killer and why is he doing it?
 Action code… handcuffing George Cornilious to the radiator. "I cannot forgive you for this, therefore there is a bounty on your head"
Symbolic code… Blood on his pictures on the wall- death- he is the killer.
Pigeon dying- woman dying

Todorov: equilibrium at the beginning when he is standing on the rood top. 
disruption of the equilibrium: he gets called back to the force as a serial killer is on the lose. His love interest was killed.
recognition of it: they find the bodies and try to follow the puzzle back to who the killer is
attempt to repair the damage: they try and catch the killer
new equilibrium: serial killer dead (in the hospital)

Propp: 
The donor: Megan- she had information about Luther's dead love person- Alice Morgan
Villain: Steven Roads
Hero: Luther 
Helper: Theo Bloom and Emma
Dispatcher: Man from the club 

Levi: Good vs Evil
Police vs serial killer.
Luther's mind vs Luther's morals