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Minds on

MINDS ON

Deconstructing Media

Think about the last movie, television show, or YouTube video you watched. Now think about how you watch movies, television shows or YouTube videos. What do you pay attention to? Are you just trying to understand the story or ideas presented, or are you looking for details like camera angles, music, background noises, et cetera? 

Watch the following video on the Foley sound effect artists and then consider what you noticed in the last text you watched versus what you might not have noticed. 

 

This is the Portfolio icon. Deconstructing Media Texts

What are your reflections after watching this film? In a short vlog, explain how you have watched media texts in the past and reflect on new insights the video provided and how this new learning might change the way you view media in the future. Also consider the purpose that directors have when incorporating these details into their text. How do you think this affects (enhances and/or detracts from) the audience perspective and experience?

Go To Portfolio
 
Action.

ACTION

All media have fairly standard techniques (definition:Techniques are ways of carrying out a task or action.) and conventions (definition:Conventions are ways in which something is usually done.) that are used to communicate meaning.
 

How Do I Use Techniques and Conventions to Analyze Video?

This is an image of an unwound roll of black film on a white backdrop. In the top left corner is the title Examples of Video, with the following text and phrases displayed over top the image of the roll of film: TV shows, movies, Instagram and Snapchat videos, gifs, Youtuber videos, music videos, and commercials.

You are using many of the same elements to analyze a written text while you are reading it that you do when you are analyzing video, as most videos use storytelling features to convey their messages.

MediaTechniquesVideo

Long Description

 

It's great to know what some techniques and conventions are when analyzing video, but it's more important to know how to use them effectively. Read the following article, "7 Things Critics Look for When Reviewing a Movie" from Cheat Sheet (original article), about what movie critics look for when analyzing a film.

If you want to view any links in this pdf, right click and select "Open Link in New Tab" to avoid leaving this page. (View the original article.)
 

This is the dropbox icon. Video Analysis

Watch the following video and fill out the graphic organizer, Media Techniques & Conventions: Video Graphic Organizer, to show your analysis of the film. 

 

Submit Your Work

How Do I Use Techniques and Conventions to Analyze Photos?

This is an image of an old suitcase in the background, with an old point and click camera sitting upright in front of it with black and white photos scattered throughout. At the top of the image is the title Examples of Photos, and on top of the image in different places is the text: memes, film, digital, instagram and snapchat pics.

In this course you will be using the word "photos" as a blanket term for any image that is not moving. As social media is a prominent element of our society, images like memes and photos posted on Instagram or sent as Snaps are considered part of the photos genre. 

When people take photos or post images to social media, they do so with a specific purpose in mind. They might want to make their friends laugh, make people think, or get "likes," et cetera. As you are examining photos for this course, you should spend time considering who the audience is for that photo and what purpose the creator has for taking the photo and sharing it with them.

MediaTechniquesPhotos

Long Description

 

Now that you have the terms and what they mean, look at the original and analyzed photos of Christopher Cline and his dog Juji. Christopher Cline is a professional photographer who gained popularity after his dog's Instagram account went viral.

Original:

This is an image of a man that is sitting on a dirt path out in nature surrounded by grass and trees. In front of him and looking back at him is a white-haired dog that is approximately four times his size, sitting, and looking down over the man.

Analyzed:

This is an image of a man sitting on a dirt path out in nature surrounded by grass and trees. In front of him and looking back at him is a white-haired dog that is approximately four times his size, sitting, and looking down over the man. On top of the image is text stating posed. Text in the top left states the mood equals affection for each other. The text lighting appears on top of the bright sky in the background, and side profile camera angle indicates both the dog and man are photographed in a side profile. Text also indicates the dog is photoshopped to be larger than normal, and subjects have arrows pointing to them showing they are the dog and the man.

This is the dropbox icon. Photo Analysis

Now that you have seen an edited photo, it is your turn. Find an image online (appropriate to the classroom) and, using a program like Adobe Spark, analyze the photo in this style. 

Submit Your Work

How Do I Use Techniques and Conventions to Analyze Audio?

This is a close-up of a microphone with the title in the top left stating Examples of Audio. Mixed throughout the image is text stating radio shows, songs, spoken word poetry, podcasts, and radio commercials.

When analyzing audio texts, many of the same ideas you used to analyze video and photos apply. Audio texts like podcasts and radio shows tend to be nonfiction, but often use storytelling techniques to get their messages across to their intended audiences.

MediaTechniquesAudio

Long Description

 

This is the discussion icon. Audio Analysis

Choose your favourite audio text (song, podcast, radio, etc.). Be sure to choose an audio text that is appropriate for class, and be sure to explain why this text is your favourite. Also share your deconstruction of the audio text using the "sound" category from the organizer.  

Join The Discussion
Consolidation

CONSOLIDATION

So, What Did You Learn?

In this lesson you were introduced to the concept of how to deconstruct video, photo and audio texts.

This is the Portfolio icon. Reflection #8

In a method of your choosing, share your reflections on what you learned in this lesson. Some ideas to consider are:

  1. Have you ever thought about the various pieces that make up videos, photos or audio texts? Why or why not?
  2. Comment on the video: "Foley Artists: How Movie Sound Effects Are Made."
    • What observations did you make about movies after seeing this video?
    • Will it enhance your next viewing of a movie? Why or why not?
  3. When analyzing video, is it helpful to think of videos as stories? Why or why not?
  4. Do you think you will be able to effectively analyze videos using the terms and questions provided? Why or why not?
    • Which term do you find most challenging to understand?
    • What other techniques or conventions should be added to this list?
  5. Do you think you will be able to effectively analyze photos using the terms and questions provided? Why or why not?
    • Which term do you find most challenging to understand?
    • What other techniques or conventions should be added to this list?
  6. Do you think you will be able to effectively analyze audio texts using the terms and questions provided? Why or why not?
    • Which term do you find most challenging to understand?
    • What other techniques or conventions should be added to this list?
  7. Do you find all this information overwhelming or manageable? Explain what you plan to do to ensure you understand the material.
Go To Portfolio
 

Did I Remember To...

  Checklist Items
watch the "Foley Artists: How Movie Sound Effects Are Made" video and create a vlog?
read the "Techniques and Conventions: Video" handout and complete the organizer on "The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore"?
read the "Techniques and Conventions: Photo" handout and analyze a photo of my choosing in a style like the model provided?
read the "Techniques and Conventions: Audio" handout and share an audio text with the class?
complete Reflection #8?

test text.