Textual Analysis

1. Textual Analysis LO: To understand the structure of the exam and criteria needed to write a good answer

2. On exams... In the exam you will be shown a short clip from a British or American TV Drama. You will be asked to textually analyse this clip, which you will see four times. You will need to take notes on the area which is being represented (which will be outlined in the essay question).

3. Representation For the exam you will need to understand what representation means and how each of the following groups is represented in British Drama: Class Age Gender Ethnicity Regional Identity Sexuality Physical ability/Disability

4. The Question The question for TV Drama is always framed in the same way and looks like this: Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of ------ using the following:‬ Camera shots, angles, movement and composition Editing Sound Mise en Scene

5. What does the task ask of us? You will have to discuss, in response to the question, how these technical elements (e.g. mise en scene, sound, editing and cinematography) create specific representations.

6. In order to do this you need to think about individuals, groups, events or places and how the director has used these elements to help create specific messages. You will also need to comment on the values that have social significance within the clip presented.

7. Textual Analysis • Think about what ideologies are being created or reinforced in the clip presented? • How are they portraying the world and the different societal groups? • How is this reinforced through the techniques used? • You need to comment on the effect of the following: • Mise en Scene • Sound • Editing • Camera shots, angles, movement, positioning and composition

8. What are examiners looking for? • Remember that when the examiner marks your essays they give you marks for the following things: • Your understanding of how technical elements create meaning • How relevant your answer is to the specific question

9. What are examiners looking for? • Your use of a wide variety of frequent examples that are clearly relevant to your answer • Frequent and accurate use of key terminology • Your use of accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling

10. Analysing an Unseen TV Drama sequence The following questions will help you analyse any ‘unseen’ extract, or any sequence you are watching for the first time. The ‘big picture’ overview: what’s in the structure and narrative of the sequence as a whole. These are sometimes calledmacro elements: – what it’s about and the story it’s telling
– the kind of drama it might come from
– the characters and performances of the cast
– the particular representations of people, groups, events or ideas, and their
potential impact on the viewer.

11. Analysing an Unseen TV Drama sequence 2. The technical aspects of the production, or micro elements, which construct thatimpact:
– the use of different camera shots and angles
– the lighting and colour tones used in the sequence
– the locations, props and mise-en-scène, and their design
– the soundtrack
– the editing of the sequence. 3. Representation: how these micro technical aspects have been used by theproducers of the text to construct ideas and values around the portrayal of socialgroups, places, events, or debates.

12. Warning! Examining the 'big picture' can be easily mistaken for writing a summary of what has just happened. Please DO NOT fall into this trap! You need to focus your response on analysingthe clip from the very first sentence: ‘The opening establishing shot of London indicates the urban nature of the male/female representation that are constructed in Luther; this is clearly seen when we see a montage of workers dressed in work suits emphasising their high status jobs'

13. Some vocabulary..

14. Audience Readings This shot/scene/example (etc.)...

15. Homework Using your notes from the previous lesson begin writing up your Rome essay. Due next lesson.