Media Journal Sheet Name: Demo student Tutor Name Demo tutor Title of Text :* My Kitchen Rules, "The Usual Suspects" Link to text (if available) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJTFZUNBoow Student No. 12345 Media Form (e.g. film) TV advertisement Analysing your media text make relevant notes in the following sections: Identify some elements of the media text that are operating as signifiers and what their signifieds are. · A camera pans across a series of people, while the background is numbered and colour coded - This is a police line-up-style setting, and these people are to be compared to each other. However, the context is less serious (bright colours). · The people look directly at the camera - They know they are being watched. . The first contestant is a young man with thick framed glasses and a waist coat - Hipster style . He arms are entangled with the young woman standing next to him - they are a romantic couple . The next male contestant is middle aged, has a handle bar moustache and is wearing a ten-gallon hat that he tips to the camera - He has US Western style fashion and is possibly American. . The dark blue team stop smiling when the camera is on them - They are taking this competition seriously. · All contestants put on aprons - Cooking · Darkly lit men behind one way glass comment on the contestants - Judges What meanings are denoted, and identify some possible connotations. Denotation · These are teams of contestants in a judge-based competition that involves cooking. Connotation · Reality TV contestants are boiled down to lazy stereotypes. · This show is more interested in the competition and judging than the cooking . This format is becoming tired, hence the "not the usual rules tag". * Provide copy of text where possible (e.g. attachment, photograph, link to online video etc.)
Can a wider cultural message or theme be identified? · Viewers should feel comfortable objectifying real people competing on television shows and treating them like stereotypes because they are willing participants that invite our critiques and judgment. Additional Notes/Observations: . The setting and tagline evokes the 1995 film The Usual Suspects. A methodology used to study such connections is known as intertextuality, which we will discuss later in the Unit. · There is probably a synergistic relationship between the music label behind Charli XCX and the broadcaster, as the singer's song "Break the Rules" is cited in a caption. · The commercial predominantly features the show's younger, more attractive contestants. Perhaps they are attempting to make the show seem more youthful than its competition Masterchef and The Block and attract the key advertising demographic: Young Professionals. . I'm not sure what measurements they are using on the board, but if it's feet they must be the tallest contestants in reality TV show history as most reach "10".