What do we have to do?
Next year is my final year at university, meaning that the dissertation unit is slowly approaching. So as well as our professional practice and studio production projects, we also have to create our dissertation proposals by the 1st May (same deadline as our professional practice). This proposal consists of a 2,000 word essay where we present our ideas. This includes which referencing we will be needing plus our initial points plus structuring.
After being introduced to the proposal, Kath then went through ideas which we could use, plus how we can structure our proposal question. As this is a dissertation, I wanted to make sure that I write about camera or cinematography, as this is what I want to get into once I've finished university. However, I also wanted to make sure that I'm able to bring in theoretical content so I needed to make sure that I chose something which lets me do both.
The idea I've decided to stick with consists of an exploration of how documentaries purposely mediate to conform to dominant ideologies. In simple terms, this means following how certain documentaries may purposely fix to one side of an argument which furthermore may be related to a recognisable problem in society, for example animal abuse, or violence, etc. By sticking with this idea, I can tackle many theories, such as:
- Dominant Ideologies: The theories behind global and recognisable ideas
- Mediation: The way the media dramatises something intentionally, often through
the use of camera
- Moral Panics: How these dominant ideologies are fuelling everyday controversial panics, e.g.
terrorism.
- Hypodermic Needle: The way the media 'injects' these thoughts into the audiences mind
- Reception Theory: How this idea of mediation is dependent on what type of audience you may
be (passive and active)
- Semiotics: The meaning of signs, linking to how semiotics are used to conform to the dominant
ideology
- Hegemonic ideology: Theory behind dominant ideology.
I also thought of some examples of documentaries which are useful for this proposal, where I'll incorporate the theories in brief:
- Benefits Street: A programme which basically creates a negative view of those on benefits by
showing how some of them are easily living on benefits. As well as this, there has been
controversy that they purposely make them look more like 'scum' or poorer on purpose, helping
to 'inject' (hypodermic needle theory) this dominant ideology that those on benefits are 'scum'
into the audience's mind. This of course is dependent whether the audience is passive or active;
leading to the reception theory.
- Life and Death Row: A short mini-documentary series following the journey of those who are
waiting to be executed. This programme contrasts Benefits Street in a way as the way it films
mediates this sympathetic approach to the victims, despite what they've done. However, it can
arguably fuel a moral panic as the audience become aware of some of the most vast and violent
crimes which may be unheard of.
- Blackfish: A film documentary focusing on how killer whales are treated horribly in the known
tourist park Sea World. The programme mediates this 'for' view to free the killer whales by
frequently showing the uncomfortable look from the whales, showing how semiotics are used
intentionally to fuel this opinionative view of the documentary.
- Religulous: I haven't currently seen this documentary, however the log line explains that it is
about a non-religious man who is on a joinery to learn about religion, however has been
controversial as he almost has a persona which mocks religion, which therefore can be seen
offensive for those who are religious.
Below are some notes which I made whilst I was brainstorming my idea:
My Idea: Mediation in documentaries
The idea I've decided to stick with consists of an exploration of how documentaries purposely mediate to conform to dominant ideologies. In simple terms, this means following how certain documentaries may purposely fix to one side of an argument which furthermore may be related to a recognisable problem in society, for example animal abuse, or violence, etc. By sticking with this idea, I can tackle many theories, such as:
- Dominant Ideologies: The theories behind global and recognisable ideas
- Mediation: The way the media dramatises something intentionally, often through
the use of camera
- Moral Panics: How these dominant ideologies are fuelling everyday controversial panics, e.g.
terrorism.
- Hypodermic Needle: The way the media 'injects' these thoughts into the audiences mind
- Reception Theory: How this idea of mediation is dependent on what type of audience you may
be (passive and active)
- Semiotics: The meaning of signs, linking to how semiotics are used to conform to the dominant
ideology
- Hegemonic ideology: Theory behind dominant ideology.
I also thought of some examples of documentaries which are useful for this proposal, where I'll incorporate the theories in brief:
- Benefits Street: A programme which basically creates a negative view of those on benefits by
showing how some of them are easily living on benefits. As well as this, there has been
controversy that they purposely make them look more like 'scum' or poorer on purpose, helping
to 'inject' (hypodermic needle theory) this dominant ideology that those on benefits are 'scum'
into the audience's mind. This of course is dependent whether the audience is passive or active;
leading to the reception theory.
- Life and Death Row: A short mini-documentary series following the journey of those who are
waiting to be executed. This programme contrasts Benefits Street in a way as the way it films
mediates this sympathetic approach to the victims, despite what they've done. However, it can
arguably fuel a moral panic as the audience become aware of some of the most vast and violent
crimes which may be unheard of.
- Blackfish: A film documentary focusing on how killer whales are treated horribly in the known
tourist park Sea World. The programme mediates this 'for' view to free the killer whales by
frequently showing the uncomfortable look from the whales, showing how semiotics are used
intentionally to fuel this opinionative view of the documentary.
- Religulous: I haven't currently seen this documentary, however the log line explains that it is
about a non-religious man who is on a joinery to learn about religion, however has been
controversial as he almost has a persona which mocks religion, which therefore can be seen
offensive for those who are religious.
 |
| Taken from Life and Death Row |
 |
| Controversial Documentary Benefits Street |
 |
| Documentary film Blackfish |
 |
| Documentary Religulous. It is clear it will be controversial judging from the iconic cover and even the name which almost seems like a mockery. |
Now that I have my idea sorted, I will now be researching it more into depth by finding out which books to use for my dissertation. As well as this, we all also have a powerpoint presentation on the 3rd March to present our proposal, therefore I will be working on this throughout the month.
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