Gerbner

how can gerbners theorey be aplied to tv dramas.

Genre Theory - Neale

Crime Drama Conventions in Homelands

Mie-en-scene
Crime drama conventions in mise-en-scene are followed in home lands. In the show we often see guns, violence, law enforcement officials, CIA briefing room, interrogation rooms

Typical Narratives
typical good vs evil narrative, for example CIA vs Terrosrists, Police vs criminals, romance. Crime drama, Political drama, Military drama, phycological drama.

Genre/Stock Characters
Female lead with mental health issues

Themes


Stephen Neale's genre theory outlines the idea that 'pleasure is derived from repetition'.  Repetition can be provided through genre conventions. For example in romance genre narratives a typical convention is one character trying to win over the heart of another, this gets repeated through out many romance films. By doing this the narratives are give the audience pleasure through repetition. I will now try and apply this theory to the U.S. TV crime drama, 'Homelands'.

Homelands follows typical conventions for this genre of show. The show follows the typical convention of good vs evil. This convention is demonstraighted through the characters of Carrie and and Abu Nazire. This rivalry also satisfies the needs of american audiences by portraying a stright white american, hunting down an islamic terrorist. This desire from americans comes from the 9/11 attacks on america carried out by an islamic terrorist group.


Livi strauss

Theory and Framework

Applying Todorov's theory to a whole season (homelands)

Introduction Recipe 

1. Explain the theory to demonstrate you know the theory 
2. explain your argument relating how to apply the theory to the case study
3.  say which case study you are going to write about

A star essay

1. S.P.A.G
2. theory
3. terminology
4. context - political and cultural

Paragraph one formula

1. discuss how the equilibrium can be applied to the tv drama you have studied
2.  use lots of texts references to show you have watched and revised the tv show
3. show counter arguments
4. also discuss how each episode could have the theory applied to it
5. link back to how helpful it is to apply the theory to the case study
6. discuss the equilibrium

paragraph 2

1. discuss how todorov's theory of disruption can be linked to the first episode of the case studies
2. discuss the pattern of disruption throughout season one
3. link back to question and discuss how the theory can be linked to both TV and film
4. own options

Paragraph 3 

1.  talk about resolutions / attempted resolutions
2. how does this differ from films (Todorov's intended meaning for the theory)
3. talk about there is no resolution = no equilibrium 

Conclusion

1. show knowledge of theory
2. argue both for and against the helpfulness of applying the theory to a TV drama
3. explains on how parts of the theory can or can't be applied to the case study
4. own opinions on point 3
5. link back to the question.

Evaluate the relevance of Todorov's theory of narratology to long form television drama.

In 1969 Todorov came up with a theory that all narratives are based on three key parts, an equilibrium, a disruption and a resolution. Todorov intended for this theory to be applied to films, however this theory is partly applicable to long form television drama as well. the U.S. television drama 'Homelands' partly follows this theory. Applying the theory to TV dramas can help to revile  the complex structures that help make to make them either a complete success or a complete failure. however the theory was intended to be used for films. I will now explore how useful this theory can be when applied to TV dramas.

In Todorov's theory it is said that all narratives start with an equilibrium. the TV drama Homelands does not follow this theory. At the very start of episode one season one we are introduced to one of the main characters of the show, Carrie Mathison. When we are introduced to her character she is frantically trying to negotiate the release of a political prisoner from a prison in Baghdad. she isn't successful  when applying Todorov's theory to the series this starting point would be classed as a disruption. As the episode continues the narrative of the show jumps eight years to the future showing us that events in Baghdad where a past memory to the character. The show the settles into what would be classed an equilibrium within the episode. this is short lived however, as within the same episode we discover  that a U.S. marine, Sargent Nicholas Brody, has been found in a terrorist compound after having gone missing eight years ago. this revelation within the episode sets up the narrative for the series as a whole. Todorov's theory is helpful when analysing the first episode of homelands as it helps to work put what aspects of the narrative are the key players. For example, by using Todorov's theory we can decipher that the events set in Baghdad where a disruption, instead of an equilibrium. the equilibrium of the episode has been strangely placed in comparison to Todorov's theory. Having a disruption before an equilibrium helps to make the show more engaging for the audience and helps to connote the genre of the show itself. 'Homelands' is a crime thriller tv drama, this is connoted by having a disruption at the very start of the episode. This early disruption helps to show that there will be many plot lines and chaos within the narrative of the show. 

semiology

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is the arangment of props, scenery etc in a set of a theatrical production or film set.

Mise-en-scene is everything that you can see on screen, the setting, the light, the colour scheme etc.

Mise-en-scene is a french word has the litteral translation of 'putting on stage'.

Common Conventions

Props

• gun
• taser
• handcuffs
• breif case

Costume

• police uniform 
• balaclava 
• white overals
• white lab coat
• suits and smart formal wear

Casting

• for a detective probably a middle aged middle class man

Settings

• a city
• police staionms
• police cells
• hospitals
• morges
• maybe the countryside

lighting

• blue and green lighting for a mourge
• dark for cells
• bright for a citty