Argo Film Review

-       The review will include:

-       A subjective, informed response which will include reference to Macro and Micro elements of Film Analysis.

-       This will involve a close analysis of selected sequences (opening/final and one of your choice) to illustrate your critical points.

-       Your analysis must include reference to the audience’s emotional response.

-       The different responses/reaction/feelings you felt whilst watching the film

-       Who might not like the film and why.

-       Not all your points may be positive but it is important to fully justify any negative criticisms

-       Refer to the marketing techniques used to sell the film, was this accurate?

Argo

In 1979, Iranians raided the American Embassy and took all workers as hostages, Argo is a film based on the escape and rescue of 6 Americans by a C.I.A officer. This action thriller will have you on the edge of your seats throughout this historical event, with real life footage. Argo, Director and producer Ben Affleck, Warner Bros Studio Inc.

Genre: Action, Thriller Drama, Historical.

Actors:

Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez

John Goodman as John Chambers

Bryan Cranston as Jack O’connor

Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel

Release Date: August 31, 2012

The target audience for this film is the older generation as they will know and understand the historical event. Although ages 18+ would also enjoy this film as it is action packed and intrigues you.

In this film the Iran community raid the American Embassy and take all workers hostage, except 6 escape. When the CIA find out that they start to make a plan to get them out of Iran, this is where the make believe film Argo comes in, Tony Mendez has to make the government believe he is taking his film crew out of the county and not the hostages.

Assignment 2: Audience Theory Essay

Audience Theory

The Effects Model theory suggests the media inject ideas into a passive audience. The media could be described as a drug being supplied to the audience. The media is also referred to as 'the mass media' and 'mass communication' this is because it emphasises the size and scale of their activities. This theory is supported when there are moral panic's in society, where it is used to explain why certain groups in society shouldn't be to exposed to certain media texts. This is because here may be a chance they will reenact the sexual or violent behaviour they have watched or read. For example when the media supplied the idea that listening to Marilyn Manson makes you violent and aggressive, and there was a moral panic where different groups in society raised against Marilyn Manson. An experiment called 'the bobo doll' showed children to act aggressive and violent towards a doll after watching a film that had content of adults being aggressive and violent to a bobo doll. This theory shows the effects of the media are usually assumed to be negative. Its mass audience are assumed to be the 'weaker' members of society. 

The Uses and Gratifications theory suggests that the media audiences make active use of what the media offer. The audience has a set of needs that the media can supply in one way or another. The audience are imagined to use media texts to satisfy needs and interest they have individually. They are seen to be made up of individuals free to agree or disagree with media forms, instead of being a passive audience doped with the media.The power lies with the consumer. Studies done in 1940's-50's in America contradict the Effects Theory, as the audience didn't accept what the media had to say, the were actively responding to what they had seen, watched or read. In these studies they found it interesting that when it came to politics' the audience focused on the messages that reinforced their individual thoughts and beliefs. They concluded that audiences were composed of different social and culture groups with different thoughts and beliefs. An issue with this theory is that it is very simplistic, and everyone would rather say they were an active audience with a choice instead of passive just being told information and with no question believing it.

As just stated everyone would rather say they were an active audience and I'm no different, I believe I am an active audience because i like to question what i am being told, but when watching adverts on beauty and hair products I would say I am a passive audience. When i see an advert for L'orial or rimmel and they are saying it their foundation makes your skin flawless i tend to believe and buy their products, i don't question how they have made this assumption or look for information on it. This is a passive response to what i have seen for a media text. Then on the other side when I see and advert on TV for adopting a cat or dog, and by giving £2 each month it would help, this I get quite annoyed by because how can my £2 help at all when i get sent, pictures, letter and soft toys? Surely the gifts i receive for donating costs more than £2, it seems to defeat the object of giving to 'charity', this is an active response to a media text i have seen.

There are certain different media forms that demand either a passive or active audience. The advertising industry demands a passive audience as they don't want to you to question what they are telling you, they want you to see, want, buy their product. Also Tv soaps want you to be passive and believe in the their soap being reality for the full 30minutes they show for. Then theres is programmes such as X Factor, The Voice, and Britain's got talent that want you to be an active audience and share your opinion, their would be no show with out active audiences voting for different acts. 

In my opinion i believe that the Uses and Gratifications theory is more useful and convincing because it allows use all to use media texts for our own needs, pleasures and entertainment. Then there is evidence that the Effects model is a convincing, when it comes to video games and the violence and death that they show, can lead to certain members of the audiences to killing their own parents. Then we do need to think about the other factors that are in these specific case as it is only a small amount of the audience that do things like this. 

Audience Theory

Paragraph set-up:

-       Explain the Effects Theory – Context, Experiments, Problems etc

-       Explain the Uses & Gratifications Theory – Reasons for its development, Problems, On-going developments etc

-        Do you think you are an Active or Passive consumer of the media, or both! Give examples of specific media texts that you have recently consumed have resulted in:

  a) a passive response

b) an active response

-       4.  Do you think there are particular Genres/Forms that demand a passive or active response?

-       5.  Which argument or theory do you think is most useful or convincing?  Why?  Provide examples to illustrate your thoughts.

There is an argument that the audience, especially children and vulnerable individuals, should be protected from violent and explicit material in the media, as they are influenced by them.

-       6.  What do you think about this possibility?

-       7.  Can you discuss any specific examples?  

-       Advertising is a very powerful media tool that aims to persuade us to buy certain products by claiming that we 'need' these  to make out lives better.  Ads aimed at children are supposedly, tightly regulated.

-       8.  In what ways do you respond to advertising messages?

-       - does it depend on the product?

-       - the media communicating the message?

-       - the high production/creative impact?

-       - an emotional response?

-       - individual, personal values and responses?

-       Discuss 3 (or more) specific examples and your own responses as part of this debate.

-       Censorship debates consider both passive and active consumption and our ability to de-construct the content and make rational decisions.  Censorship may be considered to be necessary but it takes away choice from the audience.

-       9. What are your thoughts about censoring media material?

-       Discuss/consider relevant examples.

-       Uses & Gratifications Theory

-       Complete your own Hierarchy Of Needs

Intro

In the essay i am going to be looking at