Soooo since Brian cancelled the lectorial (thank god but gws Brian lmao), he has instructed us to write two initiative posts in order replace the lecture/reading! Luckily, I’ve decided to post the reading so it should somehow meet this week’s quota of posts, hah.
The first initiative I’d like to talk about is my experience watching TV shows/films ever since I became a media and film student. Let’s use Jane the Virgin as an example.
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I’ve becoming more aware of the cinematic/editing techniques that media-makers use in order to produce the genre of a film or a television show. In this case, Jane the Virgin being categorised as a ‘dramedy’/romantic comedy/telenovela/etc – the show is supposed to follow the elements that make up those certain genres. Being a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the cinematography for example gives a depiction of reality rather than an “artsy” shot you would usually see in a typical Hollywood blockbuster films. And as for the editing, it is an unconventional form with a Latin lover commentator, a type-writer font (explains events) that adds a comedic effect and whatnot. The overall production of the show perfectly fits the story that is being told. Which I really like!
Now, for the second segment of this post, I want to talk about another recent television show – 13 Reasons Why. I don’t even need to include an image of the TV show’s header because you know exactly what I’m talking about. Its hype was well-supported by a media widely used – social media! From Buzzfeed headlines to memes, those were certainly more than enough to get me curious about it:
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But you get drift, right? This is a genre that is completely opposite to aforementioned show, Jane the Virgin, and they share no similar qualities, whatsoever. Just my 2 cents! From the photos I’ve included, I wanted to discuss the social impact or the “hype” created. Thinking deeply about it, how does the “hype” even begin? Is it because the show produced such good quality that it was enough to be raved and meme’d about? That’s the obvious answer of course, but it’s hard to occur to me because eight episodes in and I’m not into the show at all. I suppose it’s the mysterious elements that keep me at bay with the show, but content-wise, it’s not something I’d look for. I feel like I’m contradicting myself so I guess I’ll just have to finish the show to find out my ultimate opinion about it. In comparison to JTV, the production is on another level in terms of how it’s shot/edited (colour-corrected, for example) – it gives more of a serious tone, which is obviously how it should because the mentions of bullying, suicide, mental illnesses, etc.
Hm. This left on a confusing (?) note but I guess I’ll have to keep you updated on my next initiative post about both these shows, especially for 13 Reasons Why.
Toodaloo,
lik 😶