I’ve seen some good work come through for the first assessment task, well done to those who have completed it (and to those who haven’t, make sure that you do!)
For the next task, I’ll be expecting you to ramp up the research side, particularly in the ‘contextual’ analysis and your reflection. This is how you can demonstrate engagement with the form and content at a deeper level.
You don’t need to go to great lengths with this – just engaging with an idea or two from the readings (or your own research) that go beyond production terms and analysis. Some examples of this that related to your 1st task (and perhaps your 2nd) would be:
Rosenberg on coverage:
“Through the use of coverage, wide angles, close-ups, and so on, the film doctor corrects the timing of a setup and a punch line. Coverage allows the editor to cut away to other characters, to remove space within a reading, and to arrive quicker at a punch line.” (69)
Williams, D on editing style:
“Many web series find success because of how different they are from traditional TV shows. They can feature choppy editing an over-the-top acting, deal with topical subjects almost instantaneously, and are usually forgiven for mediocre production quality – aspects that usually are not acceptable in traditional media” (29)
Becker, R, Sienkiewicz, M, & Marx, N; Diversity, character, themes:
“In the new creative industries, the barriers to entry are not as determined by gender and race, at least not in the same manner as in the previous gatekeeping system, but are dependent on one’s mastery of self-promotion, ratings acceptance, and the politics of corporate culture.” (249)
This last quote in particular sets up arguments about diversity, but also the purpose of a web series, and how it differs to more traditional mediums such as television. Adding these perspectives into your work and then articulating how they have develop your understanding demonstrates a higher level of critical engagement than you were asked to produce in your 1st task. It also provides a way to substantiate your reflection, rather than just speculating and generalising.