Task 3: HISTORICAL TEXT ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH

Cinema Verite Vs Geordie Shore?

Geordie Shore is deemed what we call nowadays a structured reality television show. Regarding a historical context that was linked Geordie Shore was quite difficult to find in particular the northern England region. So linking it to the Cinéma vérité era itself was a better idea. This era of cinema was what the 60's/70's deemed as the honest truth. It was documentary styled film usually fly on the wall and the slogan for Cinéma vérité was "the camera doesn't lie"

How does Cinéma vérité link to Geordie Shore?

The idea of of a set up, structured situation for the camera to record and rely on reactions is essentially what both are about. This idea of 'stylised set ups' here film makers have a conversation with audience about the subject is almost identical to what happens in Geordie Shore.

These two are very similar however there are just as many differences. Throughout the years political and hidden message within these shows have changed. The idea of Cinéma vérité was to voice the underrepresented and these ideologies have changed as time has passed. Especially in the north of England it was usually honest, truthful representations of the hard working class. Comparing to the today's adaptation of Cinéma vérité we have the northerners being represented as 'slutty, alcoholic, air head c list celebrities.' Mentioned by Newcastle upon Tyne MP constantly ranting that the show does not represent a true reflection of Newcastle.

Ethnofiction is a neologism which refers to an ethnographic docufiction, a blend of documentary and fictional film in the area of visual anthropology. It is a film type in which, by means of fictional narrative or creative imagination, often improvising, the portrayed characters (natives) play their own roles as members of an ethnic or social group. This is a key concept with a show like this as this is what the show is based around.

Task 2 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Works Cited

Andrejevic, Mark. Reality TV: the work of being watched. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2004. Print.

Balkin, Karen. Reality TV. San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Print.

Murray, Susan, and Laurie Ouellette. Reality TV: remaking television culture. New York: New York University Press, 2004. Print.

Skeggs, Beverley, and Helen Wood. Reacting to reality television: performance, audience and value. New York: Routledge, 2012. Print.

Wyatt, Wendy N.. The ethics of reality TV: a philosophical examination. New York: Continuum, 2012. Print.

Task 1 Textual Analysis

Geordie Shore season 4 trailer

CLAMPS  

• Costume is one of the most obvious aspects to the video the short skirts, assets on show and the V cut tops for the males showing their chest or in a vest top. High use of make up really re-enforcing the idea of the glitz and glamour element to the show. 
• Lighting is very high in order to create this hyper reality idea. Some of the lighting in this trailer is very artificial possibly referring the the artificial element of the show. The lighting is high key enabling audiences to see everything as it should be seen but as seen in night time scenes the lighting is still available giving the audience a sense of power.
• As researched the codes and conventions of targeting a young audience, large, simple read texts appearing on screen immediately grips and interest the target audience of this kind of show. The trailer immediately begins by saying 'they've arrived' this triggers all kinds of questions. The actual video contains a lot of high speed action and showing snippets of big moments in the season. It is almost a cliff hanger as the short quotes tease the audience 'Gaz has finally met his match' 'I have a boyfriend and I'm in Gary's bed' This immediately engages the young audiences. 
• Make up is of course used a lot in shows like these. The cast members often promote idea of being 'fake' is the way forward. One slogan of the cast members is 'I'm fake, flirty and I've got double F's' The make up element to the show just another aspect to it dumbing down television?
• Props in this trailer there is no single one, however the one that appears the most is cups of alcohol. Constantly we see cast members with cups or glasses of alcohol. This shows teens that boozing is a necessity in order to have fun, or as they and much teenagers now call it 'getting mortal.'
• Setting is the most important element in this as it embodies (in cast members eyes) exactly what it means to be Geordie. In every single monologue the cast members have there is a faint background picture of something linked with Newcastle. Newcastle in the trailer is described as 'our playground' and even around the house there are Geordie landmarks round the house. The setting in this show is the most important the as it is stressed in the name and being Geordie is what this show is all about.

Issues and debates

Representation in Geordie Shore representation is one of the main focuses on issues and debate. The consistent criticism of how the cast members do not represent the true Geordie lifestyle.

In the trailer we see and hear the Geordies speak about how Newcastle is their play ground and they will cause chaos, this links back to representation as audiences begin to believe that this is how Geordies behave.

A theory that links in with this aspect is cultivation theory. Similar yet very different to the hypodermic theory where rather than audiences being passive viewers and the re-enacting what they see in the programme, cultivation theory changes public opinion gradually by the amount of telly they consume. 'Heavy Viewers' of Geordie Shore then begin to believe slowly that this is what Newcastle is like and begin to form opinions. Of course the more television watched the more you believe it. This theory is especially vulnerable to the target audience of Geordie Shore as well.

Additional Research

 Melissa Wendy, 21 Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

When asked to watch the trailer and to answer whether this is a fair representation of Geordies the answer was:

"I disagree, there are some members who are like this around the area, however it is a very small minority which are over represented for entertainment purposes. Furthermore those who are represented are only like that even more because of the introduction of Geordie shore."

This is an interesting opinion from someone who lives in this environment who is of a similar age to cast members who have completely different beliefs. The video was concentrated into everything that is wrong with Newcastle which has been glorified by this show.

Geordie Shore Season 4 teaser

CLAMPS

• Coustume similar to the first trailer the females in revealing clothing and the males in tight tops. However the angle has been taken very differently after the 'atomic boom' in the trailer hits the floor as they sexualize the clothing and we see cast members clothes removed into corsets and males topless. This is simply the voyeuristic aspect to this where teens have 'eye candy' to look upon. We see the two new members muscles before we even see their face which clearly outlines the importance of eye candy
• Lighting is very artificial in this trailer as low key and bottom lighting is used to make the cast members seem angelic and a breath of fresh air. Cast members walking down the street on a dark night however the lighting on them is high
• Audiences are gripped to this trailer but the anticipation of the new cast members and the connotations this trailer brings. Things done in this trailer was for a specific purpose down to the script and the casts' actions in order to grip the audience. "This is going to be mint" while flirtingly waving at the boys posts questions in audiences head engaging them into the trailer instantly.
• Make up as usual is of course high to keep the impression of looking good to teenagers is such an important aspect. This idea of being fake is a good thing and glorified is seen through the long nails, hair extensions and eye lashes.
• Props used here is and engagement ring which symbolised a lot throughout the trailer as it flew away and the cast member Rici was grasping to get it. This symbolised the breaking up of his engagement which is later found out during the series. The phone smashing on the floor and cracking which we see is the cast member Sophie's boyfriend who also have a rocky relationship through series 4 also. All props used for a key purpose.
• Setting is a normal road in Newcastle again Newcastle being so iconic to them but by setting it here and not at some sort of exclusive VIP bar it attempts to show the audience that they are normal people as they stroll past the kebab shop almost attempting to relate to audiences.