GCSE Media StudiesRevising for the mock examinations

The examination: Tuesday 10th December AM 1 hour 30 minutes

What do you think sitcoms should include?Write down at least FIVE codes and conventions a sitcom should include

Starter

The ‘sit’ and the ‘com’ of sitcom

Most sitcoms feature a group of characters trapped in a particular situation or in a dysfunctional relationship. The situation could include being part of a family; being married to a grumpy old man; or working with annoying people. This is the situation.Sitcoms are also supposed to be funny. We laugh at, or along with the characters,recognising and understanding their situation.

This is the comedy.

Gavin and Stacey

Task OneWatch the following extract and complete a RAIL analysis of the extract:

RAIL

epresentation – what kind of characters are there?

udience – who is this aimed at?

nstitution – what company made the programme?

anguage – what kinds of scenes, shots, sounds, dialogue and script are used?

RepresentationWhat kind of stereotypical characters do British sitcoms have?

How are British people normally represented?

Del Boy from Only Fools & Horses

David Brent from The Office

Blackadder from Blackadder IIMoss from the

IT Crowd

AudienceWhat kind audience watches sitcom?

Why do they watch it?

So why do audiences watch sitcoms? What needs are they fulfilling?

Audience

Maslow’s Theory of Needs –Which needs do sitcoms fill?

Audiences love sitcoms because…

• They provide light relief and humour.• They reflect problems many of us have to deal with in everyday life.• They have likable characters we enjoy relating to – perhaps they feel like our

friends.• They are safe – we know what sort of things will happen, we know how

episodes will end.

Institutions Which institutions make British sitcoms?

Producers love sitcoms because…..

• Limited sets and few outside locations mean they are cheap to make.• A limited number of characters keeps costs down too.• They are popular with audiences.• They are endlessly variable, and can be made to appeal to any age range or type of

person.• Series can be sold around the world and shown as re-runs for years, generating more

profit.• Scheduling is easy for re-runs as episodes don’t need to viewed as a series or in order.

Language

Remember to consider:• The setting• The camera shots• Plots• The actors’ make-up and costume• The actors’ positions• Lighting• All the elements of mise-en-scene including, colours, facial

expressions, props, layout, dialogue, non-digetic and digetic sounds…

Location

• Sitcoms are usually based in a limited location. This makes it cheap for producers. They can use the same main set for most of the episodes.

• The sets usually reflect either the domestic setting - the home (My Family, Malcolm In the Middle), or the workplace (The Office, Red Dwarf, The IT Crowd).

The locationLink these sitcoms to their main locations.

• The Mighty Boosh• Fawlty Towers• Friends• Porridge• Red Dwarf• Only Fools and Horses• The Office• The Royle Family• My Family

• A family home• An office• A spaceship• A hotel• A zoo• A flat in Peckham• A front room• A prison• A New York apartment

The ComedySitcoms can use a range of different types of comedy:• Physical comedy – falls, fights, or exaggerated physical comedy like slapstick. • Black humour – jokes around dark or taboo subjects such as death and disease• Comedy of manners – focussing on a particular social group and mocking or satirising their

behaviour• Romantic comedy – focussing on the pitfalls and difficulties of falling in or out of love• Social or political satire – jokes or observations related to the political or social issues of the

time.• Parody or pastiche – where the humour arises from the use and mockery of conventions

from another media genre

Types of characters

• Sitcoms usually focus on a small group of main characters, eg Ross, Rachel, Joey in Friends

• There are also usually some supporting characters who have regular minor parts, e.g. Gunter, Ross’s wife.

• There can also be transient characters, who have small or very occasional roles, including guest stars, and walk on parts ( e.g. George Clooney playing a doctor in one or two episodes, the newspaper seller).

The plot

• Sitcoms usually have fairly simple narratives, which revolve around small issues and everyday crises.

• They rarely involve life and death situations or saving the world.

• They focus on the common everyday occurrences that most of the audience can relate to: covering up mistakes, hiding the truth from someone, misunderstandings, trying to make yourself look better and being found out, and so on.

• Part of the situation in sitcom is that the characters never really escape their situation – the family stays together in My Family, Delboy and Rodney never get rich in Only Fools and Horses, The workers stay in their dull jobs in The Office.

• Occasionally, in long running series or to end a series, things will change – Nana dies in The Royle Family, Chandler and Monica get married, Dawn and Tim get together in The Office.

• But, on the whole, characters end each episode in more or less the same place or situation they started in.

• These circular narratives keep characters in their amusing situation; this helps producers sell series for repeats as they can be watched in almost any order; it also helps the audience know what to expect each time they watch.

Crossing over

• Sitcoms are endlessly variable. From the classic sitcoms like Fawlty Towers and My Family, sitcoms can be set anywhere (on an island, Father Ted, in a zoo, The Mighty Boosh) and in any time in the past (Blackadder; Allo, Allo), or in the future (Red Dwarf).

• They can cross-over with sci-fi (Red Dwarf, Astronauts, Third Rock From The Sun) and reality TV (The Office).

• They can be ironic (Spaced), surreal (The Mighty Boosh) or even disturbing (The League of Gentlemen).

Language

Remember to consider:• The setting• The camera shots• Plots• The actors’ make-up and costume• The actors’ positions• Lighting• All the elements of mise-en-

scene including, colours, facial expressions, props, layout, dialogue, non-digetic and digetic sounds…

TaskComplete a radial analysis of the following image taken from Channel 4’s sitcom, Father Ted

Now, consider how this image works according to the rule of thirds theory…

GCSE Media StudiesThe Mock Examinations

The examination is 1 hour 30 minutes

There are TWO tasks to complete. Each TASK has TWO questions to complete.

Each question is worth 15 marks. In TASK 2, you must complete the first question and choose a second question to answer.

Task One:This is the analytical and critical aspect of the examination which will test your knowledge of British sitcoms.

The questions will ask you about your knowledge of the genre and how they are made or received. For example:

Sitcoms are usually made to appeal to audiences through several key features:• The locations• The cast• The unusual or ridiculous plot linesThrough your research of sitcoms, explain how British sitcoms have used these aspects to appeal to different target audiences.

(15 marks A01)

GCSE Media StudiesThe Mock Examinations

Task Two

With your ideas for a new British sitcom and create a print advertisement for which will be seen in the Radio Times magazine.

(15 marks AO4)

This is the creative part for which you can prepare for this week.Use the brief to think about possibilities for what the examination could ask. What could they ask?

BRITISH SITCOM

The Exam Mark Scheme

• Sitcoms have a restricted location• Characters tend to stay in same situation, episode after episode.• There is a limited number of main characters.• Plots are based around everyday events.• Humour is based around personalities and the smaller problems in life.• The characters usually reflect the target audience.• Sitcoms are relatively cheap and easy to make.• They can appeal to a wide range of different audiences.

GCSE Media StudiesSummary of Sitcoms

Get revising… You need to learn the ideas from this slide show as well as designing as much as you can to prepare for the examination.

Do not forget to learn your technical terms…