MEDIA STUDIESMEDIA STUDIES

‘‘The Controlled Test’The Controlled Test’

May 2008May 2008

Visual humour:Visual humour:

Physical violence (‘The Young Ones’ and Physical violence (‘The Young Ones’ and ‘Bottom’; also ‘The Simpsons’) ‘Bottom’; also ‘The Simpsons’)

Comic timingComic timing Facial expressions and body language (John Facial expressions and body language (John

Cleese in ‘Fawlty Towers’, Rowan Atkinson Cleese in ‘Fawlty Towers’, Rowan Atkinson in ‘The Thin Blue Line’)in ‘The Thin Blue Line’)

Aspects of set, costume and plot Aspects of set, costume and plot developments (eg: OTT costumes in developments (eg: OTT costumes in ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, Father Jack contained ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, Father Jack contained in a huge plastic bubble in ‘Father Ted’)in a huge plastic bubble in ‘Father Ted’)

‘‘Blackadder’:Blackadder’:

Watch the two clips. Comment on Watch the two clips. Comment on the use of visual humour; what is the use of visual humour; what is funny and how? What types of funny and how? What types of

visual humour are there?visual humour are there?

Creative Task:Creative Task:

Devise a short ‘physical comedy’ Devise a short ‘physical comedy’ sequence for your sitcomsequence for your sitcom

Explain, using labels, where the Explain, using labels, where the humour will derive from (ie: why will humour will derive from (ie: why will it be funny?)it be funny?)

Remember all the different types of Remember all the different types of visual humour!visual humour!

Textual analysis:Textual analysis:

The codes and conventions of The codes and conventions of the media text (ie: the sitcom) the media text (ie: the sitcom) and how they are used/ what and how they are used/ what

effect they have…effect they have…

Basics:Basics:

Camera shots/ movementCamera shots/ movement EditsEdits Sound/ musicSound/ music Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene