Download Year 11 Mrs Doherty`s Media Class

A ‘Television Game Show’ is about a game! It always has an element of
competition at its core.
Game shows do not include reality TV shows like I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out
of Here, or The Great British Bake Off, or films like Slumdog Millionaire.
A sub-genre is a smaller group within the main genre.
Television Game Shows can be divided into these sub-genres: activity
oriented, dating, panel games, puzzle oriented, quiz shows
Sub-genres can overlap.
Game shows can belong to more than one sub-genre.
Format
The format is the outline of what
happens, where, how and in what order.
The format includes the gameplay.
To be a Game Show, the programme MUST be based around a game - if it is
not based on a game, it is not a Game Show!
Because it is a game, it must have: Competitors, Rules, A scoring system,
Winners and losers
The format answers the questions:
Who, What, Where, When, Why, How?
Sound
Title sequences - the title sequence tell the
Soundis used to create mood, atmosphere and tension; to
viewers what kind of programme it is, and set the
make it more realistic; to make the game show more exciting
tone and mood. They use colours, images and music.
and to add drama and intensity to certain sequences.
Certain sounds may be amplified on the soundtrack – e.g. the
The design and layout of the set:
Where does the host sit or stand?
Where do the contestants sit or stand?
Do they have desks or tables?
sound of a contestant breathing, or the audience laughing.
Sound may be a mixture of dialogue, music / soundtrack, of
ambient sound and of sound effects.
The dialogue might be scripted, semi-scripted, ad lib, or a
mixture.
Any props they use
Costumes or clothes – smart, casual, special costumes?
Representation
The camera work (close-ups, long shots…)
This is the way the media reflects the ‘real world’ back
The camera angles (high angle, eye-level…)
to us. The media’s presentation is never ‘transparent.’
The lighting (high-key, low-key…)
Every representation is biased, even by what is
The colour codes
representations reflect the ideas, biases and
included (or represented) and what is left out. All
assumptions of the producers.
The audience can also read the representations in a
Stereotypes
TV Game Shows use stereotypes to communicate ideas.
The audience finds stereotypes (e.g. the dumb blonde, the
clever nerd) easy to recognise and easy to understand.
People might be represented as the stereotype because it
is easier than giving a more complex portrayal.
biased way, or from a particular point of view. It can
be a problem if we see a biased representation so
often that we start to believe it is real or true.
The cultivation theory
People who watch television frequently are more likely to
be influenced by the messages from the world of
television. The influence goes to such an extent that
Uses and gratification theory
Entertainment and diversion – taking you away from your
own problems and your own world for a while – escapism,
their world view and perceptions start reflecting what
they repeatedly see and hear on television. Television is,
therefore, considered to contribute independently to
the way people perceive social reality. We believe what
we see!
Surveillance and information – finding out about new things
and information, helping you to get knowledge about the
Reinforcement theory
world
Argues that people’s attitudes, beliefs
Personal identity – testing yourself and comparing yourself
and behaviour is more likely to be
to people in the game shows, wondering how would you react
influenced by their family, schools,
to the same situation
communities and religious institutions.
Personal companionship – getting accustomed to the
argued that the only time the media can
presenters as if they are friends; wanting to know what
influence people was when the media
happens to contestants; having something to talk about with
introduce a new idea or concept.
others.
Klapper pointed out that there are
particular attitudes and beliefs that the
mass media is particularly unlikely to
change, such as racial and religious
Institution
tolerance
Institution is the business and industry behind the texts.
Institutions are the companies who create, produce, market
and regulate TV Game Shows. Institution can mean:
Audience
The TV Channels (Sky, the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5)
Game shows are designed and marketed to appeal to
The production companies like Fremantle or Endemol
The programmes themselves (Pointless, Take Me Out)
The regulators (Ofcom).
Some channels are Public Service Broadcasters (PSB). They
get money from the government, the license fee or charities.
They have to provide a service to the public.
Other channels are commercial. They are run solely as
businesses. They have to make money for the shareholders.
They often make money by selling advertising space.
different types of people.
Producers 'segment' the audience into different groups,
and aim their product at one segment. This is their target
market or target audience.
Demographics is one way of dividing up the audience into
groups or segments.
Demographics uses factual information to group the
audience. Each group is assumed to have similar ideas and
interests.
Demographics includes age, gender, occupation and
location, class and so on. It is a key way of segmenting the
audience for different game shows.
Key Terms