about the nature of frontline texts (1 Viewer)

[totallybord]

hi,
could someone tell me if when analysing your frontline related texts, do you need to know something about the context or history of it?
does that involve in-depth research or sth?
thank you!

 

[vizman]

hi,
could someone tell me if when analysing your frontline related texts, do you need to know something about the context or history of it?
does that involve in-depth research or sth?
thank you!

no this module is more primarily concerned with techniques.

 

[totallybord]

but you need to know about what the composer's doing or trying to show which means you need to know about the background of the text don't you?

 

[dr baby beanie]

A little wouldn't hurt (and could be quite beneficial), but the context isn't the basis of your whole essay or this module unlike module A - transformation of texts.

 

[BHHS]

no this module is more primarily concerned with techniques.

Sort of, but not quite. Frontline is (correct me if I'm wrong) part of representation and text, therefore you need to talk about how the composer represents the concept of truth to us. So while techniques are important, you also need to consider a number of things:

- Text form, why did the composer chose a mockumentary to portray his vision of the truth as opposed to say, a movie
- Context, how did the values of the compoer's context affect his portrayal (ie what did he do to make the message stand out to US)
- How you personally responded to the representation (be very careful, this does not mean say stuff like "I was affected by this" but instead "a modern audience continues to be affected by the portrayal of truth in The Seige, as the composers use of satire forces the question as to whether the truth has been subverted by a commercialised media")

I can't answer exactly for Frontline, but as an example of context in powerplay
- Antony and Cleopatra - Caesar acted according to his Roman values whereas Antony acted contrary to Roman values, however to a Victorian audience (when the play was produced) Caesar's actions were seen as immoral whereas Antony's became more just, therefore through presenting an accurate portrayal of Roman values Shakespeare is able to appeal to Victorian values to present to them his view that powerplay is corrupting, and because the values practiced by a number of Australians originated in the Victorian era then Shakespeare's message pervades through time and continues to be relevant today
- Power of Nightmares - Adam Curtis uses a montage of war scenes throughout the ages to appeal to our knowledge of the controversy surrounding the modern Iraq War to suggest that powerplay continues to be a corrupting force

The most important thing to remember is that the module is about how a view of the truth (eg that the truth is subjective, that noone knows the truth) is represented to US, not about how the truth is represented in a text. So while techniques are vital to a proper analysis other things such as context play a very important role

 

[dr baby beanie]

Yeah, Frontline is part of Representation of Texts.

Come to think of it, my essays for Frontline particularly my ORT did incorporate a lot of context, but I also focused a lot on the techniques - as per the requirment of the module.

 

[totallybord]

so if i was to do a documentary, should i choose something a bit opinionated or controversial?