In what area do you live? Urban Rural Other If ‘other’ please specify: How many hours of TV do you watch (on average) per day? None 0-1 hours 1-2 hours 2-3 hours 3-4 hours 4+ On what platform do you most commonly consume Television? Mobile Laptop/Computer Television Other If ‘other’ please specify: What genre of Television do you prefer? Drama Soap Comedy Reality Sci-Fi Other If other please specify:
The Archetype: Before I complete my first Target Audience study on ‘Skins’ (2007) I want to try to practice thinking about ‘the archetype’ of a TV show. As I found out last year, an Archetype of a TV show is the ideal person that to be watching the show. This person is the exact individual that the production team want to watch to TV program or Film. This can be extremely detailed, even going into depth thinking about the individuals hobbies and lifestyle. To help me to picture this is a more significant amount of detail, I am going to complete an example of an Archetype of a TV show.
The final character I am going to be analysing for being a stereotype is Cassie. Cassie is a character that represents mental health problems. After everything within the episode, and her passing out from taking too many Pills, she say ‘well at least we have our health.’ This comedic line shows that the character is somewhat oblivious and innocent to her problems. This is further clarified within the episode as she is constantly positive, saying ‘wow!’ At the simplest things. Her character is portrayed as being completely controlled by her mental health issues. One example of this is when they arrive at the party and she instantly wants to find the kitchen she can reorganise everything, suggesting that her problems are close to the surface and always on her mind. Mental health is something that still has such a huge stigma surrounding it within society. I think that this overly exaggerative version of a mental health problem is really helpful to the teenage target audience Skins is directed at, because of the fact that it is helping to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. I also think that a lot of teens will be able to relate to this character in some way, either to themselves or to a friend who may be going through something similar. In a 2007 survey, it was suggested that up to 70 percent of children will experience some sort of mental health disorder throughout their teenage years. This terrifying statistic suggests how relatable this would be to a teenage audience both at the time and currently. Alcohol, drug abuse and peer pressure: Figure - Skins Drugs storyline - (Anon., n.d.) Alcohol and Drug are another two topics that come up a significant amount throughout the episode. These two things are extremely prominent in a teenager’s life. Everything that teenagers have been told not to do, they want to do. For example, having hundreds of ‘the effects of Drugs’ talks at school and being told you can’t drink until you are 18, makes individuals more inclined to want to do these things. Another reason that alcohol and drugs relates to the target audience of Skins is because of the fact everything for a teenager is new and exciting. Everything seems to be off limits and daring and therefore it becomes such a large topic of conversation for teenagers. This means that the shows becomes even more relatable to the target audience.
workshop 1.2 and 2.1 Week 4 w/c 25.9 Contextual Study 2 (Students Choice) Unit 9 1.1 Continue with UCAS – sourcing university courses Week 5 w/c 2.10 Film scene (or elements of it) Unit 9 2.1 and 2.2 and 3.1 and 3.2 Completing of 1st draft of personal statement Week 6 w/c 9.10 Intro to key words i.e. characteristics of the audience PS Completed. Week 7 Progression Week Self Directed Study Week Unit 9 Characteristics and Contexts Unit 10 Engaging with an Audience ADVANCED SKILLS FOR FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION Who am I research, Myers Briggs etc Unit 11 Preparing for Progression Week 8 w/c 30.10 Audience Study 1 (Guided) Unit 10 1.1 Evaluate own strengths and ambitions 1.1 Week 9 w/c 6.11 Audience Study 2 (Students Choice) Unit 10 1.1 Investigate skills and progression routes (courses etc) that may need to be developed or completed to achieve ambitions detailed in week 2 1.2
Week 10 w/c 13.11 Film Sscene (or elements of it) Unit 10 2.1 and 2.2 and 3.1 and 3.2 Produce a career timeline 1.1 w/c 20.10 Community Week Week 11 w/c 27/11 Students produce their own scene combining their knowledge of characteristics, context and audience, using an existing scene and therefore demonstrating their understanding of Copy Transform Combine. Skills Investigate progression routes 1.2 (referring to Timeline) Week 12 w/c 4/12 Week 13 w/c 11.12 Dedline for all work completed and posted and in Portfolio. Appendix 8