Technophobes

The program “Technophobes would appeal to people who can relate to the topic of the program; people who are also afraid of technology but may also appeal to people who love technology and are curious as to why they are scared. The gender this would mainly relate to would be males as they like technology more than women and if they don’t, then they can relate to those who also do not like it. The age group this would be aimed at would be 16 – 25 as this is the primary demography of people who actually watch BBC3.

The assumptions I can come to considering this program will be on BBC3 are that it would be as much of a serious documentary, it will also have simple and easy to understand/relate to language and it will mainly revolve around younger people who do not like technology. This is due to the fact that BBC3 will need to please their target audience and their demography so they will use their normal codes and conventions in creating a program.

When this is broadcasted the type of things I expect to be included in the program are that it will be following a younger group of people, this is due to the fact that it will need to be relatable and also have a fun element. I also expect there to be a background story of their previous experiences with technology. There may also be a form of video diary to track how they are getting on over the course of the documentary. The content will revolve around the rise in the use and reliability of new technologies such as the iPad, laptops ,etc.

The representations the program would give about the Technophobes would be; why are they so scared of such a normal everyday thing. They may portray them in a comedic way as it’s rare to see someone choosing not to use technology.

Analysis of a Documentary DVD Cover

This is a DVD cover of the film “An Inconvenient Truth”. This is a documentary film directed by Davis Gunnenheim in 2006. It is about the former US Vice President’s – Al Gore – campaign aimed to educate the world about global warming and the disastrous effects it will have on the earth in years to come. It premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and overall was a box office success and overall became the sixth – highest grossing film documentary to date in the United States. The DVD cover of this documentary-film reflects various aspects and issues concerning the topic of this film.

Firstly, the colour scheme of this cover is dark and dull – with different shades of grey and black along with earthy tones. The dull colour scheme connotes that the film has a serious tone in it and has nothing to “laugh about”. This reflects the serious issue of the inevitable threat of global warming and that people should actually listen to the warning that people are advising and giving to the public and not just dismissing it and saying they “don’t care” or “it’s not going to happen in my lifetime”, etc.

The cover includes various environmental elements; such as; lightning, tsunami, dry earth and harmful smokes (greenhouse gasses) the collection of these images emphasises the effects of global warming in a clear and brief way. As they are pictures, they are universal – people don’t have to be able to read to see the effects and the impact of what will happen due to global warming. The whole collective image of the cover seems almost “apocalyptic”.

The type used in the heading/title of the film is written in capital letters. This again creates a serious tone and gives and creates more of an impact on people. It makes it seem serious and sets a stern tone towards the person looking at the cover. Additionally, the red text next to the main heading; looks as if it has been stamped on. This connotes a kind of approved status – that global warming will happen and everyone knows about it. Again it’s written in red and in capitals; this again shows warning.

Lastly, the age restriction is quite bold on the front. This shows the demographic of the documentary-film. From the PG rating we can connote that the film is basically aimed at everyone as the only restriction it has that if children watch it - they have to have some form of parental guidance. In effect, this helps the documentary-film get out to a mass audience and is accessible to loads of people.

Documentary

A category of non-fiction motion pictures to document an aspect of reality. (Primarily for purposes of instruction or a maintaining historical record)

Codes and Conventions

• A voice over (Usually authoritative)
• Real/genuine footage of events
• Genuine (natural/unaltered) lighting and sound 
• Achieved footage or still images
• Interviews (With someone who is concerned with the documentary)
• Simple, brief text (Titles, dates, etc)
• Non-diegetic sound (Could be music fitting to the topic)

Styles of Documentaries

1. Observationalist: Observing lived life with a minimum amount of intervention
2. Expository: Speaks directly to the viewer, with a strong point of view or argument. They are rhetorical and try to persuade the viewer.
3. Poetic: 
4. Participatory: Believes it's impossible for the act of film-making not to influence or alter the event being filmed.
5. Reflexive: Draw attention to their own constructedness and the fact that they are representations.
6. Performative: Stresses subjective experience and an emotional response to the world.