Justine Bateman Critical Research

Tuesday, 5 May 2009

Link To Questionnaire

Here is the link to my questionnaire page:

http://www.justinecrquestionnaire.blogspot.com

Friday, 1 May 2009

Forum Replies

Here is a couple of replies from my forum. I haven't included them all as some have said similar things to others or irrelevant.

Question: For what reasons do you watch Gossip Girl and why?

I watch Gossip Girl because I feel that all of the characters have something interesting about them. (Except Vanessa she just occupies space and sucks) The plots are good, the music is great and the fashion is always out there. And well of course the main reason Blair and Chuck and their unbelievable chemistry.

I like it because it's different from the other shows, I mean I took a look on 90210 and I hate it because of the numerous platitudes of dialogues. In GG, the dialogues are most of time funny, entertaining, well written. I can discover New York and I adore the clothes and luxurious apartments of Chuck and Blair!

I love this show because the characters are complex and multifaceted; the writing is fresh and witty; true attention is paid to art direction and creating aesthetically beautiful scenes; and the fashion is second-to-none. But it all comes down to the character development; the characters are interesting people (apart from Serena, who has been boring this season) and I love finding out what they are going to do next.

To be completely honest, my reason for watching Gossip Girl is that their lives are so interesting (unlike mine lol jk) no mine is it's just theirs is scandalous. I also watch it because of the amazing actors aka Leighton and ed. Leighton plays Blair amazingly. Blair says or does things that I would want to be brave enough to but I wouldn't. Chuck aka the hot villain is another reason. He is like the bad boy gone good or bad boy in love. I like to see the softer sides of guys like that and that's another reason why I watch it. Btw I am a girl and I am 17 :)

At first I started watching because of Chuck and Blair and I was just very cynical towards all the other characters and storylines, thinking it would be just another teen show with the stereotypical characters like jocks, nerds, popular girls, the cheerleaders and so on, but I was surprised by the fact that the characters were so complex and by the lack of cliché storylines involving high school.

Question: For what reasons do you watch Skins and why?

I dunno, it's just great. I guess the characters are a big part, for example Emily. She is probably the main reason I prefer series 3 to series 1, because even though as a whole series 1 is better written, just her character is so good, but I can't think why, whether it be feeling sympathetic towards her or respecting her gradually growing confidence, it's enough to captivate me as a viewer. Also, I generally watch it because it's sort of what pretty much every teenager wants their life to be like

Structured Interview Results

Structured Interview

Name: Aiden Janman
Age: 19
Gender: Male

1. Watching those two clips, what do you personally think that says about teenagers and does it reflect them in anyway?
There carefree, like to have a good time and party. Doesn’t reflect the whole of teenagers, more a stereotype.

2. From what you just saw, is that something you have witnessed before on either TV or in person or you yourself have experienced?
TV like One Tree Hill and The O.C, mainly teenage drama’s.

3. Do you think the media exaggerates the behaviour of teenagers and why?
Yes as there stereotyping such as wearing a hoodie is seen as bad or ‘chav’.

4. For what reasons do you watch/don’t watch Skins and why?
As it’s cool and entertaining.

5. For what reasons do you watch/don’t watch Gossip Girl and why?
Doesn’t appeal to me, seems more of a girl’s programme like by the title used ‘Gossip GIRL’

6. How do you think the two differ from one another?
Gossip Girl looks like it’s for a more mature audience compared to Skins.

7. Have you ever taken illegal drugs or drank alcohol below the legal age?
Drugs – No
Alcohol - Yes

8. If so for what reasons? And why did you choose to do this?
Because it seemed like a cool thing to do, fun, most people do it so I did to fit in and not as dangerous as drugs.

9. Have you ever been influenced by a friend or by the media in any way and how?
Yes, TV adverts make you want to buy it so you do. Or if I like something a friend has it makes me want to buy it.

10. Why do you think TV Drama’s such as Skins and Gossip Girl are successful and why?
Because it aims at an audience who can relate to the characters and shows things we want to see.

11. Do the lifestyles they lead have any appeal to you and why?
Yes, they’re carefree party lifestyle. Its successful as people want to live like it.

Gossip Girl Forum

http://www.gossipgirlinsider.com/forum/general-discussion/why-do-you-watch-gossip-girl/

http://www.gossipgirlinsider.com/forum/general-discussion/why-is-gossip-girl-successful/

Skins Forum

http://skinsis.com/index.php?showtopic=6061

Textual Analysis Scenes

Friday, 27 March 2009

Primary Reseach Proposal

1. Textual analysis of specific scenes in Gossip Girl and Skins.

2. Questionnaire’s – Has watching Skins or Gossip Girl been an influence to sex, drugs and alcohol?

- Has the person been questioned ever used drugs or alcohol, if so why? When? How? Etc.

3. Focus Group – Get their views on sex, drugs and alcohol. Ask their opinion on the content used in these programmes and if there appropriate, influential or similar to teenage life?

Friday, 20 March 2009

Plan for Secondary Research

1. Textual Analysis of Episodes from Gossip Girl & Skins.

2. Compile Clips for Primary Research.

3. Research the Effects Debate.

4. Uses & Gratifications Theory, Audience Theory and Target Audience.

5. Representation.