Assignment 3

Assignment 3

For this assignment I have been asked to explain how audiences understand TV programs and produce an online article.  So we were asked to analyse a television show of our choice and explain how audiences make sense of it and how they respond to it.

I choose Prison Break.

“Prison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring that was broadcast on Fox for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an elaborate plan to help his brother escape prison.” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Break

Target Audience

I have a choose prison break the American television series. The Story revolves around a man who was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit and his brother's elaborate plan to help him escape his death sentence. Prison Break was filmed on location at Joliet Prison, Illinois. Personally I think that target audience is 18+ males. This is because more males are interested in action dramas there are more males in the cast then women. I don’t think that the TV series has a sexual orientation it’s more preference to the drama then the sexual orientation. I think the social class A B C1, but sometimes show like prison break are just more down to preference. Prison break isn’t really a family friendly show. Its more something someone would watch when kids where in bed. The location is worldwide.

Analyse the codes that make meaning for the audience

The language used on prison break isn’t offensive although with what goes on in the series you would believe it to be more offensive then what it is, the characters stay clear of any bad language its informal mostly through all of the series.

The narrative structure is multi strand because the narrator focuses upon a group of people. Non-linear because the narrative does not progress in a chronological order; Flashback are used and open because the story line continues beyond the end of an episode.

The Characters dress as if they are in prison.

Naturalist lighting to being in a prison.

The background to prison break would be like. What sounds would be there if they were in prison.

Camera work - was difficult for them to do. After watching the behind the scenes, it goes on to explain how hard it was for the crew to move the camera's in the "prison cells" as they were a small amount of space and a big camera to fit in it.

Music plays an important role in the television show, Prison Break. The music is played to anticipate something is about to happen giving the watcher an insight into it and letting them know when an importance scene or thing is going to happen.

Mise en scene - everything reflects prison life.

I believe that audience like prison break is because of the twists in the story line, the Romance portrayed by a couple of character more importantly Michael and Sarah. Also the way each characters story is presented to the audience.