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Reading Summary This chapter details why identifying with characters is important, how mediamakers encourage their audience to identify with their characters and the limits of such identification. Identification mixes “wish fulfillment and realism” by permitting us to step into someone else’s shoes at low risk and cost (35). Mediamakers encourage us to identify with aContinue reading ““How do we identify with characters?””

Reading Summary Smith describes realism as a set of techniques employed by mediamakers to encourage the belief that the given media is “truthful,” or authentic (14). According to Smith, there are many forms of realism which largely draw upon two general categories: the “documentary look” of realism, in which filmmakers capture real-life events with littleContinue reading ““What Is Realism, Really?” Reading”

Reading Summary Realism on screen is not exactly what we all perceive it to be. The meaning of “real” in realism is contrary to what it fully encompasses. Majority of films and shows are planned in advance down to every detail. The chapter discusses two kinds of trends within realism films and shows, the “dramaticContinue reading “What is Realism”

Reading summary Everyone has most likely heard of identification at one time or another. They probably think that that have a good idea on what it means. If asked people would probably say that they have identified “with the world of the film, or with a particular situation in a television program, or with theContinue reading ““How do we identify with characters?””

In this chapter, Smith discusses how audiences identify with characters in film, T.V. shows, and gaming, and the various strategies filmmakers use to invite audiences into a characters’ perspective. In the first few pages, Smith talks about the difference between visual pleasure of cinematic art and the intimate story telling that connects audiences with theContinue reading “How do we identify with characters?”

Chapter Summary This chapter discusses realism and the techniques mediamakers apply to appeal to viewers’ assumptions of realism. Each person has a different level of knowledge when watching or listening to media and mediamakers try to encourage us to believe their media convey the truth through a combination of different techniques. Conveying realism can varyContinue reading “What is realism, really?”

Reading summary This chapter emphasizes the importance of moving past the notion of whether a work tells the truth or not and looks instead to discuss realism as a set of techniques that media makers can implement. These techniques fall under two broad trends that John Caughie labels the “dramatic look” and the “documentary look,”Continue reading “What is Realism, Really?”

Reading Summary:  This chapter dives into the different variables that contribute to realism within the media ranging from presidential speeches to television programs. The chapter aims to explain that realism is complex and can not be simply defined in a few sentences or less. John Caugie argues there are two ‘looks,’ which are the documentaryContinue reading “What is Realism, Really?”

READING SUMMARY The reading goes into depth on the idea that “realism” is not only a single concept, but is composed of many different ideas that make up the term. Spontaneity is a large idea focused on at the beginning of the chapter, describing the intricacies of “dramatic” and “documentary” styles of film, and howContinue reading “What is Realism, Really?”

Reading Summary The reading focuses on how realism is movies and television is different from real life and that there are many ways that directors portray realism in their films. It also mentions how movies show many scenes that would not be able to be done in real life because in real life things justContinue reading “Blog Post #1”