Ever notice that media messages typically follow patterns?
We have the standard political commercial:
We have the standard corporate “feel good” ad:
We have the standard “TED” talk, given by a “thought leader”:
We have the standard reality show stereotypes:
Here’s a BRILLIANT piece from Charlie Brooker, showing the common pattern in news packages: (LANGUAGE)
And The Onion takes it one step further: (MORE LANGUAGE)
Here’s a “typical” blockbuster movie trailer:
Ever notice how People Magazine covers focus on STORIES of all types? (These are from a 3-month period)
And here is the basic “formula” for a Cosmo cover:
And even Sportscenter has a typical pattern, spoofed here brilliantly by Key & Peele:
Sure, these are fun to show and watch. But take these formulas one step further, and ask:
- Why are these patterns so prevalent?
- What do these patterns tell us about our media expectations?
- What can they tell us about the actual content, or the producers?
- What information is NOT typically included in these formulas?
- Who profits from the pervasiveness of these formulas?
- Do we notice when these patterns are broken?
Question question question…!!!