Media Tasks (1, 2 & 3)

Task 1:

Representation in TV Drama or Soap Opera

o   TV Drama/Soap: Shameless USA

o   Genre of TV Drama/Soap: Comedy/Drama

o   Actor/Actress: Emmy Rossum

o   Name: Fiona Gallagher

o   Age: Early 20’s

o   Ethnicity: White, American

o   Regional Identity: South Chicago

o   Costume Usually Includes: Jeans, Scruffy T-shirt, Scarf and Winter Coat with Fluffy Hood (if out), Hair Usually Tied Back

o   Sum Up Lifestyle in 5 Words: Difficult, Rough, Poor, Eventful & Exciting

o   Friends Include: Veronica Fisher, Kevin Ball & Sheila Jackson. Fiona’s siblings; Lip, Ian, Carl, Debbie and Liam, And Lips girlfriend (Sheila’s daughter) Karen

o   Interests: Finding any job possible to bring in some money, Going out dancing, Looking after her siblings, Seeing her boyfriend Steve.

o   Motivation in Most Situations: Her family or money

o   Love Life: Dating Steve

o   Problems in Life: Money problems, Her dad Frank (alcoholic)

o   Key Moment in Drama Series/Soap: One of the main characters, Always there to fix a situation

o   Prediction for Future Narratives: Move in with Steve, leave the kids to Monica, her newly appeared mother, but will no doubt come back to look after her siblings when she finds out Steve has lied to her.

o   How is the Audience Supposed to React to Them? Explain Your View: Seen as a motherly figure as she is the oldest sibling. I think  she is the nicest character because she puts everybody before herself

Task 2:

Design a New Narrative That Is Suitable To Your Character within the Show They Star In

Scene: Veronica’s House

Veronica: (Finds a pregnancy test in the bin and see’s that it’s positive) Kevin!

Kevin: (Runs up the stairs) what’s the matter?

Veronica: (Looking shocked, still staring at the pregnancy test) who’s is this?

Kevin: (Reads the pregnancy test and getting excited) are you pregnant?!

Veronica: (Hits Kevin playfully) don’t be stupid. Who do we know that’s having sex and use’s this house like it’s theirs?

Kevin: Gallagher’s.

Veronica: (Getting excited) Fiona’s pregnant!

Scene: Pub (later the same day)

(Kevin is working behind the bar and Frank walks in)

Frank: (Sitting down at the bar) get me the usual, and make it a double, it’s been a rough day.

Kevin: So you’ve heard then?

Frank: Heard what?

Kevin: (Excitedly) Fiona’s pregnant!

Frank: Oh my God. (A slight pause while it sinks in, then said to the rest of the pub) Hey everybody! Next round is on me! Fiona’s having a baby!

(Steve walks in at this point, and hears that ‘Fiona’s having a baby’, and walks back out, looking angry)

Scene: Fiona’s house

(Fiona is looking busy trying to keep control of Carl, who is trying to make things explode and Debbie, who is making a mess in the kitchen cooking, whilst also trying to  talk to Veronica. Steve bursts in and confronts Fiona)

Steve: So when were you going to tell me?!

Fiona: (Sends him a confused look, then becomes distracted by Carl and Debbie again) tell you what?

Steve: About the baby we’re having? I’m assuming it’s mine?

Debbie: (Overhears) you’re having a baby? (Excitedly) what are you going to call it? Do you know what sex it is yet?

Fiona: (to Debbie) there is no baby (to Steve) what are you going on about?

Veronica: Fiona, are you sure? Me and Kev found a positive pregnancy test at ours. We assumed it was yours?

Fiona: Nope, not mine.

Debbie: Well who’s is it then?

(Camera’s move onto Lip and Karen who are on the sofa watching television)

Task 3:

One example of an old person is Frank. Frank is given scruffy clothes in dull colours such as green as browns. Frank is a very stereotypical version of an alcoholic, so that’s why the programme makers have chosen to costume him this way. Most old people don’t dress this way, apart from the colour scheme, but it is a good representation of an alcoholic.

An example of a young person is Lip. Lip is usually seen wearing jeans and a hoody. This is a stereotypical representation of a young person nowadays. Most teenagers around his age would dress like that so it is a good costume for him, and that is why the programme makers have shown him in this way, and not dressing the same as Frank.