Final
The Picture the Writes the Story
Broadcast news has the advantage over any other news medium, because it offers its audience the sound effects of radio and the visual effects of print, all together in one piece. Broadcast news is a very valuable way to get across to a diverse audience, namely the hearing impaired or distracted, because the visuals (or the A Roll) can tell the story just as well as the reporter… if the visuals are effectively chosen and produced. I have selected two different ways of telling the same story, regarding their visual attraction. Both are from news stations in the same city, but took a very different visual approach in telling the telling the story to their audience.
It is called Bikram Yoga, and has become a hot new trend of exercise in the Dallas, Texas community. Before I get into my analysis, Bikram Yoga is an extreme form of exercise that is performed in 105 degree temperature to warm the muscles and allow flexibility. From ABC 8 in Dallas, a two-minute and 22 second feature package was included in the news cast about Bikram Yoga. With a name like that, a visual is already needed in order to draw a better understanding of what Bikram Yoga is. The video starts out with a two-shot of the anchors who intro the package, with a pan to the reporter on the right. She gives a small voice over (VO) describing what the exercise is before introducing the package, which is shown on the flat screen directly behind her. When she is finished, the operator takes the package (Take PKG). Completely disregarding the audio aspects of the package, it starts out with soaking-wet athletes bending and molding in an exercise facility. Without audio, it is apparent that this feature is about yoga.
A good package will illustrate exactly what the reporter is saying (VO). If there is a clash between what the viewers see and what they hear, the package will only leave the audience in sheer confusion (Papper, 124). When she says the pounds drip off, there is a shot of sweat dripping like a faucet off the elbow of a man, resembling a melting ice sculpture. Still disregarding audio, the audience now knows the story is about yoga, and extreme heat. The next shot is a close up interview with a sweaty man, lasting about three seconds, and then switches to a long shot of the room showing multiple sweaty- participants. According to Robert A. Papper in Broadcast News and Writing, the audience may get distracted if the camera is focused on one person for over eight seconds. This is why voice-overs are good, because the reporter can talk over the pictures while keeping the audience entertained. The people are all in the same position with horizontal arms acting as a vector to move the eye from one hand to the other, illustrating the complexity of yoga. In the background, there is a mirror which expands the room and gives and illusion of more people. The next shot is a close up of a man, shot from the head up. He is kneeling down with an arm in the air; once again the arm is a vector in the shot. When the camera tilts from the feet up, the flexed muscles of the athletes show the audience that the art of Bikram Yoga is very intense, and requires a lot of strength. Within the first minute of the package, it is already very visually compelling.
The next shot is a close-up interview with a skinny woman, with typography (Super) of her name and title below. We know now that this package includes reliable sources, because the text shows that she is the instructor. The camera then tilts from the feet to the face of an older man in an unusual position, so not only is the form of exercise for athletes, we know anyone can do it. The tilt allows the audience to see the intricacy of the art, while allowing concentration on the whole body as the camera moves in an upward motion. Afterward, there is another close up interview with a client, switching to an image of the whole class in a diagonal position standing on one foot, and holding the other with the left arm. The diagonal arms lead your eye from the lower left of the screen to the upper right. The following shot is an extreme close up of a student’s face. This is a very important shot, because you can see the concentration in her eyes and her motionless grin. Her expression is very relevant in understanding the art of Bikam Yoga, highly influenced by meditation.
The package is pieced very diversely, because it switches from young to old, fat to skinny, and so on. Once again, the constant visual toss provides the idea that this exercise can be practiced by all. Each interviewee is drenching in sweat, from wet hair to a glistened face, providing the impression that Bikram Yoga is challenging. My favorite shot comes next with an extreme close-up of a man’s upside-down face, and then the camera zooms out allowing two others in the shot with the same up-side down position. This frame offers great composition, because the shot is equally balanced with one student close and in the middle, and the other two students far and on either side. At one minute and 40 seconds into the packages, and without any audio help, we know that it is an intense form of yoga practiced in extreme heat. We know that it is a credible form of exercise, and that anyone can do it from athletes to elderly. All this information was told solely through images.
The next shot is an extreme close-up of a document, focusing on the words, “responsible for any injury,” and then tossing to a shot with a girl who is drinking a big jug of water. Now it is clear that you have to sign a waver before attending the class, and drink plenty of water in order to stay hydrated. The feature ends with the entire class in a diagonal shape and vertical arms. This shot is competing with vectors, because the vertical arms take your eye up, but the diagonal bodies take your eye from corner to corner. The eye is taken everywhere in this shot, and the competing lines won’t allow the audience miss any portion of this shot. The reporter closes the piece with a shot on camera (Reporter Shot on Cam), and her name and story slug at the bottom in typography. On the screen behind her are the words “Hot Yoga,” just as we gathered from all our visual clues.
In comparison, the next package is from CBS 11 in Dallas, Texas. The story is on the art of Bikram Yoga as well, but doesn’t offer the rich visuals that ABC 8 included in their story. It starts out with a two-shot of anchors, and they toss the camera to the reporter who is broadcasting live from an exercise facility. Behind her are students in an upward-tilt position, and the typography, “Hot Yoga,” on the bottom of the screen. Without audio regard, she is in the same medium-shot position throughout the entire story. Occasionally, the camera will pan to the owner who continues to talk about the exercise. During the seven minutes and 59 seconds of the story, the camera only zooms in on the yoga practitioners for seconds at a time. This example offers very little visual help in telling the story of Bikram yoga, and therefore wouldn’t be able to tell the full story without audio.
A news or feature package is pre-recorded, and allows for maximum use of the medium. When preparing a package, it is important to take advantage of time by adding several bites and layered pictures, intern, fulfilling the audiences’ visual expectations. The challenge is to visually tell a story as effective as the story is told acoustically, if not better. Although stand-ups are important in broadcast news, they are an unproductive way of illustrating a story. Generally, stand-ups work best when the visuals available are weak, when the story requires transition, and when the reporter can report the story affectively without visual support (Papper, 111). In reference to Bikram Yoga, a package is a more affective way of telling the story, because Bikram Yoga is so complex and requires more than just words to paint the picture.
Like I mentioned before, television has the advantage of illustrating a story better than any other form of media. Broadcast takes the best of both arts, audio and visual, to illustrate a visually indulging story for it’s audience. When it comes to the comparison of news networks, and which will have the highest ratings, stations rely on their visual art and production, because most news is shared through wires. It is the visual quality, and the ability to out do your competition that will get you high on the ratings.
In conclusion, it is very critical to understand that television and the Internet hold the power of the visual image. The visual images put the finishing touch on any news story, and bring the audience to a better understanding of what’s being told. The impression in the viewer’s mind will be the strong picture over the spoken word, long after the story ends (Papper, 119). TV tends to seek out the visual story, and to the extent that pictures tell a story, the writer and reporter are advised to get out of the way (119). In the CBS 11 version of the Bikram Yoga story, the reporter is in the picture for over half of the eight minutes, and the visual images relayed to the audience don’t give the art of Bikram Yoga enough credit. The ABC 8 depiction of Bikram Yoga is much more effective, in that it illustrates all of the details within the exercise. The reporter is never actually in the story, although a stand up may have been appropriate, she simply gives and in and an out. I believe the package full of compelling video was more effective in telling the story visually than the standup version. After all, it is the picture that writes the story, not the story that draws the picture.
Works Cited
Papper, Robert A. Broadcast News and Writing Style Book: The TV Balancing Act. Boston: Pearson, 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fNbELiDWMc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KATAObjn3g
Al Jazeera vs. CNN
Al Jazeera April 30, 2008
Iraq threatens assualt on militias
Al Jazeera- This is a photo of a Sadr City neighborhood where 13 people died in clashes, bringing the total amount of clash casualties to over 900. This photo is a medium shot, close enough to get facial expressions and far enough away to get a sense of reality. The key light source is the sun hidden by overcast clouds. The gray-blue tint in the photo is an apparent sign of an overcast sky, also, the fast fall off is very minimal. The photo is very busy, so there could be several signifies shown. One that stood out was the wood caskets, signifying death and tragedy. There is a vector in this shot as well. The man in the back right is holding his hands out, immediately catching my eye. His hands could represent pleading, begging, or praise.
CNN April 30, 2008
Sadr City battle killed hundreds in April
CNN- This is a picture of the same story, but a different capture. I wouldn’t necessarily say the CNN photo is a different take on the militia clashes, but it does send a different message to the audience. This is a medium-shot of civilians lifting a dead body, or wood box on top of something. The key light in the image is the sun, but once again, the gray-blue tint in the photo is an apparent sign of an overcast sky, also, the fast fall off is very minimal. The signifier is the two men hugging in mourn, and the signified, in my opinion, is hope.
As much as I would love to say that Al Jazeera is a corrupted government sanctioned program which main intention is to instill fear into the Iraqi people, I can’t. Al Jazeera is a publicly funded media outlet, with it’s primary funding as advertising. It is the main news source in the middle east, and therefor, I believe that Al Jazeera represents the perception of middle eastern communities, just as CNN represents the United States. Namely, we agree with CNN, we like the way CNN tells the stories of the world, and the perspective that each story has. It is not about lying, it’s about telling the story as the glass half full instead of the glass half empty.
The Al Jazeera photo points out despair among citizens, and the morning of those who died in the latest clashes in Sadr City, Baghdad. The picture is unclear as to what is going on, but I assume that the wood boxes contain dead civilians. Every face is this picture is in mourn, and panic. The emotion caught in the faces of these Iraqis is very heart breaking. The candid shot offers a sense of despair at that time. This photo gives an idea that the city is hopeless, with no faith in site. It is a very pessimistic depiction of the incident. In the Al Jazeera photo, there are two men kneeling, or more theoretically, the two men are falling down to another power or higher being. This could be a representation of a loss for hope, or a surrendering to the evil that has taken the mens’ faith.
Here is the main difference in these two photos. As I stated prior, CNN has a more optimistic approach to reporting than Al Jazeera. That doesn’t mean that one story misleads the truth, it’s just a different approach a telling a story to the audience. The men kneeling in the Al Jazeera photo is a sign of loss for hope, and the men hugging in the CNN photo shows a sense of community, A hug traditionally means acceptance. Although the photos are of the same exact situation, and the same suffering civilians, the two are giving off a completely different perception. Another sign of community in the CNN photo, are the men in the back who are working together to put the casket on top of the white object, whatever it is. The sense of community represents hope, faith, and most importantly, a sign that everything is going to be okay.
I do not believe that one photo is better than the other, because American society and culture is completely different than that of the middle east. America is traditionally a very optimistic country, and the middle eastern provinces may not be. The pessimism is what they are used to, and what they like to here. It is all about preference.
The Evil Other
1. Personal
a. Although their are certain standards of good and evil in different cultures, and what is an evil perception of the United States (The Statue of Liberty) to others, is a sign righteousness and freedom for us; I believe that the perceptions of evil are infinite. I have chosen a relevant picture that the Reno community is very familiar with, and would agree that the picture is outright terror. This picture has changed the way I live my life, my daily routines, and my level of awareness. This picture has forced me to live in fear; it has forced me to trust no one, and has forced me to be prepared in every situation. I am not the only one who can’t stand the sight of this picture, the whole community has come together in order to fight the “evil other.“ Who is the man in the picture? No one knows, but he has left the Reno community in panic.
2. Historical
a. On January 19th, 2008, 19-year-old Brianna Denison was taken from a friend’s house near UNR. Her dead body was found weeks later in a Reno field, covered in dirt and snow. An autopsy confirmed that Denison had been strangled and sexually assaulted by a serial rapist linked to two other recent cases near the UNR campus. Since the murder of Brianna Denison, and after 3000 backlogged DNA samples, the serial rapist had not been uncovered. The above photo is all the community has to watch out for, but the man has yet to reveal himself and let justice be served. Even after months since the abduction, the Reno community is still tied together by blue ribbons in hope of Bringing Brianna Denison, and the others, justice.
3. Technical
a. This mug shot of the serial rapist is a mug shot drawn from the clues that each victim has released. We don’t know if this is what he looks like, but as each of us (mostly female citizens) walk to our car at night, this is the face we watch for. He doesn’t look like a stereotypical bad man, but this simple drawing is the fear instilled in the Reno community. The photo is an extreme close-up, although other information is known about the criminal. He looks mean, and his eyes look deceiving. It is hard to tell the technical aspects of this photo, because it was drawn by certain remembered detail.
4. Ethical, cultural and critical
a. As I stated prior, the harm this man has caused has been detrimental to the Reno community. This picture is our city’s ultimate depiction of the “evil other”. This drawn representation of a serial rapist has left the community in fear, and has altered the daily routines of most. Until this man is caught, the picture will remain a picture of terror, and even after the case is solved, this man’s face will live in our memory.
That’s Questionable 4/17
It is questionable to accuse me of being stereotypical by displaying an Arabian dancer as my portrayal of Arab femininity, but play Lawrence of Arabia and Aladdin for the entire class and say that those films are not corny as well. It is questionable to dispute my depiction of Arab femininity because my depiction is not a woman wrapped in cloth, and a sign of female oppression. It is questionable to use the Internet as a primary tool in class, and unprofessionally penalize me for using the Internett to back up my picture. It is questionable to accuse me of being petty in my research, and applaud those who did the same amount of research as I (although I thought everyone did a great job as well). Alright, Im done. 
Love at first sight/ Arab femininity
My first portrayal of an Arab woman, or Arab femininity was and Arabian Dancer. Did I think it was stereotypical? No. I thought that the Arab women covered in cloth was stereotypical. I thought that and Arabian dancer expressed Arab femininity completely. After all, the art of belly dancing did derive from the Middle East. However, it is very subjective to say that all Arab women ultimately express their femininity using a seductive dance. This is why I have changed my post. Please read and tell me what you think.
I asked Ahmed, although not a woman, what he thought represented Arab femininity, and he said, “There is something called aabayah, it is a cover Arabic girls wear. It makes them look nice, but the most important thing that they focus on is their eyes. Eyes are what represents Arab femininity.” Wow! it makes so much sense now. No matter what type of aabayah or mohajabah the women wears, her eyes are always showing.
It seems there are two lights in this photo. The key light being shown directly on her face, and a fill light coming from the right side to decrease any case of fast fall off. There is no back light, or background light, because the background is solid black. Also, the dark background adds the the contrast in her eyes, and highlights their color. This photo is an extreme close-up, barely showing her entire face and hand, possibly intending to focus on her eyes.
In the article I referred to prior, Divine Feminine by peNkaLai kâtalikkirên, said that the eyebrows are likened to a bow that shoots the arrow of the eye’s glance, the arrow of the love of Allah into our hearts and makes us go beyond ourselves. In this picture I believe that the eyebrows act as the signifier and the eyes as the signified. The eyes are the referent because they are the meaning behind the photo, and a true expression of Arab femininity.
Ethical, Cultural, and Critical-
During my research, I came across some archives and blogs on the critical aspect of Middle Eastern customs for an Arab woman. Pertaining to femininity, an Arab girl said she was ashamed of being an Arab. “At weddings, all Arabs do is stare at each other and see who is dressed in more revealing clothes. The mohajabah (Veiled) or non-mohajabah. Yes the mohajabah wins this one, cause wearing a tight bare dress with a stupid skin tight shirt under is no longer covered.”
She is obviously saying that it is not accepted to be revealed in Arabic culture, even when living in the United States. Why is she ashamed? From what I understood, it wasn’t because of her heritage, but because of the constant competition between Arab women.
What is most important when trying to understand the femininity of a different culture, is understanding the culture first. For instance, in the South of France, topless bathing is very popular, but still is not accepted in the United State (except for designated areas). American society may not think that being covered in clothing is feminine, but like my friend Ahmed said, in the Arabic culture, the aabayah that the women wear is very appealing, and their femininity is revealed by their eyes. It is not fair to generalize and stereotype without knowledge of the culture, and its norms. What is feminine to you and I may not be in a different culture.
That’s Questionable 4-10
In the movie we watched today, Lawrence of Arabia, you came to the conclusion that the British were portrayed through the character, Lawrence, as orderly and self sacrificed, namely, in a better light than Arabian men. That is questionable. I noticed a specific scene in the movie where the Arabian man’s actions where far more honorable than the British man’s actions. As they were riding on their camels through the desert, Lawrence asked the Arabian man if he would like a drink (alcohol), and the Arabian man said, “I don’t drink.” I thought that was a great line in the movie, and it shows that maybe the British are just drunken snobs who think they are superior.
Movie Scene
If I could think of one movie that reminded me of my childhood, it would be The Sandlot. Not only was I a child when the movie was released, but I related to the bunch entirely. The controversies they faced, the trouble they got into, the fun, and the friendships; parts of the movie seemed to relate to every situation of my childhood. Now that I am older, I can’t say that much as far as it being relatable, but it still brings me back to my adolescence when I watch it.
1. Personal
There is a specific scene that I really enjoy from the movie because it evokes emotion from me on a personal level. I grew up with a love for baseball, and BBQs, both a representation of America. During the 4th of July scene when Benny goes to get smalls to play baseball, Ray Charles is singing America the Beautiful under a star lit sky, and fireworks. The song, the baseball game, the BBQ, the fireworks; all together create a very lustful moment for any child. It was this scene that made the 4th of July my favorite holiday.
2. Historical
The Sandlot is a favorite to many Americans, and it would be hard to find a person who has never seen, quoted, or can relate to the movie. I do think this movie is a perfect depiction of the American lifestyle. After all, it takes place in 1962, prior to the culture shift when old fashion values still molded American society. There is also a historical significance to July 4th, 1776 when America claimed our independence from Britain. A celebration of when Democracy was born.
3. Technical
4. Ethical, Cultural and Critical.
I do think this scene is a good depiction of the American household, family, and childhood. Ask those who grew up in the early 1960s, and they would agree. Although the times have changed, the movie is still a good idea of what I would describe as America in the 50s and 60s. Like I mentioned before, 1962 was right before the culture shift, and the liberal movements that swept the nation. The scene represented the prime time of American nationalism and patriotism, a time when being outside was more popular than Guitar Hero, and when family and friends where all someone needed to love life. This movie, namely the Fourth of July scene, is sheer bliss.
That’s Questionable! March 13th
In class today you said that we listen to rap because we can relate with the lyrics. I agree, and then again I don’t. I am an on-air personality for one of the local top 40s stations in Reno, and I am very familiar with the hip hop and rap culture. Plus I was raised on hip hop. A gal in class raised a very important point today. She said that we listen to rap and hip hop for the beats, because you can dance to it. Sadly, I would have to agree. Most of the lyrics are overpowered by the production, and simply disregarded. Plus, more new-age rap, the lyrics don’t even make sense (Sean Kingston/ Take you There…. Mims, Enur, Natajsa/ Calabria). I do however, believe that earlier stages of hip hop and rap where lyrically genius, back when rap was about the poetry and not the dancing, namely free-style rap. Africa Bambaataa is a good example of how rap and r&b became renowned in the United States.
What is Reno Style? March 13th.
I was raised in Reno until I was eight years old, then I moved to Phoenix but still made frequent trips back to visit family. Reno has many styles like: gaming, fantasy shops, pawn shops, basically any shop that will cater to peoples’ bad habits. Sad… I know, but this is what I think of when I think of Reno. Truly, I can’t wait to leave! (Downtown) Reno is a place to visit, not a place to live. This brings me to what I think of when I think of the style of Reno.
1. Personal
Reno is a tourist town catering to many visitors with events like the Air Races, the Balloon Races, the Rib Cook Off, Farmers Market, The Candy Dance, Street Vibrations, and my favorite, Hot August Nights. Before I was a resident of Reno, my favorite thing to do was visit during Hot August Nights. I loved the cars, the people, the good food, the antiquity, and the week long celebration of the 1950s. I think old cars, and the downtown Reno strip is Reno style. It is a very good, and positive way to think about the city that I go to school in.
2. Historical
I chose several pictures from one Hot August Night in 2000. The pictures capture the cars, concerts, and people, not to mention my family. In two pictures to the right are some cars driving down the downtown Reno strip. I also chose the picture in the middle with my Grandma, and the one to the right is the picture of Chubby Checker. It was a free concert at Hamburger Haven at the Hilton.
3. Technical
These pictures were taken by me from a Polaroid disposable camera. The lighting was horible, and so was the framing, but they were the only pictures I found that would capture Reno.
4. Ethical, cultural and critical (in other words, you can group 4, 5, 6 together in a single discussion, if you wish).
That’s Questionable 3/6
In lecture we talked about “Lester’s six perspectives”: Personal, Historical, Technical, Ethical, Cultural and Critical… My first choice of a zeitgeist was tanning beds because everyone in my highschool (but me) lived in one. Tan skin was the one thing I pictured when I thought back to highschool, but because it didn’t relate to my life physically, I decided to change it. I am a bit confused about what a zeitgeist is. I thought that it was the first thing that came to mind when you think back to a specific moment in time, but does that always mean that it has to relate to you? What about the 911? Although you weren’t physically there, you can still experience the hardships that came along. So although I never physically tanned in a tanning bed, all my friends did, and I dealt with it on a daily basis… so would that be an appropriate zeitgeist?
