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Netflix Industry and Regulation

What meanings are created in the sequence you have studied and what do they tell us about narrative, character development and genre?

Long form TV dramas are typically hour long episodes that expand their narrative over multiple episodes, whilst using an array of elements-camera shots, props and settings- and by doing so, engage their audiences and develop characters, genres and the narrative of the drama. In the sequence Stranger Things, all are connoted through the way in which the crew chose to use media language.

Being a long form TV drama, thus developing over more than one episode, the narrative plays a significant role. The novelistic narrative of Stranger Things is both linear and fragmented, where by the events occur in chronological order: Will cycles home; he disappears; family and friends go in search for Will. But the addition of a flashback used within the narrative creates a sense of disturbance for the audience, taking them back into the past, which in turn, makes the narrative fragmented. This a typical narrative of a long form TV drama, as flashbacks are used to help develop a character and allow the audience to become more attached to them. Joyce’s flashback of her and Will creates sympathy for her character and helps show the powerful emotions of losing someone and the hurt it is causing her. The dialogue used within the flashback is light-hearted and happy, but suddenly transitions to silence when the camera shows the empty den in the woods; it is a reflection of Joyce’s sudden realisation that her son is not there. 

The setting of Stranger Things is another important asset which creates meaning and helps to develop the genre. There is a strong contrast between high-key and low-key lighting throughout the first episode, suggesting it is the representation of good vs evil and the conflict that is created within the narrative. The audience are able to identify the mysterious and supernatural genre that the Duffer Brothers wanted to create. Throughout the entirety of the first episode, lighting is used to help evoke a notion of discomfort and tension, where the final scenes of the show themselves are in low-key lighting- not only is it low-key lighting, but the addition of rain and the reverse medium shots changing between both Eleven and the boys informs the audience of Elevens displacement in society. Rain in this scene was very heavy, implying there was a storm, which in turn, could be a way of foreshadowing Elevens power and that she can cause a different metaphorical ‘storm’ when she uses her strength; this is a way for the audience to identify Elevens development throughout the next episodes.

Moreover, Stranger Things uses an array of sound effects in the first episode to also further help develop both the narrative and genre of the long form TV drama. The repetition of the dialogue ‘Will’, where the community and his family and friends are in search for him throughout the episode, is used to remind the audience of Will’s character and his significance to the narrative. It creates meaning that despite not being visible to the eye, Will is still there, highlighting that even characters who are not necessarily shown are still of importance to a narrative; it also adds to the sense of mystery that runs throughout the episode. The diegetic sound of the rain makes for a realistic atmosphere, making the audience feel as though they too are experiencing the narrative alongside the characters. The focus on the rain in the denouement of the first episode is followed by instrumental, mysterious music that begins when the character Eleven is shown in a medium shot. The music continues as the reverse shot between the boys and Eleven continues, to which the final shot ends on Eleven, with a sudden, dramatic, heavy beat that leads to a second of silence, before the end credits start. The sudden end to the mysterious music creates a clear sense of finality to the episode, but also creates a strong feeling of annoyance to the audience, where we want the immediacy of the next scene and to know what happens next in the narrative.

Stranger Things Fandom

Stranger Things Circulation

Production:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hPOdOLhCoMXUMpyvVQj5BqzCWgECtAtC1casZ3Nv6iQ/edit?usp=sharing


Ownership:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WcOZORCu8fFKySiAlzXFDJ8EZIe26SJyc9ijsDJm8p4/edit?usp=sharing


Distribution:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-1c6Ikuopbl7ItwvhWcHWAQfXHM3uzCAurdBLl_Wb08/edit?usp=sharing

Netflix and Technology