Frontline- The Siege (1 Viewer)

[ToO LaZy ^*]

Ok...this is the first episode we've seen so i'm still tryin to absorb everything..
so i got a few questions:

1. what is brian's reaction to the siege?
how does he view the siege?

well, i've got the obvious answer...he's EXCITED!...and he views the siege as a means of increasing their ratings.
any other more meaningful reasons (keep in mind we've only JUST started )

2. brian asks kate to arrange an interview with a psychologist specialising in siege-related trauma. what motive does brian have for inviting a specialist on show?
how might it affect what is presented and how it is shown and receieved?
kate can't find a specialist, so she gets a student. discuss reasons for brians decision and his aims to further increase authority (i somehow completely missed this part of the episode...probably daydreaming.)

3. brook is patronising and insensitive to mrs Forbes (battery) - priorities of frontline team. comment on what is shown here about aims and techniques of team

i've got the obvious- trying to get first hand information and to make it sound realistic...any other aims/techniques?

 

[iambored]

1. yep ratings and profit

2. well they want to make it seem realistic, getting a specialist to talk does this. it affects what's presented as it's more credible.

3. aim is money as well, profit, they don't care about the people all they care about is the story and ratings. in a lot of the eps there's a scene with them celebrating their ratings which reinforces this, i don't know if it was in that episode.

 

[ToO LaZy ^*]

Originally posted by iambored
1. yep ratings and profit

2. well they want to make it seem realistic, getting a specialist to talk does this. it affects what's presented as it's more credible.

3. aim is money as well, profit, they don't care about the people all they care about is the story and ratings. in a lot of the eps there's a scene with them celebrating their ratings which reinforces this, i don't know if it was in that episode.

cool..thanks

3. yeah, they celebrated their high ratings in this ep,

EDIT:...any other reasons i should add?

 

[mack]

Brian is indeed excited, because this potentially life threatening drama is "prime time" entertainment to him and the frontline team, and everything must be compromised for this story. Use the helicopter flying over the exclusion zone as evidence of
"the need for vision" disregarding safety of others, and Marty's anger about someone contacting the gunman as the competitiveness between networks-back this up with his subsequent delight when he finds out his own network has contacted him. Also-Marty and the flak jacket-"sexing up" the story, facts are ignored(he is clearly under no threat)
"crazed gunman, rambo-type situation, stockpile of weapons"
Further lies to create more excitement. IMPORTANT LINK- Add Sex and stir-the audience is forcefed a repackaged cliche, same in The Siege, ignorance of facts in both, link your texts and youve unlocked a treasure chest of sweet marks.

Brooke and Mrs Forbes are a textbook example of "intrusive journalism". Her asking Mrs Forbes to cry again makes it obvious the tears are going to rate well and thats all they care about. Point out the cynicism of journalists is the main satirical target. Cap it off with how their ethics(or lack of) and practises are slapped in the face when another gunman shoots his hostages at the end in a twist of irony.


About Brian, use the word verisimilitude. It means the appearance of truth. Evidence-he is placed behind a bookcase to make him look like a "credible" source of information, even though he isnt a qualified psychologist. You cant go wrong with those big, sexy words. I sure didnt.

I hope you can find something useful in that massive rant.

 

[ToO LaZy ^*]

LEGEND!