I will be reviewing articles from the “Scope: An online Journal of Film and Television Studies: ISSN 1465-9166, Issue 25, February 2013.
The target audience of this journal is not only film and media students and professionals but is also moving picture enthusiast. The articles range from reviews of plays and movies to contemporary commentary on everyday spectators of Film. The wide range of topics related to media attracts professionals and amateurs alike.
Varied topics related to film and television are covered in this journal, you can find an article on the rising trend of bigger screens and its impact on the masses and then a turn a page to find what makes a star memorable in the minds of viewers, is it just its skills or there is more to it than that. How the family oriented movies like animations with moral teachings have been a hit in the 21st century and how they help shape the society.
These topics capture the attention of target audience by being relevant and current. Film and television is medium that has always been a lucrative business because the audience find it relatable despite being fiction. The same is the case here, the articles might not have an impact on the daily life of anyone but they help the audience understand and appreciate the impact of motion picture on each every person in the society.
Most of the writers are students and professors of film studies at notable universities like Cornell, University of British Columbia, Newcastle University and many others. The journal is edited by the staff and students in the Department of Culture, Film and Media and Institute of Screen Industries at the University of Nottingham.
The articles in Journal are very thorough and have extensive and authentic research behind them; therefore the average length of the article in the journals is between 8000-14000 words. The long length of the article might be disadvantageous when it come to retaining the attention of the audience, however, as most of the articles keep the information and argument in an engaged manner, the audience is compelled to give it a complete read.
The sources are cited in all articles, however the format varies as per the writers preference. Both MLA and APA style of source citation have been used in the journal.
Varied sources are used by the writers like books, other journals, online aryicles and as the topic are directly related to picture media, film and television sources have also been used. For example; Fiddlesticks. 1926. Dir. Harry Edwards. Facets Multimedia, 2007 and His First Flame. 1927. Dir. Harry Edwards. A2ZCDs, 2005.
Not many charts or figures are used because the arguments or topics are not related to concrete data and numbers but is more opinionated than factual.
The articles are well organized and convey the message in a compelling way that keeps the reader interested and informed. The formatting is also convenient for readers because of the use of heading and sections that helps in identification of different parts of the article.
The writing tone is generally informal but as they are mostly written by academia, so even in informality certain decorum of respect for audience and topic is maintained.
The language is usually poetic or artistic, more words are used but their use isn’t just for the sake of it. Words are well placed and help in emphasizing the point of view of the writer. In the following lines from an article “This constant shift between violence and calm, dream and reality, right and wrong, leaves the viewer ultimately in an ambiguous, or – for lack of a better word – surreal place. In Langdon‟s films, logic and order are thrown out of the window.” The writer with a successful use of words emphasized the use of unreal scenarios in Langdon’s films.
Most of the writers are professions or students of the field; therefore have more knowledge about the subject than average film watcher. However, as the audience isn’t just restricted to professionals, the average person might have to read up on the research as well. The fact is proven as I personally had to search some facts on the internet in order to get the proper meaning of the writer’s point of view.
The journal helps the motion picture enthusiasts and professionals reflect on different aspects of their world. It serves as information and commentary at the same time which will let the audience reflect on this medium of expression.
The journal wants to enlighten the reader about the issues, and qualities of film and television. Its purpose is reflection on the day to day happenings, the impact of past and the directions of future of motion picture.
The journal welcomes article that are commenting on the impact of film and media on the society in any way and this makes it educational and interesting for anyone but especially for a professional in the field. If I were to write asked to write for the journal I would write an article reflecting the start of women beauty standards in motion picture and its continuous increase in today’s media with its detrimental results in society. The article will be informative and will help the professionals see how they can steer the direction of the media away from this social catastrophe. As the journal serves to educate professionals and enthusiasts, my article would definitely make an impact in the minds of society and media creators alike.
Works Cited
Brown, Noel. "“Family” Entertainment and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema." Scope: An online journal of film and television studies: ISSN 1465-9166 (2013).
Lester, Peter. "It’s Not the Size (of the Screen) that Matters: IMAX, LIEMAX and the “Meaning” of a Brand." Scope: An online journal of film and television studies: ISSN 1465-9166 (2013).
Media, Department of Culture Film and. An online journal of film and television studies: ISSN 1465-9166. 2016. <http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/scope/index.aspx>.
Soulstein, Seth. "Concrete Irrationality: Surrealist Spectators and." Scope: An online journal of film and television studies: ISSN 1465-9166 (2013).
