Online and Participatory Media

Participatory media is media where the audience can play an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating content.

Participatory media is important as it helps to promote the news brand and to promote the stories that they are reporting on. Social media allows members of the public to share news stories that they are interested in, which generates popularity and spreads the word. Gathers and spreads information, good way to stay relevant. Gives people a way to express their personal views. Allows the public to engage.

A positive of participatory media is that the public are able to express their feelings about certain news stories and are able to vocalise their opinion online. A negative of participatory media is that some people take advantage of the freedom of speech it gives in order to spread hate and negativity.

Summary

In this story, it reveals Ant McPartlin's past as it has emerged he has been charged for drink driving and enters rehab to battle his addiction. His sister also openly talks about their father being a 'deadbeat' father to herself and Ant, and it is hinted in the story that his experiences and troubles could have been linked to this one traumatic experience of his father walking out. In the article, it speaks about the close relationship that him and his siblings and mother share.

How is Ant represented?

Ant is represented as a flawed individual and has the problems that he does today because of his past experiences. It is also humanising him in a way to make him seem more relatable to people reading this news article, as they may have faced the same struggles as Ant currently or in the past.

How might this reflect stereotypical representations of the working class?

The information about his father being working class and living in a council house is conveyed and presented in a negative way, and they describe him as a 'deadbeat' father, which presents the underclass or working class individuals in a negative way. Because he is from Newscastle, it could be seen as stereotyping the people of Newcastle as being addicted to alcohol and as flawed individuals.

What kind of news is it?

It is news about a celebrity, which is most typically featured in tabloid newspapers as tabloid newspapers are closely linked with gossip and celebrity news.

Why does it feature as the Newsplash?

It features as the newsplash is because it is current news and because the story is about a celebrity, it is featured on the front page. Additionally, it could be classed as gossip, which is closely linked to tabloid newspapers in which they feature stories about celebrities which could be seen as gossip and entertainment news. Ant McPartlin is also quite a famous figure in the UK, which means more people may recognise him and want to read the article.

Butsch (1992) suggested that the working class were portrayed as flawed individuals and this could relate to this story as Ant's father is described as being a 'deadbeat' dad, which presents him in a negative way and presents that he has flaws.

There is a mixture of comments in response to the article, some of which are sympathetic towards the man, and others are unsympathetic and suggest it is more to do with attention seeking. Some people are defending the Conservative party and others are defending the man who has shared this story. It is generally equally divided, half of which are left wing responses, and the other half are right wing responses.

How is Shahmir Sanni (a volunteer for Vote Leave) represented?

In this article, he is represented as vulnerable in this article, and that he has been personally victimised by the people at 10 Downing Street, and that he was forced to come out to his family before he was ready.

Why might the Mirror want to impicate Theresa May in this news headline and also below: "Number 10, Dominic Cummings and Stephen Parkinson have stripped me of the most important conversation for me, to have with my mother and my sisters and my family".

The Mirror, being a left wing newspaper, would want to try to include Theresa May into this article in order to present her in a negative way. Although she was not directly involved in this situation, by putting her name into this article it automatically makes the public feel as though she was directly involved. Additionally, by including the 'Number 10' and names, it makes the right wing conservatives seem guilty. It implicates that Theresa May and the Conservative Party are negative and do not have the best interests of the public in mind.

In this particular article, Jeremy Corbyn is being presented as negative and is automatically guilty by association as more than 15 of the Labour Party's MPs have joined a Jewish protest against his leadership, after they claim that he has failed to condemn anti-semitism within the party. Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of being anti-semitic as he has previously been associated with the PLO and Hamas, Palestinian terrorists.

The main aim of this article could be seen as a way to attack Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party directly, as the Telegraph are a right wing broadsheet newspaper.

The Mirror is a left wing paper, so in the particular article featuring the whistleblower who was forced to come out by Theresa May's aid, they are trying to portray a negative view of the Conservative Party and Theresa May herself, by making her guilty by association and also trying to portray the representatives of the Consevative party negatively. The Telegraph is a right wing paper, and in this particular article they are aiming to portray Jeremy Corbyn and the entirety of the Labour party in a negative way.

Media Today

What is Brexit?

> Led by the conservative party - David Cameron and Theresa May.
> A term for the potential or hypothetical departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
> Control immigration
> Keep the pound
> EU has too much power over UK (legislation)
> Economy = Euro

Difference between tabloid and broadsheet

Tabloid

• Tabloids are considered ‘popular press’

• Tabloids are aimed at lower social groupings (C2,D & E)

• Tabloids have a bold layout (there is colour on the masthead, they use a bold typeface and it is easy to read. Usually with large and dramatic typeface and large images)

• Shorter Articles

• Less in depth reporting

• The headline usually includes a pun or a joke

• Focus more on gossip stories to do with celebrities (‘stories of human interest’)

Broadsheets

• Broadsheets are considered ‘serious’ or ‘ ‘quality’ press

• Broadsheets are aimed at higher social groupings (A,B,C1)

• Plainer layout (Masthead: usually no colour or limited small and subtle images)

• Longer articles.

• More detailed and lengthy reports

• The headlines are more serious and focus on ‘shocking’ rather than making jokes.

• Focuses more on international news as well as politics

Tabloid newspapers use gimmicks such as bingo games, free travel tickets etc. whereas Broadsheets often include free magazines or pull-outs but they are usually of an educational nature.

Are the newspapers biased?

Most newspapers are biased depending on the political view that they hold. For example, newspapers that hold a right wing view will be biased when speaking about left wing politics and try to persuade the audiences to think in a right wing way. Additionally, left wing newspapers tend to give a more equal view but may be biased against right wing politics.

From the data explain the political bias/affiliation of The Telegraph, which political party are they likely to support, explain why.

> From the data, the telegraph are more likely to support a right wing group such as the conservatives. This is because the data states that most people would place the telegraph in a slightly and fairly right wing point of view, and some in a very right wing point of view.

From the data explain the political bias affiliation of the Mirror, which political party are they likely to support, explain why.

> From the data, the mirror is more likely to support a left wing party such as the labour party as the statistic shows that most people would place them in a fairly left-wing point of view, suggesting that they would lean towards a left wing politics party such as the labour party. 

•Working in groups you will identify the Splash (main story)

> The main story of both newspapers is about how Theresa May did not go to a brexit talk to go to a meeting with the DUP to negotiate a coalition due to the poor election results.

•You will identify the target audience for  each of these papers using the socio-economic model

> Daily Mirror: 

> Daily Telegraph

•Collectively you will discuss how the papers are representing Brexit, THE DUP and Theresa May.

> Daily Mirror: negative way and uses different language to suggest this e.g. scuppered = break.

> Daily Telegraph: portrays a better view of Theresa May and uses different language to suggest this e.g. salvage

•Discuss the possible political agendas of the Mirror and the Telegraph in what way do they seek to influence their audience?

Daily Telegraph

Discuss what aspects of the paper conform to Broadsheet expectations with regards to

–Longer articles.

–More detailed and lengthy reports

–The headlines are more serious and focus on ‘shocking’ rather than making jokes.

–Focuses more on international news as well as politic

Daily Mirror

Discuss what aspects of the paper conform to Tabloid expectations with regards to

–Tabloids have a bold layout (there is colour on the masthead, they use a bold typeface and it is easy to read. Usually with large and dramatic typeface)

–Shorter Articles

–Less in depth reporting

–The headline usually includes a pun or a joke

–Focus more on gossip stories to do with celebrities (‘stories of human interest’)

“Discuss the difference between Broadsheet and Tabloid papers through a comparison of the Telegraph and Mirror 05/12/2017”

Both broadsheet and tabloid newspapers have drastic differences that are shown through the different aspects of both newspapers. An example of two newspapers that are different from each other are The Telegraph and the Daily Mirror. The Telegraph is a broadsheet newspaper and The Daily Mirror is a tabloid newspaper. Each paper may report the same story, but will tell it and present it in a different way, using different language and pictures to convey the same story. Broadsheets tend to be a more fact based newspaper, reporting on hard news stories and are a more formal newspapers. Tabloid newspapers are more of an informal newspaper and tend to report on gossip stories and news about celebrities, and if they do report on a news article, they will use different language to show that they are not a formal newspaper, or will be biased against one side of politics.

As well as these differences, there are also strucutural differences to both forms of newspaper that are evident in both The Telegraph and The Daily Mirror. One of these examples is that tabloid and broadsheet newspapers are aimed at different target audiences. A tabloid newspaper tends to have a target audience of lower classes, such as C2, D and E and a broadsheet newspaper is mainly aimed at those in the classes A, B and C1. This is evident when looking at the language used and the length of the article in both papers. It is evident that the Daily Telegraph

Tabloid

• Tabloids are considered ‘popular press’

• Tabloids are aimed at lower social groupings (C2,D & E)

• Tabloids have a bold layout (there is colour on the masthead, they use a bold typeface and it is easy to read. Usually with large and dramatic typeface and large images)

• Shorter Articles

• Less in depth reporting

• The headline usually includes a pun or a joke

• Focus more on gossip stories to do with celebrities (‘stories of human interest’)

Broadsheets

• Broadsheets are considered ‘serious’ or ‘ ‘quality’ press

• Broadsheets are aimed at higher social groupings (A,B,C1)

• Plainer layout (Masthead: usually no colour or limited small and subtle images)

• Longer articles.

• More detailed and lengthy reports

• The headlines are more serious and focus on ‘shocking’ rather than making jokes.

• Focuses more on international news as well as politics

Revision

Conventions of Long Form TV Drama
> Plot twists
> Cliff hangers
> High production value
> Barthes open narrative theory (Narratives including Frank, Zoe and Peter)
> Halls - preferred reading theory
> Todorov - Equilibrium
> Semantic code
> 40-60 minutes long
> High production value ($100 million for 2, 13 episode seasons)
> Binge watching as they are available on multimedia platforms
> Genre hybridity - political drama/thriller
> Uses high profile actors to generate interest and popularity.

How does the Enigma code apply to The House of cards in the character Frank Underwood?
The enigma code applies to the character of Frank Underwood in House of Cards as his character at the start of the series is quite mysterious, and a lot of his actions and motives are not fully explained, allowing the audience to either make their own interpretation or keep them guessing about how his plot is going to develop.

Discuss why HOC uses enigma?
House of Cards uses enigma to keep the audience both interested and intrigued, as well as allowing them to make their own guesses about what is to come for the rest of the season. It is also something that is often used in long form TV drama, such as House of Cards, to keep the audience entertained and to keep them watching.

In what way does the long form drama conform to Todorov’s theory?

Long form TV drama conforms to Todorov's theory by following the basic structure of his theory, but doing so over a longer period of time and over multiple episodes.

Discuss Todorov’s theory through the central character Frank Underwood?

The equilibrium is that Frank Underwood expects that he is going to receive the position of Secretary of State at the beginning of the first episode. The disequilibrium is that he is told someone else is going to receive the position of Secretary of State. Frank acknowledges that it is unlikely he will receive the position as it is revealed Michael Kern will be nominated instead. In this acknowledgement, he consults with wife Claire and they devise a plan to get him to the top together. The solving is Frank creating links with Zoe Barnes to help take down other candidates and anyone that might get in the way of his position.

How does HOC subvert Todorov’s theory?
House of Cards subverts Todorov's theory by not having a general new equilibrium. This is because long form TV drama continues over multiple episodes and generally in long form drama, there is always a new disequilibrium at the end of the episode to make people want to watch the next episode and continue watching.

Neales Genre Theory

> Neale’s theory of repetition and difference in Genre.
> "Genres are instances of repetition and difference"
> "Difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre"

What That Means:
> Steve Neale is saying that a film and it's genre is defined by two things:
> How much it conforms with a genre's stereotypes and conventions.
> He says that a film must conform to these conventions enough that it can still qualify and be identified as a film of that genre.
> How much a film subverts the genre's stereotypes and conventions.
> He says that a film must subvert these conventions enough that it is still viewed as a unique film, not just a clone.

Neale states that:
> a film must conform to these conventions enough that it can still qualify and be identified as a film of that genre.
> How much a film subverts the genre's stereotypes and conventions?
> Neale states that a film must subvert these conventions enough that it is still viewed as a unique film, not just a clone.

How does House of Cards conform to genre expectations?
House of Cards conforms to these conventions as it contains real life situations involving politics and incorporating real life scenarios and characters that relate to real life people. There is audience interaction in House of Cards when Frank turns to the camera and talks directly to the audience. Additionally, it contains drama and controversy similar to that of real life American Politics. It does exhibit real life situations, it has realistic characters, settings and stories. It is set in Washington DC, which is most famous for being where the White House is situated, where the president lives and where main politics goes ahead. Also conforms as the protagonist of the story is male.

How does House of Cards subvert to the gender expectations of a political drama/thriller?
As well as having conventions that the TV drama conforms to, there are also some conventions that the TV drama subverts to. It does not contain too much exaggerated sound or music, and mainly contains dialogue. As well as this, there is no disorientation of time and space, as House of Cards is mainly a drama constructed chronologically. Due to the fact that this is a long form TV drama, there are not many happy endings as the story continues through the series and it is always left on some type of cliffhanger to keep the audience guessing and keeping them intrigued. Frank's character could also closely mirror the American politics currently (2016 to present) with the corruption and secrecy of the government. Anti-hero.

Minecraft

> Sandbox video game
> Digitally convergent - can play on different devices
> Uses Youtube to create parodies and gameplay to create popularity and interest on youtube.
>Example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPaPP2ClKNo&index=102&list=PLPAfbDwaG4UF7fWeNyKbEZCuP2oNcVngv
>Minecraft Youtubers: CaptainSparklez, LDShadowLady
> People that play Minecraft are able to create their own mods and interact with the development of the game when it stilled used JAVA code.
> Minecraft education version helps children to interact whilst using it for education. May also help to generate interest in the original minecraft game.
> Different versions of the same game such as Minecraft Story Mode to generate interest.
> Twitch livestreams

Million Reasons

> The music video shows the stereotypical view that women are usually damsels in distress and emotional. Her hands are on her head and she is lying on the floor, which connotes vulnerability and distress. It also shows the fragility of some women, which is another stereotype of women.

> Having an all female crew is a counter-stereotype representation of the media industry as traditionally, people would usually have a predominantly male crew in order to maximise the safety of the individual in the music industry. However, Lady Gaga is breaking that stereotype and demonstrating a counter-stereotype by portraying a group of women protecting her and keeping her safe, which is not the norm within the music and media industry.

> Lady Gaga uses the iconic representation of the cowboy as a counter-stereotype representation of femininity due to the fact that traditionally, the premise of a cowboy is a powerful and strong individual, who is able to be independent. Lady Gaga dressed in a way similar to a cowboy suggest that she is also a powerful and strong individual who has her own independence. This shows a counter-stereotype in which females are equivalent in strength, power and independence to that of males. A cowboy is also a symbol of America, which when thought about, is predominantly male. She is challenging this stereotype by dressing similarly to a cowboy to suggest that females are also able to become a symbol of a strong America.

> The music video shows the stereotypical view that all women need makeup to look beautiful and that all women need to conform to the stereotype where all women need to wear makeup. This could also hint at the sexualisation of women in the music industry and in the media. The costume that she is wearing is not too revealing, but shows femininity.

New theory 15/05/18

Cultivation Theory – Gerbner Exposure to television over long periods of time cultivates standardised roles and behaviours. Gerbner used content analysis to analyse repeated media messages and values, then found that heavy users of television were more likely, for example, to develop ‘mean world syndrome’ – a cynical, mistrusting attitude towards others – following prolonged exposure to high levels of television violence. Gerbner found that heavy TV viewing led to ‘mainstreaming’ – a common outlook on the world based on the images and labels on TV. 

Reception Theory

The theory suggests that: When a producer constructs a text it is encoded with a meaning or message that the producer wishes to convey to the audience

In some instances audiences will correctly decode the message or meaning and understand what the producer was trying to say

In some instances the audience will either reject or fail to correctly understand the message

Reception Theory – Hall’s ‘encoding-decoding’ model argued that media producers encode ‘preferred meanings’ into texts, but these texts may be ‘read’ by their audiences in a number of different ways: 

 The dominant-hegemonic position: a ‘preferred reading’ that accepts the text’s messages and the ideological assumptions behind the messages 

 The negotiated position: the reader accepts the text’s ideological assumptions, but disagrees with aspects of the messages, so negotiates the meaning to fit with their ‘lived experience’ 

The oppositional reading: the reader rejects both the overt message and its underlying ideological assumptions.

Media Theory and Media Today

MEDIA FRAME WORK INCLUDE:

Media Language
> semiotics, including Barthes 

> narratology, including Todorov 
> genre theory, including Neale. 

Semiotics definition: the study of signs and their meaning in society. 

A sign is something which can stand for something else – in other words, a sign is anything that can convey meaning. So words can be signs, drawings can be signs, photographs can be signs, even street signs can be signs.

Roland Barthes

> Narratives like a ball of string
> Roland Barthes was a semiologist.

If you imagine a text is like a ball of string, can it be unravelled in one way or in many ways?

House of Cards - There are many different narratives in House of Cards and they include the story of a young journalist named Zoe Barnes, who works for the Washington Herald. She is determined to be a more well known journalist and for her stories to become a main part of the newspaper. Because of this, she approaches Frank Underwood with information about a scandal, regarding an education bill that could help both of their careers to excel. The first episode also includes the narrative of Peter Russo, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district, who is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, solicitation and the use of controlled substances.

Why are dramas open narratives?
Dramas are usually open narratives as it keeps the audience interested in the shows content. Additionally to this, it allows the content of the show to relate to the audience in some way, as they are able to interpret it in whatever way that they want. Multiple narratives keeps the audience intrigued, and when one narrative ends, there are others to keep audience entertained.

Enigma Code

Enigma definition: a mystery or something that cannot be explained.

The Hermeneutic Code (enigma code) refers to any element of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a mystery to the reader. The purpose of the author in this is typically to keep the audience guessing, arresting the enigma, until the final scenes when all is revealed and all loose ends are tied off and closure is achieved.

Action Code

The Proairetic Code also builds tension, referring to any other action or event that indicates something else is going to happen, and which hence gets the reader guessing as to what will happen next. The Action Code applies to any action that implies a further narrative action. For example, a gunslinger draws his gun on an adversary and we wonder what the resolution of this action will be. 

Semantic Code

This code refers to connotation within the story that gives additional meaning over the basic denotative meaning of the word. The semantic code is any element in a text that suggests a particular, often additional meaning by way of connotation.

Signs in House of Cards
> White house and collective shots of Washington indicates that it is a political drama as this is where the US government is based. Symbolises power and politics. Could symbolise Frank's desire to come into power.
> American flag indicates it is an American drama. Symbolises liberty, democracy and freedom. Frank subverts these ideals by portraying the possibility that US politics and government is corrupted.
> Lincoln memorial symbolises previous presidents, government, death of a leader. This could reflect when Frank did not get the position of Secretary of State, and a possibly indication that his career is over.

How does the Enigma code apply to The House of cards in the character Frank Underwood?
The enigma code applies to the character of Frank Underwood in House of Cards as his character at the start of the series is quite mysterious, and a lot of his actions and motives are not fully explained, allowing the audience to either make their own interpretation or keep them guessing about how his plot is going to develop.


Discuss why HOC uses enigma?
House of Cards uses enigma to keep the audience both interested and intrigued, as well as allowing them to make their own guesses about what is to come for the rest of the season. It is also something that is often used in long form TV drama, such as House of Cards, to keep the audience entertained and to keep them watching.

How does the enigma code apply to Telegraph Headline “Who are the Brexit Mutineers”?
The enigma code applies to this headline as it is likely a lot of people are unaware of what the headline of this newspaper means, and they may have to read about it to find out more information. Newspapers may use enigma code so that if people do not understand the headline, they will have to buy the newspaper to find out more information, which is a selling advantage.

Todorov Narrative

> Narrative = story
> The primary function of most films is to tell a story..  The mise en scene, cinematography, editing and sound are entirely subservient to the narrative, creating a seamless flow that centres the viewer within the story.

Equilibrium
Disruption
Resolution of the disruption
New equilibrium

Todorov in 1969 produced a theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film. He believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern. They all went through stages:

> the equilibrium, 
> disequilibrium, 
> acknowledgement, 
> solving 
> and again equilibrium.

Narrative conventions

Film narratives share a number of features that audiences expect:
> The role of the protagonist
> The problems faced by the protagonist
> The resolution of these problems

The narratives of most films are centred on one or two main protagonists:
> Their lives are disrupted by an outside event, or presence of an unfulfilled desire.
> The plot is then about removing that disruption or fulfilling that desire.
> The rest of the events in the plot are usually initiated by the protagonist and have a clear cause and effect relationship to other events.

Captain Phillips

Role of Protagonist: Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) is the captain of a cargo ship transporting goods from one location to another.
Problems faced by the protagonist: During their trip, armed pirates board the ship and hold him and the ship in a hostage situation in hopes to take over the captain position.
Resolution of the problems: SEALs follow the lifeboat they have taken Phillips hostage in, and are able to get three clear shots, killing all 3 pirates simultaneously.

Anti-Hero - A major character, usually the protagonist, who lacks conventional nobility of mind, and who struggles for values not deemed universally admirable. 

In what way does the long form drama conform to Todorov’s theory?

Long form TV drama conforms to Todorov's theory by following the basic structure of his theory, but doing so over a longer period of time and over multiple episodes.

Discuss Todorov’s theory through the central character Frank Underwood?

The equilibrium is that Frank Underwood expects that he is going to receive the position of Secretary of State at the beginning of the first episode. The disequilibrium is that he is told someone else is going to receive the position of Secretary of State. Frank acknowledges that it is unlikely he will receive the position as it is revealed Michael Kern will be nominated instead. In this acknowledgement, he consults with wife Claire and they devise a plan to get him to the top together. The solving is Frank creating links with Zoe Barnes to help take down other candidates and anyone that might get in the way of his position.

How does HOC subvert Todorov’s theory?
House of Cards subverts Todorov's theory by not having a general new equilibrium. This is because long form TV drama continues over multiple episodes and generally in long form drama, there is always a new disequilibrium at the end of the episode to make people want to watch the next episode and continue watching.

In what way does Todorov’s theory apply to the following News stories?

Equilibrium: Salisbury is a relatively quiet town and it is possibly that they do not centre around many national news stories.
Disequilibrium: Nerve poison attack on individual living in Salisbury, people living in Salisbury have their lives disrupted due to possibly being in an unsafe environment.
Acknowledgement: News coverage confirms the attack on the individual is an ex Russian spy and that it is possible that the Russian government had something to do with the poisoning used on the individual.
Solving: Daughter, who is awake and talking, when she is physically well she will be given a safe haven to live and a new identity to use so that she will be safe from further harm.
New equilibrium: Life for her will continue, but not as normal and a lot of aspects in her life are different and will never be the same.

Neale's Genre Theory

> Neale’s theory of repetition and difference in Genre.
> "Genres are instances of repetition and difference"
> "Difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre"

What That Means:
> Steve Neale is saying that a film and it's genre is defined by two things:
> How much it conforms with a genre's stereotypes and conventions.
> He says that a film must conform to these conventions enough that it can still qualify and be identified as a film of that genre.
> How much a film subverts the genre's stereotypes and conventions.
> He says that a film must subvert these conventions enough that it is still viewed as a unique film, not just a clone.

Neale states that:
> a film must conform to these conventions enough that it can still qualify and be identified as a film of that genre.
> How much a film subverts the genre's stereotypes and conventions?
> Neale states that a film must subvert these conventions enough that it is still viewed as a unique film, not just a clone.

Star Wars conforms to genre expectations of a:
Sci – Fi film - special effects, hero and anti hero, epic struggle over good and evil
Action film – follows Stucture of Propp where the protagonist is sent on a quest

Subverts the action film genre:
> As the (main) protagonist is female.
> Plot twist focus on female empowerment.

In the newest episode of Star Wars (The Last Jedi), the roles have changed and rather than having a male protagonist throughout the film, we have now been introduced to female protagonists that lead the story. In the first episode of Star Wars and up until the most recent episode, there was a male protagonist throughout.

How does House of Cards conform to genre expectations?
House of Cards conforms to these conventions as it contains real life situations involving politics and incorporating real life scenarios and characters that relate to real life people. There is audience interaction in House of Cards when Frank turns to the camera and talks directly to the audience. Additionally, it contains drama and controversy similar to that of real life American Politics. It does exhibit real life situations, it has realistic characters, settings and stories. It is set in Washington DC, which is most famous for being where the White House is situated, where the president lives and where main politics goes ahead. Also conforms as the protagonist of the story is male.

How does House of Cards subvert to the gender expectations of a political drama/thriller?
As well as having conventions that the TV drama conforms to, there are also some conventions that the TV drama subverts to. It does not contain too much exaggerated sound or music, and mainly contains dialogue. As well as this, there is no disorientation of time and space, as House of Cards is mainly a drama constructed chronologically. Due to the fact that this is a long form TV drama, there are not many happy endings as the story continues through the series and it is always left on some type of cliffhanger to keep the audience guessing and keeping them intrigued. Frank's character could also closely mirror the American politics currently (2016 to present) with the corruption and secrecy of the government. Anti-hero.