Flight of the Conchords and Key Media Concepts

How can FOTC be seen as a Post Modern Text when analysed by key

media concepts.

Media Language

Media Language

Media Language

Media Language

• Is the singing diegetic/non diegetic?• Playing with sound levels (when Sally and

Jermaine breakup and when Bret and Coco talk)

• Montage sequences• The conversation about what Jermaine did

wrong is cut up and we miss parts

Media GenreMusical• Burst into song as part of

the narrative• Song used to explore

feelings• Songs used as a visual event• Use of ‘dancing’• But what genre of Music?• Name some of the songs…

Sit Com• Cast of regular characters• Reoccurring locations• Use of humour• 30 min format• Narratives based around

relationships we can understand

• Comic trap

Music Video?

Representation

• New Representations – what does it mean to be a New Zealander according to FOTC?

Ideology

• What Ideology do we have about New York?• ‘And because no mater who you are, if you believe in yourself and your

dream, New York will always be the place for you’ Michael Bloomberg• For centuries, New York has served as the gateway for millions of people

from all over the world in search of the American dream’ Hillary Clinton

• What does FOTC have to say about Capitalism?

Narrative

• We never ‘see’ the equilibrium. We start right in the middle of their lives

• Random conversation that have no real connection to the central narrative

• Anticlimactic endings• No happy ending

Audience - Text

• Needs to have a knowledgeable audience – how many jokes did you miss?– Fitzpatrick– The Tooth Brush Fence– It’s a Fleetwood Mac situation– Rumours– ‘What I really want is an Australian’– At the Expo

Audience - Text

• Music Knowledge– Pet Shop Boys– ABBA– Cream– Fleetwood Mac– Daft Punk– Michael Jackson

Audience - Institution

• Made by HBO (mass producer) but for a niche• Expected that the audience would have some

prior knowledge

Audience - Ideas• As Ideologies are challenged/broken there is

no ‘comfort’ offered to the audience