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Fiske’s Theory & The Inbetweeners

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Genie MacDon

1) Fiske's theory discusses how TV shows use formal conventions like ongoing plots and character relationships across episodes to develop characters over time, unlike films which have finite endings. 2) Viewers develop unique relationships with TV characters, relating to them as they have pasts, presents and futures that viewers experience alongside them over many episodes. 3) Writers construct representations of characters through their appearance, values, and personalities. In The Inbetweeners, Will is presented as smart and formal while Jay is immature and sex-obsessed. 4) Audiences can have diverse interpretations based on their own experiences and perspectives, imagining how they would respond if in a character's situation.

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Fiske’s Theory & The Inbetweeners By: Eugenie MacDonald
Fiske Idea 1: Formal Conventions: ‘Representations in television drama is different to film and news due to ‘formal conventions.’ • Series, serials – representation lives beyond the end of the episode, unlike film which has finite ending • The camera focuses on individuals 2 & 3 shots show relationship between characters • Plot development • Performance of actor In series 1/episode 3 – Thorpe Park, we see Simon talking to his dad at the end, as his car door broke, indicating that he is trying to get it fixed which could continue into the next episode. Camera shots are very important as well as they show a connection and relationship between characters and this is shown with various shots of the boys, whether their as a four or 3 e.c.t, also in Series 3/episode 2 – The Gig and the Girlfriend, you see a few 2 shots of Simon and Tara e.g. when they are sitting on the couch about to kiss. This shows in the scene what is about to happen or potential could happen because of they way the camera angle presents the characters.
Fiske Idea 2: Relationship With Character ‘Our relationship with characters is ‘unique’ compared to other media forms, due to this structure’: • Constant repetition of character means characters ‘live’ in similar time scale to us • They have a post, present and future • We are invited to relate to them • We therefore develop different relationship with the characters from that offered in film In episode 2 we see a familiarity with the characters with references to previous episodes for e.g. when Tara mentions Will having an accident in the exam hall (which obviously means it happened in a previous episode) and this creates a past with the character. There was reference to the blond girl Carly and also Take That concert.
Fiske 3: Constructing Representation (Formulating Model) • Where the writers and producers construct the representation of the characters in terms of what they look like, their values and personality. And the audience view these representations. For example, throughout the to episodes, Will is presented as the smart, posh boy who dresses conservatively and therefore looks like a mini adult in a formal blazer, tie and briefcase which he carries to school. Simon is the love sick character who dresses casual, and this fits with his age. Neil is the dopey character, and Jay is the disgusting (sex) crazed immature one. The writers have created these characters all differently, as individuals and their values are portrayed through certain characteristics. Their hair styles are all different, they act and dress differently.
Fiske Idea 4: Multiple reading (Polysemic) TV drama results in may readings: • Audience is diverse (own experiences and view points) • The audience imagines how he/she would have behaved had they been in a characters shoes at a particular moment. • The viewer is less of a subject of the dominant ideology and more control of the process of identification through his/her own meanings. • Audience judge the characters on how they really seem. As the target audience for the show is from a wide range, there are many viewers that interpret the show differently according to their own experiences and whether they can relate to the characters or not. And they would also think about what they would do if they were in the characters situation, for example in the Thorpe Park episode, when Simon’s car door broke off; each character had an individual response to the situation like Simon panicking and Will not really caring and being focused on riding the roller coasters. The audience then would pick which character they would most relate to, hence connecting with them.

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Fiske’s Theory & The Inbetweeners

  • 1. Fiske’s Theory & The Inbetweeners By: Eugenie MacDonald
  • 2. Fiske Idea 1: Formal Conventions: ‘Representations in television drama is different to film and news due to ‘formal conventions.’ • Series, serials – representation lives beyond the end of the episode, unlike film which has finite ending • The camera focuses on individuals 2 & 3 shots show relationship between characters • Plot development • Performance of actor In series 1/episode 3 – Thorpe Park, we see Simon talking to his dad at the end, as his car door broke, indicating that he is trying to get it fixed which could continue into the next episode. Camera shots are very important as well as they show a connection and relationship between characters and this is shown with various shots of the boys, whether their as a four or 3 e.c.t, also in Series 3/episode 2 – The Gig and the Girlfriend, you see a few 2 shots of Simon and Tara e.g. when they are sitting on the couch about to kiss. This shows in the scene what is about to happen or potential could happen because of they way the camera angle presents the characters.
  • 3. Fiske Idea 2: Relationship With Character ‘Our relationship with characters is ‘unique’ compared to other media forms, due to this structure’: • Constant repetition of character means characters ‘live’ in similar time scale to us • They have a post, present and future • We are invited to relate to them • We therefore develop different relationship with the characters from that offered in film In episode 2 we see a familiarity with the characters with references to previous episodes for e.g. when Tara mentions Will having an accident in the exam hall (which obviously means it happened in a previous episode) and this creates a past with the character. There was reference to the blond girl Carly and also Take That concert.
  • 4. Fiske 3: Constructing Representation (Formulating Model) • Where the writers and producers construct the representation of the characters in terms of what they look like, their values and personality. And the audience view these representations. For example, throughout the to episodes, Will is presented as the smart, posh boy who dresses conservatively and therefore looks like a mini adult in a formal blazer, tie and briefcase which he carries to school. Simon is the love sick character who dresses casual, and this fits with his age. Neil is the dopey character, and Jay is the disgusting (sex) crazed immature one. The writers have created these characters all differently, as individuals and their values are portrayed through certain characteristics. Their hair styles are all different, they act and dress differently.
  • 5. Fiske Idea 4: Multiple reading (Polysemic) TV drama results in may readings: • Audience is diverse (own experiences and view points) • The audience imagines how he/she would have behaved had they been in a characters shoes at a particular moment. • The viewer is less of a subject of the dominant ideology and more control of the process of identification through his/her own meanings. • Audience judge the characters on how they really seem. As the target audience for the show is from a wide range, there are many viewers that interpret the show differently according to their own experiences and whether they can relate to the characters or not. And they would also think about what they would do if they were in the characters situation, for example in the Thorpe Park episode, when Simon’s car door broke off; each character had an individual response to the situation like Simon panicking and Will not really caring and being focused on riding the roller coasters. The audience then would pick which character they would most relate to, hence connecting with them.