427 research outputs found
Much More than a Narrative Genre: Theoretical and Research Perspectives on Medical Drama
No full textThe book explores the sustained interest on medical drama TV series research encompassing various methods and approaches and offering a wide range of perspectives. Its primary objective is to promote insightful discussions on medical dramas TV series production and reception. By examining the possibilities of studying the medical genre, with its social and cultural value, the book critically explores new directions for studying audiovisual narrative media in broader terms. The contributions from the 14th Media Mutations conference provide remarkable insights into qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods for conducting research in film and media studies, with a specific focus on medical drama TV series. Additionally, the book emphasizes the significance of addressing diversity issues within these methodologies, acknowledging the importance of inclusivity and representation in research practices
A Doubtful Handshake: The Promising Frontier of Data-Driven Film and Media Studies
No full textThe book explores the growing interest in using data-driven methods to analyze audiovisual media content and audiences, challenging the historical resistance to quantitative perspectives. Its primary objective is to promote insightful discussions on the impact of these approaches in the field. By examining the possibilities and limitations of working with data, the book critically explores new avenues for studying audiovisual narrative media. The contributions from the Media Mutations conference provide valuable insights into systematic methods for conducting research in film and media studies, with a specific focus on contemporary audiovisual products. Additionally, the book emphasizes the significance of addressing diversity issues within these methodologies, acknowledging the importance of inclusivity and representation in research practices
History, Analysis and Anthropology of Medical Dramas: A Literature Review
No full textThe article is dedicated to American TV series that belong to the medical drama genre. The first part of the work is aimed at providing a brief summary of the evolution of the main features of the genre with respect to settings, protagonists and their representation in fictional products. We therefore want to trace the main transformations of the longest-running products among contemporary fictional shows, from the first medical series to the ones still running today. Through literature review, we will then highlight the undisputed interest that popular cultural products, such as medical dramas, have stimulated in researchers working in different fields. In particular, we want to note the attention researchers in the field of medical anthropology have devoted, and are still devoting to this day, media studies
Il ruolo della distopia nella produzione audiovisiva seriale contemporanea
No full textDystopian narratives are the core of contemporary storytelling, as they draw on imaginaries that captures fears and anxieties widely spread in the social perception. This work is focused on audiovisual serial production, which has witnessed a recent proliferation of dystopian tales. These narratives take several different conformations throughout the serial format. The first aim of this paper was to understand how dystopian traits have developed within the contemporary American production, considered its articulation in broadcast television, basic cable, premium cable and OTT. Among the dystopian narratives, we considered those that constitute original stories and those that are adapted from literature, comic or film. Finally, the television series The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu, 2017-) was analyzed as a case study, focusing on two important themes at the core of the dystopian narrative: political-religious fundamentalism and childless dystopia.Le narrazioni distopiche sono al centro dello storytelling contemporaneo in quanto attingono a un immaginario che cattura timori e ansie ampiamente diffusi nella percezione sociale. Il saggio si concentra in particolare sulla produzione audiovisiva seriale che negli ultimi anni ha visto la proliferazione di racconti distopici. Queste narrazioni assumono varie conformazioni all’interno del formato seriale. Un primo obiettivo di questo lavoro è stato comprendere come tratti distopici si sono collocati nella produzione statunitense contemporanea considerata nella sua articolazione in broadcast television, basic cable, premium cable e OTT. Tra le narrazioni distopiche si sono distinte quelle che costituiscono racconti originali e quelle che sono invece adattamenti di matrice letteraria, fumettistica o filmica. Infine, si è analizzata la serie televisiva The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu, 2017-) come caso di studio, focalizzandosi su due importanti temi al centro del racconto distopico: il fondamentalismo politico-religioso e la childless dystopia
Applying Automatic Text Analysis Methodologies to Audiovisual Serial Product
No full textThe goal of this paper is to explore the application of automatic text analysis methodologies to contemporary audiovisual serial narratives. As a case study we use the Apple TV+ series Servant (Apple TV+, 2019-). We first focused on the primary text (the English dialogue used in the TV series) to examine the role of the dialogue and the characters’ interactions through an exploratory application of Social Network Analysis. In particular, tagging the dialogue in XML format allowed the identification and quantification of scenes, characters and speaker-receiver pairs that were used to implement Social Network Analysis. Secondly, we collected tweets as the secondary text (the text produced by the Twitter audience), and analysed users’ behaviours and preferences considering both semantic and quantitative points of view. We underlined how analyses conducted on tweet sentiment can help to monitor this social engagement mechanism and how it may evolve over time. The paper is highly experimental in that, in addition to findings related to the narrative structure of the serial product (thanks to the primary text) and analysis of the relationship over time with the audience (thanks to the secondary text), it aims to test a shared analytical framework that can enable large-scale comparative investigations of contemporary TV series
Ecosystem response to perturbations: insight from qualitative analysis
No full textPresent changing environment calls for improvements of our knowledge of natural systems structure and function through a holistic view. Such a whole system perspective might help to better understand responses of ecosystems to perturbations. Models of ecological networks have proven to be very useful tools for understanding structure, and dynamics of ecosystems. I am presenting two modelling techniques to deal with the whole system approach: topological food web analysis (chapter 2) and loop analysis (chapter 3 and 4). Both these studies privilege the qualitative analysis over the quantitative one, to overcome the lack of data.
In chapter 2 the topology of the food web is considered to study the functioning of the Baja California Sur ecosystem. I identified through centrality indices key node species and analyzed system resilience to the removal of the most vulnerable fish species based on a previous classification of high, medium and low risk species. Effects are evaluated by using global indices. Results highlight the structural resilience of the web to removals, but also that removals of highly vulnerable species result in significant changes in system attributes compared to random removal.
In chapter 3 the evolution of the Black Sea ecosystem during the period 1960-1990 is evaluated through qualitative models (i.e. loop analysis). These models reconstruct the linkage structure of the whole community. I validated the outcomes of loop analysis with statistical investigation of biomass time series. This helped to understand how the structure of the interactions can explain variations in the biomass level of the variables and what hypotheses about drivers and mechanisms responsible for the changes could be shaped accordingly.
In chapter 4 a database of real and random food webs was taken into account. I studied these food webs through loop analysis to unveil how positive input on basal and top species affects top and basal species, respectively. The aim was to identify possible differences in the propagation of indirect impacts in response to positive perturbations that occur at the extreme of the food webs (i.e. either targeting basal or top species). I compared real systems (i.e. marine, terrestrial and freshwater food webs) with random networks. I found an overrepresentation of positive predictions (i.e. the species are predicted to increase their abundance) and an underrepresentation of negative predictions for the top species when basal species are perturbed. This occurs in both real and random systems. Considering the latter the same trend (i.e. overrepresentation of positives signs and underrepresentation of negative ones) was found when predicting the responses of basal species following perturbations on top species. I showed that these findings are due to the topological structure of the food webs (e.g. number and length of trophic paths) rather than depending on the patterning of interactions strengths. Thus, the responses of top species following perturbations on basal species are predictable, while the same trend does not hold when studying the responses of basal species after perturbations targeted on top species. These results are particularly relevant and interesting considering the importance of basal and top species as target for many anthropogenic impacts.
This thesis contributes to unfold a path toward: 1) the understanding of the effect of disturbance on ecological communities and ecosystems; 2) an improved comprehension of the interplay between top-down and bottom-up control; 3) the capability to deal with uncertainty in assessing the response of communities and ecosystems in the face of disturbance. I used relatively simple methodologies that focus on the qualitative arrangement of trophic interactions. This may seem a limitation. However, I show there are cases for which even the study of qualitative data can be of crucial importance in terms of management (i.e. ecosystem-based management).I cambiamenti ambientali in atto richiedono un miglioramento delle conoscenze su struttura e funzionamento dei sistemi naturali attraverso un approccio olistico. Una visione d’insieme potrebbe aiutare a comprendere meglio la risposta degli ecosistemi alle perturbazioni. E’ stato provato che lo studio dei network ecologici è utile per comprendere la struttura e le dinamiche degli ecosistemi. In questa tesi presento due tecniche modellistiche: l’analisi topologica di food web (capitolo 2) e la loop analysis (capitolo 3 e 4). Entrambi gli studi privilegiano l’analisi qualitativa a quella quantitativa per superare la mancanza di dati.
Nel capitolo 2 ho considerato alcune caratteristiche topologiche per lo studio del funzionamento dell’ecosistema di Baja California Sur. Ho identificato, attraverso gli indici di centralità, le specie chiave e analizzato la resilienza del sistema alla rimozione delle specie definite più vulnerabili (es. precedente classificazione di alto, medio e basso rischio). Gli effetti sono stati valutati attraverso indici globali. I risultati evidenziano la resilienza strutturale della food web alle rimozioni, ma anche che la rimozione delle specie più vulnerabili cambia significatamente alcuni attributi del sistema rispetto alle rimozioni random.
Nel capitolo 3 ho valutato l’evoluzione dell’ecosistema del Mar Nero nel periodo 1960-1990 attraverso la loop analysis. I modelli qualitativi indagati ricostruiscono la struttura dei legami dell’intera comunità. Ho validato i risultati emersi con indagini statistiche sulle serie temporali di biomasse per capire come la struttura delle interazioni può spiegare le variazioni nei livelli di biomassa delle variabili e quali ipotesi possono essere fatte sui drivers e i meccanismi responsabili dei cambiamenti.
Nel capitolo 4 ho costruito un database di food web reali e random, che ho studiato attraverso la loop analysis, per capire come un input positivo sulle specie basali e apicali si ripercuote rispettivamente sulle specie apicali e basali. Lo scopo era quello di identificare possibili differenze nella propagazione degli effetti indiretti in risposta a input positivi che si verificano agli estremi delle food web. Ho confrontato sistemi reali (marini, terrestri e di acqua dolce) con networks random. Ho trovato una sovrarappresentazione di predizioni positive (aumento dell’abbondanza delle specie) e una sottorappresentazione di predizione negative per le specie apicali a seguito di un input positivo sulle specie basali, sia nei sistemi reali che in quelli random. Considerando questi ultimi lo stesso trend (sovrarappresentazione di segni positivi e sottorappresentazione di segni negativi) è stato trovato nelle predizioni riguardanti la risposta delle specie basali a seguito di un input sulle specie apicali. Ho mostrato che questi risultati sono dovuti alla struttura topologica delle food web (es. il numero e la lunghezza dei percorsi trofici) piuttosto che alla forza delle interazioni. Sembra che le risposte delle specie apicali a seguito di perturbazioni delle specie basali siano prevedibili, al contrario delle risposte delle specie basali a seguito di un input sulle apicali. Questi risultati sono particolarmente rilevanti e interessanti considerando l’importanza delle specie basali e apicali come target degli impatti antropici.
Questa tesi contribuisce allo sviluppo di un percorso verso: 1)la comprensione degli effetti di disturbo sulle comunità ecologiche e sugli ecosistemi; 2)una migliore comprensione delle interazioni di controllo top-down e bottom-up; 3)la capacità di affrontare l'incertezza per valutare la risposta delle comunità e degli ecosistemi di fronte al disturbo. Nonostante l’uso di metodologie relativamente semplici che si concentrano sulla disposizione qualitativa delle interazioni trofiche, ho dimostrato che vi sono casi in cui anche lo studio di dati qualitativi può essere di cruciale importanza in termini di gestione
Medical dramas: forme di riciclo narrativo nella produzione audiovisiva seriale
No full textIn the 1980s, Eco questioned the innovation processes in serial products through an approach that it is still current today. It proposes alternative models to traditionally creativity forms. The aim of the paper is to investigate narrative recycling as central process within the audiovisual serial production considering several TV series belonging to the medical drama genre. Specifically the analysis focuses on Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 2005-), Saving Hope (CTV, 2012-2017), The Night Sfhift (NBC, 2014-2017), Chicago Med (NBC, 2015-) and The Good Doctor (ABC, 2017-). We have identified three different levels of narrative recycling. The first level consists of gender conventions, the second one by the use of “motifs” and stylization processes, while the third one works on transformative copies. We will shown how in audiovisual serial products the cultural innovation processes is not due mainly to creativity exercise but rather to continuous mechanisms of narrative replication and recycling
Beni comuni e benessere delle Comunità. Paradigmi e percorsi per lo sviluppo dei territori della Romagna faentina
No full textL’oggetto di questo studio è l’analisi dei beni comuni (sintagma che corrisponde all’inglese commons) e del benessere delle comunità nei territori della Romagna faentina alla luce dei nuovi paradigmi e percorsi per lo sviluppo dei territori; studio che si è potuto realizzare grazie al contributo della Fondazione Dalle Fabbriche e della BCC ravennate, forlivese e imolese
Environmental Misinformation and Audiovisual Serial Narratives. An Automatic Analysis of the Twitter Social Discursiveness on Seaspiracy
No full textThe ongoing pervasive presence of green media content may increase audience environmental consciousness. Indeed, several authors have highlighted the central role played by visual digital media in bringing environmental issues to public and political attention. Within this context the proliferation of streaming services and audience’s everyday use of green media content may facilitate public connections, enhance environmental sensibility, and facilitate behavioural change. This paper explores the insights film and media scholars may get from audience’s ongoing debates related to environmental issues when boosted by audiovisual narratives. We investigate the production and circulation of knowledge and environmental misinformation associated with Seaspiracy (2021), a Netflix documentary about the impact of commercial fishing. This product was criticized for misrepresentation: NGOs, sustainability labels and experts quoted in the documentary have charged the filmmakers with making ‘misleading claims’ and using out-of-context interviews and erroneous statistics. The main aim of this study is to explore the role of digital communication – interpersonal and through the media – in the public definition, elaboration and contestation of environmental issues. We focus on tweets related to the documentary Seaspiracy to understand how misinformation may spread through audiovisual narratives. We use automatic text analysis tools including sentiment analysis and topic detection to understand how audience responses enable or inhibit the discourse in a shared cultural debate on environmental issues
Women’s Labour in TV Series Production: A Comparative Analysis of Italian Generalist TV and Pay Platforms (2016-2019)
No full textInfluential European research on female representation and employment in the news media and audiovisual industry shows how the sector is dominated by strong gender inequality. Women’s labour is under-represented, underpaid and characterised by high levels of precariousness. European audiovisual regulatory authorities are promoting an increase in gender representation both on- and off-screen through the analysis of existing industry-led practices and the development of non-legally binding recommendations. However, these policies often prove to be ineffective. Until now, most research has focused on analysing women’s labour in film production. However, in September 2021 the European Audiovisual Observatory delivered a cross-country assessment of the gender imbalance in six audiovisual professional categories in European TV fiction. Considering the increasing interest in the audiovisual seriality sector, the aim of this paper is to conduct an exploratory analysis of the employment situation of women in the production of Italian TV series using IMDb as a data source. We focus on and discuss the intersections between women and labour through the production of Italian free-to-air and pay platform TV series in 2016-2019. By retrieving IMDb data for more than 8,000 credits, we evaluate and discuss gender inequalities, segregation and mobility patterns in the Italian audiovisual workforce and raise methodological challenges in relation to the use of online sources in gender-based studies of Europe’s screen industries
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