Another of these "guide lines" would be the story and the plot. The story having an external basis in which you learn about the world that the show is built up in, this includes character build up and evolution.
The plot is a far more specific concept. It is integral to the entirety of the show, it is the aspect of the show that keeps the audience interested. Be it a plot twist or a cliff hanger. The plot reveals the events, mediates them for the audience and ultimately sums and evaluates the whole story up.
Finally we will be looking at diegesis, this being the internal world that is created through the characters experience. Its the world that is created through character involvement, location and other such devices that the audience is to openly accept.
Boy Meets World uses story in a simplistic way that adheres to convention. There is a problem, the problem is then identified, the characters try to fix the problem and finally equelibrium is restored. Tzvetan Todorovs narrative theorem. For example in Season 1 Episode 1 the equilibrium starts as three young boys are sat in the cafeteria at school, you can immidiately tell this will be a childrens drama but with a hint of comedy as the initial conversation between the three of them is a contest on how late they managed to stay up last night. The show is clearly set in the world of high school. The characters are befitting of a number of stereotypes. An elderly teacher is introduced and quickly shown to be quite set in his was, sarcastic and synical. From the few lines you here from him he comes across jaded. Jaded but in a comedic sense. Cory Matthews, the main character, comes across very happy go lucky. A cheeky young lad that has the gift of the gab and isnt afraid to use it. This sets up an interesting dynamic within the story line almost instantly. The show is largely set either in the class room or the home of Cory. Thus addressing the two major, but very serperate, areas of exisitance for children of the age bracket 11-14.
The plot begins to unfold inside the first 4 minutes. Identifying the Todorovs theory the equilibrium at the very beginning of the show was the three boys in the cafteria discussing the year ahead its calm and there is no real problem shown here. After the credit scene the show moves into the class room in which Mr Feeny is attempting to teach the class Romeo and Juliet and is clearly very passionate about the topic at hand. Cory, sat at the back of the class with one hand over his ear is reciting the baseball game to his best friend Shawn behind him. Feeny notices this and takes the headset off Cory and issues detention, not without a bit of two and fro comedic debate. The breakdown of equilibrium arrives.
Almost instantly another problem arises for Cory, his prospected evening at the baseball game with his brother has been usurped by a date or Erics, Cory's brother, and he has decided to take his date to the game instead of Cory. Which he lets you know in no uncertain terms he is not ok with. So now we have two break downs of equilibriums, two issues. Keeping in total theme with Todorovs theory.
The diegesis of this specific episode is a world the Cory creates, as many children do, that he has been hard done by, that the world is against him. He coins the line "I have no friends, i have no family. Everyone hates me. I'm moving out". Clearly a gross over exaggeration but it, again, is something that a lot of children can relate to. The sense that the whole world is against you, the sense that your are fighting a loosing battle and this episode, this diegesis acknowledges that. Giving another reason that children will be able to quite easily relate to this show for the episodes to come, keeping in mind this is only the pilot.
As the story line begins to develop as do the characters and you start to get an idea of the sort of people that build this world. Cory, the protagonist, is an 11 year old boy with an outlook to life way past his years. He challenges authority regularly, be it his parents or his teachers. However he doesn't do this maliciously in any sense. He does it in a way that many children would love to emulate. He does it with lighthearted cheek, he's humorous about it. Mr Feeny is another main character in this episode. The show manages to keep in line with Vladimir Propp's theory of 7 characters types. What's interesting about this particular episode is that Cory creates the character types for the audience by creating his own, often ill-informed judgement, that the audience easily subscribe to. Cory gifts the label of villain to his brother for failing to take him to the baseball game as promised, however Cory ultimately comes around and realizes his brother was not in the wrong and becomes Corys hero again. Whats interesting is that one character can be given to character types in one episode. Feeny, as is predominant with much of the series, is granted the title of Donor and false villain, as many teachers often are. Shaun is evidently the sidekick, always there for Cory in support. Feeny is Lex Luther to Corys Superman. Well perhaps not that extreme but the show is often based around conflict between them, such as the pilot. Feeny, an ambassador of culture and knowledge, takes it upon himself to, for lack of a better term, enlighten Cory. Cory on the other hand takes it upon himself to teach Feeny to loosen up a little, to enjoy this simple things. Both have an effect on each other, as much as neither would ever admit it. You can tell this from the pilot alone. Cory's home life is a similar situation, he has a family that love him dearly and this is evident. However the play up to his cheek and his general manner by winding him up and playing along to his nonsensical over reactions. For example in the pilot he moves out the house into his tree house in the back yard. To which his mother informs him they have a lodger for the room found all ready and he's a lovely kid etc. When Cory eventually moves back in he apologizes for the fact that his parents will be loosing income from the apparent "lodger" to which his father replies "i'm sure we will get by".
A bed time typically believed by children as a status of "coolness" amongst peers. However amongst this competition there has already been the idea of a potential problem floated in by Shawn ,the protaganists closes friend, identifying Mr Feeny, the grade school teacher, doesn't like Cory Matthews, the protagonist. So with in 40 seconds of the opening scene of the first show of the first season you already sense there is to be conflict between the two.
The story learnt in the first scene introduces the predominant characters straight away. so immidiately you understand that this is a young boy attending school with quite an old fuddy duddy teacher. He is clearly quite cheeky and rebelious, a characteristic a number of children either behave like or like the idea of challanging authority, perhaps something they cant do in their day to day school life.
The opening credits then follow and divulge a hell of alot of information about the style of the show and largely what you will be experiencing. A light but lively theme tune plays in the background while cut scenes from episodes show each character that will obviously feature. Baseballs and small globes float around as well as bikes, stationary as the characters duck and dive out of the way in a happy and jovial manner. From the credit scene you learn this is a show about school, home life, friends and family. But ultimately how how a child of that age would like to behave and how to address situations that they themselves may well encounter.
You can tell from a number of aspects that this is indeed made for children or young teenagers. Everything from the credit scene we discussed earlier to the colors, the themes involved to the sets used and the characters themselves. All of them represent either exactly or loosely what a child of the appropriate age would be experiencing. All the way down to the moralistic lessons taught at the end of each episode, usually taught through the conflicts that Feeny and Cory have throughout the particular episode and occasionally through incidents in Cory's home life. But more often than not Feeny will have some input on the resolution of the issue, you could argue he is regularly the Villain, The Donor, The Helper , The False Villain and The Dispatcher. He fulfills all the of these roles set down by Vladimir Propps. Cory is almost always either The Hero or The Victim. Other bit characters will often fill roles accordingly reflective of the story line.
This particular episode ends with two inter-twining issues resolving through Cory acting old than his years. Learns about the need for love even though he doesnt fully understand it through Feenys teachings and through this lesson learnt he forgives his brother Eric for abandoning the plans they had for a date he had arranged and eventually encourages Eric to ring her in order to arrange another date. He does this despite the fact this may put the brothers relationship in lower stead.
Technically speaking the show employs a number of generic camera angels, simple pans, over shoulder shots and wide establishing shots. This is primarily, i would imagine, due to the simplicity of the show and the audience it is aimed at. These camera shots do exactly what the shows needs them to and works effectively. so why would you complicate something that doesn't need to be so. The shows progresses at a steady speed with no fluctuation for example action or depressive scenes, because of this the show can still be well shot without being to in depth. I think it uses its camera angels to good effect.
Code Of Practice (sourced from BBC) :
"We must always safeguard the welfare of the children and young people who contribute to our content, wherever in the world we operate. This includes preserving their right to speak out and to participate, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Ofcom Broadcasting Code obliges broadcasters to take "Due care ... over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under eighteen who take part or are otherwise involved in programmes." (Rule 1.28, Ofcom Broadcasting Code.) This obligation is irrespective of any consent that might have been given by a parent or other adult acting in loco parentis. The Code also requires that "People under eighteen must not be caused unnecessary distress or anxiety by their involvement in programmes or by the broadcast of those programmes." (Rule 1.29, Ofcom Broadcasting Code.) We are also subject to the law regarding children."
9.2.1
We must ensure that the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of children and young people is protected during the making and broadcast of our content, irrespective of any consent given by them or by a parent, guardian or other person acting in loco parentis. Their interests and safety must take priority over any editorial requirement.
9.2.2
We must ensure that children and young people are not caused unnecessary anxiety or distress by their involvement in our output. Their involvement must be clearly editorially justified, consents should be obtained as appropriate to the circumstances of the child/young person and the nature of the contribution and output, and support should be given to them where necessary.
9.4.3
All children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief and sexual identity have a right to protection from harm or abuse. In the course of our work if we suspect a child or young person may be at risk, or we are alerted by them to a child welfare issue (including allegations against BBC staff) the situation must be referred promptly to the divisional manager with responsibility for the Child Protection Policy.
"Copyright is entirely essential because it protects the right of the authour. Without copyright people can claim other authors work as their own. They can also borrow entire passages, quotes or characters and use them for their own means without permission. If there were no copyright I could steal an authors novel, have it published and have monetary gain without having a single original thought. It's the same concept as to why deeds are necessary for houses. Without a deed I could walk into your house, take it, tell the police its mine and have you removed and there would be nothing you could do about it because there is no proof it is, in fact, your house."
To elaborate further on the quote above and apply it to Boy Meets World we have to look at the different conventions they use within the show. From music to names to ideas used in the show so as to protect themselves.
For example the theme tune was developed especially for the show and this would have to have been copyrighted a) to protect the show and b) to protect the composers of the music. Obviously the music is more often than not heavily associated with the show and is, along with the name, one of the most recognizable aspects of the show in question.
Then the makes of the show have to copyright the name of the show, but before that they have to make sure that the name is not already copyrighted by contacting the patent and trademakr office. This will allow them to find out if the name is available and also to copyright it if it is available. If everything runs smoothly then the name of the show will be copyrighted as will the music. Thus making it impossible for anyone else to use, steal or claim as their own without infringing the copyright and ultimately the law.
Characterization copyright works in a similar way. For example if it is an iconic character such as the Hulk or Flash Gordon these character ideas have to be protected as they are examples of successful creative genius. This would have been the case in Boy Meets World also, Cory Matthews is a highly identifiable and associated with the show. It would damage the integrity of the show if a third party production stole the story line and the characters, then made a production under the same alias with similar story lines but with different actors the show would no longer continue to be a success.
All these points reveal why copyright is so pivotal to the success and individualism of any given show.
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