| Term | Meaning | |-------|---------| | Diegesis | The world of the story (diegetic sound = character hears it) | | High concept | Easy-to-pitch premise (“Jaws on a plane” → Snakes on a Plane) | | Procedural | TV genre focused on case/mission per episode (e.g., Law & Order) | | Prestige TV | High-budget, cinematic series with complex arcs (e.g., Succession) | | Para-social relationship | One-sided emotional bond with a media figure | | Trope | Recurring storytelling device (e.g., “found family”) | | Fan service | Content specifically for dedicated fans (callbacks, cameos) |

To move beyond passive consumption, use these four lenses:

| Lens | Key Questions | |------|----------------| | Formal | How do cinematography, editing, sound design, or pacing create effect? | | Narrative | What story structures, tropes, or character archetypes appear? | | Industrial | Who produced this? For which platform? What business model (ads, subscription, box office)? | | Cultural | What values, anxieties, or ideologies does it reflect or challenge? |

Example: A superhero film might be analyzed formally (action staging), narratively (hero’s journey), industrially (franchise planning), and culturally (representations of power).

If you want to understand current popular media, start here: