Frontline

How have the texts studied in this elective challenged your ways of thinking about ‘Telling the Truth’
Truth is a concept that exists throughout the cross-section of society. Telling the truth is extremely complex as an individual or a firm will base its representation of the truth on its commercial and self interests. An example of such is the media, who determinedly manipulates and distorts the representation of truth. The satirical television series Frontline directed by Rob Sitch humorously mocks a typical current affairs show and their daily pursuing of ‘news’. Sitch employs Frontline to portray the distortion of truth and the empowerment of image over honesty and truth. Through the episodes ‘We Ain’t Got Dames’ and ‘Smaller Fish to Fry’, Sitch cleverly allows the audience to see that   truth will be misconstrued and manipulated in order to claim ratings and power.
The audience’s perception is critically valued by the media. The concept of image empowering the honesty and truth of an individual is explored in both episodes, through different issues that approach the Frontline team. In ‘We Ain’t Got Dames’, the Frontline team are faced with the issue of encouraging more of a female audience to their show. In response to this, the team develops a ‘promo’ of the show’s host, Mike Moore, in an attempt to create a perception that Moore is ‘female friendly’. Throughout the promotion, Mike is portrayed through different scenes with women such as playing the guitar and picking up a teddy bear. During these scenes Mike is shot in close-ups, bathed with artificial soft light with vibrant music in the background. The use of the lighting and non-diegetic music creates an atmosphere around Mike that is joyous and tranquil, suggesting that Mike is caring, compassionate and credible. Sitch uses these cinematic techniques in the ‘promo’ as a hyperbole, exaggerating a romanticised and clichéd image of Mike.   Mike’s artificial construct on air is juxtaposed to his natural...