Three Generations

What is a 3 Minute Wonder? What is the aim / purpose of a 3 Minute Wonder? What sort of topic would you expect to see on a 3 Minute Wonder?  

A 3 Minute Wonders is a short 3-minute slot on the TV Channel 4 shown on weekdays.  (3 Minute Wonders, n.d.). The aim is to offer 1st time directors a large audience to help take their first step into the UK film industry. (Wikipedia, 2022) There are many things you’d expect to see in a 3-minute wonder, ranging from subjects that are not usually advertised or spoken about such as such as: toilet attendance ladies, (Vieyra, n.d.), homelessness (3 Minute Wonder: Juggling Homelessness, n.d.) and the strip club industry within the UK. (3 Minute Wonder: Over Exposed, n.d.)  Or creative short films such as animations about Russian bears who love vodka. (3 Minute Wonder: Mesh Animation: Potapych - The Bear Who Loved Vodka, n.d.)  

3-minute wonders have a broad topic range so that they are seen as innovative, they appeal to a culturally diverse society, they have educative value as well as exhibiting a distinctive character. (Why Channel 4's Three Minute Wonder is a little miracle, 2008)  
A full list of all 3 minute wonders can be found HERE. 

 

I selected three of favourite 3 Minute Wonder episodes, these where: 

• Untiled, by Dan Flavin, 

• Three Minute Wonder – Elisa,, 

• The wall – Pure Evil, 

I chose these from a long list. At first, I picked them because of their appealing names. I liked “Untiled” as it made me wonder what the short video would be about, as the title gave no hints. 
I also chose “Elisa” for similar reasons, the title gave away no hints to the subject of the short video, but did imply that it would be focusing on an animal or person due to the name. 
I chose “The Wall – Pure Evil” as the me intrigued me, it implied that either what the video was about was “evil” or the subject was viewed as evil. 

I enjoyed watching “United” as it was a mini-documentary in the form of a talking-head. It was set at a high school and interviewed high-schoolers opinions on a piece of art that had been installed for a day. I also enjoyed it as it included the narrative from interview sections, while scenes of the artwork, the crowd and people talking where displayed on the screen. I liked this as it broke up long sections of a singular person talking, while keeping the viewer engaged. Another reason I like this video, is because it seems natural. The people being interviewed turn round to look at the art piece while talking. They also say “um” and take breaks when talking, which implies their responses are natural instead of pre-planned. It also shows their responses to the artwork, showing those who do like the artwork and those who are not too keen. 
I learnt that anything can be counted as artwork from this short video, the simplicity of the piece is a light vertically on 2 white walls in a corner. I also learnt that the younger people didn’t really see it as art, as they thought it was simpler. When speaking of art, they thought of more traditional values such bas Van Gogh instead of a subjective art piece. 

I enjoyed watching “Elisa” as it displayed all the emotions she was going through while in hospital for treatment. The short video interviewed her, which I enjoyed watching as it showed her in a vulnerable state, although she was able to remain cheerful. I enjoyed this as it reminds those who watch the short video that people experience different emotions when going through things. 
I also enjoyed it as it included the narrative from her interview sections, while scenes of the city, the hospital and the hospital equipment that was being used to help Elisa recover where displayed on the screen. I liked this as it broke up long sections of her talking, while keeping the viewer engaged and interested in the video. 
I learnt that when recovering or receiving treatment for cancer, even going out for a meal (like Elisa did for her son’s birthday), the caner was constantly on her mind. I also learnt that while on treatment, during or after recovering, some foods and drinks “change taste”, and some people are unable to eat these things as they either suddenly dislike them, they make the person feel sick, or their body can no longer digest complex food due to the treatment. 

I enjoyed “The wall – pure evil” as it displayed graffiti as an art form instead of vandalism. Although it is a highly debated subject, the short video did not focus on this, instead focusing on how he created his artwork and the process he goes through. I also liked it as it dives into people opinions on graffiti, although the video only has one person talking, (the man who is doing the graffiti), he talks about people dislike for graffiti and his understanding of it. I also enjoyed it as it was a more natural interview, with the artist talking as he works, making jokes and rarely looking directly at the camera. Several scenes of him grafting where shown as he talked to help break up long sections of him talking or spray painting the same section, while keeping the viewer engaged and interested in the video. 

 

On BBC One, from Wednesday the 15th to the 18th of June, there were over 20 different types of documentaries shown on TV. Channel 4 showed a higher rating, with over 30 documentaries.

The BBC shows 4 of these documentaries at peak time. Channel 4 shows 11 of these documentaries at peak time. Peak time is the time at which the highest numbers of viewers are watching.

From the 30th May-5th June, out of the most popular TV shows, none of them were documentaries. Our Yorkshire Farm was C5’s factual ratings smash of 2020, with average viewing figures of 3 million. (https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/winners/best-popular-factual-programme-race-across-the-world/5159832.article). The Repair Shop drew an average of 6.3 million viewers.