Censorship ...
Will we ever reach a point where, as an audience, we are so desensitised that we don't need the BBFC any more?
It can be argued that things may infact sway towards the way that we wont need the BBFC as over time, audiences have become desensitised to events that occur within genres, such as the horror genre. In the 1950's psycho was percieved as one of the greats within the horror genre yet in a modern society they would not deem it as one of the scariest films that they have seen. Thorugh the years, the content of films have also changed, as more and more films that are certified 15's in fact contain things that would only be deemed to be in an 18 certified film, such as sex and violent scenes. Also, due to new and digital media, many films are available to watch online, where there is no way to check whether the correct age is watching an appropriated certificated film. Therefore, one day it may be that all BBFC's are rid fo because it may be hard to control who watches what films and what they are certified as.
Wednesday 13 April 2011
Watch an episode of a contemporary reality game show. In what ways do the editors vconstruct contestants into particular character roles? Is this helpful for the audience or does it manipulate audience responses too far?
In Celebrity Big Brother it is apparant that the editors do construct the characters, such as Shilpa Shetti and Jade Goody, making Jade as the Villian and Shilpa and a Victim. They do this through only showing footage of Shipa crying or being shouted at, and only showing footage of Jade shouting and being aggressive towards other housmates. This mediated footage can therefore lead the audience to only see that particular celebrity in that way, and in some cases, completely changing a way they think of a celebrity, from modelling them to disliking them. It can be argued that this is not helpful for the audience as it manipulates opinions of the celebrities to the extreme, shown through when the celebirities leave the house, Jade Goody had recieved a vast amount of 'boo's' and shouting from the viewers outside. These reactions can therefore effect the celebrities life from then on, either being more popular and being asked to appear on more shows, or either being totally desregarded due to thier unpoularity with the public.
In Celebrity Big Brother it is apparant that the editors do construct the characters, such as Shilpa Shetti and Jade Goody, making Jade as the Villian and Shilpa and a Victim. They do this through only showing footage of Shipa crying or being shouted at, and only showing footage of Jade shouting and being aggressive towards other housmates. This mediated footage can therefore lead the audience to only see that particular celebrity in that way, and in some cases, completely changing a way they think of a celebrity, from modelling them to disliking them. It can be argued that this is not helpful for the audience as it manipulates opinions of the celebrities to the extreme, shown through when the celebirities leave the house, Jade Goody had recieved a vast amount of 'boo's' and shouting from the viewers outside. These reactions can therefore effect the celebrities life from then on, either being more popular and being asked to appear on more shows, or either being totally desregarded due to thier unpoularity with the public.
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Watch an episode of a popular sitcom and an espisode of a popular soap opera. which one makes more use of stereotypes? Why is this?
Friends & Eastenders Friends uses stereotypes such as 'the womanizer' 'the geek' 'the spoiled one' 'the free spirit' 'the joker' and 'the obsessive one' - and in some way or another the audience can atleast relate to some part of one of the characters. With these characters, you see little change over the series as they generally make up characterisitcs as they go along, in order to keep the show fresh, yet thet still stay on track to the originial characterisitcs of the character. In Eastenders, they use more subtle steroetypes, yet they are a more diverse characters and have more characteristis of them. The reason for this may be that, the writers of the show try to prolong the characters storylines and have interesting and shocking events happening to them. It is generally thought that sitcoms are most likely to use stereotyoical charcters as they are easy to mock, and easy to replicate. Whereas, soaps tend to move away from these as they create more interesting storylines and are able to prolong characters.
Friends & Eastenders Friends uses stereotypes such as 'the womanizer' 'the geek' 'the spoiled one' 'the free spirit' 'the joker' and 'the obsessive one' - and in some way or another the audience can atleast relate to some part of one of the characters. With these characters, you see little change over the series as they generally make up characterisitcs as they go along, in order to keep the show fresh, yet thet still stay on track to the originial characterisitcs of the character. In Eastenders, they use more subtle steroetypes, yet they are a more diverse characters and have more characteristis of them. The reason for this may be that, the writers of the show try to prolong the characters storylines and have interesting and shocking events happening to them. It is generally thought that sitcoms are most likely to use stereotyoical charcters as they are easy to mock, and easy to replicate. Whereas, soaps tend to move away from these as they create more interesting storylines and are able to prolong characters.
Task 5...
Watch an episode of The Simpsons.
Dominant
The Simpsons is a classic comedy show for all the family, with sense of humours matching different ages. It touches on unrealistic and realistic situations, catering for all types of audiences. It also keeps the audiences favourite characters as they prefer them, as the characters never age.
Negotaited
The show is not always funny as i have a different sense of humour than what the programme touches upon. I like some of the minor characters as they make the plot of each show fresh and current.
Oppositional
The Simpsons is a crude programme that is not suitable for the whole family, and definately not be shown at a usual time of 6:00pm, it should be scheduled to a later time as i feel that some of the humour present on the show is too much of an adult nature that is not suitbale for young children. The show has also been dragged on for too many seasons and the plot is far too repeetitive as the charcters never age, therefore there is only limited scope for the writers to use for the characters.
The negotiated and the oppositional reading are the closet to my own, as i am not a complete fan of the show especially of the new episodes.
Task 4...
Watch a violent scene from a gangster film. What is the effect of the scene on the audience? Use as many effects theories in you answer as possible to show your understanding of these theories.
City Of God
In the clip of the City Of God, the gang that is shown to be superior and galmorous, as they have jewellery around thier necks. The use of high angle shots and then being the only mobile beings in the shot, shows how superior they are. This would therefore make the gang seem desirable and make the audience want to be like them (copycat theory). As audiences are mezmorised with the representations they are shown in the media, audiences may watch gannster films and enjoy watching gangster characters as it gives them a sense of escapism from the life they live, or audiences may even identify with these characters and see how that other people live the same life that they do. Although, as audiences have been exposed to gangsters and them present in films since the 50's, it could be argued that audiences are no longer affected by these representations in films, therefore they have become desensitised to what they see in the media.
Watch an episode of The Simpsons.
Dominant
The Simpsons is a classic comedy show for all the family, with sense of humours matching different ages. It touches on unrealistic and realistic situations, catering for all types of audiences. It also keeps the audiences favourite characters as they prefer them, as the characters never age.
Negotaited
The show is not always funny as i have a different sense of humour than what the programme touches upon. I like some of the minor characters as they make the plot of each show fresh and current.
Oppositional
The Simpsons is a crude programme that is not suitable for the whole family, and definately not be shown at a usual time of 6:00pm, it should be scheduled to a later time as i feel that some of the humour present on the show is too much of an adult nature that is not suitbale for young children. The show has also been dragged on for too many seasons and the plot is far too repeetitive as the charcters never age, therefore there is only limited scope for the writers to use for the characters.
The negotiated and the oppositional reading are the closet to my own, as i am not a complete fan of the show especially of the new episodes.
Task 4...
Watch a violent scene from a gangster film. What is the effect of the scene on the audience? Use as many effects theories in you answer as possible to show your understanding of these theories.
City Of God
In the clip of the City Of God, the gang that is shown to be superior and galmorous, as they have jewellery around thier necks. The use of high angle shots and then being the only mobile beings in the shot, shows how superior they are. This would therefore make the gang seem desirable and make the audience want to be like them (copycat theory). As audiences are mezmorised with the representations they are shown in the media, audiences may watch gannster films and enjoy watching gangster characters as it gives them a sense of escapism from the life they live, or audiences may even identify with these characters and see how that other people live the same life that they do. Although, as audiences have been exposed to gangsters and them present in films since the 50's, it could be argued that audiences are no longer affected by these representations in films, therefore they have become desensitised to what they see in the media.
Task 3...
It has been said that media representations often reflect the social and political concerns of the age in which they are created. Discuss.
In the film Doghouse women are presented to be dominant and violent characters as throughout the film, they’re aim is to kill and ultimately abolish the male race. Even though the women have a dominant role within the film, they are still dressed in revealing clothes, such as the character dressed as a bride, wearing a short dress and showing a lot of cleavage. This may therefore suggest that in the 2000’s even though women do have power and dominance in society they are still objectified and may even use this sexual power that they have over men and use this is their advantage. Also, the character of Neil is represented as they typical misogynist calling the women bus driver “candy” and “babe”, not referring to her actual name connotes that he feels that she has no real place in society.
In the TV series ashes to ashes, the males are predominantly misogynistic, this is highly apparent in the first episode, as they mistake one of the female DI’s as a prostitute. Through the costume used on Alex Drake’s character as she is dressed in a scantily clad dress and high heels, a common type of clothing for women during the 80’s, which the show was set. This therefore leads the other police officers not to take her seriously as a police officer, and make crude remarks whilst she works with them, this is especially shown in Gene Hunt’s character as throughout the series he continuously has this assumption that women do not know what they are talking about, especially concerning the law. The show reflects the attitude and belief’s that were predominant in the 1980’s as although the wave of feminism in the 1960’s lead women to be able to have jobs alongside the males, they were not necessarily taken seriously within the job role and the males were still very much in control.
In 50 Cent’s, P.I.M.P music video he is presented as superior and dominant through his all white clothing connoting that he is god-like. Throughout the video there are numerous low angle shots of him and women surrounding him representing that he is in control and a dominant character. Having the women surrounding him shows that he is desired by women and especially attractive women, this is enforced thought their lack of clothing in the video as they are mostly wearing just lingerie, with slim bodies and large breast, presenting that this is how women are supposed to look if they want to be wanted by successful and rich men. Within the music video 50 Cent wears a lot of jewellery such as rings and chains around his neck suggesting that he is a successful black man in the music industry. This does reflect the social issues in society as there are an increase in the number of black artist’s that have become successful in the music industry. Although he is successful there are a number of references to 50 Cent’s “ghetto” lifestyle before he became famous, with CD covers with 50 Cent wearing a bullet proof vest, making it seem acceptable for his audiences to behave in the same way as him (being linked to knife crime). This also reflects social issues, as in recent years there has been a significant amount of increase in gun and knife crime within youths.
It has been said that media representations often reflect the social and political concerns of the age in which they are created. Discuss.
In the film Doghouse women are presented to be dominant and violent characters as throughout the film, they’re aim is to kill and ultimately abolish the male race. Even though the women have a dominant role within the film, they are still dressed in revealing clothes, such as the character dressed as a bride, wearing a short dress and showing a lot of cleavage. This may therefore suggest that in the 2000’s even though women do have power and dominance in society they are still objectified and may even use this sexual power that they have over men and use this is their advantage. Also, the character of Neil is represented as they typical misogynist calling the women bus driver “candy” and “babe”, not referring to her actual name connotes that he feels that she has no real place in society.
In the TV series ashes to ashes, the males are predominantly misogynistic, this is highly apparent in the first episode, as they mistake one of the female DI’s as a prostitute. Through the costume used on Alex Drake’s character as she is dressed in a scantily clad dress and high heels, a common type of clothing for women during the 80’s, which the show was set. This therefore leads the other police officers not to take her seriously as a police officer, and make crude remarks whilst she works with them, this is especially shown in Gene Hunt’s character as throughout the series he continuously has this assumption that women do not know what they are talking about, especially concerning the law. The show reflects the attitude and belief’s that were predominant in the 1980’s as although the wave of feminism in the 1960’s lead women to be able to have jobs alongside the males, they were not necessarily taken seriously within the job role and the males were still very much in control.
In 50 Cent’s, P.I.M.P music video he is presented as superior and dominant through his all white clothing connoting that he is god-like. Throughout the video there are numerous low angle shots of him and women surrounding him representing that he is in control and a dominant character. Having the women surrounding him shows that he is desired by women and especially attractive women, this is enforced thought their lack of clothing in the video as they are mostly wearing just lingerie, with slim bodies and large breast, presenting that this is how women are supposed to look if they want to be wanted by successful and rich men. Within the music video 50 Cent wears a lot of jewellery such as rings and chains around his neck suggesting that he is a successful black man in the music industry. This does reflect the social issues in society as there are an increase in the number of black artist’s that have become successful in the music industry. Although he is successful there are a number of references to 50 Cent’s “ghetto” lifestyle before he became famous, with CD covers with 50 Cent wearing a bullet proof vest, making it seem acceptable for his audiences to behave in the same way as him (being linked to knife crime). This also reflects social issues, as in recent years there has been a significant amount of increase in gun and knife crime within youths.
Task 2...
The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.
It can be argued that the audience are more powerful, due to the rise in technology in communication. Due to communicative ways such as mobiles phones becoming vastly improved, they now have high quality cameras built in, allowing audiences to produce better quality user generated content. This can be shown through the case of Rodney king, who was brutally beaten by police officers with no attempt to stop, which was recorded by civilian George Holiday, who had caught the actions on video tape by sheer chance, showing that UGC is important and makes the audience become the producer. This therefore, puts the audience in the position of power as they are now becoming the producers, over riding main producers in industries such as the news, as they are gaining footage that is up to date and exclusive.
Although on the other hand, all text that are broadcast to audiences are in fact mediated, therefore showing that the producers are still in control as they get to choose what the audiences watch. Even in reality TV shows, it is up to the producers what they think are the most important or interesting parts and broadcast them. This also occurs in the platform of print, journalists also choose an angle at which to write the story that they are reporting on, and perhaps not writing about the full content or occurrence that has happened. Therefore showing that producers in some aspects are still in control as us as an audience still do not have control or an option to what we see or read as someone else is choosing it for us. Though, this used to be more appropriate fitting to when the medium of newspapers were in demand, as they were the only form of news and information, apart from word and mouth that audiences were exposed to, whereas now audiences are exposed to a number of different mediums such as TV: Sky News, and online content.
In some cases it is further argued that audiences have power, as we are living in a growing pluralist society. Due to the rise in new & digital media and the internet, audience now have the privilege of having a vast amount of resources on the internet to give out information on the news, or even entertainment. Consequently because there are so many, it could be disputed that audiences therefore choose what they want to read, and read as many different view on something as they want, leading them to make up their own mind over a certain matter, e.g. a scandal in the news over a celebrity.
Then again, because of new & digital media, producers are constantly coming up with something new, better and even more fashionable to have. Thus putting the producers in the power of position as they are gaining more and more profit because consumers want to buy the latest gadget. This can be shown through the rise in Apple Mac, there are so many versions of the Ipod: nano, touch, shuffle and classic, and now there is the Iphone 4G, opposed to the ‘old’ 3GS. Although on the other hand, it can be thought that the audiences are putting pressure on the producers to create new and better things, therefore producers are working to audiences expectations, and catering for what they want. If the audience do not like a product, then producers have to come up with something that they do like, creating a demanding audience and having the producers under their control, putting the producers profit in the hands of the audience, ultimately creating the all so powerful audience. This is further enforced through the transition of newspapers being printed to becoming online websites. Having the newspapers accommodate the audiences so it can therefore become accessible to them, as they can now view the news on their laptops, Ipad and mobile phones, again portrays the audience as having the power as the producers are meeting the criteria needed by the audience to have a more accessible lifestyle to content such as the news.
The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.
It can be argued that the audience are more powerful, due to the rise in technology in communication. Due to communicative ways such as mobiles phones becoming vastly improved, they now have high quality cameras built in, allowing audiences to produce better quality user generated content. This can be shown through the case of Rodney king, who was brutally beaten by police officers with no attempt to stop, which was recorded by civilian George Holiday, who had caught the actions on video tape by sheer chance, showing that UGC is important and makes the audience become the producer. This therefore, puts the audience in the position of power as they are now becoming the producers, over riding main producers in industries such as the news, as they are gaining footage that is up to date and exclusive.
Although on the other hand, all text that are broadcast to audiences are in fact mediated, therefore showing that the producers are still in control as they get to choose what the audiences watch. Even in reality TV shows, it is up to the producers what they think are the most important or interesting parts and broadcast them. This also occurs in the platform of print, journalists also choose an angle at which to write the story that they are reporting on, and perhaps not writing about the full content or occurrence that has happened. Therefore showing that producers in some aspects are still in control as us as an audience still do not have control or an option to what we see or read as someone else is choosing it for us. Though, this used to be more appropriate fitting to when the medium of newspapers were in demand, as they were the only form of news and information, apart from word and mouth that audiences were exposed to, whereas now audiences are exposed to a number of different mediums such as TV: Sky News, and online content.
In some cases it is further argued that audiences have power, as we are living in a growing pluralist society. Due to the rise in new & digital media and the internet, audience now have the privilege of having a vast amount of resources on the internet to give out information on the news, or even entertainment. Consequently because there are so many, it could be disputed that audiences therefore choose what they want to read, and read as many different view on something as they want, leading them to make up their own mind over a certain matter, e.g. a scandal in the news over a celebrity.
Then again, because of new & digital media, producers are constantly coming up with something new, better and even more fashionable to have. Thus putting the producers in the power of position as they are gaining more and more profit because consumers want to buy the latest gadget. This can be shown through the rise in Apple Mac, there are so many versions of the Ipod: nano, touch, shuffle and classic, and now there is the Iphone 4G, opposed to the ‘old’ 3GS. Although on the other hand, it can be thought that the audiences are putting pressure on the producers to create new and better things, therefore producers are working to audiences expectations, and catering for what they want. If the audience do not like a product, then producers have to come up with something that they do like, creating a demanding audience and having the producers under their control, putting the producers profit in the hands of the audience, ultimately creating the all so powerful audience. This is further enforced through the transition of newspapers being printed to becoming online websites. Having the newspapers accommodate the audiences so it can therefore become accessible to them, as they can now view the news on their laptops, Ipad and mobile phones, again portrays the audience as having the power as the producers are meeting the criteria needed by the audience to have a more accessible lifestyle to content such as the news.
Task 1...
Bully & Skins
1. In the opening of skins the teenagers, and especially the young girls, were portrayed as being permiscuous as they were shown to be sexually pleased by other characters. The females were also shown to be dominant and also active characters as they were smoking and also thier posture and facial expressions were domineering. Not only were they dominant but they were also voilent as they were shown to be hitting another character completely breaking the stereotypical barriers of girls.
The males on the other hand seemed to take a more laid back approach- either being the joker or the passive character. Also, the lack of older characters such as parents or teachers, represents teenagers as being selfish rebels, and not complying with rules and vales that should be upheld in society.
However, in the trailer of Bully the males were more predominant as they were portrayed to be the active and aggressive characters shown through kicking boxes, giving other characters 'wedgie's', hitting and slapping other male characters. Through the use of the male protagonist using weapons shows that teenagers are primarily torublesome and want to inflict pain on other people.
In both texts, they portray teenagers to be selfish and carry out illegal acts, such as smoking illegal substances or using weapons.Also, in both texts it is apparant that teenagers are inflicting pain on each other creating the idea that teenagers are complying with gang voilence.
2. Current Representations Current representations are mostly another 'moral panic', as most representations such as those in skins and bully present teenagers as being rebels. In particular in the film 'Kidulthood' there is a major focus on teenagers being a part of gang violence, with particular interest in drugs and guns and are also generally linked in with money and the amount they can grasp their hands on.
There are also constant stories that are written about teenagers in the news, whether they are being charged for gun and knife crime or a victim of them. Also, in a particular episode of 'Skins' one of the female characters meets a stranger, gets drunk, steals from a petrol station shop, and tries drugs with him, creating the idea that all teenagers act like this when they go out for the day.
3. New & Dig Representations It can be argued that new and digital media has given teenagers the opportunity to shape their own media representation through websited such as youtube, which gives teenagers the option to record and post videos of thier talents or even thoughts that they may have. This therefore, shows a different side to teenagers, showing society that they have other interests instead of drugs, weapons and money. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter allow teenagers to post up pictures, vidoes and update a 'status' about what they are doing, again giving teenagers the opportunity to show they are more than the stereotypes that they are labelled.
Although, due to new and digital media, it has only globalised what acts teenagers have carried out, such as the rise in gun and knife crime, therefore globalising the moral panic of teenagers and the stereotypical view that they hold. It has also given society the opportunity to communicate these ideas of teenagers, which has made the view of them a global moral panic and stick to the ideologies that they are presented as in the media.
Bully & Skins
1. In the opening of skins the teenagers, and especially the young girls, were portrayed as being permiscuous as they were shown to be sexually pleased by other characters. The females were also shown to be dominant and also active characters as they were smoking and also thier posture and facial expressions were domineering. Not only were they dominant but they were also voilent as they were shown to be hitting another character completely breaking the stereotypical barriers of girls.
The males on the other hand seemed to take a more laid back approach- either being the joker or the passive character. Also, the lack of older characters such as parents or teachers, represents teenagers as being selfish rebels, and not complying with rules and vales that should be upheld in society.
However, in the trailer of Bully the males were more predominant as they were portrayed to be the active and aggressive characters shown through kicking boxes, giving other characters 'wedgie's', hitting and slapping other male characters. Through the use of the male protagonist using weapons shows that teenagers are primarily torublesome and want to inflict pain on other people.
In both texts, they portray teenagers to be selfish and carry out illegal acts, such as smoking illegal substances or using weapons.Also, in both texts it is apparant that teenagers are inflicting pain on each other creating the idea that teenagers are complying with gang voilence.
2. Current Representations Current representations are mostly another 'moral panic', as most representations such as those in skins and bully present teenagers as being rebels. In particular in the film 'Kidulthood' there is a major focus on teenagers being a part of gang violence, with particular interest in drugs and guns and are also generally linked in with money and the amount they can grasp their hands on.
There are also constant stories that are written about teenagers in the news, whether they are being charged for gun and knife crime or a victim of them. Also, in a particular episode of 'Skins' one of the female characters meets a stranger, gets drunk, steals from a petrol station shop, and tries drugs with him, creating the idea that all teenagers act like this when they go out for the day.
3. New & Dig Representations It can be argued that new and digital media has given teenagers the opportunity to shape their own media representation through websited such as youtube, which gives teenagers the option to record and post videos of thier talents or even thoughts that they may have. This therefore, shows a different side to teenagers, showing society that they have other interests instead of drugs, weapons and money. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter allow teenagers to post up pictures, vidoes and update a 'status' about what they are doing, again giving teenagers the opportunity to show they are more than the stereotypes that they are labelled.
Although, due to new and digital media, it has only globalised what acts teenagers have carried out, such as the rise in gun and knife crime, therefore globalising the moral panic of teenagers and the stereotypical view that they hold. It has also given society the opportunity to communicate these ideas of teenagers, which has made the view of them a global moral panic and stick to the ideologies that they are presented as in the media.
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