Electronic Media & The Information Society...
'The news automaitcally becomes the real world for the TV user and is not a substitue for reality, but it itself an immediate reality.'
Do we watch the news for information or for entertainment? Do you recieve the reality of the information or the 'reality' of the entertainment?
It can be aruged that with different types of news different things are taken from them, for example with celebirty news and gossip we watch the news for the reality of the entertainment, whereas with news about natural disasters, we watch the news for the reality of the information. In Celbiirty news, there are constant scandalls of celebrities whether they had been charged for assults or just coming out of rehab, that catch viewers attention primarily because as a society we like to see celebrities just like the everyday person. Whereas for other type of news, the news that directly affects society, that is when the viewers take the reality of the entertainment.
Wednesday 4 May 2011
Wednesday 13 April 2011
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.
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.
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.
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