levi straus - binary oppos

research and planning section 1a

Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making.

-       Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Paragraph 1: Should be an introduction which explains which projects you did. It can be quite short.
Paragraph 2: Should pick up the skill area and perhaps suggest something about your starting point with it- what skills did you have already and how were these illustrated. Use a detailed example.
Paragraph 3: Should talk through your use of that skill in early projects and what you learned and developed through these. Again there should be detailed examples to support all that you say.
Paragraph 4: Should go on to demonstrate how the skill developed in later projects, again backed by detailed examples, and reflecting back on how this represents a move forward for you from your earlier position.
Paragraph 5: Short conclusion

Over the two year media course we had to produce both a foundation portfolio of a school magazine and music magazine as well as an advance portfolio of a horror teaser trailer, film magazine – developing foundation skills further and a poster to advertise our trailer.

In the first year of AS coursework we researched existing music magazines and analysed each cover so that we could gain knowledge of particular layouts, fonts and key elements. We also compared each one to see which ones worked well and which ones didn’t. We noticed the ‘Mastheads’ and Photography first. We learnt that these were the most important and kept note of this for our own coursework. After analysing the covers of real media texts we then did the same for the contents page and double page spread. I analysed mostly mainstream mass magazines. For example, NME, Q, (more that I will find out)

section 1b media language essay

Analyse one of your coursework productions in terms of media language.

For our advanced portfolio we had to create a music video or film trailer of our choice. In my group we chose to create a music video of a mainstream genre. After researching and concentrating on the micro elements of music videos we found a song called fix you by Coldplay. We thought this would be an interesting project mainly because of the influential lyrics.

We applied the Andrew Goodwin Theory to our music video by creating actions which mirrored the lyrics for example; when filming we focused on her slowly walking through a dark alley way with a light at the end connoting freedom. This mirrored the ‘lights will guide you home’ lyrics. This also applies to the Saussure theory (signs to connote meaning).

We thought about camera angles thoroughly before filming because we wanted the audience to understand our meaning behind. We focused on the Stuart Hall theory – messages encoded by the producer and decoded by the audience. For example, at the beginning of the music video we used close up/mid shots in a small bedroom to show her feelings and emotions in her eyes. This connotes the feeling of being trapped or enclosed. As we moved on in the music video the pace of the song starts to increase.  We used establishing shots for this as she is running away from being trapped inside to the freedom of outside. This shows that she is fixing herself and connoting the lyrics ‘fix you’. This also links to Barthes theory of what we see and the meaning attached.

Her moved changes and she starts to feel positive. This is shown in editing and we added slow motion to her smiling and kicking the leaves in the air. We also used overlays to show who she used to be and where she is at now. This again applies to Saussure signs to create meaning theory.

We decided to use a black and white throughout the whole music video because it creates an impact on how she is feeling and gets rid of all the complications and distractions that colour can create.

The camera continuously focuses on her throughout as if the audience was watching her change.

section 1b essay plan

Analyse one of your coursework productions in terms of representation.

Example Essay Structure:


Paragraph 1 Intro: Which of your projects are you going to write about? Briefly describe it

Paragraph 2: What are some of the key features of the concept you are being asked to apply? Maybe outline two of the theories/ideas of particular writers briefly

Paragraph 3: Start to apply the concept, making close reference to your production to show how the concept is evident in it

Paragraph 4: Try to show ways in which ideas work in relation to your production and also ways in which those ideas might not apply/could be challenged

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

Para 1 –

in my first year i produced a music magazine cover, contents page and double page spread.

Paragraph 1

 

For our foundation portfolio we had to create a music magazine of our own genre. This involved a front cover, contents page and double page spread.

 

Paragraph 2

 

We began researching existing music magazines such as, Metal Hammer and NME. We analysed each cover so that we could gain knowledge of particular layouts, fonts and key elements. We noticed the Photography first, this was the most important and it was the first thing the audience will see.  I was mainly influenced by the magazine: Vibe, Q and NME. The reason for this is because the imagery straight away caught my eye. The front covers all have direct eye contact with the audience and this relates to The laura Mulvey – Male gaze theory.  This theory also applies to my magazine because of the vantage point and close up eye contact.

 

After analysing the covers of real media texts we then did the same for the contents page and double page spread. I analysed mostly mainstream mass magazines. For example, NME, Q, (more that I will find out)

 

I found that most Photography on the covers of magazines such as NME and Q have close up shots with direct eye contact. This immediately catches the audience's eye and attratcs them to the magazine.

Analyse one of your coursework productions in terms of representation.

For our foundation portfolio we had to create a music magazine of our own genre. This involved a front cover, contents page and double page spread.

We began researching existing music magazines such as NME and Metal Hammer, we then decided our own genre in which I chose indie/pop. We anaylised many magazine covers so we could gain knowledge of particular layouts and imagery. Photography is an extremely important feature on the front cover as it attracts the audience eye straight away and draws the reader in. I was influenced by magazines such as Vibe, Q, and NME. These magazines all had close up shots of women with direct eye contact with the audience. I thought this worked really well and applies to the Laura Mulvey – Male Gaze theory. My imagery also relates to this theory because of girls make up, close up shot and positioning of the camera. I did this on purpose because I wanted the audience to connect with the model through her deep eye contact. This also applies to Tom Ryall’s Iconography theory.

My front cover image is an extreme close up with her leaning against a wall. This is very personal and enclosed however, through the use of the direct eye contact she is inviting the readier in and creating a relationship straight away. She has heavy black make up on which widens her eyes but is also surrounded my colour. This makes the cover vibrant and eye catching. I wanted to apply my magazine to Steve Neale’s theory. I wanted to make my magazine unique from the others by keeping it simple but still using the male gaze imagery theory. This works because men are attracted to the image but women also want to know how to look like that.

 

section 2B essay 2

HOW ARE YOUNG PEOPLE REPRESENTED IN CONTEMPORARY MEDIA?

 

 Ill Manors and Eden Lake are extremely similar because they exploit violence, drug abuse and bad language. They all represent the word ‘chav’ by using the stereotypes of their fashion, language and persona. However, Ill manors is trying to show the reasons why they riot and why they have been classed as ‘chavs’ whereas Eden Lake encode the stereotype and create a film where it may encourage youth or make people aware of what they’re like.

Youth are represented badly in the music video ill manors because of the riots and violence. However, Plan B (Ben Drew) wanted to prove to people that the youth aren’t like the stereotypes people seem to view them as. Plan B quotes in an interview ‘I genuinely want to change things. When you attack someone because of the way they talk, the way they dress, the music they listen to, or their lack of education, and you do it publicly and its acceptable to do that, you make them feel alienated.’ ‘Ill Manors says if you stereotype people as socially worthless then they will grow into those stereotypes’

It can act as a protest song because it can make people aware that the word ‘chav’; is derogatory and he wants to change the way people stereotype them ‘This is just the first step. Let me make my point first and raise the issue, and then if anybody wants to talk to me about how I think we can change these things im ready.’

However, he is being a hypocrite by blaming ‘rich people’ and alienating that class and blaming them for their violence. He is exploiting what they do and showing the public what happens and what these people are like which is making it worse. They feel in their eyes that society has made it very clear they don’t care about them.

The protagonists in this music video are the youth and Plan B; the antagonists are the government and seem to be the cause of the problem. The representation of youth in the video is portrayed badly because of smoking, gangs, rudeness and no respect for authority (the police, law and their environment). They live up to their stereotype because of their actions for example, violent towards the police and politicians. They look for trouble because of community centres closing and have nothing better to do; ‘what you looking at you little rich boy?’  Deviant youth is represented a lot through this video (Acland Theory 1995.)

 

Representations of youth vary through generations. The way in which representations are chosen is through the current fears of society at that time, what is perceived to be threatening to them (society). Youth representations are filled through the interests of the adult world.

The more violence seen in films the more likely we are to believe in its existence. Eden Lake would then make us believe that it is the lower class British youths that behave in this way and therefore develop negative and ideologies about them. This results in moral panic, through symbolic violence and follows cultural hegemony.

 

The Theory by Mcrobbie (2004 Symbolic Violence) is used in the film Eden Lake because it portrays deviant youth and highlights the contrast in social class. Cultural Hegemony (Gramsci Theory 1971) is used also because in the opening scene we are introduced to a normal couple who go away on a romantic holiday. They are the protagonists and at the start of the film the mise en scene overall is very vibrant and happy. This changes and becomes very dark when we are introduced to the antagonists (deviant youth) looking for trouble. They show animalistic characteristics because they are portrayed as wild animals in a forest hunting the couple. Before getting to know the gang the audience have automatically viewed them as stereotypical ‘chavs’ because of their clothing, body language, colloquial language and behaviour towards the others. (Giroux Theory 1997) we see them as the empty category. For example they reply rudely when asked to turn the music down. A waitress in a café describes them as ‘little terrors’ in a sarcastic way. Which is what some people may view them as before getting to know what they’re like.

 

Films like Eden lake create a moral panic on the representation of youth COHEN (1972) because this is what we believe is real and our views and opinions change after watching these films. We then ultimately judge and look down on the youth after what we seem to believe. The repetitive pattern of television mass produced message and imaged influences peoples understanding of the world. GERBNER (1986) (Cultivation Theory) television and the news are constantly reminding people of the bad representations of the youth and we then adjust to this and view them as the empty category.

 

answer for section 2B

After comparing different social groups over time I have realised that not much has changed apart from new technology, weapons and a new style of fashion has been introduced.

 

Quadrophenia is a 1979 british film about the mods and rockers. The main character Jimmy is intrigued by the common drug everyone uses and eventually becomes an addict. The drugs changes his personality and he drifts away from the group of Mods and ends up committing suicide. Drug abuse is still happening today and many problems are caused because of people losing control or overdosing. For example, the film Harry Brown was made in 2001 and is based on an elderly man (Michael cane) investigating on a large gang causing trouble which includes a scene involving heroin taking and the effects of it.

 

Riots are shown in the film Quadrophenia and this is another example of how this particular social group hasn't changed a huge amount over time. The mods have no respect for authority and fight back and start a riot. The lack of respect is still the same for example, the police, the elderly, parents and waitresses get abuse shouted at them. The scene towards the end the Mods throw deck chairs at the police and knock over the elderly on the beach during the riot. Jimmy swears at his mother and tells her to 'fuck off' as he gets kicked out of the house. Also in the café scene one of the Mods was told to put his legs down in which he replied 'piss off'.

 

In the film Quadrophenia the Mods wore green parker jackets, suits and had scooters. The Rockers wore leather jackets and had motorbikes instead of scooters. The rockers were seen as the dominant social group or the antagonists because of what they looked like and what they had. People today are still judged and stereotyped by what they choose to wear. We construct our identity by what we wear and how we act. Today we have many social groups for example, 'chavs' are stereotyped by their clothing. They wear hoodies and tracksuit bottoms. This was shown in the film Harry Brown because hoodies can come across intimidating and frightening. The Mods have now developed into 'chavs' and become more violent because they now have access to guns and knives.

 

Technology has impacted on social groups massively because now the television has been introduced we are now watching the news everywhere which is a constant reminder of the riots and crimes happening all over the world. Media is now everywhere as well; we are influenced by what we see and what we believe is real. For example, films and video games encourage young people to behave badly because they begin to think it's normal.

 

Overall, technology has had a huge impact on social ideologies and this has influenced them and changed their attitudes and behaviour.

post production section 1a question and answer

Paragraph 1: Should be an introduction which explains which projects you did. It can be quite short.
Paragraph 2: Should pick up the skill area and perhaps suggest something about your starting point with it- what skills did you have already and how were these illustrated. Use a detailed example.
Paragraph 3: Should talk through your use of that skill in early projects and what you learned and developed through these. Again there should be detailed examples to support all that you say.
Paragraph 4: Should go on to demonstrate how the skill developed in later projects, again backed by detailed examples, and reflecting back on how this represents a move forward for you from your earlier position.
Paragraph 5: Short conclusion

·         have a specific point you want to talk about in each paragraph

·         You might also include a brief note of the example you are going to use to back up this point.

30 minutes to write at least 3 PEE paragraphs for the below question

Describe how you developed your skills in post-production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making.

-       Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Over the two year media course we had to produce a music magazine cover, contents page and double page spread. In our second year we developed our foundation skills further and had to produce a music video or film trailer and a poster to go with it.  

After doing my final shoot for my Music Magazine ‘Pulse’ I had to edit my chosen images on Adobe Photoshop. Using this image manipulation program allowed me to crop my cover image to the size I wanted and increase the saturation and colour balance to make it more eye catching. I wanted to use similar colours and layout to the music magazine ‘Q’ because this magazine uses direct eye contact and bold vibrant colours. This caught my eye straight away and influenced me to create a cover that has the same impact.

The print construction software Adobe Indesign C55 allowed me to create a realistic product by manipulating the font and adding conventions of real media texts. For example, this programme enabled me to add buzz words and logos on my cover. I was influenced to do this by other music magazines. It also allowed me to increase the stroke on my font to make the outline thicker. As well as this, I could adjust the size and space of my font to how I wanted it. This allowed me to have some letters larger than others to stand out. I could also rotate my font in different shapes.

These skills helped me in the second year of my course when we had to create a music video or film trailer. Me and my partner decided to produce a music video after we researched more about them. After filming we were introduced to a new programme called Adobe Premiere Pro C55. This software allowed us to add specific transitions, sound effects, slow motion, fading and overlays. At first I found this programme quite intimidating but after developing my skills it became much easier. Out of the three programmes I found this one the most challenging but rewarding at the same time. I learnt how to link music to our video and fade the music in time with the motion of the video. This made it look professional.

Overall, these skills contributed to creative decision making because I developed my skills from the first year and this helped me to produce my music video. Using these skills allowed me to create projects in my own style.

micro elements

camera angles
editing
sound
mise en scene
camera movement
special effects

(use when asked about media language)

section B
must refer to

past

present

and future representations

youtube user generated content catfish etc (future)

present (harry brown)

past (quadrophenia)

media language

saussure

2 levels of meaning to an object within a media text

- signifier

 - what we see

- the form the sign takes

signified

up to the audience to make up their mind until they find out (bank and bank)

Barthes

- states that this meaning is influenced by society and the audiences experiences

Denotation (what we see)

Connotation (what it means)

example..... (poppi)

(rememberence day)

(war)

(respect)

(editing in our coursework ....when she runs away)
matches the lyrics

Stuart Hall

looks at meanings within a text

Encoding... any meaning in the text has been encoded my the producer.

Decoding

the audience will then decode this message and make their own interpretation.

Hall belives that producers encode these ideas with the intention that the audience will prefer the intended meaning

preffered , oppositional and negotiated

- preffered - totally agree

- oppositional - kinda agree

- negotiated - disagree

emmas blog link

http://ewila2mediaexam.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/easter-homework-section-question-1a.html

stuart hall - reception theory

states that all texts are polysemic (can have multiple meanings)

texts can be read in different ways depending on the audience

can be read in 3 different ways

1. preferred reading
- audience responds the way the media producers want them to


2 negotiated reading
- the audience partly agrees withe the message but may disagree


3. oppositional reading
- completely disagrees

PSYCHOGRAPHICS CONT....

Mainstreamers  - seek security


Aspirers - seek status


Succeeders - seek control


Resigned - seeks survival (the elderly)


Exploreres - seek discovery (students)


Strugglers - seek escape (alcohol and junk food) alientaed (E)


Reformers - seek enlightenment (freedom and restrictions)

demographics

A - BANKERS





B- TEACHERS




C1- OFFICE (WHITE COLLAR)





C2




D





E

5 codes

1. enigma codes

- clues are given to the audience but no answers are revealed
- enigmas within the narrative make the audience want to no more
- no one wants to sit around waiting for answers that never arrive

2. action codes

- add elements of suspence


3. semantic codes
- apply outside and inside theory
- suggests or refers to to different meanings
- add extra layer of meaning to our text beyond its literal meaning
- (our music video....outside...freedom)

4. symbolic code
- creating symbolism in our text
- red connoting danger or lust
- help create tension and drama
- help to develop our characters
- yellow - putrid, unatural - sin city

5. referential codes
- intertexuality
- refer to anything in our text.

levi straus - binary oppositions

meaning is enhanced by our knowledge of differences

- understanding of the word 'good' is enhanced by our knowledge of the word 'evil'

-

todorov

- all naratives have a distinct structure to them

- equilibrium
(defines what the norm is)

- disequuilibrium
- disrupts are normal world.

new equilibrium

(applies to pace of music video)
increases.

section a lesson 2

Explain how far your understanding of the conventions of existing media influence the way you created your own media project.

- refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how this understanding developed over time.

Throughout the two years of this course i have researched into conventions of existing media to help me with my own project. For example, in my first year i produced a music magazine cover, contents page and double page spread. When i first started this project i felt a bit lost as i had no starting point so i began to research real media texts and this help me get an idea of what is a succesful music magazine and what isnt. This helped me to see what layouts, fonts and colour schemes worked. I also looked at the Photography used to see which camera angles work and what catches the audience's eye.

I found that most Photography on the covers of magazines such as NME and Q have close up shots with direct eye contact. This immediately catches the audience's eye and attratcs them to the magazine.

section a revision

Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->-       <!--[endif]-->Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Paragraph 1: Should be an introduction which explains which projects you did. It can be quite short.

Paragraph 2: Should pick up the skill area and perhaps suggest something about your starting point with it- what skills did you have already and how were these illustrated. Use a detailed example.

Paragraph 3: Should talk through your use of that skill in early projects and what you learned and developed through these. Again there should be detailed examples to support all that you say.

Paragraph 4: Should go on to demonstrate how the skill developed in later projects, again backed by detailed examples, and reflecting back on how this represents a move forward for you from your earlier position.

Paragraph 5: Short conclusion

Over the two year media course we had to produce both a foundation portfolio of a school magazine and music magazine as well as an advance portfolio of a horror teaser trailer, film magazine – developing foundation skills further and a poster to advertise our trailer.

In the first year of AS coursework we researched existing music magazines and analysed each cover so that we could gain knowledge of particular layouts, fonts and key elements. We also compared each one to see which ones worked well and which ones didn’t. We noticed the ‘Mastheads’ and Photography first. We learnt that these were the most important and kept note of this for our own coursework. After analysing the covers of real media texts we then did the same for the contents page and double page spread. I analysed mostly mainstream mass magazines. For example, NME, Q, (more that I will find out)

section b essay

How do media representations influence collective identity?
- You may refer to one group of people or more in your answer


I chose .....
Discuss the different ways in which groups of people are represented by media.
- You may refer to one group of people or more in your answer

After studying and researching the specific group of people classed as 'chavs' I have come to realise many films represent this social class which influences people to follow that stereotype. The news then informs the public of symbolic behaviour caused by this group and focuses on the negative which then resorts to moral panic.

The deviant youths known as 'chavs' or the 'empty category' (Giroux Theory 1997) need constant monitoring by the police or their parents so that they conform to hegemonic values (Gramsci Theory 1971). 'Chavs' formed from the 1970's social group called the 'Mods'. The film Quadrophenia is about this particular social group. They wore Green jackets, rode scooters and took this addictive common drug. Riots were started in the streets because of the Mods and they had no respect for authority for example, in the rioting scene they through deck chairs at the police and knocked over an elderly couple on the beach. This shows that today this respect for authority still hasn't changed and the rioting hasn't ended. The main character (Jimmy) eventually commits suicide from drug use. 
Another film representing this particular group is Harry Brown, made in 2001 and directed by Daniel Barber. The main characters are Ben Drew and Michael Kane. Ben Drew is involved in a gang and Michael Kane tries to end this gang. The youth in this film wear hoodies which comes across intimidating to Michael Kane and carry weapons such as guns and knives. There are elements of realism in this film through the use of camera angles for example, the opening scene is filmed on a mobile phone from one of the gang members. This makes us feel as though we are there in that moment. It is also shaky as they film in the park, this could be the effect after drugs. We then witness the gun shot and the car accident. This creates fear in our minds and creates this image in our heads of this social group. A quote from a gang member 'For them out there, its just entertainment.' This is another example of reality because it shows that youth on the streets today enjoy the entertainment of rioting.

Over time not much has changed but new technology and weapons have now been introduced. This is shown all over the news; we are constantly reminded about violence happening around us and we automatically without thinking symbolise and link this violence with the working class or known as the 'empty category.'

The Cultivation Theory studied by Gerbner in 1986 states that people who watch a lot of Television overestimated the levels of crime which he called 'mean world syndrome.' The news on the television, newspapers, the internet, magazines and films influence peoples perceptions of the world. We create our own view and opinions through what we absorb from the media. The news has the most impact created on us because they always inform us with the negative and not very often the positive. This then changes our perceptions and we see the world and this 'empty category' with a negative view.

easter homework

see emmas blog
analyse coursework

and do one question section b
wednesday hand in essay

first monday use notes

h/w mock

- plan answer

- pick four texts as an example

'the media do not construct identity; they merely reflect it' discuss

The media does not construct identity because television programmes and films like the inbetweeners, Harry Brown and Quadrophenia construct identities by stereotyping different social groups. These identities are then reflected and exaggerated on the news and in the media for example, after the London Riots the 'hoody' social group was increased and people became intimidated by them.




- tv, film, newspaper, online
past, present and future representations.

Reference - talk about quadrophenia, growth of youtube and facebook.
- riots - construct
- inbetweeners , facebook - reflect

Nerdfighters

Becoming Youtube
- vlog brothers
- john and hank green (nerdfighters)
- fighting against world suck  to raise money for charity - project for awesome 
- dont forget to be awesome - slogan
- fighting for nerds
- creating an identity
- socially awkward
- had expanded and had become quite itimidating for john and hank
- charity money raising
- values
- fandem based identity
- causing a secturisation
- clothing - geek - nerd shirts
- tension between individuality and community
- are you a nerdfighter or individual
- changing how we construct identity


- sherry tuckle video (connected)

authenticity
- anonymity allows people to create personas and identities very different to their own.
Catfish.

exam question

With reference to any one group of people you have studied, discuss how their identity has been mediated.

(Plan for h/w)
- theories
- texts
- past representations
- examples
- PEE

Inbetweeners (2008)

Series 1, Episode 1
01 May 2008
Writer Damon Beesley, Iain Morris
Comedy


1. What problems are there with the youth in this episode?
a. How does this compare to the youth in other texts we have studied?


- new school
- bullying
- making new mates
- conflicts with identity (trying to get served)
- contrast between will and the others
- mark donavon (contrast - hoody) - he has another side (parents) - links with mosis from attack the block (hardman - feel sympathetic towards the end)
- stereotypes in the school
will - upper middle class
simon - middle
jay - middle
neal - lower class (poor smelling house)

jay - goes on caravan holidays

2. What is the overall representation of British youth in this episode?
a. How does this differ from other texts we have studied?

- judgemental
- rude
- humourous
- dependent on their parents
- construction of identity (trying to impress)



3. What theories can we apply?
- utopia - when will feels sad and then his mates come and cheer me up
- cultural hegemony
- deviant youth - can use the characters as the norm and then comparing them to harry brown.

the family

- Moral Panics
- Cultural hegemony
- utopia
- idology of portection
- deviant youth
(theories involved)

Deviant youth
- charlotte is the counter balance to our deviant youth
(to which are normal is compared against)

Question

How far does the representation of a particular social group change over time?

- make comparisons to the riot in harry brown and quadrophenia

Harry Brown
- use knives
- guns
- more serious

Quadrophenia
- more for fun
- deck chairs
- more against the rockers (people)

Riots today
- government
- news

SKY NEWS

'on the line' was used (like a war)

'another petrol bomb has been thrown'
'the public are being threatened'
'theyve smashed the wall'

in reports the youths are reffered to as 'pure evil'
- violent
- disrecpectful
- hoody (connotation of violent)
reports represent the youth as antagionists

BBC NEWS

9th august 2011

- david cameron said 'if your old enough to commit the crimes then you're old enough to face the punishments'

- the first day was predominantly youths ages 14-17

Monday the 8th august 2011
- moral panics
police couldnt protect us from the youth and from the generations today
- 24 hours a day on the tv
- if the bbc hadnt shown it how it was we may not off got so worried
- the whole of croydon wasnt on fire (just george street and the main street)
(again moral panics is exaggerating)
 overall the bbc blaimed the youth and were against them.
in total most people watched the bbc news than anywhere else so thats what they believed.

THE SUN - LONDON RIOTS

children as young as 8 were seen throwing bottles

bus driver said they were like animals

- lady had to jump out of a burning house

- next day was the impact and how much it cost

- manchester is hit and we here more about it
- salford
-birmingham
- wolverhampton
- liverpool

- court procedures
-jail
- olympics girl is a london riot 'yob' -trashed car (18)

Essay number 2

How far does the representation of a particular social group change over time?
Refer to at least two media in your answer (50)

Intro
1.drugs
2. language
2. technology
3. clothing
4. weapons
5. conclusion

After comparing different social groups over time I have realised that not much has changed apart from new technology, weapons and a new style of fashion has been introduced.

Quadrophenia is a 1979 british film about the mods and rockers. The main character Jimmy is intrigued by the common drug everyone uses and eventually becomes an addict. The drugs changes his personality and he drifts away from the group of Mods and ends up committing suicide. Drug abuse is still happening today and many problems are caused because of people losing control or overdosing. For example, the film Harry Brown was made in 2001 and is based on an elderly man (Michael cane) investigating on a large gang causing trouble which includes a scene involving heroin taking and the effects of it.

Riots are shown in the film Quadrophenia and this is another example of how this particular social group hasn't changed a huge amount over time. The mods have no respect for authority and fight back and start a riot. The lack of respect is still the same for example, the police, the elderly, parents and waitresses get abuse shouted at them. The scene towards the end the Mods throw deck chairs at the police and knock over the elderly on the beach during the riot. Jimmy swears at his mother and tells her to 'fuck off' as he gets kicked out of the house. Also in the café scene one of the Mods was told to put his legs down in which he replied 'piss off'.

In the film Quadrophenia the Mods wore green parker jackets, suits and had scooters. The Rockers wore leather jackets and had motorbikes instead of scooters. The rockers were seen as the dominant social group or the antagonists because of what they looked like and what they had. People today are still judged and stereotyped by what they choose to wear. We construct our identity by what we wear and how we act. Today we have many social groups for example, 'chavs' are stereotyped by their clothing. They wear hoodies and tracksuit bottoms. This was shown in the film Harry Brown because hoodies can come across intimidating and frightening. The Mods have now developed into 'chavs' and become more violent because they now have access to guns and knives.

Technology has impacted on social groups massively because now the television has been introduced we are now watching the news everywhere which is a constant reminder of the riots and crimes happening all over the world. Media is now everywhere as well; we are influenced by what we see and what we believe is real. For example, films and video games encourage young people to behave badly because they begin to think it's normal.

Overall, technology has had a huge impact on social ideologies and this has influenced them and changed their attitudes and behaviour.

QUADROPHENIA

When was it made?
What sub cultures are represented in the film? mods and rockers
What is the title of the film based on? a guy who has 4 personalities (the title of the album of the who)

Quadrophenia is a 1979 British film, loosely based on the 1973 rock opera of the same name by The Who. The film stars Phil Daniels as Jimmy, a Mod. It was directed by Franc Roddam in his feature directing début.

Release date: May 14, 1979 (initial release)

Director: Franc Roddam

Based in the 70s
- Mods (green jackets and suits - violent because of boredom - riots - body language and swearing - scooters)
- Rockers (leather jackets - motorbikes - look for trouble - act as the dominant gang)

Riot Scene
editing and cross cutting camera angles to show everything going on

Characters
Jimmy
Steph
Aceface - sting

Jimmy want to stay a Mod but drugs take over control

Representation of British Youth
- still riots
- no respect
- language (café - piss off)
- no respect for authority or elderly people
- smashed up drug dealers car

Comparison to Harry Brown
- technology was introduced and changed attitudes
(filming on mobile phones)
- more access to media and constructs their identity
- still use colloquial language (swearing)
- weapons were introduced
(guns and knives whereas in the other film they used deck chairs and anything they could find at the time)

The Cultural Revolution 1950s-1960s

- before the 1950s (world war 2)
- bombings
- evacuation
- women doing the laboring jobs
AFTER
- rationing finished 1954
- britian was entering a period of increased freedom and affluence
- women want their own jobs and own income
- birth of the teenager (before they went from being a child straight to an adult) - left school and got job and then had a family
- america starts having a big impact in the war
- public culture, material goods were introduced (television)
- american marketing is influencing britian
'set the people free'
- no matter where you lived you were looking to america for influence
- american glamourous lifestyle
big impact on britian after the war and still does today
- TV
- E4
- films
- halloween
- food
- fastfood (obesity)
- Music

- luxuary goods were introduced
- fidges
- televisions
- music systems

Car ownership rose by 250% between 1951 and 1961
between 1955 and 1960 average weekly earnings rose by 34%
while the cost of most technological consumer items fell in real terms.
1950s - more goods

by the 60s lifestyle era had begun
- able to spend more money on clothes
(Maslows Hierarchy of Needs)

- start of our teenager recognised as a social group because of the goods that were introduced

- increase of pop music
- fashion
as youth culture became more dominant these attitudes rapidly spread among other social groups and ganed a personal identity
YOUTH HAS BEEN GIVEN A VOICE

Social Mobility
children from working class family went to college
higher education
television radio and magazines

Art began to crumble
Andy warhol were introduced

art was developed (pop art)
new freedoms and liberties were gained
increasing our social ability
society had become fragmented and less predictable


Rebel without a cause (starring james dean 1955)
the wild one (1953 starring marlon brando)
The happy days

PUNKS

punk rock music developed in 1974 - 1976 in the USA
- viviene westwood
- malcom mclaren
(sex pistols)
music group
- laddered tights
- doc martins
- safety pins
- chains
-paddlocks
- loads of colour in their hair

SKIN HEADS

- haircut
- jackets jeans and high boots
- tattoos (on faces and foreheads)
- females the same
- brands - ben sherman, fred perry, brutus, warrior
- listened to reggae (open culture) and then moved onto punk rock

THE ROCKERS

- violent
- identified through their motorcyles
- want to beat up the mods
- black leather jacket
- creepers

THE MODS

TEDDY BOYS

THEORIES SHORTCUT (homework)

1.     GRAMSCI THEORY (1971) (CULTURAL HEGEMONY)

Cultural Hegemony

(One social class dominate a society by making their values appear normal)

(Other social classes accept these values as the normal)

 

Gramsci sees hegemony as a site of constant struggle as societies are constantly debating what is and isnt acceptable.

 

2.     GIROUX THEORY (1997) (EMPTY CATEGORY)

 

-         Youth becomes an 'empty category' (Empty person)

-         Representations constructed by adults.

(Their personality and emotions are taken away from them and are just judged by their appearance and known as 'empty.')

 

3.     ACLAND THEORY 1995 (DEVIANT YOUTH)

 

-         Ideology of protection; deviant youth and reproduction of social order

(Deviant youth - bad youth)

The good youth are reassured by what we see from the bad youth. We get an idea of what is right and what is wrong.

('Normal' adult and youth behaviour, contrasted with deviant youth behaviour)

 

4.     MCROBBIE (2004) (SYMBOLIC VIOLENCE)

 

- Contemporary British TV often contains 'symbolic violence' against the working class

- These representations emphasise middle class dominance and depict the working class in very negative ways

(Violence is a symbolic representation/code of the lower social class and the male lower social class.)

 

5.     COHEN (1972) (MORAL PANICS) (Audience effects theory)

 

- Its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media.

- The effect of a moral panic is to reassert hegemony by allowing a society to make clear what values it does not accept.

(Cohen first discussed this with the regards to mods and rockers)

- These days there are still moral panics with regards to youth

- For example the idea of 'chavs' and 'hoodies' may be considered a moral panic

 

(A panic created by cultural hegemony in order to overcome threats on society.)

 (Creating fear with the aim to re-order society.)

 

6.     GERBNER (1986) (CULTIVATION THEORY) (Audience effects theory)

 

-         Gerbner studied the effect of television on peoples perception of crime.

-         He found that people who watched a lot of televison tended to overestimate the levels of crime. He called this 'mean world syndrome'

(Because news reports, TV dramas, films, contain lots of representations of crime over time this influenced people's perceptions of the world.)

-         This is called 'cultivation theory'

 

(The repetitive pattern of television mass produced message and imaged influences peoples understanding of the world.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

emma's blog link

http://ewila2mediaexam.blogspot.co.uk/

ESSAY

HOW ARE YOUNG PEOPLE REPRESENTED IN CONTEMPORARY MEDIA?

 

 Ill Manors and Eden Lake are extremely similar because they exploit violence, drug abuse and bad language. They all represent the word ‘chav’ by using the stereotypes of their fashion, language and persona. However, Ill manors is trying to show the reasons why they riot and why they have been classed as ‘chavs’ whereas Eden Lake encode the stereotype and create a film where it may encourage youth or make people aware of what they’re like.

Youth are represented badly in the music video ill manors because of the riots and violence. However, Plan B (Ben Drew) wanted to prove to people that the youth aren’t like the stereotypes people seem to view them as. Plan B quotes in an interview ‘I genuinely want to change things. When you attack someone because of the way they talk, the way they dress, the music they listen to, or their lack of education, and you do it publicly and its acceptable to do that, you make them feel alienated.’ ‘Ill Manors says if you stereotype people as socially worthless then they will grow into those stereotypes’

It can act as a protest song because it can make people aware that the word ‘chav’; is derogatory and he wants to change the way people stereotype them ‘This is just the first step. Let me make my point first and raise the issue, and then if anybody wants to talk to me about how I think we can change these things im ready.’

However, he is being a hypocrite by blaming ‘rich people’ and alienating that class and blaming them for their violence. He is exploiting what they do and showing the public what happens and what these people are like which is making it worse. They feel in their eyes that society has made it very clear they don’t care about them.

The protagonists in this music video are the youth and Plan B; the antagonists are the government and seem to be the cause of the problem. The representation of youth in the video is portrayed badly because of smoking, gangs, rudeness and no respect for authority (the police, law and their environment). They live up to their stereotype because of their actions for example, violent towards the police and politicians. They look for trouble because of community centres closing and have nothing better to do; ‘what you looking at you little rich boy?’  Deviant youth is represented a lot through this video (Acland Theory 1995.)

 

Representations of youth vary through generations. The way in which representations are chosen is through the current fears of society at that time, what is perceived to be threatening to them (society). Youth representations are filled through the interests of the adult world.

The more violence seen in films the more likely we are to believe in its existence. Eden Lake would then make us believe that it is the lower class British youths that behave in this way and therefore develop negative and ideologies about them. This results in moral panic, through symbolic violence and follows cultural hegemony.

 

The Theory by Mcrobbie (2004 Symbolic Violence) is used in the film Eden Lake because it portrays deviant youth and highlights the contrast in social class. Cultural Hegemony (Gramsci Theory 1971) is used also because in the opening scene we are introduced to a normal couple who go away on a romantic holiday. They are the protagonists and at the start of the film the mise en scene overall is very vibrant and happy. This changes and becomes very dark when we are introduced to the antagonists (deviant youth) looking for trouble. They show animalistic characteristics because they are portrayed as wild animals in a forest hunting the couple. Before getting to know the gang the audience have automatically viewed them as stereotypical ‘chavs’ because of their clothing, body language, colloquial language and behaviour towards the others. (Giroux Theory 1997) we see them as the empty category. For example they reply rudely when asked to turn the music down. A waitress in a café describes them as ‘little terrors’ in a sarcastic way. Which is what some people may view them as before getting to know what they’re like.

 

Films like Eden lake create a moral panic on the representation of youth COHEN (1972) because this is what we believe is real and our views and opinions change after watching these films. We then ultimately judge and look down on the youth after what we seem to believe. The repetitive pattern of television mass produced message and imaged influences peoples understanding of the world. GERBNER (1986) (Cultivation Theory) television and the news are constantly reminding people of the bad representations of the youth and we then adjust to this and view them as the empty category.