Look at a TV listing. What evidence of audience uses and gratifications in consuming media texts can you see from this analysis?
Information
The TV listings also contains informative shows which can satisfy the audiences' interests. For example BBC News and ITV News informs audiences of current affairs and events around the world such as the death of notorious terrorist Osama Bin Laden. As well as the news, other shows such as Panorama have different issues which also inform audiences. Yet , audiences are also empowered by the TV listings, as they can find out which episode of Eastenders is on or other favourite shows which they enjoy watching. Though, passive audiences might also be informed by flicking through the listings without any genuine interest. Audiences can be active when purchasing a TV guide, as they can look up programmes which interest them and can look forward to forthcoming programmes, rather than being informed by Teletext for example, which has TV listings which are not updated for the coming weeks.
Entertainment
The TV programmes on the TV listings allows audiences to divert from their everyday lives, as films on Channel 5 and other day time programmes such as Loose Women, Doctors and late shows such as The Simpsons on Channel 4 allow audiences to divert from their everyday lives by watching reality TV and humorous shows. Shows like Come Dine with Me on Channel 4 allow audiences to be voyeurs and be entertained through the use of the voice over and eccentric dinner hosts.
Identification/Personal Identity
Audiences can identify with the programmes scheduled on the TV listings, as they may be interested in shows such as Extreme Fishing with Robson Green on Channel 5 , due to their interests in fishing or may be interested in science programmes on the Discovery Channel. Therefore, audiences can identify with programmes which interest them and fulfill their expectations.
Integration/ Social interaction
In terms of social interaction and integration, the TV guide allows audiences to be informed on the shows. Yet it can be argued that it does encourage social interaction, as audiences can buy ring tones , where they can share ring tones with friends and could find out their horoscopes. Yet, in terms of interaction, the TV guide is limited as unlike social networking, audiences cannot interact with family or friends.
Learning
The TV listings to an extent allows audiences to learn about forthcoming shows, yet in terms of learning, the guide only contains a schedule of TV programmes and does not actually allow audience to gain confidence through knowledge.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Globalisation Exam Practice
Some argue that the growing Disney brand is a good example of cultural imperialism at work. Do you agree?
To some extent, the Disney brand can be seen to be a good example of cultural imperialism, as this US institution is injecting its ideologies into the audience through its commerical products such as Disneyland, Disney Store and a range of other products.
The Disney brand encourages audiences around the world to be Americanised, as Disneyland has its resorts in Paris and Florida and can reach to a European audience. Younger audiences can become more familiar with Disney, as its films are shown around the world and are watched by millions of audiences.
However for other small national organisations who might want to appeal to different audiences such as Pixar. The dominance of the Disney brand may result in other brands becoming less famous, as audiences are injected with the ideologies of Disney and are appealed by what its brand has to offer in terms of merchandising, resorts , television channel and other related products. National media organisations may be threatened by Disney due to its stranglehold on its audience who are influenced by Disney and are encouraged to consume Disney products, as signified on the Disney Channel which broadcasts shows such as Hannah Montana, as well as popular movies such as Aladdin.
The fact that the Disney conglomerate owns ESPN, ABC poses a threat to other conglomerates such as News Corp, as Disney's revenue is growing and its programmes can appeal to global audiences, hence generating more revenue. Other media organisations may feel that Disney is enforcing its ideologies onto its audience and dominating different industries, as other organisations such as News Corp may have less consumers for its TV programmes, as Disney Channel may appeal to a large young audience. The availability of Disney brand products around the world may question national organisations whose countries are becoming more Americanised and rife with American ideologies.
To some extent, the Disney brand can be seen to be a good example of cultural imperialism, as this US institution is injecting its ideologies into the audience through its commerical products such as Disneyland, Disney Store and a range of other products.
The Disney brand encourages audiences around the world to be Americanised, as Disneyland has its resorts in Paris and Florida and can reach to a European audience. Younger audiences can become more familiar with Disney, as its films are shown around the world and are watched by millions of audiences.
However for other small national organisations who might want to appeal to different audiences such as Pixar. The dominance of the Disney brand may result in other brands becoming less famous, as audiences are injected with the ideologies of Disney and are appealed by what its brand has to offer in terms of merchandising, resorts , television channel and other related products. National media organisations may be threatened by Disney due to its stranglehold on its audience who are influenced by Disney and are encouraged to consume Disney products, as signified on the Disney Channel which broadcasts shows such as Hannah Montana, as well as popular movies such as Aladdin.
The fact that the Disney conglomerate owns ESPN, ABC poses a threat to other conglomerates such as News Corp, as Disney's revenue is growing and its programmes can appeal to global audiences, hence generating more revenue. Other media organisations may feel that Disney is enforcing its ideologies onto its audience and dominating different industries, as other organisations such as News Corp may have less consumers for its TV programmes, as Disney Channel may appeal to a large young audience. The availability of Disney brand products around the world may question national organisations whose countries are becoming more Americanised and rife with American ideologies.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Star Theory and Auteurs Exam Practice
Choosing one director you are familiar with , explain why you do or do not consider them to be an auteur.
Danny Boyle, director of well known films such as 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'Trainspotting' and '28 Days Later' can be regarded as an auteur, as his films include integrity, contain challenging ideologies and actually communicates with his audience through an artistic exploration, as seen in Oscar award winning 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
Boyle's films include issues which are often serious and engaging to a Western audience, as 'Slumdog Millionaire' explores the slums of Mumbai and through the eyes of a slumdog explores how it feels to live in poverty. The film offers audience a chance to realise how fortunate they are, as poverty is constructed as being worse for slumdogs who are blinded and forced to make money through evil and immoral ways, as signified with Latika who is made to become a dancer but is ogled by men. Through much of his films, Boyle takes ordinary subjects that have been portrayed realistically, in a politically correct way, whether it's junkies in 'Trainspotting' or slum orphans in 'Slumdog Millionaire' and he has managed to make it realistic but also incredibly uplifting and joyful for different audiences.
As well as this, Boyle's films would make him an auteur, as he raises questions over poverty and raises awareness over issues such as heroin addiction or the apocalypse, yet makes films which are insightful and do communicate to audiences.
Through the use of shots he uses and the way the stars are involved in his films make him an auteur, as his vision is illustrated in his films, as he tries to make the events seem real as possible, as signified with Slumdog Millionaire, which was shot in a real slum and includes child actors and actresses that are slum children. In this way, audiences can identify with these characters and realise what they are going through, as they see the slum children from childhood to adulthood.
Danny Boyle, director of well known films such as 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'Trainspotting' and '28 Days Later' can be regarded as an auteur, as his films include integrity, contain challenging ideologies and actually communicates with his audience through an artistic exploration, as seen in Oscar award winning 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
Boyle's films include issues which are often serious and engaging to a Western audience, as 'Slumdog Millionaire' explores the slums of Mumbai and through the eyes of a slumdog explores how it feels to live in poverty. The film offers audience a chance to realise how fortunate they are, as poverty is constructed as being worse for slumdogs who are blinded and forced to make money through evil and immoral ways, as signified with Latika who is made to become a dancer but is ogled by men. Through much of his films, Boyle takes ordinary subjects that have been portrayed realistically, in a politically correct way, whether it's junkies in 'Trainspotting' or slum orphans in 'Slumdog Millionaire' and he has managed to make it realistic but also incredibly uplifting and joyful for different audiences.
As well as this, Boyle's films would make him an auteur, as he raises questions over poverty and raises awareness over issues such as heroin addiction or the apocalypse, yet makes films which are insightful and do communicate to audiences.
Through the use of shots he uses and the way the stars are involved in his films make him an auteur, as his vision is illustrated in his films, as he tries to make the events seem real as possible, as signified with Slumdog Millionaire, which was shot in a real slum and includes child actors and actresses that are slum children. In this way, audiences can identify with these characters and realise what they are going through, as they see the slum children from childhood to adulthood.
Gender Studies Exam Practice
"The male gaze dominates Hollywood movies". Using the top 5 films of the week, would you agree with this statement?
1) Fast and Furious 5 (12A)
2) Source Code (12A)
3) Little White Lies (15)
4) Submarine (15)
5) Scre4m (15)
It can be argued that the male gaze does in fact dominate Hollywood, as women are constructed in the films to be seductive and alluring objects of the male gaze. Evidently, in Fast and Furious 5, women such as the models are dressed in scantily clad clothing and are fetishised through the use of close up shots of their hips, breasts and other exposed areas. In this film, women are represented as eye candy for a male audience who are empowered and made to believe that women desire men and are subservient. However, the representation contrast with the Scre4m trailer, where women are dominant characters and can kill the hooded villain and can be dupliticious, as signfied where one woman is wearing the scream mask.
Yet, in films such as Source Code, women are not presented as objects of the male gaze and are not that influential in the films. In the trailer for Source Code the female protagonists only serve a romantic diversion for the male protagonist, as much of the plot revolves around the male protagonist , with the female protagonist only serving as a romantic interest to him.
Conversely, the trailer for Little White Lies can be seen to be exempt from the Hollywood films, as it is foreign and has traditional family ideologies which are not signified in the other films. Similarly, the trailer for Submarine contrasts to the Hollywood trailers, as it is focuses on a boy's journey through relationships and explores life through his eyes with no objectification of women for the male gaze.
1) Fast and Furious 5 (12A)
2) Source Code (12A)
3) Little White Lies (15)
4) Submarine (15)
5) Scre4m (15)
It can be argued that the male gaze does in fact dominate Hollywood, as women are constructed in the films to be seductive and alluring objects of the male gaze. Evidently, in Fast and Furious 5, women such as the models are dressed in scantily clad clothing and are fetishised through the use of close up shots of their hips, breasts and other exposed areas. In this film, women are represented as eye candy for a male audience who are empowered and made to believe that women desire men and are subservient. However, the representation contrast with the Scre4m trailer, where women are dominant characters and can kill the hooded villain and can be dupliticious, as signfied where one woman is wearing the scream mask.
Yet, in films such as Source Code, women are not presented as objects of the male gaze and are not that influential in the films. In the trailer for Source Code the female protagonists only serve a romantic diversion for the male protagonist, as much of the plot revolves around the male protagonist , with the female protagonist only serving as a romantic interest to him.
Conversely, the trailer for Little White Lies can be seen to be exempt from the Hollywood films, as it is foreign and has traditional family ideologies which are not signified in the other films. Similarly, the trailer for Submarine contrasts to the Hollywood trailers, as it is focuses on a boy's journey through relationships and explores life through his eyes with no objectification of women for the male gaze.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Politics and Propaganda Exam Practice
Choose a party broadcast from a major political organisation and give a detailed deconstruction of what ideologies are promoted in this text.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b010v260/Party_Election_Broadcasts_English_Local_Elections_2011_The_Green_Party
_27_04_2011/
In this party election broadcast by the Green Party for the May 5 elections, various ideologies are promoted such as the Green Party stands by its voters, tells the truth and stands up for thier voters' voice and stick up to thier principles. The close up shot of the woman's face contrasts with the jovial expressions of the audience, as her speech silences the comedy club and tries to evoke some expression out of the audience to vote for The Green Party.
The broadcast scrutinises other politicians and political parties for not standing up for their voters, as they tend to favour the priviliged and not the other voters. The Green Party candidate injects positive ideologies into voters and urges them to vote for The Green Party and not other parties, as they only care for themselves and not for their own voters.
Unlike other parties, The Green Party is not funded by businessmen and does'nt care about having a public image and tries to persuade voters to vote for The Green Party, as it campaigns against the coalition's spending cuts and speaks up for the vulnerable and single parent families. By urging voters to vote for a pary that tells the truth, The Green Party tries to seperate from the other parties and try to uphold its ideologies which are to stand up for its principles, tell the truth and not be swayed by having a public image or use thier power for thier own benefit.
The party election broadcast encourages political change and is different to other broadcasts , as it enforces traditional party values and tries to construct itself to be more hardworking and honest for its voters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b010v260/Party_Election_Broadcasts_English_Local_Elections_2011_The_Green_Party
_27_04_2011/
In this party election broadcast by the Green Party for the May 5 elections, various ideologies are promoted such as the Green Party stands by its voters, tells the truth and stands up for thier voters' voice and stick up to thier principles. The close up shot of the woman's face contrasts with the jovial expressions of the audience, as her speech silences the comedy club and tries to evoke some expression out of the audience to vote for The Green Party.
The broadcast scrutinises other politicians and political parties for not standing up for their voters, as they tend to favour the priviliged and not the other voters. The Green Party candidate injects positive ideologies into voters and urges them to vote for The Green Party and not other parties, as they only care for themselves and not for their own voters.
Unlike other parties, The Green Party is not funded by businessmen and does'nt care about having a public image and tries to persuade voters to vote for The Green Party, as it campaigns against the coalition's spending cuts and speaks up for the vulnerable and single parent families. By urging voters to vote for a pary that tells the truth, The Green Party tries to seperate from the other parties and try to uphold its ideologies which are to stand up for its principles, tell the truth and not be swayed by having a public image or use thier power for thier own benefit.
The party election broadcast encourages political change and is different to other broadcasts , as it enforces traditional party values and tries to construct itself to be more hardworking and honest for its voters.
Electronic Media and the Information Society Exam Practice
The news automatically becomes the real world for the TV user and is not a substitute for reality, but is itself an immediate reality.' (Marshall McLuhan). Do we watch the news for information or for entertainment? Do you recieve the reality of the information or the 'reality' of the entertainment?
In many ways, audiences can watch the news mainly for information, but certain audiences might expect the news to be delivered in a way that is entertianing but informs the audiences at the same time.
Evidently, educational programmes such as Brainiac on Sky 3 is constructed to be entertaining, as audiences gain instant gratification by watching programmes where they see the information being delivered in a practical way, as signified with the explosive experiments on the show. Rather than just being informed in a straightforward way, audiences can have a wider access to information across different platforms and formats, such as magazines, blogs and other sources. Audiences watch the news to be informed of current affairs and are more aware of events, as they are reported from around the world and can be explained in detail, as seen with the BBC Breakfast Show which informs audiences about issues through facts, figures and other ways.
In my view, the reality of the information is recieved more clearer through entertainment, as celebrity stories in magazines are aimed at celebrities' lives and are put across in a more scandolous and sensationalist way. Though, it can be argued that the reality of the entertainment is signified in the news, as the construction of the reporting and the way reports are compiled allow audiences to gain gratification from reports which are positive, for example The Royal Wedding or even latest results in sport.
In many ways, audiences can watch the news mainly for information, but certain audiences might expect the news to be delivered in a way that is entertianing but informs the audiences at the same time.
Evidently, educational programmes such as Brainiac on Sky 3 is constructed to be entertaining, as audiences gain instant gratification by watching programmes where they see the information being delivered in a practical way, as signified with the explosive experiments on the show. Rather than just being informed in a straightforward way, audiences can have a wider access to information across different platforms and formats, such as magazines, blogs and other sources. Audiences watch the news to be informed of current affairs and are more aware of events, as they are reported from around the world and can be explained in detail, as seen with the BBC Breakfast Show which informs audiences about issues through facts, figures and other ways.
In my view, the reality of the information is recieved more clearer through entertainment, as celebrity stories in magazines are aimed at celebrities' lives and are put across in a more scandolous and sensationalist way. Though, it can be argued that the reality of the entertainment is signified in the news, as the construction of the reporting and the way reports are compiled allow audiences to gain gratification from reports which are positive, for example The Royal Wedding or even latest results in sport.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Postmodernism Exam Practice
To what extent would you say that contemporary television news broadcasting is postmodern?
It can be seen that contemporary televesion news is postmodern as it involves inertextuality, bricolage and metanarrative, and Baudrillard's simulacra and hyper reality.
Firstly, it is said that intertextuality and bricolage is a concept of postmodernism and it could be signified in the news. Intertexuality can be signified with news reports where footage from other reports from different news channels such as Al Jazeera or other footage can be used again but with more information, as signified with the Libya conflict, where previous footage is used to show current events. The audience therefore can gaining meaning and see development in the event and follow the event as it is happening, as signified with the Royal Wedding. Therefore, the news would be postmodern as audiences can understand current events whether they've watched the intertextual reference or not.
The element bricolage is also signified in the television news, as some reports do have a mixture of news and documentary , for example sound bridging, voice overs, expert interviews, accounts from witnesses and events that link to the story. Also, metanarrative is also seen in the news as it provides a range of narratives (reports and stories) that help shape our society and culture.
Jean Baudrillard's theory on simulacrum and hyperreality theories which suggests that reality is "the simulation of something which never really existed"shows how the news simulates events around the world , so audiences think the event we are experiencing isnt real as no one in the "actual event" is watching it from the comfort of our home. For example the war we are experiencing is a simulation in our own cultural context.
Overall, the television news broadcasting is post modern as it contains hyperreality, intertextuality, bricolage of which a postmodern text is derived from. The repetion of previpous events may inform audiences and make them view the current event . Also news broadcasting can be postmodern as it mixes elements of documentary and news and can be seen to be a simualtion, as audiences are convinced that the war is ultimately devastating and results in poverty, but to an extent this may not entirely be true.
It can be seen that contemporary televesion news is postmodern as it involves inertextuality, bricolage and metanarrative, and Baudrillard's simulacra and hyper reality.
Firstly, it is said that intertextuality and bricolage is a concept of postmodernism and it could be signified in the news. Intertexuality can be signified with news reports where footage from other reports from different news channels such as Al Jazeera or other footage can be used again but with more information, as signified with the Libya conflict, where previous footage is used to show current events. The audience therefore can gaining meaning and see development in the event and follow the event as it is happening, as signified with the Royal Wedding. Therefore, the news would be postmodern as audiences can understand current events whether they've watched the intertextual reference or not.
The element bricolage is also signified in the television news, as some reports do have a mixture of news and documentary , for example sound bridging, voice overs, expert interviews, accounts from witnesses and events that link to the story. Also, metanarrative is also seen in the news as it provides a range of narratives (reports and stories) that help shape our society and culture.
Jean Baudrillard's theory on simulacrum and hyperreality theories which suggests that reality is "the simulation of something which never really existed"shows how the news simulates events around the world , so audiences think the event we are experiencing isnt real as no one in the "actual event" is watching it from the comfort of our home. For example the war we are experiencing is a simulation in our own cultural context.
Overall, the television news broadcasting is post modern as it contains hyperreality, intertextuality, bricolage of which a postmodern text is derived from. The repetion of previpous events may inform audiences and make them view the current event . Also news broadcasting can be postmodern as it mixes elements of documentary and news and can be seen to be a simualtion, as audiences are convinced that the war is ultimately devastating and results in poverty, but to an extent this may not entirely be true.
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