Identities: Feminist theory and blog task

A current debate in feminism is whether we are in a post-feminist state: is feminism still needed?

It's important to have your own opinion on this debate and, crucially, be able to support it with reference to feminist theory and current examples. 

Feminist theory: key notes

Judith Butler: gender roles

Butler believes traditional feminists are wrong to divide society into ‘men’ and ‘women’ and says gender is not biologically fixed.

By dividing men and women, feminists accidently reinforced the idea of differences between the two genders

Butler believes gender roles are ‘a performance’ and that male and female behaviour is socially constructed rather than the result of biology.

Butler and the media

If gender is a ‘performance’ rather than biological, we then need to think about what is influencing that ‘performance’.

And that’s where the media comes in. How might the media influence our behaviour in terms of gender roles?



Angela McRobbie: empowering women

McRobbie is a British cultural theorist known for her work analysing magazines aimed at women and teenage girls in the 80s and 90s.

McRobbie highlights the empowering nature of magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour, taking a different perspective to traditional feminists.

This idea of ‘popular feminism’ fits into the idea of post-feminism and challenges the radical feminism of the 1970s.

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

The video contributes to Butlers idea of embracing gender roles as she does embody the predominant stereotype placed on women. She is reenacting the social construction of what society expects of her and is highly upset with why its not all working out, therefore mocking the idea of gender roles. 

2) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women?

To a certain degree, it can be argued that she is it embodying the epitome of the existing status quo of the time, and additionally mocking the set gender roles placed on women. This is evident as she mentions her ability to cook, clean, and also be sexually appealing. As she is mocking women who actually think like this, she is empowering them to explore their worth and see beyond domestic constraints. However she may also be dis empowering women as she is self objectifying her self through sexualising her whole entirety, to something of less value and importance.

3) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?
I believe that her ideology towards the place of women is excellent as they should not be dehumanised to objects however if she could do that without having to sexualise herself would be even better. As i believe that the removal of clothing does not determine your independence or your liberation. Also young women would look up to her and may want to look a certain way which may seem more attractive and appealing(hypodermic needle), diverting them from the real message of the music video.

preliminary

Identities and the Media: Feminism

Identities and the Media: Feminism

Are we living in a post-feminist state? Do you agree there is still a need for feminism? To what extent does the media contribute to the identity created for women in popular culture? These are some of the questions we need to consider in this next section of our Identities and the Media unit.

Complete the following tasks on your blog:

Media Magazine reading

1) Read Playing With The Past: Post-feminism and the Media (MM40, page 64 - our Media Magazine archive is here).

2) What are the two texts the article focuses on? 

Pan Am and Beyonce 

3) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)? 

When students ask for a definition of post-

feminism I tend to send them Beyoncé’s way. 

Her star construction perfectly encapsulates 

the contradictions of post-feminist culture, 

simultaneously declaring herself as an 
independent woman, whilst objectifying herself 
for the camera and the ‘male gaze’. Don’t get 

me wrong – I love Beyoncé’s music; however 

we should all be literate in the post-feminist 

ideologies she reinforces.

Throughout the video

she plays at being a ‘housewife’, humorously 

burning dinner, parodying mopping floors and 

dusting, all the while playfully gazing at the 

camera providing the audience with knowing 

winks in her ‘sexy outfits’. This self-conscious 

address allows Beyoncé to be objectified, 

welcoming the male gaze but simultaneously 
also avoiding feminist criticism through this use 
of parody and humour.

Whilst singing these lyrics Beyoncé reinforces 

her ‘credentials’ by openly rubbing her chest and 

body, whilst playfully looking down the camera, 

clearly submitting herself to sexual objectification 

and openly acknowledging the ‘male gaze’ (see 

glossary). A post-feminist reading of this might 

be that since Beyoncé is openly allowing herself 

to be objectified, indeed encouraging it by 

looking down the camera playfully and winking 

at the audience, she is controlling ‘the gaze’ and 
is thus empowered. However, like so many other 

post-feminist texts which openly acknowledge 

‘the gaze’ in this playful postmodern ‘knowing’ 

way, we also see a simultaneous reassuring of 

patriarchal anxieties.

4) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

There definitely is  a need for feminism is texts like these are perceived as 'liberating' and in the name of feminism. Although their intentions may be good, they are dangerously misconstruing what it really means to be a feminist.

5) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Post-feminism – An ideology in culture and

society that society is somehow past needing 

feminism and that the attitudes and arguments 

of feminism are no longer needed. 

Third wave feminism – Was a movement 

that redefined and encouraged women to be 

dominant and sexually assertive. 

Patriarchy – An ideology that places

dominant position over women.

No More Page 3

1) Research the No More Page 3 campaign. Who started it and why?

No More Page 3 was a campaign to stop The Sun from including pictures of topless glamour models on its Page 3; it ended when the topless feature was discontinued. The campaign was started by Lucy-Anne Holmes in August 2012; it reached 215,000 signatures by January 2015. The campaign gained widespread support from MPs and organisations but was criticised by Alison Webster, the photographer for Page 3. In January 2015, it was reported that. The Sun had ended Page 3, but the feature was revived for one issue published on 22 January. Following that, Page 3 has not been featured in The Sun again.

When asked whether he would be supporting the campaign, Prime Minister David Cameron replied, "I think on this one I think it is probably better to leave it to the consumer."

2) What are the six reasons the campaign gives for why Page 3 has to go?

objectifies women
 degrades women
too explicit for younger audiences

3) Read this debate in the Guardian regarding whether the campaign should be dropped. What are Barbara Ellen and Susan Boniface's contrasting opinions in the debate?

4) How can the 'No More Page 3' campaign be linked to the idea of post-feminism?

Well, the fact that woman think they are being liberated by revealing skin, depicts that it the only thing that they have to be proud about is their bodies. It also shows how they have marginalised gender equality and objectified them selves thinking its a form of freedom.

The fact that famous women icons believe that  there is no longer a need for feminism, links to the post feminism attitude. 

5) What are your OWN views on the No More Page 3 campaign. Do you agree with the campaign's aims? Should the campaign continue?

Being a women, I 

6) Do you agree that we are in a post-feminist state or is there still a need for feminism?

Complete for homework if you don't get it finished in the lesson - deadline confirmed in class.

Post colonialism- Edward said

1) Summarise the three theorists we have looked at: Alvarado, Fanon and Said.

Alverado: dangerous,exotic, humerous,pitied 

Fanon: white mask

Said: Orientalism - that the west is superior to the exotic 
or uncivilised east

2) Watch the opening of Yasmin (2004) again. Does it offer a positive or negative view of British Muslims? 
I thinks its a predominantly and heavily negative and full of misconceptions, however there may be some truth and connections to the stereotypes of the Pakistani cultural (aunt's preeing), nevertheless this does not apply to the religion of Islam. Too often in the film culture was mixed up with religion and misconceptions were reinforced. 

To what extent does it reinforce or challenge Edward Said's theory of Orientalism - that the west is superior to the exotic or uncivilised east?

Frequently, the protagonist wore a white mask and tried to act like someone she was not. She took off her hijab to please those around her ad to fit into the society around her rather than exploring why she wears it. It reflects how weak minded she had become and the extent she would go to, to try and fit in. However, the viewers may feel sympathy for her because of how unfairly she was treated after the 9/11 attacks. Ultimately, this seemed like for her to be accepted into society, she had to wear a white mask portraying how the the orient or way to live is the western way and that the east is uncivilized, different and incompetent.

Also, Faisal who wore the shalwar kameez and brought the goat into the house (lol), made seem something very desperate and divergent and unaccepted by the British Pakistanis (i could see why from Yasmins perspective). The fact that he was violent towards Yasmin although he restores himself by apologizing, he was still seen as uncivil in the scene where he attempts to rape her and slaps her. 

3) Finally, choose THREE clips for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. Pick a selection of clips on YouTube from TV, film, music video or advertising and embed them in your blog before writing your analysis under each clip. Note: this means you need NINE clips in total on this blogpost.

Alverado:

 

east is east- this is a comedy film about a Pakistani boy who is forced to go to Pakistan and and experience life there. It fits in to Alverado's humorous category because of the actors around him doing funny things.

 dangerous

 uno my style -dangerous

exotic (women) Fetty wap- Trap queen

Fanon (white mask)

Orientalism- west is more superior to the East

LR

1) Type up your feedback in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to).

32/48 C+
WWW: Clear focus on the question, showing critical autonomy
EBI: provide detailed, developed examples of how dominant ideologies are promoted in both traditional and new media.
2) Read through the mark scheme. Of the six different statements, write which you think is currently your strongest and which is weakest. Explain WHY and, for the weakest, what you are going to do to improve in that area.

I showed good critical autonomy and stayed focused on the question, however I need to talk about more theories and link them back to examples. I will revise my theorists and my new and digital examples

3) Read through the exemplar A grade essay. What does this essay offer that yours does not? Identify THREE things you can take from this essay to improve your own responses in future.

• ALLEN de button 'conform accommodate and react'
• Explicit references to news stories
• 
  

4) Write ONE new paragraph for your January assessment essay. Ideally, this should be a section you did not cover in your original essay. This paragraph needs to be comprehensive and meet the criteria for Level 4 of the mark scheme.Although the internet has provided basis for a mass of information to be distributed globally, the potential for inaccuracy may occur . This could be done by both professional journalists and amateur bloggers. For example the IBTtimes published a story which stated the Iranian minister for ICT, had announced plans to remove public internet access in Iran and replace it with a state controlled national portal. This information was incorrect and was later removed which proves that even professionals can make mistakes on the internet, making it harder to know who to trust. Wikipedia is likely to be the most unreliable source as it is edited by ordinary people who do not usually know the facts behind a story making it a hard source to trust; despite this people still rely on it as a major source of information. Moreover, the hate and harassment on social media has also had a major impact through its increase. some may argue that this is one of new an digital media biggest downfall as it dis empowers its users and marginalises individuals opinions. Furthermore, it does not end there as some people generate inaccurate, biased information and also come up with crazy conspiracy theorys, which may damage and control user beliefs. 

n&d

'It put me on antidepressants': welcome to GOMI, the cruel site for female snark

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/21/gomi-blog-internet-comments-women

“When these things happen in the moment, they’re so shocking, and they feel scary, dramatic and real,” she says. “They were in my head constantly. I’d be doing anything at all and think about how they would perceive it if they were there. It was really toxic.”

“It legitimately put me on antidepressants,” says Holbrook. “You try to stay away from it, because the minute you read it, it’s in your brain forever – my flat forehead, my ugly nose, or that my husband hates me. I thought once if I said, ‘You’re really hurting me,’ it would stop, but it just got worse.”

Post-colonialism: blog task AVLERADO

1) Read the excellent article exploring the different representations of black people in British film and TV from Media Magazine 42 (MM42 fromour Media Magazine archive - page 51)

2) List FIVE films, FIVE TV programmes and FIVE online-only productions that are discussed in the article.

east is east
attack the block
anavahood
kidulthood
sket
ill manors
shank

3) Watch Destiny Ekaragha's clips above (more of her work is available on her website, including the short film The Park). To what extent can we apply Alvarado's and Fanon's theories to these films? Do they reinforce or subvert typical black stereotypes in British film and TV? Refer to specific scenes and events in the clips in answering this question and aim for at least 350 words.

• Exotic (models; music artists; food)- 

the women

• Dangerous (crime; gangs; socially dysfunctional) 

the teenagers 

• Humorous (comedians; sidekicks; quirky)

kidulthood, making fun out of people out of employment 

• Pitied (poverty) 

the kids unemployed, living in council flats 

• Decivilize - The 'Gangsta', 'Pimp' etc. 

the kids are uncivil and conform for some stereotypical gangster traits

Identities and the Media: Reading the riots

The media coverage of the UK riots in 2011 provides a strong case study in the representation of young people. There is an excellent extended analysis of the media coverage of the riots by media professor David Buckingham in Media Magazine.

Read the Media Magazine extended feature on the media coverage of the UK riots (MM38 page 5)

1. How did the language and selection of images in the coverage create a particular representation of young people? 

the media has clearly demonised the representation of the youth, marginalising them as people who are uncivil and juvenile in out society. This is through the violent and inhumane imagery on the front pages of the some of the tabloid left and right wing news papers. This makes the youth in London seem like they are a threat to the establishment of society and generating an anarchy. 

This was reinforced by the selection of images – and perhaps especially by the iconic image of one black, hooded young man which appeared on at least five front pages of teh daily mirror and daily express.

the first day of the disturbances, and in many reports

1. Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?

There is obviously a class dimension to these representations. The ‘feral youth’ imagined by the politicians and the tabloid headline writers are implicitly working-class. In his recent book Chavs, Owen Jones points to the emergence of a new form of class contempt in modern Britain. The working class, he argues, has become an object of fear and ridicule, not just in this kind of media coverage but also in popular figures such as Little Britain’s Vicky Pollard and Catherine Tate’s ‘Am I bovvered?’ character.

1. What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey find?

These kinds of images of young people are unfortunately typical of much news media coverage. A 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey found that 40% of newspaper articles featuring young people focused on violence, crime or anti-social behaviour; and that 71% could be described as having a negative tone.

More recently, a study by the organisation Women in Journalism analysed 7,000+ stories involving teenage boys, published in online, national and regional newspapers during 2008. 72% were negative – more than twenty times the number of positive stories (3.4%). Over 75% were about crime, drugs, or police: the great majority of these were negative (81.5%) while only a handful were positive (0.3%).

1. How can Stanley Cohen’s work on Moral Panic be linked to the coverage of the riots?

Well, the fact that the whole situation has been sensationalised, exaggerated and amplified, people become more aware and concerned for the frequent occurrence on the news. This creates a moral panic as members of the public are seeing a version of events which is not as severe as its portrayed in the media. Also hyperreality is also evident here, as some consumers of the text are not able to distinguish the reality with the simulation of reality. 

1. What elements of the media and popular culture were blamed for the riots?

gang culture

unemployment

poverty

failure of schools teaching discipline 

lack of parental engagement

the police shooting Mark Duggun

1. How was social media blamed for the riots? What was interesting about the discussion of social media when compared to the Arab Spring in 2011?

Social media played its part by helping to pump up the youth and overwhelming them with emotions of anger towards the political system, this can be seen even through some of the most popular artists the youth listen to. However, freedom of expression and speech is also a very significant part of the liberation of our selves, and ideologies being expressed should not have been shunned but also should constrained to a certain extent.

1. The riots generated a huge amount of comment and opinion - both in mainstream and social media. How can the two-step flow theory be linked to the coverage of the riots? 

well some may say that what we witness in the media, influences us, our ideologies and decisions too. However the the reception theory may contrast this approach by arguing that the human mind has the ability to to generate its own opinions and idea's rather than bing weak minded and taking in everything presented to us from another persons perspective or outlook on the situation. 

1. Alternatively, how might media scholars like Henry Jenkins view the 'tsunami' of blogs, forums and social media comments? Do you agree that this shows the democratisation of the media?

Some media scholars like Henry Jenkinstend to celebrate these kinds of ‘participatory’ media; while some even see this as evidence of a wholesale democratisation of the communications system. They argue that the age of ‘Big Media’ – of powerful, centralised corporations controlling media – is now finished: hierarchical, top-down communications have been replaced by a more egalitarian (equal opportunities) approach.

I agree to him to a certain degree, this is because ultimately although people are able to input their views opinions and debates onto the internet, one may argue that it is not always recognised or signified and even often marginalised. 

1. What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots, What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?
2. both were very saddened by the death of Mark Duggun however through a more political perspective the right wing

1. What are your OWN views on the main causes of the riots?

i believe that the main reason to unrest of the violence that had occurred was the lack of communication with the youth and those in political power. They could not get their voice heard in a more rational and appropriate manner and so therefore, the rioters felt they had to do what they did to get the attention of the state. Although the way they addressed the situation was wrong I understand where some of them might be coming from and where there anger and frustration may be stemming from. 

1. How can capitalism be blamed for the riots? What media theory (from our new/digital media unit) can this be linked to?

Daily Telegraph was one of many to make the link between the rioters and the bankers and politicians. The rioting, he argued:... cannot be dissociated from the moral disintegration in the highest ranks of modern British society... It has become acceptable for our politicians to lie and to cheat... the sad young men and women, without hope or aspiration, who have caused such mayhem and chaos over the past few days... have this defence: they are just following the example set by senior and respected figures in society.Others, like Dan Hind on Al Jazeera, argued that the government’s decision to bail out the banks was indicative of ‘a social and political order that rewards vandalism and the looting of public property, so long as the perpetrators are sufficiently rich and powerful’.

1. Were people involved in the riots given a voice in the media to explain their participation?

No, and even if they did they were misrepresented or even unrepresented.

1. In the Guardian website's investigation into the causes of the riots, they did interview rioters themselves. Read this Guardian article from their Reading the Riots academic research project - what causes are outlined by those involved in the disturbances? 

1. What is your own opinion on the riots? Do you have sympathy with those involved or do you believe strong prison sentences are the right approach to prevent such events happening in future?

i believe that there is a real problem in our society after all something big like this had occurred, and I sympathise with them to a certain extant as they are members of our society too despite their age and for them not to have a voice and contribute on the way the country makes decisions with them will obviously frustrate them however the whole method of going about the whole problem was incorrect and needs to be developed, they need to find a more rational way to he heard rather than to cause disturbances, injustices and also harm people.

n&d 07/01.16

Has social media ruined the web?

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/31/has-social-media-ruined-the-web

During his time in prison, the rise of smartphones and apps had changed the online world. Blogging and independent websites had been overtaken by social media networks, with the likes* of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram dominating the market.

The article accentuates the the liberation and power social media has given us, it metaphorically describes as being living in a prison without it.

Iran's blogfather: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are killing the web

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/29/irans-blogfather-facebook-instagram-and-twitter-are-killing-the-web 

 as we take social media for granted people in the world, are being imprisoned for displaying thier views on a global network. 

Blogs were gold and bloggers were rock stars back in 2008 when I was arrested. At that point, and despite the fact the state was blocking access to my blogfrom inside Iran, I had an audience of around 20,000 people every day. People used to carefully read my posts and leave lots of relevant comments, even those who hated my guts. I could empower or embarrass anyone I wanted. I felt like a monarch.

At the same time, these social networks tend to treat native text and pictures – things that are directly posted to them – with a lot more respect. One photographer friend explained to me how the images he uploads directly to Facebook receive many more likes than when he uploads them elsewhere and shares the link on Facebook.

I miss when people took time to be exposed to opinions other than their own, and bothered to read more than a paragraph or 140 characters. I miss the days when I could write something on my own blog, publish on my own domain, without taking an equal time to promote it on numerous social networks; when nobody cared about likes and reshares, and best time to post.

n&d 1/1/16

Do you stand by, or stand out from the crowd?

David Shariatmadari
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/06/bystander-stand-out-crowd-intervene-help

Increasingly we find ourselves in crowds – making our way through cities, flying between them, joining in discussion and argument on the internet. Ironically, these crowds, each one a mass of humanity, can feel like the least human force on Earth. Perhaps from time to time we can try to be among the faces that stand out.

 Researchers at UCLA set up a fake Facebook profile in which a “mean” comment was posted under a range of different status updates, such as “I hate it when you miss someone like crazy and you think they might not miss you back”. In each case, the “mean” riposte was: “Who cares! This is why nobody likes you …” Most subjects agreed that this constituted bullying, and many said that they would be likely to intervene – either by challenging the comment or sending a private message of support. Interestingly, there was less sympathy when the original message was more personal, suggesting that people who “overshared” might be seen as bringing criticism on themselves.

To a certain extent this article employs the idea that we are more likely to rebuke offensive criticism on-line rather than in real life. it makes you question how far you would go for redemption.

The #BringBackOurGirls of 2016: what will dominate Africa's Twittersphere this year?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/africa-twitter-predictions-2016-hashtags-bringbackourgirls

Where were you when #PopeBars started trending, in tribute to Pope Francis throwing hip-hop shapes in the Central African Republic?

How did #BeingFemaleInNigeria help you to understand modern misogyny? And where do you stand on the heated #JollofDebate – is it from Ghana, Nigeria or elsewhere?

From #BringBackOurGirls which, on 6 December, marked 600 days since the schoolgirls of Chibok were abducted by Boko Haram, to #WhatWouldMagufuliDo, a tribute to the newly-elected Tanzanian president’s “revolutionary” commitment to cutting wasteful government spending, looking back at popular hashtags offers a useful overview on how the big events of the year played out online.

“If African Twitter was a bar then the year 2015 would have been one of those memorable nights out,” YesiYesighana said. “Noisy drinkers would be eating jollof while debating xenophobia, everyday sexism and everything in between.