n&d

index

reading the riots
Post-colonialism: Destiny Ekaragwa film analysis
Post-colonialism: theory and clip task
Feminism: post-feminism article and No More Page 3 research
Feminism: Feminist theory and Beyonce video analysis
Feminism: waves and feminism and online activism
Identities and Film: blog task
Identity and Film - Media Factsheet task

Identities and Film: blog task

1) Read Media Factsheet 142: Identity and Film.

it is arguable that our own identities are shaped by our experiences of films and TV shows, rather than just direct lived experiences.

Self Image: The opinion or picture we have of ourselves.

Ideal Self: Our image of the person we would like to be.

Self Esteem: A measure of our self worth, likely to be related tothe gap between our self image and the ideal self.

2) Complete the Twenty Statements Test yourself. This means answering the question ‘Who am I?’ 20 times with 20 different answers. What do they say about your identity? Write the 20 answers in full on your blog.

Social groups:

female

pakistani

social media:

instagram 

snap chat

ideological beliefs:

Muslim

feminist

humanist

interests:

love comedy

staying fit and working out 

spending time with family

spending time with friends

watching comedy

going out on long drives 

meeting people with other beliefs and understanding them

ambitions:

build muscle 

pursue education and work somewhere I enjoy

make my snap reach 1000 seconds, joke. To be able to live without social media.
Become a practicing muslim

help others around me 
educate myself and bring about positive change to the world. (or even just West London)

what does this say about my identity:

I enjoy taking care of my health

dedicated

loving (sometimes)

optimistic 

4) Go back to your favourite film (as identified in the lesson). What does this choice of film say about your identity? Are there any identities within the film (e.g. certain characters) that particularly resonated with your values and beliefs?
I really enjoyed watching the wedding ringer this tell you that i can be a very down to earth person who enjoys comedy.I like having a laugh and 

5) Watch the trailers for the five films highlighted as examples of gay/lesbian representation in mainstream film. How are LGBT identities constructed in the trailers and how are audiences encouraged to respond to these representations?

pride 2014

the kids are alright 2010

This film looks at middle aged and class lesbian women and their role as two mothers dealing with the arrival of their sperm doner into their families lives 18 years down the line.

The Wedding Banquet (1993, dir. Ang Lee)

East Asian gay man explores homosexuality 

How are LGBT identities constructed in the trailers and how are audiences encouraged to respond to these representations?

Because they have familiar conventions to a trailer or movie, and because the story lines a similar to other couples, it normalises people from the LGBT community and allows them to also take part in the film industry in current day. The trailers encourage people to be more accepting, and presents them just like any other couple or community. 

Collective identity: blog task

Collective identity: blog task

Read the Media Magazine article on collective identity: Self-image and the Media (MM41 - page 6). Our Media Magazine archive is here.

Complete the following tasks on your blog:

1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'

That the representation of cultural values, the construction of role models and the way the media informs us about lifestyle and fashion choices have an influence on who we want to be, who we want to be seen as and, possibly, who we actually are.

Previously, who we were or what defined us, stemmed from insignificant things, some of which we cannot control. For example our social standing in the current social hierarchy, the ‘working classes’ were lower down the social ranking than factory owners or the aristocracy. Our gender, men were ‘heads of the household’ and women were subject to patriarchal power and were seen as inferior. 
The self image of a person did not depend on the depth of their personalities or thoughts but their social position 

Edward Bernys:Based not on behaving as ‘active citizens but as passive consumers’.

The idea of creating wants and desires was influenced by the work of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. He argued that part of the human psyche was a need to feel the pleasure of having our desires met. Freud identified the idea of the id – the inner part of our personality that motivates behaviour based on irrational desires.

individualism began to take hold,reacting against what can be seen to be the more conformist values of the past.

Freud’s ideas about the Self seemed to imply that beneath the surface there was an ‘essential self’ – the core of who you actually are. Later thinkers began to challenge this. Lacan, for example, talks of the ‘fragmented self’; an idea that we are not one simple ‘identity’ but we have many identities. Our identities change depending on external circumstances and relationships.

Even a person’s car choice could ‘rebel against conformity’ and be part of the creation of a ‘unique’ self-image

Branding is the association of a ‘personality’ with a product. Advertisers sell the personality rather than the product, so that people will choose products that match their own self image. The product is seen to help create and be part of that image. Lifestyle marketing works on connotations.

Postmodern critics see the construction of identity through media representations as being shallow, leading to a culture that values ‘style over substance’. In addition, the increasing dominance of the mass media and what Baudrillard calls ‘media saturation’ results in high cultural value being placed on external factors such as physical beauty and fashion sense over internal traits such as intelligence or compassion.

2) List five brands you are happy to be associated with and explain how they reflect your sense of identity.

nike : Nike is a fitness company and I am very focused in my competence with my fitness.

bobby brown: a make up company that doesn't like changing ur facial features but just enhances the features you naturally possess.

the bbc: 

1. ustaining citizenship and civil society

1. Promoting education and learning
2. 
   
3. Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence
4. 
   
5. Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities

1. Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK
2. 
   
3. In promoting its other purposes, helping to deliver to the public the benefit of 
4. 
   
5. emerging communications technologies and services and, in addition, taking a 
6. 
   
7. leading role in the switchover to digital television.

1. .

3) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean?

This expression suggests that the brands may have a higher demand for more superficial, materialistic and the exterior rather than genuinity, significance and validity.
im not to sure

4) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.

In addition, the increasing dominance of the mass media and what Baudrillard calls ‘media saturation’ results in high cultural value being placed on external factors such as physical beauty and fashion sense over internal traits such as intelligence or compassion.

5) Is your presence on social media an accurate reflection of who you are? Have you ever added or removed a picture from a social media site purely because of what it says about the type of person you are?

no its not an accurate reflection of my self, I only provide my followers with very limited information about my self, what i choose to show them is not even a fraction of what i am. i currently have more quotes then pictures of my self which may vaguely describe what I believe in or what i aspire to persue. For example one of my quotes are about 'not pleasing the creation ut the creator' this reminds me that although societies unseen rules and regulations change doesn't mean i have to change my self to fit in.

6) What is your opinion on 'data mining'? Are you happy for companies to sell you products based on your social media presence and online search terms? Is this an invasion of privacy?

I thinks it is quite useful, as I may be able to get a better deal of a certain product ect. Some may argue that it is an invasion of your privacy, I do understand where they are coming from as people you do not know have personal information about you.

Identities: Feminism and new/digital media

Key notes

Waves of feminism
First wave: early 20th century, suffragette movement (right to vote).
Second wave: 1960s – 1990s, reproductive rights (pill), abortion, equal pay.
Third wave: 1990s – present, empowerment, reclaiming of femininity (high heels, sexuality etc. See Angela McRobbie's work on women's magazines).

Fourth wave? 2010 – ongoing, use of new technology and digital media (e.g. Twitter) for activism.

Complete the following tasks in your pair and prepare to feed back to the class:

http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2014/9/emma-watson-gender-equality-is-your-issue-too

Emma Watson: Gender equality is your 

issue to

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

Emma Watson started up a campaign called He For She promoting gender equality. She believes that it is everyone's problem, and that we need to work together as a nation to combat this dilemma. This includes men too, so that their wives and daughters can be free from prejudices and their sons can be expressive about them selves without feeling embarrassed. 

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

I started questioning gender-based assumptions when at eight I was confused at being called “bossy,” because I wanted to direct the plays we would put on for our parents—but the boys were not.

When at 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press.

When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear “muscly.”

When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings.

I decided I was a feminist and this seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word.

 Her personal experiences generated her exploration into the matter and resulted in her making the decision to start up HeForShe

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witch hunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

I think that this campaign is completely valid and what Emma Watson is doing to change our society in a friendly way is very admirable. People who take harassment as 'banter' clearly do not understand the severity of the crime.

A silent feminist Twitter protest gets mixed support

http://www.dailydot.com/news/twittersilence-feminist-protest-mixed-support/

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

The article talks about the surge of abuse women get on a daily basis on the social media network 'twitter'.  #TwitterSilence, and it involves an ironic day of quiet in protest of women's inability to speak out on Twitter without incurring some form of abuse.

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

The onslaught twitter abuse, The idea belongs to controversial feminist Caitlin Moran, who shrugged"I just wanted to do a thing" on Twitter before going dark around midnight. 
3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witch hunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?
I don't think it was the most effective way to go about the problem, because people who do take part in the abuse want women to be silenced and not speak out of put their opinions across. By staying silent women are conforming to what the trolls want them to do. However the issue being tackled is very important and should be addressed seriously.   

Why Female Journalists Are A Major Target For Internet Trolls 

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/07/female-journalists-women-trolled-feminismsexism_n_5946346.html

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

Female journalists are treated in a very derogatory and insulting way, 
2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

Hadley FreemanVerified account‏@HadleyFreeman

We've gone from rape to bomb threats, I see MT @98JU98U989 @HadleyFreeman A BOMB HAS BEEN PLACED OUTSIDE YOUR HOME. IT WILL GO OFF AT 10:47

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witch hunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

 Its not Ok for men and women in any filed of any career to be receiving death threats because of their gender. No real tangible action is taking place to combat these offences for the long term, however the account had been shutdown.

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