Identities and the Media: index

Identities and the Media: index

Now that we've finished our work on Identities and the Media, you need to put together an index so you can easily access your work for revision. It should include the following:

1)    Reading the riots

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

The language and selection of images created a negative representation of the youth and teenagers as one specific image was used on 3 different newspapers.

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

David Buckingham mentions Owen Jones due to the fact Owen Jones states that there is a new modernised Britain and that the working class are slowly becoming people to fear within the media.

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

40% of any articles related with youths was to do with violence, crime or any anti-social behaviour. Also, 71% of these articles are in a negative tone. In addition, only 1% of the interviews were from those who are being spoken about i.e. the youth. Other than this, only 3.4% of the stories published in the news about the youth are positive

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

The theory of moral panic can be applied as the coverage of the riots constructed an overall consensus of fear and panic for young people whist it was occurring which undoubtedly has stayed with many individuals. 

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

Elements such as rap culture, as it glorifies violence and hate of authority, as well as violent computer games and also reality TV

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 was used as it helped organise, advertise and spread the riots as its primary users are to a similar demographic of the ones involved in the riots. This is in contrast to the Arab springs in which social media was championed as being a new democratic format for oppressed individuals to voice their opinions on.

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? 

The Two step flow model is a theory on the messages in media, and how opinions are constructed by a minority, or opinion leaders. The news is something that is published to the mass media in a variety of methods such as the traditional newspaper, as well as news apps - that publish the most recent newstory's, reaching a large audience. this audience can be easily influenced into what is right and what is wrong and ''anti social'' - this is the hegemonic control.

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?

individuals can express their opinions and have freedom of speech without fear of backlash due to new and digital media being anonymous. They'll believe it's good that the media now gives an opportunity for everyone to participate, as well as challenge the typical and tradition hierarchy and hegemonic control.

What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

The right wing responses were negative as the youth were compared to beasts and dogs that could not be controlled and needed to be put on 'leashes'.

What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

The left wing blamed society and the inequality present in it and the continuous negative reprobation that has existed for a number of years and also cuts youth centres etc.

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

I think the riots happened due to two things. First of all, the shooting of the young male by police officers. Secondly, the materialistic society we live in today, meaning everyone saw  an opportunity to get “free” things and so they took it.  

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

Capitalism can be blamed as we now live in a materialistic society and many individuals believe their worth is characterised by their belongings.

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

People involved in the riots were not provided an chance to voice their opinion as it may have gone against the representation many media outlets provived its audience.

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 don’t have sympathy for the rioters but also don’t believe a strong sentence should be given as the youth are reacting to the several factors which are in society, and have affected them.

2)    Post-colonialism: Destiny Ekaragwa film analysis

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

Kidulthood (2006), Adulthood (2008) Anuvahood (2011) Attack The Block (2011), Sket (2011) Ill Manors (2012)

55 degrees north, Luther, Line of duty, The Kumars at 42, Goodness gracious me, Citizen Khan

Online only: Brother with no game, Venus vs Mars, The Ryan sisters, All about the McKenzies, Meet the adebanjos, The crouches.

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.

Alvarado can be applied here as the three characters sitting on the wall are a prime example of humour in action. This shows that this racial representation unintentionally makes the characters fit into this category showing the director showing an authentic but alternative side to the black community. Also to go against Alvarado’s theory, the dangerous representation is challenged as they are less stereotypical of black youths, they are just relaxing and having a laugh rather than looking intimidating. Also, in accordance to the Alvarado’s theory, the racial representation of being humorous, where they are making fun out of each other, in particular when the middle black youth is questioned of knowing what a white man’s genitalia size. They were infantilized as they were arguing at the start like little children.

In regards to the “Gone too far” trailer, the pitied representation of black people is evident, when the Nigerian man is presented as typically outcast, emphasised by his costume, for example the sandals and socks. The representation of being exotic is also embodied in the Nigerian brother as he is arrives in the UK straight from Nigeria. The dangerous representation is subverted by the fact that there are no stereotypical representations of a black youth being violent, anti-social or a threat. The humorous representation of black people is evident as the Nigerian brother is entertaining, especially in the sense where he is singing in the chicken shop about being Nigerian. In terms of Fanon’s theory, the character of the Nigerian has been primitivized as he is unknown to the British lifestyle and norms; this is evident from the trailer when he attempts to flirt with women but is shot down. The representation is also infantilized as the Nigerian brother is seen as a child who has just entered the world and is discovering new things.

3)    Post-colonialism: theory and clip task

Alvarado

Alvarado’s theory of post-colonialism, suggests that there are 4 racial representations of minority groups. The representations are:

Pitied - looked down upon

Exotic - groups from a good and rich culture

Dangerous – groups that appear as a threat and can cause harm

Humorous – an image that is created for the amusement of the white

Frantz Fanon

Fanon came up with the quote “black skin, white mask”, this means black people would put on white masks in order to become like the White man to be successful.He came up with four ways of stereotyping People:

Infantilize- portray them as children, small and cute, for example using them in Aid commercials.

Primitivize- the exotic tribal warriors or ‘bare breasted maidens’ with a natural sense of rhythm.

Decivilize- The ‘gangster’ pimp.

Essentialize- Clumping the group together, undifferentiating them.

Edward Said’s Orientalism

Said argued that the west- in particular colonising Europe- constructed a meaning of the East (Middle East ) that suggested it was different, dangerous and uncivilised.

West v/s East = Civilised v/s uncivilised =superior v/s inferior

Does it offer a positive or negative view of British Muslims? 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?

Yasmin offers both a positive and negative view of Muslims. Positive as the beginning shows the boy singing in his language and shows them as peaceful, minding their own business, but when the white locals begin to move away they are presented as a nuisance, which show negativity and that they aren’t very helpful but annoying. Also, the facts that the elderly man is cleaning “Paki, Go Home” off the shutter shows them as quiet and calm, as well as refusing to retaliate at the fact that they are unwelcome.

The west is superior to the exotic/uncivilised east as the woman is changing from her religious clothes in a field, which is an insult in itself as women in the Islamic community are supposed to keep their bodies covered, furthermore the women is changing in to western clothes, meaning jeans and a t-shirt. 

4) Feminism: post-feminism article and No More Page 3 research

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

Lucy Holmes started the campaign in the summer when she kept contemplating the fact the only full page representation of woman was a derogatory one.

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

1. It is 2015; page 3 was made in the sexist times, 1970's. A lot has changed over the last 30+ years in our society; they think it’s time The Sun caught up.

2. Soft porn- It’s soft porn in the UK’s no.1 selling family newspaper that children are exposed to.

3. Bad teachings for children - They see page after page of pictures of men in clothes doing stuff (running the country, having opinions, achieving in sport!) and what are the women doing in this society they’re learning about? Not much really, other than standing topless in their pants showing their bare breasts for men

4. Women are known for doing better things in the world

5. Showing that women are only needed for sexual needs - Every single weekday for the last 44 years in The Sun newspaper the largest female image has been of a young woman (usually of a very particular age, race, physicality) showing her breasts for men, sending out a powerful message that whatever else a woman achieves, her primary role is to serve men sexually.

6. The Sun could be better without page 3- Because currently, any story they have about women issues such as rape, sexual abuse, harassment or domestic violence is drowned out and contradicted by the pictures on Page 3, allowing them to not be taken seriously

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?

Boniface believes the sun should no longer have page three and the concept of the girls as we do not live in the 1970's and the sun is holding back the progression of an equal society which women have been currently fighting for.

Barbara argues that being in page 3 is a decision that the women have taken and also removing this freedom (the ability to decide and choose) from women will help in constricting them in what society says they can and can’t do.

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

It can be liked with post-feminism as the removal of material such as this will help society become more democratic meaning the need for feminism is severely reduced as women will not be objectified and will treated in the same manner as  men.

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

I agree with the point that Barbara argues that being in page 3 is a decision that the women have taken and also removing this freedom (the ability to decide and choose) from women will help in constricting them in what society says they can and can’t do. But there also needs to be some sort of restriction or censorship of who can access the page.

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

I believe that there is still a need for feminism as materials that objectify and reinforce traditional stereotypical views of woman still exist which means that this ideology of society needs something to challenge this and this is where the use of feminism plays a part thus showing the need to combat this via feminism.