'Faulty Towers' and 'The Bash Street Kids' essay

Both texts serve the purpose of entertaining its audience offering escapism. Basil Faulty promotes his hegemonic ideoligies of the Germans reflecting a sub-division of British society in order to create humour, his charcter and the show in general plays on sterotypes in order to promote prejudices but with a subtle response. One interpretation of text 1 is that it makes a mockery out of the war and disrepects those that fought, however it's a piece of satire mocking the higher authorities underlining the naievty of war but adding comic elements in order to release audiences tension. '

The Bash Street kids' plays on typical comic book conventions of male friends seduced by a female but they play games with her. The girl conforms to the theory of Laura Mulvey as she is a passive female sub-ordinate to the male however the 'kids...' torment rather than seduce the girl indicating that she does not have qualities of to-be-looked-at-ness. The comic strip although targted at young children raises issues about the hegemonic ideologies towards gender children are being presented to in media. Increasingly in contemporary society women are being viewed equally to males however in this instance the males overrule the female reflecting a division in gender.

Text 1 offers alternative interpretations towards the representation of ethnic minorities in the media. In the short extract a black character is represented and he plays the role of 'Doctor'. In this way text 1 reflects the push for equality in society in the late 70s/early 80s and is in favour of offering audiences more than the traditional white charatcer. In this way text 1 can be considered socially respondent to the times as the civil rights movement was high during the time of the series and the BBC serves the purpose of being a public broadcaster and representing all cultures of society. On the contrary, 'Bash...' represent the tradtional white, male friends. Similar to the representation of women it is ironic that no ethinc minority is represented because we increasingly live in a society of social equality across all spectrums.

Virgin Media in Big Brother talks

Stephen Brook

Thursday March 15, 2007

Virgin Media is in secret talks with Channel 4 to sponsor Big Brother, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.

If the two companies reach a deal, Virgin Media could gain exclusive access to video-on-demand content, giving it an advantage in its battle with BSkyB for subscribers.

The negotiations come after Carphone Warehouse dropped its sponsorship - said to be worth £3m annually - earlier this month after Celebrity Big Brother became engulfed in an international storm over alleged racist bullying.

The retailer abruptly pulled its sponsorship idents midway through the programme's run in an unprecendented move in January after contestant Shilpa Shetty endured taunts from other contestants including Jade Goody. At the time Channel 4 denied racist incidents had occurred.

Virgin Media is locked in a fractious battle with BSkyB after Sky removed its basic channels from Virgin in a row over carriage payments.

The Big Brother sponsorship package includes branding and advertising opportunities across TV, video-on-demand, online, radio and mobile.

If the deal goes ahead Virgin could also gain exclusive content from the Big Brother house for its mobile phone customers, boosting its "four-play" offering of cable TV, broadband, mobile phone and telephone landline.

"Channel 4 is currently in talks with a number of high profile brands regarding sponsorship of the eighth series of Big Brother," said a Channel 4 spokeswoman earlier this month after Carphone Warehouse dropped its sponsorship.

"The show remains the original and most talked about reality television show and its ability to reach young people in large numbers is unique and one of extreme value to brands wishing to target this valuable audience."

SuMmArY

The article disusses the sponsorship of channel 4's reality TV show Big Brother. It indicates that Virgin Media has been strongly linked with sponsorship of the show following Carphone Warhouse dropping its sponsorship following the race debate in the Celebrity BB series involving Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty. It also highlights hwo if Virgin acquire the sponsorship they'll be able to compete with BSky B following their rivalry over recent months.

My OpInIoN

In my opinion, this article reinforces the growing phenomomen that it reality TV. Virgin media is a huge corporation competiting with BSkyB and they view a potential sponsorship of BB as a huge acquisition as they'll be able to control content for their mobile phone uses, cable TV and broadband. BB has become a huge show pulling in audiences of 5 million plus and became a centre of debate in the Celebrity series and if Virgin acquire sponsorship it is possible that they'll be able to compete with BSkyB and win competitors. However, its important to realise that Virgin Media will have to do more than just sponsor BB to compete realistically and constantly with Sky

Guardian ploughs cash into websites

Jemima Kiss

Thursday March 8, 2007

The Guardian will invest £15m in its websites over the next 18 months as it aims to update its digital services for the web 2.0 era with features including video.

The Guardian Media Group chief executive, Carolyn McCall, revealed the planned digital investment as she told the Online Publishers Association conference today that the organisation had to adapt and change.

She said the Guardian is no longer competing just with national newspapers but with broadcasters, search companies and web publishers.

"What we've done so far is our own version of web 1.0, but we want to continue to web 2.0 and what comes after that," Ms McCall added. "We need to be agile and ready to change."

Ms McCall said that GMG's 2007 digital revenues would increase by 50% this year, the fourth consecutive year that those revenues had increased.

However, she cautioned that the Guardian Unlimited website was not likely to report a profit next year as it begins a period of increased investment.

SuMmArY

The article highlights how the Guardian plans to increase its spending over the next couple of years to £15 million on its online servies. It also explains that this is because of the rise of internet servies and how the Guardian is no longer competitiong solely with national newspapers but broadcasters, search companies and web publishers

My OpInIoN

In My opinion this article highlights the ever-growing technoligal society that we now live in and how the tradtional 'buying and reading a newspapers' is a thing of the past. Today, the internet has become such a powerful tool for accessing news from all over the world and the Guardian investing £15million in its websites highlights this. I also find in extremely interesting how the Guardian no longer regards other newpapers as its competitors but broadcasters, and web publishers. I feel potentially in 15-20 years or even less we risk losing the traditional newspaper and the internet could take over people's lives increases the ill-literacy in society and lack of kids reading and studying at traditonal, grassroots 'reading and writing'.

EsSaY

Using the comparison of these two texts as your starting point, explore the media issues and debates which they raise

In your answer you will need to address:

Key concepts
Contextual factors
Media theory

Traditionally, rap music focused on a message promoting Black empowerment in society however in contemporary media, rap music is an ever-growing genre centred on money, cars, drink, sex and women. Gill Scott Heron’s ‘The revolution will not be televised’ from 1972 highlights the lack of black representation in the media and fights for equal rights. Sarah Jones feat. DJ Vadim, ‘Your revolution’ from 1998 fights for women’s rights and launches an attack on males and female representations as objects of the male gaze. Both artists use a direct style to shock and attract the attention of an audience

Heron’s ‘The revolution will not be televised’ indicates the lack of Black representation in the media in the 1970s. Whereas, Sarah Jones’s ‘Your Revolution’ identifies black representation in the media is evident however portray negative images especially women whom are degraded and degrade themselves creating a stereotyped image of black people in modern society. Heron highlights how the media was controlled by the white upper/middle class who imposed their hegemony on a passive audience, he argues effects theory and the hypodermic needle model, and how audiences are being presented with the wrong stereotypes and being brainwashed with no alternative viewpoints. Heron argues and challenges the theories and his song can be considered as a Black power version of Marxism, challenging the establishment whom give propaganda against black people, the Frankfurt school.

During the revolution ‘there will be no more pictures of you and Willie May pushing that shopping cart down the block on the dead run’, no more images of black people as animals and savage. Stuart Hall identified three ways in which black people have been represented in the media: as the victim, the entertainer or the savage and he indicated how racist ideologies where a result of colonialism which Heron alludes to and it's due to this that the white males hold a Marxist/capitalist view of society and discriminate against blacks. Heron tells the audience that it’s the anxieties of advertising that under-represent black people and says ‘The revolution will not go better with Coke’ and launches an attack, ‘the revolution will not give your mouth sex appeal’, a parody of advertising keeping one in control, the song links to Michael Moore’s ‘Bowling For Columbine’ and his portrayal of TV show ‘Cops’ where all suspects where Black, middle aged men. By the end of the song Heron offers hope and rallies for support, ‘The revolution will put you in the driving seat’, you can make the difference and by the end of the song he says ‘the revolution will be live’, suggesting it's time to start something new and challenge the Marxist, capitalist hegemony of white society and inject equal representation.

Sarah Jones feat DJ Vadim ‘Your Revolution’ from 1998 offers a more bitter tone, it’s a post-modern text offering an alternative voice, challenging black culture and fighting for a female revolution where women don’t need to use sex appeal in order to get somewhere. She makes direct reference to Gill Scott Heron highlighting how his song from 1972 had a direct impact on her influencing black culture as he had hoped, and she inevitably would be looking for the same response

Sarah Jones throughout the song is critiquing black media as they’re not representing themselves in the right way, she says ‘the revolution will not happen between these thighs’, how she will not sell herself in order to gain a few riches. It is this attitude that degrades women and portrays negative stereotypes of black culture in the media and society.

The text is a pastiche as it takes elements of other songs and mocks them. For example, she makes reference to LL Cool J ‘doing it and doing and doing it well’, in this way Jones is getting a powerful message across and she directly attacks icons of the rap genre who are typically associated with materialism, ‘money’, ‘cars’ and ‘bitches’. Furthermore, Jones challenges the misogynistic/patriarchal views of males whom fetishise women body parts. A key theorist whom would support Jones’s message is Laura Mulvey as women in rap are used as objects of the male gaze and desires.

To conclude, both texts raise topical issues about society and how the media in society is run and portrays different cultures. Gill Scott Heron challenges the hegemony of white society calling for black culture to unite and offer positive and equal representation. Sarah Jones launches an attack on black culture in rap as women are used as objects of males desires, she mocks black culture ‘think I’m gonna put it in my mouth just because you made a few bucks’ and fights for female empowerment and the female revolution because materialism isn’t happiness, equality or reality.

NeWs VaLuEs

1. How Would You Priortise these News Vaules

The Times- Saturday 10th February 2007

Frequency- 'a sculpted trapeze dress by designer Paul Costelloe, who opens the London Fashion Week tommorrow

Threshold- 'A million motorists embarrass road price ministers'

Unambiguity- 'Return of the tycoon'

Meaningfulness- 'England's one-day wonders'

Reference to elite nations- 'British soldier'

Negativity- 'Twice as many poles living in Britain than officials think'

2. What is gatekeeping?

Gatekeeping is the selection and ordering of news broadcasts on TV or the selection and planning of a newspaper layout. Gatekeeping is controlled by the editors who are responsible for their chosen medium.

3. What do we mean by bias?

Bias is a term referred to when taking a particular one-sided viewpoint on a issue or subject despite arguements against. For example, in a football/or sport world cup English citizens/background will support England because they're bias and have an affiliaition to England and don't consider arguement subjectively about the realistic chances of England winning. In the media, a story is mediated from a writers beliefs and the reader/audience is forced to identify with that viewpoint. For example, an political writer will be influenced by their political ideologies no matter how subjective they're meant to be

Dictionary definition: 'A bias is a prejudice in a general or specific sense, usually in the sense for having a preference to one particular point of view or ideological perspective. However, one is generally only said to be biased if one's powers of judgment are influenced by the biases one holds, to the extent that one's views could not be taken as being neutral or objective, but instead as subjective. A bias could, for example, lead one to accept or deny the truth of a claim, not on the basis of the strength of the arguments in support of the claim themselves, but because of the extent of the claim's correspondence with one's own preconceived ideas'

CuLt Of ThE CeLeBrItY

1. How Much celebrity-driven media do you consume? Do you consume these texts in spite of the celebrity focus or because of it?

In all honesty i don't consume that much celebrity driven media in the form of magazines and newspaper articles, but am always interested in stories which reveal big secrets about celebrities becuase of the voyeuristic pleasures evoked when looking to find out more about a celebrity. I generally consume texts that i want, regardless of who is the subject/focus/or guest but from time will purchase something if its based on a celebrity that im interested in.

1. Looking at an edition of a national tabloid, in what ways are celebrity related stories represented in this edition? Account for these representations

I looked at 'The Sun' from Wednesday 28th Feb 07. The main celebrity-related story is on Victoria Beckham- 'My glam life in LA by Posh'

The article discusses Victoria Beckham's new-impending life in LA following David Beckham's move to US Major League Soccer. In the article Victoria's glamour is highlighed and her star status with her attending Elton John's post-oscars party. It is also describes how she has been searching for a £10-million home but yet to find the dream one. The article has no real message or portrayal of Victoria but puts her in a position that the reader would aspire to be in. However, she and her husband are attacked for being brandished the 'world least green celebs' linking to their lack on environmental care by owning 13 cars

DoEs BlOgGiN wOrK???

1.How easy has it been to set up your Independent Study blog and to get used to posting things on it?

Were you given enough support in doing it? What other help would have been useful?
Setting up the blog and posting up on it was very easy and simple to follow. Instructions were posted on the blog that were useful and the guidelines went setting it up were simple and posting was elementary;

2. How did the blog help with your research? Did the blog motivate you to do more and better research? How? Why?

For me, the blog was very useful for research and planning my independent study. It allowed me to post up all ma research in a coherent manner and allowed for all my work to be easily accessible. Also when writing my first draft for my study all my research was there in front of me and easy to use and apply to my study

3. Is it useful having all the Independent Study/blog tasks posted on the Macguffin blog? Does it make it more likely that you will get them done?

Having all the tasks is useful being posted up because it allowes for you to know exactly what is required to be done. Also it acts as a reminder to get the work done on time and allow for no excuses

4. How often (honestly!) do you check the Macguffin blog? (Remember, it should be at least twice/week).

I check the blog on average about 3 to 4 times a week minimum because work is always being set nearly every other day

5. Has it been useful being able to see and access everyone else’s research and planning through their blogs?

It is useful to see the amount of work other people do and the quality of their work to act as a comparison to mine

6. How do you feel about the fact that your teacher can keep a close check on your progress through accessing your blog? Is it too intrusive and controlling or is it encouraging and supportive?

I think its an effective method of setting work, because the teacher can ensure that the work is being done, independently, also if help is ever required you can ask fellow peers or teacher

7. How useful have the comments been that you received from…a. Macguffin, b. other students.

Comments have been useful from both A and B because it allowed for me to correct mistakes I made in my work and see what others thought of my work

8. How has the blog helped with your essay planning? How useful was the blog when it came to writing the essay? Do you think your first draft is better because you have used a blog?

Using the blog allowed for me to plan my work in a coherent manner and to have all my research easily accessible . When writing my easy I was able to use prior pieces of research and link them to my study. Did the blog make my essay better, maybe/maybe not but it allowed for me to structure my essay better and easily link pieces of research

9. How would you evaluate the quality of your blog? What could you have done better?

I think the work and quality of my blog has been completed to a very high standard. I always completed the tasks on time, completed extra research and spent time on each task

10. Do you think you will get a better final grade for your independent study through having used a blog?

Maybe/Maybe Not because I probably would had access to the same research I got, however the blog made it much easier to do research and access it

11. Which are the best three blogs? Why?

I’ve only really seen the blogs in my class and from them I would say the best 3 or 4 would be Sherish, Bushara, Kavita/Puja, because each of their blogs has been completed to a high standard, with tasks always completed on time and lots of effort shown

12. Do you think next year’s Year 13s would benefit from setting up an Independent Study blog?

I think next years, year 13 would benefit from blogs because it easy to set up and allows for research and completing tasks to be much easier and more accessible, also no excuses to not complete work

13. Are there any negative aspects to preparing for an Independent Study using a blog?

Completing tasks is a long process and the blog is not always reliable, sometimes crashing and not allowing you to post up which can get very frustrating.

14. What could be done to improve teaching and/or learning in future through blogs?

Allow for time to complete tasks, and complete all tasks to a high standard because it helps with you study

15. Overall, are you pleased that we used blogs? Has it been interesting and enjoyable? Why? Why not?

I liked using blogs because I viewed it as an easier method to collect and access research rather than having sheets of papers and folders which are always viable to be lost. It was different and at times time consuming but overall in my opinion a good idea to use