Thursday 19 May 2011

PREPARING FOR G325 SECTION B

PLANNING YOUR ARGUMENT
-Which group are you going to discuss?
-What percentage of the population do they make up?
-Why is it interesting/worthwhile to analyse the representation of this group?
-What will be your main argument(s)?
(see the post below for argument ideas)

GIVING SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
-Which programmes/films are your best examples to back up your argument? (at least 2 historical, 1 film and 1 TV and at least 2 contemporary, 1 film and 1 TV)
-Gather all the names, dates, episodes, quotes etc that you need to make those examples worthwhile

APPLYING THEORIES
-Choose at least 3 theories that help you to prove your argument
OR
-2 theories that help you prove and one that disagrees with your point and say why you disagree

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE OPINIONS

Tuesday 17 May 2011

POssible arguments for Media and Collective Identity

You could use some of these as starting points for an exam answer - then go onto back it up with theory and PROVE it through texts you have studied.


• That representations used to be quite racist and offensive but now they are better
• The dominant image of Asians (Muslims) has shifted from obedient close-knit families to threats to society and “Britishness”
• That representations of Black British people has been consistently negative
• That repeated use and reproduction of dominant images is better than no representation at all
• That as long as TV companies play it safe by reproducing dominant images, we will never achieve pluralistic representations of ethnic minority groups
• That institutions aren’t “racist” but they do reinforce the Hegemonic idea that the white middle class are superior
• Representations are more stereotypical not as TV and Film companies want to meet audiences expectations and as a result we are moving further away from pluralistic representations
• That the media we consume as a society affects the way we view ethnic minorities
• That the images constantly reproduced in the media affect the way others see us and we see ourselves – thus identity is “mediated”

Friday 13 May 2011

Theories and Theorists

Once you have chosen your theories (3 or 4 max) research them further or make sure you definitely know what they mean. Wikipedia gives a good overview of most theories/theorists.

Grammar of Race - Hall 1932 – still alive!
Hegemony / Pluralism - Gramsci 1891-1937
Technologies of the Self - Foucault 1926 – 1984
Social Fact - Durkheim 1858-1917
Modernity and Self-identity - Giddens 1991
'We say Britain is full. It is the most overcrowded country in Europe and it is time to shut the doors - Nick Griffin 2010
Reception Theory - Hall 1932 – still alive!
Uses and Gratifications - Blumler and Katz 1959
Muscular Liberalism Vs State Multiculturalism - David Cameron 2011

Thursday 12 May 2011

URL for Our Friends in the North

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2lyyj0uJds&feature=related

Practising for TV Drama

THIS APPLIES TO THE FIRST 5 MINUTES ONLY of the following clip:
OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH

WHAT highlights the contrast between life in the North and Life in the South
WHAT suggests these two characters are friends
WHAT suggests that these two characters are from the same background but one has better opportunities because they moved to London
WHAT makes London seem more glamorous and exciting than the North
WHAT shows that the North is depressing
WHAT shows that the character in the North is envious of his friend and reinforces the idea that life is better in the south


The use of costume (describe the costume…..) signifies…..
MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ALL THREE CHARACTERS
The dialogue between Husband and wife ‘ ….example…” signifies
The two men have very different jobs which suggests
London is presented as a place where….
Locations are used to show the difference between life in the north and life in the south