NDM 36

As ‘Black Panther’ shows, inclusion pays at the box office

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/as-black-panther-shows-inclusion-pays-at-the-box-office/2018/02/19/5d76653a-1583-11e8-930c-45838ad0d77a_story.html?utm_term=.96328c35c80c

- The Washington Post

The article talks about how as of recently the inclusion of different ethnic groups in cinema has worked well “Black Panther” captured the zeitgeist by the potent combination of top-notch filmmaking (the film stands at 97 per cent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), studio backing and an audience hungry to see itself represented on the big screen in a way it seldom has before. Which highlights the fact that diversity does in fact sell.

• The phenomenon of “Black Panther” had the look and feel of a classic, bona fide blockbuster in route to its record-setting $201.8 million debut over the weekend, or an estimated $235 million Friday through Monday
•  Just as Jordan Peele’s Oscar-nominated “Get Out” ($253 million worldwide on a $4.5 million production budget) and Patty Jenkins “Wonder Woman” ($821.1 million) did before it
• “Coco,” which is expected to win the Oscar for best animated feature next month, has gross more than $730 million worldwide. It’s the biggest budget release starring an all-Latino cast.
• Other standout hits have included “Girls Trip” — the biggest comedy of 2017
• The audience for “Black Panther” was 65 per cent non-white, including 37 per cent black, according to comScore.

This highlights the fact that there is an increasing change in how people are represented in the media and that ethnic people are being represented in more positive ways and not just how they were stereotypically represented. 'Girl trip was a successful film but it can still be argued that they were stereotypically represented as 'humorous' (Alvarado). The sane could be argued for 'Black Panther' but the typical conventions of a Marvel film is to incorporate comedy into it.

NDM 35

Kylie Jenner helps to wipe $1bn from Snapchat with tweet over redesign woes

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/22/snapchat-redesign-12m-signature-petition-social-media-app-kylie-jenner-celebrities

- The Guardian

This article talks about how snapchat has redesigned the layout and how because of this more than $1bn was wiped off Snap Inc’s market value on Thursday, in one of the company’s worst trading days since it went public last year – and the rout was led by a tweet from Kylie Jenner.

• Jenner’s tweet, combined with growing fears on the part of investors that a long-awaited usability-focused redesign may not solve Snapchat’s user growth issues, sparked a plunge in the company’s stock, which fell 6% over the course of Thursday, clearing $1.3bn from its market capitalisation.

I find this interesting because it shows the argument between Marxism and pluralism. This is because of the fact that 1.2 billion people have signed a petition showcasing a sense of pluralism wit this collective agreement that the update isn't up to standards but however this is shot down by the snapchat organisations with a dismissive statement  “We completely understand the new Snapchat has felt uncomfortable for many,” the company said. However, it added, “this new foundation is just the beginning and we will always listen closely to find new ways to make the service better for everyone”. This suggest that they wont change the layout and thus in turn ignoring the voices of millions.

Identities: Introduction to Feminism

Introduction to feminism: blog tasks 


Case study: Everyday Sexism

Watch this TEDx talk by Everyday Sexism founder Laura Bates:

 

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?
- Laura bates started the Everyday Sexism program because she had experience 3 separate incidences of sexual harassment within one week and it opened her eye to how this behaviour has been normalised and how if she hadn't experienced these incident in the same week she wouldn't have thought twice about them. She then began to ask around to see if anyone else had experienced this and she thought that only a few would but she found out that it was everyone she spoke to that had a story.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?
- It links to post feminism as it shows how despite the fact that women have been considered more equal than in the past, it is perceived as a way to shut away any other dilemmas or situations that may be important to shed light to.
I think feminism is still required in western societies as there are people who are vocalising their opinions and standing against what is wrong. This is evident through the amount of people who responded to her blog, coming out with their opinions and stories.

3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project?
- New technology was essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project because it she set up a website to bring attention t the issue. She thought only a few would add their stories. 50,000 women and men added their stories over the course of 18 months. This was people of different countries, people of all ages, races, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religious and non- religious, disabled and non-disabled and so on. This shows that a small thing can go a long way and that new technology has allowed for globalisation to increase as it allows different people to access the same website and share their experiences and knowledge.

4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is YOUR view on the future of feminism?
- I think that Feminism is such an important topic as it brings light to different issues in society. It is not just about the equality of women but also men which is often overlooked when it comes to understanding the theory. I believe that we have the capacity to be at a point where campaigns like the Everyday Sexism project wont be needed but it feels like we are still have a long way to go for that. 


Media Magazine: The fourth wave?

Read the article: The Fourth Wave? Feminism in the Digital Age in MM55 (p64). You'll find the article in our Media Magazine archive here.

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?
Networked feminism
- Networked feminism is claimed to be the new fourth wave feminism that we are supposedly currently in. The aim of this wave is to tackle social equality issues found both on, and using, modern technology. There have been many campaigns and hasthatgs that have caused a spur on the feminist upheaval. This also includes user generated content website, blogs and even Twitter. Twitter playing a role in highlighting the significance of feminism using hashtags such as #WomenAgainstFeminism and #YesAllWomen.

Why is it a problem
- Many people in 2015 believed that since women have achieved laws against inequality they have now won what they have fought for, despite some believing that is not the case. In the media feminist are frequently associated with campaigners such as the suffragettes. The essence of feminism is also only partially understood. There are many different types of feminism that the definition and ideologies are often blurred. Feminist are still frequently described as 'man-haters'

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 

• First Wave - Suffragette Mouvement (Right to vote)
• Second Wave - Reproductive rights, Abortion and Equal Pay 
• Third Wave - Post-Feminism (Empowerment, reclaiming of femininity)
• Fourth Wave - Networked Feminism (use of new technology)

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.
Everyday Sexism
- The everyday sexism campaign began in 2012 by Laura Bates. This was due to the fact that she had 3 incidents in the same week where she experienced harassment. She created the campaign (online website) in order to allow people to share their story online and their experiences. After a certain amount of time she saw that over 50,000 people responded. Until now Everyday sexism is a highly visible digital feminist digital campaign mainly due to the user-generated content.

HeForShe
- The HE or She campaign is led by Emma Watson that showcases the inclusive idea of feminism. This campaign focuses on male support for gender equality; highlighting the fact that feminism is not about promoting matriarchy, but solidarity. He digital commitment means that you can pledge to help the women issues 

FCKH8 Campaign
- The movement for this came from modern representations of girls and the huge social inequalities they face.IT is a for-profit country which created a huge backlash as it seemed like they were using feminism as way of exploitation 

This Girl Can
- This is described as the first Fitness campaign for women which doesn't shame or exclude them by sharing photos, videos and quotes of women without the usual sexual exploitation of women fitness advert and without body shaming. 


4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?
- I believe that we are in the fourth wave of feminism because it is not necessarily focusing on empowerment and reclaiming femininity, in my opinion. I think that it is more focusing on raising awareness once again and making people understand and challenging the views of others whilst also fighting for the fundamental ideologies of feminism - which the equality of women and men. Campaigns like the Everyday Sexism Project for example, is seen to bring awareness to the issues women and men have to face and encourages people to make a change.

Post-colonialism - bonus reading and tasks

MM58: Social Media and Black Identity

Open up MM58 from our Media Magazine archive. Go to page 66 and read Social Media and Black Identity then complete the following tasks:

1) List three theorists discussed in the article and what they believe regarding black identity.

Aisha Harris - argued that social media plays a negative role in the construction of black identities. That the rise of social media has created a culture  wherein black people are subject to a process of 'memeification', where their likeness becomes a decontextualized internet 'meme'. This links back to the idea that there is an unconscious deep-rooted desire to see black people perform and entertain (Alvarado - Humour), thus creating an environment where black identities are fixed, and dominant attitudes towards blackness are reinforced.

Giddens - argues in contrast, believing that social media can be an arena for the construction of positive black identities. E.g. 'The Blackout' campaign on Tumblr that promoted hashtags such as #blackexcellence #melanin etc. Suggesting that black people have used social media as a way to inspire. however it can be argued that this celebration of blackness has been derailed by social media and that this positive gains of the campaign largely failed to translate in real life.

Henry Jenkins - argues that social media is an arena in which 'Participatory cultures' can be established: online, interest driven networks that allow members to creatively channel the skill they gain online into political activism and the voicing of marginalised viewpoints. Jenkins argues that participatory cultures have the power to influence politics and to positively shape the world around them.

2) In your opinion, is social media a positive or negative force when it comes to issues of black identity?

- In my opinion I think that social media allows for a more positive force that traditional media when it comes to black identity. It allows information to be spread, more people with a voice. I agree with the idea of black people on social media become a 'meme'. However there is a large sense of connectivity and mutual agreement for facing injustice seen online and standing up for what they feel is right that is shared like a community.

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the issue of social media and black identity?

- Alvarado's theory of representation where black people are linked to humour. This is linked to the idea of 'memeification' mentioned by theorist Aisha Harris. Where Black people are positioned as a source of entertainment and to perform. However when we looks at Giddens idea of positive construction of black identities. It can be said that Alvarado's Exotic is used in a positive way as people on social media platforms such as Tumblr or Instagram are becoming more accepting of their culture and promoting Blackness with hashtags such as #BlackExellence and #Melanin.

A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

Now turn to page 6 and read A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media. When you have read the article, complete the following tasks:

1) What examples of different representations of refugees in the media are offered in the article?

- Refugees are portrayed as hostile and that they are migrants giving the impression that they are travelling by choice and not because they have to flee from genuine danger. Words like swarm, tide or horde are used to describe them and they are made out to be responsible for their own condition. This creates a negative image in the reader's mind as they are made out to seem dangerous or 'parasitically living off settled countries. They are often dehumanised in the media.

However not all representation of refugees are negative. Sometimes one single picture is enough to draw our attention in the other direction for example the Turkish soldier carrying a 3 year old drowned Syrian trying to reach the Greek Island. This allows for a more realistic view of their situation instead of them portrayed in way that presents them as inhumane and dangerous.

2) In your opinion, is the documentary genre more or less biased than the news media? What examples can you provide from the article to support your view?

- I believe that the documentary genre gives a less bias view than the news in the media. Whilst the news is more opinionated and focused on one view. Documentary presents the information how it is presented to them. They record what they see and give the information that is given to them for the audiences to see. 'Refugees beyond Europe: Our Desert Home.' They look at people who have set up camp in Zaatari, where Syrian refugees have settled and you see how they do not necessarily want new homes but are instead waiting for when it is safe to return to theirs. This is the opposite of what is presented in the news where they are said to be swarming into different countries.

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the representation of refugees in the media?

- We can apply Alvarado's theory where the representation of other races are seen as dangerous due to the fact that they are entering the countries illegally and that is how refugees are portrayed as in the news. We can also apply Said's theory of Orientalism where they are seen as uncivilised as they are seen as people that need help, which links to Alvarado's theory of the fact that they are pitied, and journalist like Katie Hopkins are referring to them as 'cockroaches' and other degrading names.

Identities and the Media: Post-colonialism & Orientalism

Orientalism: blog tasks

To complete our work on post-colonial theory, work through the following tasks:

1) Watch the opening of Yasmin (2004) again. 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?

 

- The opening clip to Yasmin offers both negative and positive views of British Muslims. IT challenges Edward Said's theory of orientalism by showing us various clips of Yasmin the main character going to work, conforming to society through things like going to the pub and cracking jokes with her co-worker. There are also clips of another Muslim man who works at a garage going about his daily life without disturbing the locals. This shows very positive representations of British Muslims. However this is challenged through clips of a man in his home, who is seen to be waking up late suggesting that he doesn't have work. He also is seen making his morning tea outside in the back garden instead of the kitchen which shows that he is uncivilised and reinforces the theory of orientalism. Another way the theory is challenged is through the fact that the Muslims man who found graffiti on his door and when Yasmin enters the pub and receives stares for ordering orange juice. This can all suggest that white British people are portrayed as uncivilised.

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

Alvarado - Racial representation in mainly black people are Exotic, Dangerous, Humorous and Pitied.

Fanon - Putting on the white mask - infantilise, Primitive, de-civilise and Essentialise.

Said - Uncivilised vs. civilised. (them and us, Theirs and ours)

 3) Finally, choose ONE clip for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. Pick your clips from YouTube but feel free to use TV, film, music video or advertising - whatever you think is most powerful and relevant. Embed the clips in your blog before writing your analysis under each clip.

ALVARADO

This links to the theory as it shows them being presented as pitied. This is due to the fact that you can see the dangerous conditions that they are living in. They use new born babies as a way to emphasise that feeling of sympathy for the refugees. This gets progressively more intense once it switched from scenes of the camp to scenes of when they are arriving at the shore by the rocks where the waves are crashing and there are many difficulties with the refugees whilst bringing them in.

FANON

Black lightening is a TV series that centres around black gangs and drug dealing and attempting to reform the society. This links to the representation of black people as Fanon's de-civilised as they are a lot of scenes with gangsters and a lot of emphasis on gangs. However this representation is also challenged by black characters being represented as the opposite more civilised. The main character is the head of a school and is wearing a suit and is well put together compared to the gangs. This highlights the phrase 'putting on the white mask.'

SAID

This clip is the opening song to the film 'Aladdin' called 'Arabian Nights'. In the clip you see that the original lyrics had been changed from “Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam, where they cut off your ear, if they don’t like your face, it’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home”. This was then changed to "where its flat and immense and the heat is intense.." Due to the fact that it gained a largely outraged response from the Arab audience. This is evidence of the ideas of orientalism in the sense that the east is portrayed as uncivilised and violent. This shows that it is a deeply-rooted perception as this has been placed in a song meant for children as it is in a Disney movie.

Identities and the Media: Post-colonial theory

Post-colonialism: blog task

1) Read the excellent article exploring the different representations of black people in British film and TV from Media Magazine 42 (MM42 from our Media Magazine archive - page 51). Pick three key points from the article and bullet point them here.

• Part of the problem when analysing black culture in the UK today arises from our dependence upon American Popular Culture as a model for critiquing representational issues
• Online production are able to bypass many of the restrictive production and media ownership issues affecting mainstream broadcast media.
• What we begin to see with these 'alternatives' is the accomplishment of the descendants of Asian, African and Caribbean diaspora, directing their narratives unapologetically, without the need for explanation of 'self', the occupation of 'space' or positioning as 'others'.

2) List FIVE films, FIVE TV programmes and FIVE online-only productions that are discussed in the article. These are great examples you could use in the MEST1 or MEST3 unseen exams.

 

Films
- Kidulthood
- Adulthood
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Sunshine
- Attack The Block

Programmes

- Top Boy
- Luther
- 55 Degrees North
- Line of Duty
- The Real McCoy

Online-only production

- Brothers With NO Game 
- Venus vs Mars
- The Ryan Sisters
- All About The Mckenzies
- Meet The Adebanjos

 

Textual analysis: Destiny Ekaragha 

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.

- In the first clip you can see that Alvorado's theme of Humorous can be applied as the 3 boys are where the boy in the middle is offering a comedic role when he tries to give an in depth detail that is incorrect to answer his friends question. In the end of the clip his friend asks 'how can anyone wear a t-shirt that tight.' when he begins to answer he is cut off straight away. this could lead to Fanons stereotype of infantalization as it shows a very simple minded portrayal of the character. This can be seen to reinforce stereotypes as it shows him to be uneducated. In the second clip you see themes of Exotic being shown when it comes to the characters mother and the way she dresses traditionally and also the accent of the brother that comes from Nigeria. There is also an element of humour when it comes to portraying the characters and they way they are acting. This can be seen as reinforcing stereotypes as it suggests that they cannot integrate as well with society. Which is highlighted when the mother says to her son to try and help his brother talk to a girl. The fact that in both these clips there is no representation of danger can be a way to subvert stereotypes as it is avoiding those harsh stereotypes.

 

NDM 34

My internet usage is getting harder to manage and worrying me. What should I do?

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/31/internet-usage-worrying-hard-to-manage

- The Guardian

The Internet is a blessing and a curse. it allows an individual to be everywhere all at the same time. "my distractions used to be external. Now they are in my hand."
Online interaction can be a cure for loneliness however this can result to an individual's inability to develop offline relationships. for example, women look at online inspiration when it comes to fitness but it has been found to have an opposite effect in the sense that it instead caused insecurities and demotivation.


I agree with this in the sense that it basically is saying that the internet is becoming something that is widely used for a variety of different things and that it has become closely related to our daily lives maybe even to much. It can be argued that we have become a generation dependant on online activity and connectivity.

NDM 33

Pope Francis compares fake news to snake in Garden of Eden

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/24/pope-francis-fake-news-snake-garden-of-eden

- The Guardian

Pope Francis has denounced fake news as evil, comparing it to the snake in the Garden of Eden, and urged journalists to make it their mission to search for the truth. In his annual social communications message, Francis said fake news played on stereotypes and prejudices, and praised efforts to make social media users aware of false reports. He called for a shared commitment to rediscovering the “dignity of journalism” and for reporters to speak the truth with work that was “truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines”. Francis has learned as pope to use the media to get his message across, but he still frequently complains about what he considers one-sided reporting and what he has dubbed the “sins of the media: disinformation, slander and defamation”.

I think this is an interesting way to put things into perspective wen it comes to fake news. The fact that the Pope has worked in media before being the Pope. Despite the medias efforts there is always going to be a sense of bias when it comes to reporting news. There has been an increase in sensationalism when you look at the BBC they have more clickbait headlines in order to get more people to view a story. It has become more entertainment than quality journalism.