Study Notes This is my notes to help me expand my knowledge for Essays and Exams.
Globalisation:is us being incorporated into a single word society where the motto is 'west is best'
Discourse:This is about the way we consume the text and our 'situated culture'.
Ideology:is beliefs or assumptions which become accepted by the majority as true, even becoming adopted into the laws of society.
Anderson:Nation states are 'imagined communities' in which similarity in appearance, religion and language can create a nation. Anyone who is different is a threat.
The "Other":Edward Said. It refers to emphasising the weakness of marginalised groups as a way of stressing the alleged strength of those in positions of power. We enforce self esteem by comparing ourselves with other races claiming superiority over them.
Personal Freedom:The Ideology that we should have substantial personal freedom in which to enjoy our lives. This is from America's Constituion that enshrines the right to 'Liberty' and 'The Pursuit of Happiness''
Angela Barry's 3 stereotypes:'Troublemaker' - 'Entertainer' and 'Dependant'
Barber: Suggests that we are increasingly living in 'a sterile American monoculture'
Lull: Suggests that 'local cultures stubbornly persist and are often strengthened through their opposition to the influence of 'Westernisation'. ( Also using the term- 'Decontextualised neofundamernalism')
Link to AQA COMMS: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/communication-and-culture/a-level/communication-and-culture-2625 Definition: Postcolonialism or postcolonial studies is an academic discipline featuring methods of intellectual discourse that analyze, explain, and respond to the cultural legacies of colonialism and imperialism, to the human consequences of controlling a country and establishing settlers for the economic exploitation of the native people and their land. Drawing from postmodern schools of thought, Postcolonial Studies analyse the politics of knowledge (creation, control, and distribution) by analyzing the functional relations of social and political power that sustain colonialism and neocolonialism—the how and the why of an imperial regime's representations (social, political, cultural) of the imperial colonizer and of the colonized people.
This link to a video shows a clip of a 1970's television programme of "Mind your Language".
However the video is private and can't be shown,
Mind Your Language is a British comedy television series which premiered on ITV in late-1977. Produced by London Weekend Television and directed by Stuart Allen, the show is set in an adult education college in London and focuses on the English as a Foreign Language class taught by Mr Jeremy Brown, portrayed by Barry Evans, who had to deal with a motley crew of foreign students. Three series were made by LWT between 1977–79, and the show was briefly revived in 1986 with six of the original cast.
David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor. After beginning his film career in 1993 as Ahchoo in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights, he landed minor roles in box office hits including The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. He co-wrote himself into his first lead role in Half Baked (1998), which was directed by Tamra Davis.
In this video he jokes about how Americans class black men and women. But he responds by making it into a joke. PUBLIC ENEMY- ''FIGHT THE POWER'':
This video shows Public Enemy's most famous song "Fight the Power",this is a song by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released as a single in June 1989 on Motown Records. It was conceived at the request of film director Spike Lee, who sought a musical theme for his 1989 film Do the Right Thing. First issued on the film's 1989 soundtrack, a different version was featured on Public Enemy's 1990 studio album Fear of a Black Planet.
Here are the lyrics. [Intro] Yet our best trained, best educated, best equipped, best prepared troops refuse to fight. As a matter of fact, it’s safe to say that they would rather switch than fight
[Verse 1] 1989 the number another summer (get down) Sound of the funky drummer Music hitting your heart cause I know you got soul (Brothers and sisters, hey) Listen if you're missing y'all Swinging while I'm singing Giving whatcha getting Knowing what I know While the Black bands sweating And the rhythm rhymes rolling Got to give us what we want Gotta give us what we need Our freedom of speech is freedom or death We got to fight the powers that be Lemme hear you say Fight the power
[Hook] Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that be
[Verse 2] As the rhythm designed to bounce What counts is that the rhymes Designed to fill your mind Now that you've realized the pride's arrived We got to pump the stuff to make us tough From the heart It's a start, a work of art To revolutionize make a change nothing's strange People, people we are the same No we're not the same Cause we don't know the game What we need is awareness, we can't get careless You say what is this? My beloved lets get down to business Mental self defensive fitness (Yo) bum rush the show You gotta go for what you know Make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be Lemme hear you say Fight the power
[Hook]
[Verse 3] Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant shit to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother fuck him and John Wayne Cause I'm Black and I'm proud I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps Sample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check Don't worry be happy Was a number one jam Damn if I say it you can slap me right here (Get it) lets get this party started right Right on, c'mon What we got to say Power to the people no delay To make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be
The Intro quote was from a 1967 speech by civil rights activist and attorney Thomas ‘TNT’ Todd about Vietnam deserters. Todd is parodying a slogan of Tareyton cigarettes, who had ran an ad campaign in the 60’s stating that their smokers “would rather fight than switch” to another brand. BOB MARLEY- ''NO MORE TROUBLE'':https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPZydAotVOY&feature=related
This clip shows Bob Marley singing at a concert where he sings that everyone needs love not trouble. He expresses that there is war between the inferior and the superior. Meaning the different races going against each other. Mainly Africans, he also expresses that the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship has been crushed because war is everywhere.
Here is the Lyrics: Until the philosophy which hold one race Superior and another inferior Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned Everywhere is war, me say war That until there are no longer first class And second class citizens of any nation Until the colour of a man's skin Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes Me say war That until the basic human rights are equally Guaranteed to all, without regard to race Dis a war That until that day The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship Rule of international morality Will remain in but a fleeting illusion To be pursued, but never attained Now everywhere is war, war And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes That hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique, South Africa sub-human bondage Have been toppled, utterly destroyed Well, everywehre is war, me say war War in the east, war in the west War up north, war down south War, war, rumours of war And until that day, the African continent Will not know peace, we Africans will fight We find it necessary and we know we shall win As we are confident in the victory Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil Good over evil, good over evil, good over evil (We don't need) No, we don't need (no more trouble) No more trouble! (We don't need no more trouble) (We don't need) We don't need (no more) trouble! We don't need no trouble! (We don't need no more trouble) Make love and not war! 'Cause we don't need no trouble What we need is love (love) To guide and protect us on (on) If you hope good down from above (love) Help the weak if you are strong now (strong) We don't need no trouble (Need no trouble) What we need is love (What we need is love sweet love) Oh, no! We don't need, we don't need, no more trouble! Lord knows, we don't need no trouble! (We don't need) We don't need trouble (no more trouble) No more trouble, no more trouble! Speak happiness! (Sad enough without your woes) Come on, you all, and speak of love (Sad enough without your foes) We don't need no trouble (We don't need your troubles) What we need is love now (What we need is love!) (We don't need) Oh, we don't need no more trouble! We don't need, no, we don't need no trouble! We don't (need), no brothers and sisters, (no more trouble!) They say we don't need another little hungry mouth to feed But what I would on the double is we don't really need no more trouble! Let's all be trouble free! No more troubles to bother me! What we need is love (love) To guide and protect us on (on) Look donw if you are above (above) Help the weak if you are strong now (strong) Speak happiness (Sad enough without your woes) I beg you to speak of love (Sad enough without your foes) We don't need no trouble, we don't need no trouble! We don't need no trouble! What we need is love! We don't need, no more trouble, we don't need no more trouble! Troubles, we don't need (we don't need), Lord, knows! We don't need no more war (no more trouble)! No more trouble, we don't need no more, more trouble! SKIN WHITENING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9T9SNi-u6M
This youtube clip shows a Jamaican Documentary of Skin Bleaching (2006)
I would think this clip is out of date to summarise Postcolonism, however skin bleaching still happens in the modern society to feel equal with the "superior race". For Example Nicki Minaj had her skin bleached for her career as a change to fit in with celebrities.
This is before and after. But Nicki is not the only star to have been "accused" or yet actually lightening their skin. Here is a link to an article about accusations of Nicki and Rihanna because of lightening their skin. http://urbanbellemag.com/2014/06/kenyan-model-accuses-nicki-minaj-rihanna-lightening-skin.html
The Urban Model Vera Sidika was accused for lightening her skin. So she targeted two celebrites, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.
Here is an before and after image of the Urban model: Vera Sidika.
The role models of the Africans,Jamaicans,etc. Should love who they are. But really in my view and the victims who express strongly against skin bleaching would feel more inferior and upset because it would make them feel ugly.
CRICKET TEST: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_test
From this link it defines the term "Cricket test" also known as "Tebbit test" . It states that ''it was a controversial phrase coined in April 1990 by the British Conservative politician Norman Tebbit in reference to the perceived lack of loyalty of immigrants and their children from South Asia and the Caribbean to the England cricket team. Tebbit suggested that those immigrants who support their native countries rather than England at the sport of cricket are not significantly integrated into the United Kingdom.'' MORRISSEY - "BENGALI IN PLATFORMS" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qTY6-xKHpM
This link shows an infamous song called "Bengali in Platforms" from a well know lyricist named Steven Patrick Morrissey, commonly known as from his last name 'Morrissey'. There is many opinions about his work, He is widely regarded as an important innovator in the indie music scene; music magazine NME considers Morrissey to be "one of the most influential artists ever", while The Independent says, "Most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status he has reached in his lifetime." In 2004, Pitchfork Media called him "one of the most singular figures in Western popular culture from the last 20 years."
There are debates about whether this song is racist or not. It was said that ''the "narrator" is just saying to the boy/man that moving to the western world might not be what he dreamed of because people are racist, and it may be hard to live here. And he is also saying to the western people, that this guy just wants to embrace your culture...it is in no way racist.''
Here is the Lyrics:
Bengali, Bengali Bengali, Bengali No no no He does not want to depress you Oh no no no no no He only wants to impress you Oh... Bengali in platforms He only wants to embrace your culture And to be your friend forever Forever Bengali, Bengali Bengali, Bengali Oh, shelve your Western plans And understand That life is hard enough when you belong here A silver-studded rim that glistens And an ankle-star that...blinds me A lemon sole so very high Which only reminds me; to tell you Break the news gently Break the news to him gently "Shelve your plans; shelve your plans, shelve them" Bengali, Bengali It's the touchy march of time that binds you Don't blame me Don't hate me Just because I'm the one to tell you That life is hard enough when you belong here That life is hard enough when you belong here Oh... Shelve your Western plans Oh... Shelve your Western plans 'Cause life is hard enough when you belong Life is hard enough when you belong here Oh... Shelve your Western plans Oh... Shelve your best friends 'Cause life is hard when you belong here Oh... Life is hard enough when you belong
My First Analysis on Vampires is called Vampire Acadamy
Vampire Academy is an American best-selling series of six young-adult paranormal romance novels by author Richelle Mead. It tells the story of Rose Hathaway, a seventeen/eighteen-year-old Dhampir girl, who is training to be a bodyguard for her Moroi best friend, Vasilisa "Lissa" Dragomir. In the process of learning how to defeat Strigoi (the evil undead vampires) in St. Vladimir's Academy, Rose finds herself caught in a forbidden romance with her instructor, Dimitri Belikov, while having an unbreakable bond with Lissa.
But it has now been turned into a hybrid genre movie of Comedy,Romance and Horror. You may see this as a "Chick Flick" as it is aimed at the female audience.
This movie portrays the 'High School life' based on american stereotypes, mainly because of the group classification and bullying issues that are usually focused around American schools.
I have analysed two trailers that have differentiated the view on the movie.
In my essay I shall be talking about Key concepts that involve in this media piece. 'Death Becomes Her' is a film about two women competing to look the best when they have learnt the works of Immortality. Once they found out they had both drank the 'youth potion' they realised they have become 'damaged'. Andrew William Elvish wrote an article in Concordia University talking about how 'Death Becomes Her' relates to fashion that naturalizes the image of women who risks themselves to become skinny, that death gets closer every time they want to "look good". In the first clip "Eternal Youth" it shows the main protagonist- Madeline, buying the 'youth' potion for an huge amount of money, just to look young again.
Both characters, Helen and Madeline come from different backgrounds. Where Helen comes from a working class family with a low paid job and Madeline is a 'Famous Actress'. Power is involved not just by looks but because of money and fame, Madeline is a plutocrat because of her so say "successful" acting career, living in a mansion and with great wealth., showing that she is better than Helen in everything. But over the many years of rivalry they become dissatisfied with how they look, Helen changes her physical appearance to look more attractive than Madeline so she can steal back the man she once had. By changing her physical appearance and becoming her ideal self she gives everything she owns for a mysterious potion that gives eternal youth. When Madeline sees Helen after so many years, she gets Jealous and wonders how she looks so attractive when they are the same age.
Representation:
This film represents women in the fashion industry. The models who starve themselves to get the figure they want or what the high fashion businesses want. They follow the "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy" also known as The Pygmalion Effect meaning to change their lifestyle and behaviour to fulfil the expectations of others. It has been no secret for decades now that photographers, designers and fashion events’ organizers have a preference for thin models. By doing so In the second clip of the 'Medical Mystery', Ernest ( acted by Bruce Willis) quotes; "You're a violation of every Natural Law I know". By becoming Immortal, risking their bodies and by trying to look good in the extent of getting close to death - Models are becoming like it everyday. This desensitises teenagers with anorexia to carry on starving themselves, linking to the Cultivation Theory by sending a media message to change individuals. This is saying you don't have to risk coming close to death to look your best.
Value:
The film shows that women value their looks, wanting role models to look up to. This is known as the "Modelling Theory" - the idea that Robert Merton developed which he saw as groups of people whom an individual aspires to. It is the belief that individuals value what is most important to them or something you care about. Because of society, everyone judges a woman about how she looks. For example the clothes to wear to work; A skirt,makeup,tight clothing that outlines her figure. The conventions of the perfect woman about being beautiful. This is the ideology that most believe to be true, valuing happiness, by becoming 'beautiful' and risking your body in danger of ruining yourself in the long run.
Code is a set of conventions or sub-codes currently in use to
communicate meaning.
When a sign has generated
meaning, it is said to have achieved signification.
Communication is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages,
or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing, or behavior. It is the
meaningful exchange of information between two or more living creatures.
Context Is where the situation within which communication takes place.
Cultureis a particular way of life which expresses certain meanings
and values.
Identityis how
we understand our self (our self concept) is composed
of two aspects
Self image-
how we PERCEIVE ourselves
Self esteem-
how we evaluate ourselves
Power is the ability or
capacity to perform or act effectively.
Representation is the act or an instance of representing or the state of
being represented.
so anything that represents, such as a verbal or
pictorial portrait
or anything that is represented, such as an image brought
clearly to mind
Value:the worth, importance, or
usefulness of something to somebody.
Question 1 on the COMM 1 exam paper will have something to do with the 'nature of culture'. One concept we are interested in here is 'cultural value'. Cultural Products and practices are often seen as more or less valuable depending on a number of factors. A cultural product or practice might be seen as 'valuable' because;
It is worth money
It is popular
It is new
It fulfils a need in society
It is a part of a tradition
It is morally civilising
It produces a reaction
It is Emotionally important to an individual
It is respected by others
It is influential
It has stood the test of time
It is original
It is challenging
It is produced by talented individuals
It is valued by those in power (the establishment)
Often these ideas are Contradictory, and one argument is that it is impossible to say for certain whether a cultural product or practice is more or less 'valuable' than another. This idea is sometimes termed 'cultural relativism' - the idea that all cultural practices are equally valid and valuable.
The concept of High Culture introduced by Mathew Arnold sees cultural value stemming from challenge, tradition,talent,influence and moral guidance. 'the best that has been thought and known' in Arnold's words has been collected into a 'canon' - a set of cultural products and practices which are 'better' than all others, and are what should be aspired to.
Popular Culture, or Mass Culture, is made up of cultural products and practices which appeal to the majority, the masses, which are perhaps less demanding at an intellectual level.
Been practicing analysing texts using a variety of frameworks such as Representation , Denotation , and Connotations , Signifiers and Signified , Mode of Address ,Conventions , Audience and Barriers.
Myth and Ideology
In order to come to a more detailed and sophisticated understanding of a text, it is often useful to think about Roland Barthes' concepts of Myth and Ideology.
Myth
Barthes' concept of myth refers to a belief or assumption held by a group of people. Sometimes this assumption is supported by some evidence, but the term 'myth' draws attention to the fact that the idea is not necessarily 'true'. It is closely linked to the concept of Stereotypes and convention. For Example; the idea of the 'dumb blonde' or the 'racist policeman', the assumption that if you work hard you can be whoever you want to be, or the belief in the convention of marriage.
Ideology
Barthes' Concept of Ideology refers to the beliefs or assumptions which become accepted by the majority as true, even becoming adopted into the laws of society. Some examples might include the age of sexual consent, patriotism,lending money for profit, white supremacy, and men being more important than women. As you can see, these ideologies are open to change. This leads to the idea that ideologies can be 'emerging', 'dominant' or 'residual'.
