- People can create false identities easily
- No proof is needed to confirm your identity
- You can even put a false picture up and pretend it's you
- It can be used as a kind of escapism (as Angela did, to escape from her difficult family life)
- It shows how easy it is to get things and claim them as your own (as Angela claimed Youtube videos as her own music)
- It makes it seem okay to lie, because it's easy and seems as though no one will find out.
- It can encourage false relationships (i.e. Angela and Nev). People think they are close but they may not really know each other as it is so easy to hold things back and create a false identity.
Showing posts with label Mercedes Rollason. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercedes Rollason. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
What does this film have to say about the ways we construct our identity through modern technology?
How far does the representation of a particular social group change over time?
How far does the representation of a British family change over time?
Alfie
Inbetweeners
Past media representations of family (i.e. the film Alfie) show society striving for the 'nuclear family' ideal, shown through the characters of Gilda and Humphrey. Gilda gives up her love for Alfie to go and have a life with Humphrey, going along with the social 'norms' of the time, thus following Stryker's theory of social expectations.
An Education presents the nuclear family ideal at the beginning. However Jenny rebels against this norm and tries to further herself with her relationship with David, however her parents would have allowed her to give up all her education at the age of 17 to have a married life. This follows Althusser's theory as society has drummed the idea of marriage and Jenny's parents comply.
The characters in Inbetweeners are part of a younger age group, therefore their view of marriage and family is drastically different to one in the 1960s. They strive for sex, not marriage. This is shown by the constant sexual references throughout the show. Whereas Gilda in Alfie is seen to be wearing a false wedding ring in the hospital so as to hide the fact that she is an unmarried mother.
Improvements
1) Analyse the theories to show that you actually know what the theorists say and link it to your TV and film examples.
2) Analyse your points and examples more to explain how they intercept with each other and the theorists.
How far does the representation of a British family change over time?
Alfie
Inbetweeners
Past media representations of family (i.e. the film Alfie) show society striving for the 'nuclear family' ideal, shown through the characters of Gilda and Humphrey. Gilda gives up her love for Alfie to go and have a life with Humphrey, going along with the social 'norms' of the time, thus following Stryker's theory of social expectations.
An Education presents the nuclear family ideal at the beginning. However Jenny rebels against this norm and tries to further herself with her relationship with David, however her parents would have allowed her to give up all her education at the age of 17 to have a married life. This follows Althusser's theory as society has drummed the idea of marriage and Jenny's parents comply.
The characters in Inbetweeners are part of a younger age group, therefore their view of marriage and family is drastically different to one in the 1960s. They strive for sex, not marriage. This is shown by the constant sexual references throughout the show. Whereas Gilda in Alfie is seen to be wearing a false wedding ring in the hospital so as to hide the fact that she is an unmarried mother.
Improvements
1) Analyse the theories to show that you actually know what the theorists say and link it to your TV and film examples.
2) Analyse your points and examples more to explain how they intercept with each other and the theorists.
Analysis of example answer
T = 9
E = 10
A = 17
Positives - Good knowledge of theories. Uses a variety of examples. Detailed analysis and strong understanding.
Negatives - Examples don't give specific details of characters and scenes.
E = 10
A = 17
Positives - Good knowledge of theories. Uses a variety of examples. Detailed analysis and strong understanding.
Negatives - Examples don't give specific details of characters and scenes.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Meanings in the films we studied.
In An Education, Jenny shuts the door to her room, and her dad has to bring her cup of tea to the other side of the door. This shows the barriers she has put up.
Signifier = Door
Signified = An entrance
Semiology = There is more than one meaning
Sign = A barrier between Jenny and her father and the outside world.
In Fish Tank, the main family are often seen watching MTV, and the wallpaper is of palm trees. This shows that they are always aspiring to live the 'American dream'.
Signifier = MTV and wallpaper
Signified = Music TV and wallpaper
Semiology = There is more than one meaning
Sign = The characters are aspiring to live in America.
In Coronation Street, the pub represents a community, not just a place to go for a drink.
Signifier = The pub
Signified = A place to drink
Semiology = There is more than one purpose
Sign = It's also the place everyone sees each other, which creates a community spirit.
Signifier = Door
Signified = An entrance
Semiology = There is more than one meaning
Sign = A barrier between Jenny and her father and the outside world.
In Fish Tank, the main family are often seen watching MTV, and the wallpaper is of palm trees. This shows that they are always aspiring to live the 'American dream'.
Signifier = MTV and wallpaper
Signified = Music TV and wallpaper
Semiology = There is more than one meaning
Sign = The characters are aspiring to live in America.
In Coronation Street, the pub represents a community, not just a place to go for a drink.
Signifier = The pub
Signified = A place to drink
Semiology = There is more than one purpose
Sign = It's also the place everyone sees each other, which creates a community spirit.
Roland Barthes -TESCO Semiology
"Originally a UK-focused retailer specialising in food and drink, it has diversified both geographically and by product, into areas such as clothing, electronics, financial services, telecoms, home, health, car and dental insurance, retailing and renting DVDs,[9] CDs, music downloads, Internet services and software." - Wikipedia
Sign
Tesco has more meanings. E.g. car insurance
Seminology
Tesco has grown
Object Meaning
The Tesco logo Food and drink
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Upstairs, Downstairs Responses
Is the representation of the Chauffer portrayed from a biased point of the view? If so why?
Our opinion is biased because we are only shown other people's opinions, and are never given a chance to form our own. For example, in the scene where the chauffer and Percy go to the talk, we never fully hear the speaker, we only see the reactions of the audience. The chauffer never actually discusses why he has the opinions he does; just that that's what he believes. Another reason the portrayal of the Chauffer would be negative is that the BBC have knowledge now of what was really going on in Germany with the Nazis, so have to make sure that the audience know that what they were doing was bad. However if the programme had been made at the time of the nazis, the Chauffer may not have been represented so negatively as they did not have full knowledge of what was going on at the time.
In what ways could you say the upstairs family and downstairs staff are clinging to tradition in the changing world?
The scene where the chauffer walks into the kitchen in his uniform shows that the cook is set in her ways and thinks that food comes before anything else. Also, the husband tells Percy that she can't live in their house if she has fascist views because 'they are British'.
Why do you think Lady Persephone wants to join the black shirts?
Rebellion and boredom. Also because she likes the chauffer ;)
Can you find similarities between Lady Persphone and Jenny from An Education?
Rebellion, and (young) age trying to be mature. Status in the family - being treated as a child and wanting to rebel. For example, Jenny goes to Oxford and doesn't tell her father the real reason.
Whose British collective identity do you think is the strongest and why?
Upstairs, if you rebelled, the consequences could result in being disowned, depending on the situation and your status. Downstairs, people tend to get over rebelliousness, for example the chauffeur scene (as above) because they see other things as more important. Also, the indian man who normally took his meals upstairs broke the collective identity by coming downstairs; he was accepted. However the Black Shirts would kill you if you were living in Germany and didn't follow the collective identity.
Our opinion is biased because we are only shown other people's opinions, and are never given a chance to form our own. For example, in the scene where the chauffer and Percy go to the talk, we never fully hear the speaker, we only see the reactions of the audience. The chauffer never actually discusses why he has the opinions he does; just that that's what he believes. Another reason the portrayal of the Chauffer would be negative is that the BBC have knowledge now of what was really going on in Germany with the Nazis, so have to make sure that the audience know that what they were doing was bad. However if the programme had been made at the time of the nazis, the Chauffer may not have been represented so negatively as they did not have full knowledge of what was going on at the time.
In what ways could you say the upstairs family and downstairs staff are clinging to tradition in the changing world?
The scene where the chauffer walks into the kitchen in his uniform shows that the cook is set in her ways and thinks that food comes before anything else. Also, the husband tells Percy that she can't live in their house if she has fascist views because 'they are British'.
Why do you think Lady Persephone wants to join the black shirts?
Rebellion and boredom. Also because she likes the chauffer ;)
Can you find similarities between Lady Persphone and Jenny from An Education?
Rebellion, and (young) age trying to be mature. Status in the family - being treated as a child and wanting to rebel. For example, Jenny goes to Oxford and doesn't tell her father the real reason.
Whose British collective identity do you think is the strongest and why?
Upstairs, if you rebelled, the consequences could result in being disowned, depending on the situation and your status. Downstairs, people tend to get over rebelliousness, for example the chauffeur scene (as above) because they see other things as more important. Also, the indian man who normally took his meals upstairs broke the collective identity by coming downstairs; he was accepted. However the Black Shirts would kill you if you were living in Germany and didn't follow the collective identity.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
To what Extent is Human Identity Increasingly Mediated?
Essay Plan.
Films to mention: An Education, Alfie, Inbetweeners.
Explain what "mediated" means.
Paragraphy One:
in An Education, the scene where she is seen in mature clothing with david and helen has done her hair to seem more grown up, relate to theorist Styker - identity negotiation develops a consistent set of behaviours that reinforce the identity of a person or group, basically people change to fit in.
Paragraph Two:
Alfie- Gilda puts a ring on her finger and pretends to be married to Alfie this shows that Marriage is shown as sacred and the done thing at the time, it's a disgrace to have a child without being married Abortion was also seen as frowned upon.
Paragraph Three:
Inbetweeners, Scene in the kitchen where simon and Tara are getting close and the scene in the lounge with the universtiy students.Teenagers drink and only have sex on their mind. Marcuse. Attitudes and habits , certain interlectual and emotional reasons which blind the consumer and reduce then to a mindless mass.
Conclusion
British identity is shown through the media effecting the way some thing is presented by age and time.
Films to mention: An Education, Alfie, Inbetweeners.
Explain what "mediated" means.
Paragraphy One:
in An Education, the scene where she is seen in mature clothing with david and helen has done her hair to seem more grown up, relate to theorist Styker - identity negotiation develops a consistent set of behaviours that reinforce the identity of a person or group, basically people change to fit in.
Paragraph Two:
Alfie- Gilda puts a ring on her finger and pretends to be married to Alfie this shows that Marriage is shown as sacred and the done thing at the time, it's a disgrace to have a child without being married Abortion was also seen as frowned upon.
Paragraph Three:
Inbetweeners, Scene in the kitchen where simon and Tara are getting close and the scene in the lounge with the universtiy students.Teenagers drink and only have sex on their mind. Marcuse. Attitudes and habits , certain interlectual and emotional reasons which blind the consumer and reduce then to a mindless mass.
Conclusion
British identity is shown through the media effecting the way some thing is presented by age and time.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
What does the Film say abut Family Unit today? / Have our opinions changed from what we read in the article?
1. What it seems like from this film is that single parent family's have no boundries and are more common in this film. However Connor's family, which we only discover at the end of the film, are seemingly a 'nuclear' family. However, even this family are unconventional in some way, as Connor is cheating on his wife with Mia's mum AND Mia :/ This shows that there is no such thing as a 'conventional' family unit.
2. At the beginning we all thought we didn't like her. However now, we see her selfish and jealous out of control behaviour was due to the lack of love from her mother. Therefore, it appears to be less of her fault, however, being human, we all have choices and luckily she chooses to turn her life around at the end.
2. At the beginning we all thought we didn't like her. However now, we see her selfish and jealous out of control behaviour was due to the lack of love from her mother. Therefore, it appears to be less of her fault, however, being human, we all have choices and luckily she chooses to turn her life around at the end.
Initially, is Connor a father figure for Mia?
Mia see's Connor as not her father figure, but one for her younger sister Tyler and that of his own child. The way Mia see's Connor is that of a lover, at first Mia saw him as just a money tree and then her feelings grew.
When Mia found out Connor in actual fact had a family of his own, she became jealous which is the root of her anger and other emotions.
When Mia found out Connor in actual fact had a family of his own, she became jealous which is the root of her anger and other emotions.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Fish Tank.
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/86764/fish-tank.html
After reading this review, we think that the article is encouraging us to think that the main character Mia is of a lower status to us, with her personality, attitudes and background. For example, she calls her little sister a 'Fuck face.' In addition to this, the article brings across the idea that Mia come across as someone who has very little respect for herself. However, it might not been her fault as the reviews tells us that Mia's mum brings home a man who 'promises her the riches' even though we think it might be false promises as he might just want a 'bit of action.'
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3086235/bio
We also looked a little bit about the actress herself, we think that this presence her as a rude, 'drop out' who the media are always convincing us is bad;
After reading this review, we think that the article is encouraging us to think that the main character Mia is of a lower status to us, with her personality, attitudes and background. For example, she calls her little sister a 'Fuck face.' In addition to this, the article brings across the idea that Mia come across as someone who has very little respect for herself. However, it might not been her fault as the reviews tells us that Mia's mum brings home a man who 'promises her the riches' even though we think it might be false promises as he might just want a 'bit of action.'
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3086235/bio
We also looked a little bit about the actress herself, we think that this presence her as a rude, 'drop out' who the media are always convincing us is bad;
Was 'discovered' when she was having a heated argument with her boyfriend across the platforms at Tilbury Town railway station. She had dropped out of school and was unemployed when she was cast in her first film.
She gave birth to a daughter, Lily Mae, on 9 May 2009.
Turned down an unspecified part in Shank (2010).
Was set to play a female thug in Harry Brown (2009), but had to back out of the production as she was pregnant at the time.
After looking at this review and a learning a little bit more about the character it does not give us the best impression of both the character and the actress, as she seems rude.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
An Education, Alfie and Kidulthood.
Similarities in British Values.
Pregnancy is a huge topic in all three Films. Where as in An Education contraception is hinted at in the scene of the Hotel where David brings out the banana. However, in Alfie set only a few years later, contraception wasn't shown in any of his relation scenes. We also know that even though it's not shown, it isn't used because Alfie gets two people pregnant. Comparing these two films to the present day film these two values are mentioned in Kidulthood, Trife mentions the morning after pill which is used after using no protection.
In Alfie, Gilda wants to marry because she's pregnant, in An Education it is hinted David got married because he got a girl pregnant, however in Kidulthood, Alisa is pregnant, but marriage is not mentioned which shows that marriage is not valued as highly as it used to be.
Even though all three films show people from different backgrounds of London, pregnancy is still a huge issue.
Smoking.
In An Education, Jenny does not smoking front of her mother and father, but with her school girl friends she smokes like a chimney, including her fancy cigarettes from France. We see her mother smoke alot and her father not at all. It seems a very casual thing for older generationals and in the 60's it was considered sophisticated and was sociable. By the end of the film, 17 year old Jenny has been turned into a incredibly mature and sophisticated woman who could be mistaken for a 25 year old, goes into Davids Glove box and casually attempts to smoke in front of her parents, going from being scared of smoking in front of them to not caring.
Alfie and Ruby smoke like a chimney , here class and sophistication is not shown, it's more of a everyday thing to smoke.
Kidulthood shows smoking as more of a habit and a necessity of the Urban culture.
The Hotel Scene, The Phone call to Trife and Where Humphrey proposes to Gilda.
Pregnancy is a huge topic in all three Films. Where as in An Education contraception is hinted at in the scene of the Hotel where David brings out the banana. However, in Alfie set only a few years later, contraception wasn't shown in any of his relation scenes. We also know that even though it's not shown, it isn't used because Alfie gets two people pregnant. Comparing these two films to the present day film these two values are mentioned in Kidulthood, Trife mentions the morning after pill which is used after using no protection.
In Alfie, Gilda wants to marry because she's pregnant, in An Education it is hinted David got married because he got a girl pregnant, however in Kidulthood, Alisa is pregnant, but marriage is not mentioned which shows that marriage is not valued as highly as it used to be.
Even though all three films show people from different backgrounds of London, pregnancy is still a huge issue.
Smoking.
In An Education, Jenny does not smoking front of her mother and father, but with her school girl friends she smokes like a chimney, including her fancy cigarettes from France. We see her mother smoke alot and her father not at all. It seems a very casual thing for older generationals and in the 60's it was considered sophisticated and was sociable. By the end of the film, 17 year old Jenny has been turned into a incredibly mature and sophisticated woman who could be mistaken for a 25 year old, goes into Davids Glove box and casually attempts to smoke in front of her parents, going from being scared of smoking in front of them to not caring.
Alfie and Ruby smoke like a chimney , here class and sophistication is not shown, it's more of a everyday thing to smoke.
Kidulthood shows smoking as more of a habit and a necessity of the Urban culture.
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