Introduction To Media Theory

 Tuesday 13th September

Media Theory: Stranger Things

L/O- to investigate the principles behind theories. To discuss theories. To critically apply theories to texts

Media Language: the techniques used within media to prove and create points, and to add further meaning. Camera work, editing, sound, mise-en-scene

Media Representations: how media portrays views and points

Media Industries: the different types of media, like, music, TV, newspaper

Media Audience: how media is presented to the target audience

Postmodernism & Baudrillard

Family life- The Byers, consisting of a single mum, and two brothers. They seem to be on the poor side. This is shown by the house they live in, a ran down shack type thing. On the other hand, the Wheelers seem to have the 'ideal' life with 3 kids, married and a nice household

Female Roles- The older daughter is portrayed as a nerd, and seems to be quite rude at home, however when in the presence of Steve, she seems to be quieter. This is until she says no to him.

Baudrillard is presented within the episode by using SIMULACRA because it shows the use of school lockers and busses

Tuesday 20th September 2022

What can you remember about baudrillard?

Hyperreality, Hyperreal, Simulacra

Media Theory: Music As Protest Hip Hop and Beyond

L/O- To investigate the principles behind theories.

         To discuss various theories.

         To Critically apply theories to texts

Representation is how someone/something is shown or meant to be portrayed to the audience.

They are represented as having a lack of individuality and following, also as quite intimidating as non of them have any facial expressions.

I think that because they are all dressed similarly except from one of them.

Sidran said that music was a way to express peoples emotion. The example he used was that slaves were able to express their feelings. 

Blinded By Your Grace Pt 2, Brit Awards Remix: Stormzy

Ain't here to talk Illuminati and chem trails
Here to close the show and make sure that it ends well
All my younger brothers looking fresher than Denzel
Still coming judging by the stuff that my friend sells
Well, all these stories that the tip of my pen tell
Yo, here I'ma let the tip of my pen shout
Like, Yo, Theresa May, where's that money for Grenfell?
What, you thought we just forgot about Grenfell?
You're criminals and you got the cheek to call us savages
You should do some jail time, you should pay some damages
We should burn your house down and see if you can manage this
MPs sniff coke, we just smoke a bit of cannabis
They'll get me for this so be woke
This year I'm dishing out L's and free smoke
They tell us that we're thugs, I try and bust the myth
But someone tell the Daily Mail they can suck my...
'Cause when I see Hus merking, I feel the vibe
I see my people on the telly, I feel alive
Jourdan Dunn up on them Billboards, I feel the pride
And Daniel Kaluuya won a BAFTA, I could've cried
I fully ride 'cause royalty we are
You man are royalty, I need all of my royalties advanced
I got two sisters, one black mum, they raised a prince
Raised up by black girl magic, what did you think, huh?

Everyone can use this song as it is standing against the government and shows power within numbers, no matter how wealthy you are.

Tuesday 4th October 2022

Gender and Bond Beyond

L/O - to investigate the principles behind gender theories.

  Butler wanted gender roles to become natural within performance so it does not cause gender trouble

bell hooks says that there are additional factors that contribute to oppression such as race, class and sexuality.

• Bond has no use for the women, perhaps only for sexual reason
• Bond is presented as well dressed in a suit while the women is in a dress that is rather revealing
• He initiates most of the interaction between the two, moves her head to where he wants it
• He leads the way, she follows him like a servant

• Bond 'tames' the widow and gets her to reveal the secrets he needs, he does this by using sexual advances
• Over the shoulder shot, reveals her sexual position while he is dressed
• Heterosexual female role, clothing and appearance, makeup, heels etc.

Gender is represented as the male having more physical power over the females. An example of this is in Spectre, where James Bond is forced to save the female as she is helpless and is moments away from being killed. He uses this as a reason to get a drink with her and this shows the power he holds against her. Linking back to Van Zoonen, Bond initiates sexual activity to get his way, which in this case is to get something out of her. This further applies the Van Zoonen theory, she is a stepping stone and a sexual object for Bond, and a way for him to get what he wants. This creates meaning because it shows the male being the most dominant and 'important' historically this matches the gender stereotype but at the time of production and filming. This is shown in the camera angles, the use of over the shoulder camera shots shows how Bond overlooks the female, and it shows the facial expression of the women. Also the use of low angle shots create the picture that Bond is looking down upon the audience, putting them in the women shoes and further specifies the fact the bond has the power. This was not socially and politically correct, especially in the way it was shown. 

Tuesday 18th October 2022

Media Theory: Race

The audience could possibly see them as something that is disposable, as they are all dressed the same and have the same look. Furthermore, it is very stereotypical to african tribes, with the spears and the battle armour.

Levi Strauss believed in the fact that the structure of meaning was built upon binary opposites, good/bad, black/white, north/south etc.

• Rich white people (black vs white) (rich vs poor)
• They were being chased by the police even though they are police officers themselves
• Weren't wearing professional uniform
• Stereotypical American Rap

• Black vs White, museum scene, saying white people stole everything from black people
• Colonialism, and acknowledges the downfall
• Culturally proud, no embarrassment
• Gangster vs King, gangster seen as a snake or rat, king being seen in the correct light and is done by using the correct cultural identity

How does black panther depict different racial representations? 

Black panther portrays racial representation by creating the stereotype of typical African culture. With the use of cultural identity, using traditional armour and hairstyles. This is further suggested within the setting of the movie. However, despite all of this, it is still very obvious that they are more technologically advanced than anywhere else. Despite this, it is still an underground civilisation and shows that Wakanda is still an untouched colonisation.

'Representations