Friday, 26 September 2014
Thursday, 25 September 2014
Feminism Links
Miss Representation
This video highlights that women aren't given power and the media focuses on their bodies rather than their brains. They include news video clips focusing on whether females have had plastic surgery or not rather than if they're doing their job well. It explains how men are derogatory to even the most powerful women in the country and how our gender is all brought up to be insecure. They use examples such as how girls spend a large amount of time at school reapplying makeup even though they're fundamentally at school to learn not to look attractive. Experiments are used in this video, for example it's stated that 50% of young children of both genders want to be President when they're growing up, but if you ask both genders when they're older there is an evident gap between the amount of boys and girls raising their hands. The phrase 'you can't be what you can't see' is used and this suggests that girls can't grow up wanting to be independent and focus on getting good careers when the media is raising them to care more about their appearance and being second best to men.
Naked Truths about female nudity
This article is talking about the objectification of women in the media and how nudity scenes always need to be used for either sexual or comedic purposes. For example if a conventionally attractive woman is used in a naked scene it's generally in a sexual context, whereas if it's someone older or someone who doesn't fit the stereotype they're ridiculed or used as a joke. It mentions a naked scene in a film where the woman's body isn't conventionally attractive and how it sparked a discussion among viewers about what it represents. The argument that it shouldn't have to represent anything is brought up, as if it was a tanned, skinny woman we wouldn't question the nudity but if it's someone with a more natural body we would assume it has to have an underlying meaning.
Third Wave Feminism
In this video Naomi Wolf is discussing third wave feminism and the way these feminists differ from second wave feminists. She mentions how they have different views on personal expression and fashion choices, as well as sexuality. As well as this, she says they're more alert to class and race issues, and they're more willing to use media and consumer practices to reach their outcomes. She discusses the wearing of headscarves and how one woman claimed that wearing more modest clothing made her feel more free in Western culture due to her getting less sexual harrassment and objectification.
Cinderella Ate My Daughter
This video shows a debate about whether playing princess as a child is positive or negative. One mother says its positive as it is promoting being polite and kind to others, whereas Peggy Orenstein believes the opposite. She suggests that because it has become such a big industry, media is suggesting that children should aim to be a princess every day and all of the time.
Malibu Stacey
This clip is from the Simpsons and shows a Malibu Stacey doll being used by Lisa. In this short clip the doll says 'don't ask me, I'm a girl' when asked if she has anything relevant to say. It shows a sexist view against women as it suggests that females don't have anything relevant to contribute and the doll plays up to the 'dumb blonde' stereotype.
Power Rangers Advert
This is an advert for Power Rangers which is stereotypically targeted at a male audience. It is clear that this is aimed at males as the topic centers around battles and weapons. Despite there being female characters it is centered around male conventions as there is clear themes of violence and one of the selling points to the audience is they they get to choose their own weapons.
Bratz Doll Advert
This advert is aiming to sell Bratz 'Funky Fashion Makeover' dolls to young girls and it fits the conventions of a typical girls advert due to the colours and themes running throughout. The doll is essentially something to practice makeup on and in the background there are young girls imitating the makeup application by putting on blusher and lipgloss. This is an example of our culture raising girls to be adult-like and be self conscious from a young age by putting ideas in their head that they need to wear makeup to be beautiful. Although it is portrayed in the advert as a fun activity, it's still giving young girls the idea that wearing makeup is something they should be doing if they want to be stereotypically attractive. Running themes of pink, glitter and makeup are shown in this advert and they fit feminine conventions.
This video highlights that women aren't given power and the media focuses on their bodies rather than their brains. They include news video clips focusing on whether females have had plastic surgery or not rather than if they're doing their job well. It explains how men are derogatory to even the most powerful women in the country and how our gender is all brought up to be insecure. They use examples such as how girls spend a large amount of time at school reapplying makeup even though they're fundamentally at school to learn not to look attractive. Experiments are used in this video, for example it's stated that 50% of young children of both genders want to be President when they're growing up, but if you ask both genders when they're older there is an evident gap between the amount of boys and girls raising their hands. The phrase 'you can't be what you can't see' is used and this suggests that girls can't grow up wanting to be independent and focus on getting good careers when the media is raising them to care more about their appearance and being second best to men.
Naked Truths about female nudity
This article is talking about the objectification of women in the media and how nudity scenes always need to be used for either sexual or comedic purposes. For example if a conventionally attractive woman is used in a naked scene it's generally in a sexual context, whereas if it's someone older or someone who doesn't fit the stereotype they're ridiculed or used as a joke. It mentions a naked scene in a film where the woman's body isn't conventionally attractive and how it sparked a discussion among viewers about what it represents. The argument that it shouldn't have to represent anything is brought up, as if it was a tanned, skinny woman we wouldn't question the nudity but if it's someone with a more natural body we would assume it has to have an underlying meaning.
Third Wave Feminism
In this video Naomi Wolf is discussing third wave feminism and the way these feminists differ from second wave feminists. She mentions how they have different views on personal expression and fashion choices, as well as sexuality. As well as this, she says they're more alert to class and race issues, and they're more willing to use media and consumer practices to reach their outcomes. She discusses the wearing of headscarves and how one woman claimed that wearing more modest clothing made her feel more free in Western culture due to her getting less sexual harrassment and objectification.
Cinderella Ate My Daughter
This video shows a debate about whether playing princess as a child is positive or negative. One mother says its positive as it is promoting being polite and kind to others, whereas Peggy Orenstein believes the opposite. She suggests that because it has become such a big industry, media is suggesting that children should aim to be a princess every day and all of the time.
Malibu Stacey
This clip is from the Simpsons and shows a Malibu Stacey doll being used by Lisa. In this short clip the doll says 'don't ask me, I'm a girl' when asked if she has anything relevant to say. It shows a sexist view against women as it suggests that females don't have anything relevant to contribute and the doll plays up to the 'dumb blonde' stereotype.
Power Rangers Advert
This is an advert for Power Rangers which is stereotypically targeted at a male audience. It is clear that this is aimed at males as the topic centers around battles and weapons. Despite there being female characters it is centered around male conventions as there is clear themes of violence and one of the selling points to the audience is they they get to choose their own weapons.
Bratz Doll Advert
This advert is aiming to sell Bratz 'Funky Fashion Makeover' dolls to young girls and it fits the conventions of a typical girls advert due to the colours and themes running throughout. The doll is essentially something to practice makeup on and in the background there are young girls imitating the makeup application by putting on blusher and lipgloss. This is an example of our culture raising girls to be adult-like and be self conscious from a young age by putting ideas in their head that they need to wear makeup to be beautiful. Although it is portrayed in the advert as a fun activity, it's still giving young girls the idea that wearing makeup is something they should be doing if they want to be stereotypically attractive. Running themes of pink, glitter and makeup are shown in this advert and they fit feminine conventions.
Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Barbie Notes
- International product - ideology that barbie is everything a girl should be
- stereotypically 'perfect' girl - thin waist, blonde
- Western ideal of what a woman should look like
- Barbie only fits white, skinny culture
- Average size is size 16 - Barbie is size 4
- Women objectified - paid £80k to become an object
- Woman paid to be a sex doll
- Up until a certain age we're expected to play with barbies then after that age we're expected to look like her
- Cultural product sold internationally - young, slim, blonde, makeup
- Real Life Barbie
- No dolls that aren't american, teaching children ideologies from a young age, makes them grow up
- suggests being this way will make you happy
Postcolonialism Notes
- Colonialism is the practice of a power showing control over weaker people or areas
- Post-colonial perspective - considering race, nationality, being the 'other' race
- Multicultural society - road signs in other languages, classes that teach different languages
- Benedict Anderson says physical appearance, religious beliefs, language and history are factors of similarity
- Liberty means freedom but America are launching missiles
- Pursuit of happiness only seems okay for white americans
- County Borders - Some borders changed to change peoples political views e.g. Warwick became own county
- Thomas Friedman - Culture can be expressed through food people eat
- Pork was eaten as a clear sign of being christian - sign that they weren't jews or muslims
- Subway Halal Meat - only sold in certain areas to make more profit, caused problems with people complaining that certain religions were trying to take over
- Sending Scottish soldiers to a war they don't agree with
- UKIP are above lib dems despite having racist views
- Avoiding Korea and going for places like Syria because they have oil and it will make more profit
- Torture people for vital information - waterboarding, forcefed during ramadan
- Expectations that Public Enemy should be positive role models even though they're only popstars
- Western Superiority - Only reported that British people were affected in accidents, other cultures were ignored
- America - globalisation of the world
- Every high street has been taken over by American chains - mcdonalds, Nike, KFC
- Films all American/British, tell stories from Western Perspective
- Globalised market
- Globalisation is countries that sell products internationally e.g. Nike, Mcdonalds
- Westernisation - Selling product but promoting Western ideologies, 'west is best', sell products to promote capitalism - Mcdonalds in budapest promotes American Dream
- promote English being main language, speak to people in other countries like they're dumber for not speaking english, we should respect someone elses culture if we're in their country
- Idea that we'll all turn into some kind of america
Russell Brand Apple Watch video
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Prophets of Rage Notes
-People were learning black history from popular culture rather than it being taught in schools
-Public enemy upset the media & government with songs
-Studied at uni - goes against stereotype that they're bad people/they don't try hard to work
-Got written off as criminal troublemakers
-They played at community centres
-Political fire drives their songs
-Civil rights policies were being cut
-Drugs were allowed to keep the black population down
-Developers would buy houses and move black people out to sell for a higher price
-Popular culture provided an outlet
-Martin Luther King was a peaceful protestor but methods didn't work so they tried to convey the protest through music
-Music filled the lack of politicians
-'Who is Malcolm the 10th?' Talking about Malcolm X, shows the lack of education given about black history
-Aimed to spark curiosity to learn that black people should be respected
-Public enemy introduced people to Malcolm X as schools didn't teach it
-Their songs highlighted that no black heroes are celebrated
-Lyrics contained political content
-Most didn't smoke, drink or do drugs
-Made white people aware of problems with racism
-White supremists didn't want to see black and white people together, their songs were banned on some radio stations
-It was claimed that they didn't come to mainstream attention until one member made controversial comments about Jews, only brought to media when they are shown in a bad light
-tackled issues that African Americans face
-'Anti nigga machine'
-Their message is more important than media coverage
-'The purpose of rap music or any kind of music is to raise dialogue'
-Hip hop has gone from raising dialogue to mass consumerism
-Major labels wouldn't fund them so they had to create their own label
-First group to make internet only album
-Public enemy politicised a new generation in America
-One of the greatest musical entities but they are never heard on the radio
-Public enemy upset the media & government with songs
-Studied at uni - goes against stereotype that they're bad people/they don't try hard to work
-Got written off as criminal troublemakers
-They played at community centres
-Political fire drives their songs
-Civil rights policies were being cut
-Drugs were allowed to keep the black population down
-Developers would buy houses and move black people out to sell for a higher price
-Popular culture provided an outlet
-Martin Luther King was a peaceful protestor but methods didn't work so they tried to convey the protest through music
-Music filled the lack of politicians
-'Who is Malcolm the 10th?' Talking about Malcolm X, shows the lack of education given about black history
-Aimed to spark curiosity to learn that black people should be respected
-Public enemy introduced people to Malcolm X as schools didn't teach it
-Their songs highlighted that no black heroes are celebrated
-Lyrics contained political content
-Most didn't smoke, drink or do drugs
-Made white people aware of problems with racism
-White supremists didn't want to see black and white people together, their songs were banned on some radio stations
-It was claimed that they didn't come to mainstream attention until one member made controversial comments about Jews, only brought to media when they are shown in a bad light
-tackled issues that African Americans face
-'Anti nigga machine'
-Their message is more important than media coverage
-'The purpose of rap music or any kind of music is to raise dialogue'
-Hip hop has gone from raising dialogue to mass consumerism
-Major labels wouldn't fund them so they had to create their own label
-First group to make internet only album
-Public enemy politicised a new generation in America
-One of the greatest musical entities but they are never heard on the radio
Thursday, 11 September 2014
Postcolonialism Links
Racism in the United Kingdom
This is a wikipedia page explaining the term racism and discussing the various issues surrounding this topic. Statistics about the number of black people under attack from racism are shown on this page.
Dave Chappelle - Open Racism
In this video the stand up comedian Dave Chappelle pokes fun at the use of racism in various regions and highlights the ridiculous nature of some white peoples' views towards black people. He mentions various stereotypes associated with his skin colour as well as questioning the use of the word 'nigger'.
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
This is a wikipedia page explaining the term racism and discussing the various issues surrounding this topic. Statistics about the number of black people under attack from racism are shown on this page.
Dave Chappelle - Open Racism
In this video the stand up comedian Dave Chappelle pokes fun at the use of racism in various regions and highlights the ridiculous nature of some white peoples' views towards black people. He mentions various stereotypes associated with his skin colour as well as questioning the use of the word 'nigger'.
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
This video is a protest song dedicated to ending racial violence. Throughout the song they mention that they are entitled to freedom of speech and in the video they have gathered a crowd of protestersholding up signs and pictures. The pictures they are holding in the video show black people they would consider to be heroes. In the song they use lyrics like 'Elvis was a hero to most but he never meant shit to me you see, straight up racist that sucker was' as an example of the fact that most of the celebrities publicised as being heroes were white men.
Bob Marley's song No War No More Trouble is a song about ending the trouble and suggesting that we need to focus more on love than starting wars. The song may be seen as going against racial stereotypes as black people are often stereotyped as 'troublemakers' and this song is dedicated to ensuring there is less trouble. Love and peace are they key themes running throughout this song as he uses lyrics such as 'We don't need no trouble, what we need is love'.
This video is explaining that skin bleaching has had a rise in popularity in Jamaica and it shows different peoples' views towards the idea. The process of skin bleaching suggests that the paler you are the more likely you are to have a good sense of identity which is suggesting that being paler is superior to being black. Our society is highlighting being paler as a better skin colour which is making people with darker skin want to adapt their tone in order to gain a better social status. In one part of the video someone states 'black skin is associated with social disadvantage, while brown skin is believed to be more beautiful'. The mentality that brown is beautiful while black isn't has encouraged Jamaicans to bleach their skin and this epidemic is shown in this video.
This page discusses the term cricket test and how British politician Norman Tebbit doesn't believe immigrants to be loyal. The phrase was created in 1990 making it a fairly modern phrase which suggests that racism is still a rising issue. He suggests that immigrants are still sticking to their old culture despite them moving to Britain as well as claiming they are 'dangerous'. This narrow minded view highlights the fact immigrants are discrimated against as a whole purely for coming from different cultures.
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