Application to our thriller video

Descriptive - our thriller shows a would be killer stalking another one of our characters, finally gaining entry to the characters house.

Functional - this may play on the fear of being followed/stalked - with todays media focusing on the celebrity culture and how they are stalked to a degree.

Neale - our thriller opening conforms to many horror films by using restricted lighting, and camera angles to show vulnerability and superiority of the characters.

Sarris - Sarris would believe that i have created my own style of film with the idea of stalking, which is evident in this video and means something to me being portrayed. This meaning is linked to the functional section.

Clover -within our video we have not used a 'final girl', and so Clover's theory cannot be used to assess our thriller opening. We did not use a girl within our video due to wanting to focus on an all male cast. Also, we are always viewing the main character who is being stalked, and never 'on the side' of the victim, and so this is another reason why this theory is not applicable.

Paradigms - our thriller would fit into the traditional thriller paradigm - this being because it creates suspense, following, fast-paced and complicated.

How are social groups represented in the film Quadrophenia?

This film is great for thinking about subculture. The film looks at ‘mods’ and their interaction with the ‘rockers’. Social groups are represented through their fashion, music, symbols and language. For instance, the Mods wear variations of suits, keeping a neat look. The only coats that the Mods were are also green parker style. Rockers are seen to wear more rough clothing, i.e. leather jackets, jeans and boots. This helps to clearly identify them away from the rest of society. Music is also a form in which social groups are created in Quadrophenia. The Mods listen to more indie bands, with slow tempos, whereas the Rockers listen to rock bands with fast tempos. This helps to further distance these two groups from each other, and define them more away from the rest of society. The Mods and Rockers use similar language to each other, however it is evident from seeing Quadrophenia that both groups use different language around their subculture, compared to when they are alone with their parents or other members of authority. This could be seen as them being rebellious when authority figures are not watching over them. Symbols in this film can also be seen as creating subcultures. The Mods for instance own mopeds; however they have tweaked and changed them to differentiate them from other models. This could be seen as trying to break away from mainstream society. This has also been done with their clothes, especially in the Mods case. They have altered their smart clothes, in order to show their alternative values. Sex and drugs are also used to represent these social groups. In the film both are shown aplenty, and so it can be assumed that the two types of subcultures shown are portrayed to be rebellious.

Skins - social realism

Indie fact file

History of the culture group:

Indie History

In the mid-1980s, the term "indie" began to be used to describe the music produced on post-punk labels rather than the labels themselves. The indie rock scene in the US was prefigured by the college rock that dominated college radio playlists which included key bands like R.E.M. from the US and The Smiths from the UK. A number

 of prominent indie rock record labels were founded during the 1980s. These include Washington, DC's Dischord Records in 1980, Seattle's Sub Pop Records in 1986 and New York City's Matador Records and Durham, North Carolina's Merge Records in 1989. Chicago's Touch and Go Records was founded as a fanzine in 1979 and began to release records during the 1980s.

Alternative enters the mainstream

The 1990s brought major changes to the alternative rock scene. Grunge bands such as Soundgarden, Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam broke into the mainstream, achieving commercial chart success and widespread exposure

Mainstream success: 2000s–present

In the 2000s, the changing music industry, the decline in record sales, the growth of new digital technology and increased use of the internet as a tool for music promotion, allowed a new wave of indie rock bands to achieve mainstream success. This new commercial breakthrough and the widespread use of the term indie to other forms of popular culture, led a number of commentators to suggest that indie rock has ceased to be a meaningful term.

Geographical locations:

The Indie social group tend to not have a certain geographical location. People who are Indie are mixed throughout society, and are seen to mix with other culture groups.

Fashion:

Indie fashion tends to be wearing ‘odd’ forms of clothing that many people in mainstream society wouldn’t or don’t wear. For instance, mainstream society wears jeans as their main form of casual trousers, however the Indie cultures main form of trousers is chinos. Indie clothing is becoming more fashionable however, with more and more people conforming to their style, this is shown through the high street brand Topman adopting Indie as its main form of clothing.

Music:

Indie music is primarily music that is ‘independent’ meaning that the band or artist is solely responsible for the publishing and creation of the music among other things. Not all Indie artists conform to this however, but there music to an extent remains the same. Some of the most known Indie bands are Bombay Bicycle Club, Friendly Fires, YUCK and Post War Years.

Related media:

There is no real media coverage of the Indie culture at this moment, with the newspapers shunning them at this moment in time for more controversial culture groups.

What might it be a reaction to?

This might be because this group does not present a danger to the established hegemony of society, and so there is no need to create a moral panic and demonise this culture group.

How are youth represented in British cinema?

Youth in British cinema are often portrayed as rebelling against the cultural hegemony that is imposed upon them by the ruling class. In the following answer I will be assessing to the extent at which this done, and if so how.

One of the ways shown in Human Traffic is through Jip’s relationship with his mother. In the fist scene that we see of Jip and his mum, there is a high angle shot looking from his mum’s point of view at Jip. This portrays that his mum is in power, and so immediately in control of the situation. Jip is also seen listening to loud rap music when he arrives at his mum’s house – connotations that he is rebellious to mainstream society. Before Jip enters the house, he says he’ll be in and out in 5 minutes; however as we later discover he isn’t – showing once again that his mum is in control. Throughout the house scene Jip’s body language is always anxious, showing that he is fearful at his mum’s power. His mums power and Jips weakness are once again highlighted when we see in his fantasy Jip challenging his mum’s job, whereas in real life he never would. However, a part in this scene contrasts with the idea that British cinema represents youth in a negative light. Cultural hegemony teaches that people in society should have well respected jobs, however Jip’s mum doesn’t as she works as a prostitute. If British cinema were to portray youth in a negative light they would have shown Jip as having a negative job, not his mother.

There is then a scene with Jip and his boss, in which in another one of Jip’s delusions he is seen to be getting raped by his boss. The connotation of this is that society, and more importantly cultural hegemony is abusing Jip.

Moff is then featured in a later scene, where he is seen to be arguing with his dad over jobs. Moff’s dad is wearing a police uniform, and so is figuratively seen to be the epitome of society’s cultural views.

The television programme Spaced however is different, with the characters seen to be either trying to achieve the goals that cultural hegemony has shown, or abusing the power when the goal has been reached. Tim is seen to want to get a job, conforming to the application of cultural hegemony, “make the best out of this situation”. Mike however is seen to be abusing his power, scaring school children as they walk past him (his job is a lollipop man).

In the loneliness of a long distance runner, the adults are seen to be very authoritarian. One of the ways this is done is by them being called sir, whilst the boys are called by last names. The adults are also wearing more respective clothing, such as suits, compared to the boy’s shorts and t-shirts. Jazz music also features within the shot of ‘smith’ running, and so can be seen as smith, and more importantly youth, as still be rebellious. Smiths body language is also far more relaxed and he looks to be enjoying himself when running, showing youths playful nature at heart. However, there is always a sense of authority looking over him as he is running, this is shown by the many featured shots of trees seen to be towering over smith.

Ghost Watch

1)      Television documentaries were used for important announcements or events.

2)      The ‘host’ or main speaker had a lot of prestige – Michael Parkinson (CBE and knighted)

3)      The speaker (Michael Parkinson) was speaking in a very seriousness, and slightly nervous tone.

4)      The programme featured specific incidents of ‘ghosts’. See clip at 1:00 for an example.

5)      The context of watching the programme however did not add too much tension (as it might have if it were radio).

Personal susceptibility:

1)      There weren’t too much economic woes within the country at this point in time; however personal woes such as unemployment may have caused people to be more susceptible to the programme.

2)      This show played on the peoples personal fears of ghosts, or the unknown.

3)      People who worry a lot would have been greatly affected by this show.

4)      Those with low amounts of self confidence would have been more affected by this than those who have a lot of confidence.

5)      People who believe in fate, rather than what they can change about the situation may have believed this to a higher degree than others.

6)      If people were more religious, I think that they may have been more affected by the ‘ghosts’ as they have already shown an attribute to believe in things they do not necessarily understand.

7)      However, the people that attend church regularly might not have been as greatly affected, as they would be able to confide in their faith with others.

Human Traffic - Questions

1.      How can Human Traffic be considered a socialist realist film? You may wish to consider how the film makers technically communicate a social realism, what issues are raised and how they might affect the audience.

One of the ways in which Human Traffic can be considered a social realist film is that many aspects of the film are true in modern society. These being drinking alcohol in large amounts, drug use and the dance scene; all aspects of modern day Britain. The characters in the film can also be related to, with them having genuine jobs they would expect to have in society, and also coming from real homes, such as Moff coming form a middle class family, compared to the stereotypical view that they are all working class families involved in this behaviour. The effect this has on the audience is that they are now able to from a bond between certain characters, as they may be able to relate to them.

2.      How does the youth culture depicted resist or subvert mainstream society?

The main way that youth culture is depicted to resist mainstream society is the frequent use of drugs by all of the main characters, as well as most of the other background and bit part actors.

3.      How can you consider this film to be British?

One way that this film can be considered to be British is through all of the actors and characters being British, and all of the locations being used also being British. Another way that this film can be depicted as being British is by the excessive use and coverage of alcohol, with Britain being seen as a ‘booze nation’. The coverage of the dance seen can also be seen as helping to depict this film as British, with Britain also being seen as a ‘dancing nation’.

4.      To what extent are the characters in Human Traffic unable to express their identity?

Cultural hegemony has helped to restrict the characters from showing their true identity by placing the ideas of mainstream society onto them. One of the ways that this has been done is to give the characters low paid, none expressive jobs. For example, Jip is working as a sales assistant in a clothing chain, which is a world away from his true identity of being a party animal.

This thus creates ‘alternative’ identities for each of the characters. For instance, Koop works as a music salesman, being vocal and boisterous helps him to sell music, whereas his true identity is being a paranoid man. The same can be said of Lulu, where she works as an office worker, which is seen to be boring and mundane, whereas outside of work she is very energetic and likes to party.

5.      How is the social-realistic verisimilitude created in the text?

One of the ways that the social realistic verisimilitude is created within the text is by the use of real footage. An example of real footage being used in Human Traffic is the clips at the beginning, showing the UK dance scene. Another way that this effect is created is by the actors looking at the camera, and also by the characters talking to the audience. This gives the audience a sense of a connection with the actors; also it creates the social-realistic verisimilitude within the text. This effect has also been created by the insight that we gain into the private lives and fantasies of the characters, for instance we gain an insight into Jip’s sexual problems.

6.      What anxieties does each of the characters have? Where do these anxieties stem?

Jip – sexually paranoid – Family situation (his mum is a prostitute)

Lulu – doesn’t find much to fancy men – possibly because of bad experiences.

Moff – family are down on his behaviour – family situation (they don’t like the way he is living his life)

Koop – paranoia – social practises (possibly because of the amount of drugs he does)

Nina – flirts a lot – British reserve (it’s just in her nature)

7.       In consideration of the effects and uses and gratifications model, does Human Traffic promote drug usage?

I do not believe in any way that Human Traffic promotes drug use. There are moments when the film does make you feel that drug use has its benefits, but there are also moments when the audience see that drug use has many flaws. I believe that what Human Traffic does is give an unbiased review on the use of drugs, outlining both its flaws and benefits. For example, although we may see that some of the characters get a ‘buzz’ from it, we can also see the aftermath of drug usage, such as Moff (a frequent user of drugs) saying he will never do it again.

Do people copy things they see through the media?

A teenager whose apparent obsession with a violent video game led him to brutally batter a younger friend to death has been detained for life today.

Warren Leblanc lured 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah to a Leicester park armed with a knife and claw hammer before carrying out the horrific attack in February.

The 17-year-old, who was ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years behind bars by a judge at Leicester Crown Court, claimed he planned to rob the younger boy to repay a £75 debt.

But his victim's parents blamed the violent computer game Manhunt, in which players earn points for stealth killings, for the vicious and prolonged attack on their son.

The court heard that despite publicity surrounding the case which linked the murder to Leblanc's obsession with computer games, this had not formed any part of the case

Roderick Price QC, defending, said the teenager had been motivated by fear of a gang to whom he owed a small amount of money.

He said: "The reason he killed Stefan is rooted not in video games but in fear - in desperation born of fear.”

Personally I would not blame this crime on ‘Manhunt’, but rather on the individual and his problems with crime and gangs in the first place. If I had to apply a theory, even though personally I do not agree with this, is that the individual could have been following the hypodermic needle model.

I believe that there has also been this thought that the media sends out a message to copy these acts of violence. And I predict that this idea will only ever grow in the future due to the increasing rate at which technology makes us feel that a media experience, is in fact real.

Theories

Hypodermic Needle Model

The 'hypodermic needle model' (also known as the hypodermic-syringe model, transmission-belt model, or magic bullet theory) is a model of communications suggesting that an intended message is directly received and wholly accepted by the receiver. The model is rooted in 1930s behaviourism and is largely considered obsolete today.

Two-Step Flow Model

Also known as the 'Multistep Flow Model' is a theory based on a 1940's study on social influence that states that media effects are indirectly established through the personal influence of opinion leaders. The majority of people receive much of their information and are influenced by the media second hand, through the personal influence of opinion leaders.

Uses & Gratification Model

Uses and Gratifications Theory is a popular approach to understanding mass communication. The theory places more focus on the consumer, or audience, instead of the actual message itself by asking “what people do with media” rather than “what media does to people” (Katz, 1959) . It assumes that members of the audience are not passive but take an active role in interpreting and integrating media into their own lives.

The theory also holds that audiences are responsible for choosing media to meet their needs. The approach suggests that people use the media to fulfil specific gratifications. This theory would then imply that the media compete against other information sources for viewers' gratification. (Katz, E., Blumler, J. G., & Gurevitch, M. 1974)

Character contrast/similarities

Name – William Wallace (Braveheart)

Characteristics – brave, noble, smart, violent.

Semiotics – armour, rough cloth (in bright colours). Bright, gingery hair.

Name – Robin Hood (Robin Hood 2010)

Characteristics - brave, noble, smart, violent.

Semiotics – rough cloth, colours in brown/green. Short brown hair, stubble.

Robin Hood (2010) / Braveheart

Robin Hood (2010)

Story and plot - Robin Loxley returns to England, becomes Robin Hood, and tries to save England from the invading French.

Nationality of stars - Main star born in New Zealand, raised in Australia.

Genre - Action, adventure, drama

Production Company - Universal Pictures

Imagine Entertainment  

Relativity Media 

Scott Free Productions

Distribution – Worldwide

Braveheart

Story and plot - William witnesses years of tyranny against his country Scotland from neighbouring England. When he is a grown man he fights for Scotland’s freedom against the English.

Nationality of stars - Main star American

Genre - Action, biography, drama, history, war

Production Company - Icon Entertainment International, Ladd Company, The, B.H. Finance C.V.

Distribution - Worldwide

Welcome

This is my new A2 blog for media, i hope you enjoy my posts!