Identity and Film

The media we choose to watch says a lot about us as people – it helps to construct our identity. 

 Media Factsheet 142: Identity and Film

1) Complete the Twenty Statements Test yourself. This means answering the question ‘Who am I?’ 20 times with 20 different answers. What do they say about your identity? Write the 20 answers in full on your blog.

1. I am Ladan
2. I am black-somali
3. I am a muslim woman
4. I am 18
5. I am a writer
6. I am a poet 
7. I am a photographer
8. I am a thriller enthusiast
9. I am a music enthusiast
10. I am a fan of TDE 
11. I am a foodie
12. I am a sister
13. I am a Historian
14. I am a Mr.Robot fan
15. I am the eldest daughter
16. I am a Capricorn
17. I am competitive
18. I am someone who enjoys philosophy
19. I am a netflix addict
20. I am a quick thinker

2) Classify your answers into the categories listed on the Factsheet: Social groups, ideological beliefs, interests etc.

Social groups and classifications (“I am a student”, “I am female”) 

• I am a Historian
• I am Ladan
• I am 18 years old
• I am the eldest daughter
• I am a capricorn
• I am a black-somali 
• I am a sister

Ideological beliefs (“I am a Christian”, “I am a Labour voter”) 

• I am a muslim woman

Interests 

• I am a netdlix addict
• I am someone who enjoys philosophy
• I am a Mr. Robot fan
• I am a writer
• I am a poet
• I am a foodie
• I am a fan of TDE
• I am a photographer
• I am a music enthusiast
• I am a thriller film enthusiast

Self-evaluations. 

• I am a quick thinker
• I am competitive

3) Go back to your favourite film (as identified in the lesson). What does this choice of film say about your identity? Are there any identities within the film (e.g. certain characters) that particularly resonated with your values and beliefs?

My favourite film is Nightcrawler. I believe this choice reflects on my identity as I am someone who interested in the psychological aspects of human beings and the choices they make, which is explored in the film through the protagonist and the other characters. The film is also aimed at a more niche audience, which reflects on my enthusiasm for thriller films. I would not say I identify myself with the protagonist but his desire for perfection and and his commitment is an aspect that resonates with my values and beliefs. 

4) Watch the trailers for the five films highlighted as examples of gay/lesbian representation in mainstream film. How are LGBT identities constructed in the trailers and how are audiences encouraged to respond to these representations?

Wilde (1997, dir. Brian Gilbert) 

This trailer focuses on the taboo of homosexual couples, and the oppression they would face for not fitting into societal standards. This trailer suggests that the audiences are supposed to understand the complications that come with LGBT identities and to understand the hardships of concealing a relationship.

Philadelphia (1993, dir. Jonathan Demme) 

This film trailer constructs the prejudices that LGBT identities may face due to misconceptions. The story line, which is based on discrimination against LGBT identities provides the audience with an insight into the impact that discrimination can have on ones life, and how that changes in society are needed to overcome this i.e. the legal case

The Wedding Banquet (1993, dir. Ang Lee) 

This film trailer similarly focuses on the hardships of concealing a relationship to overcome the societal standards that are implemented onto us. The audience are encouraged to understand these difficulties through sympathising with the characters. 


The Kids are Alright (2010, dir. Lisa Cholodenko) 

This trailer portrays homosexual couples in a positive light, suggesting that homosexual parents are no different to heterosexual parents in regards to how the children are raised and so on. The audience are encouraged to overcome the taboo topic of homosexual parents, as the trailer emphasises on the loving and caring traits. 


Pride (2014, dir. Matthew Warchus)

In this trailer the LGBT community are represented as segregated from the rest of the population. This is represented through the sense of alienation created from the villagers response towards the LGBT community. However this changes throughout the course of the trailer, as the villagers are seen appreciating the support of the community in a time of crisis.

weekly news articles

White House bans certain news media from briefing (49)

This article discusses the White House ban on several major broadcasters and newspapers from attending an informal press briefing. The BBC, CNN, the New York Times and others were excluded from an audience with the Press Secretary Sean Spicer without any reason being given. This ban came several hours after the President Donald Trump delivered another attack on the media where he states that "fake news" as the "enemy of the people", and it is no surprise he has reacted this way as he has previously singled out CNN and the New York Times for their criticism.

I believe that Trumps attack on the press is getting out of hand, and that there is no legitimate reason for Trump to bar certain media outlets for simply criticising decisions he makes.

Sun journalist faces calls to step down from press watchdog (50)

This article discusses the calls for resignation of the Sun associate editor Kavanagh, from the board of press watchdog Ipso for making false claims about the number of asylum seekers lying about their age. Ipso said Kavanagh was inaccurate to claim that two out of three asylum seekers lied about their age. The press regulator have instead found that the figure in fact referred only to those who had been chosen to undergo an age assessment, and that the Sun should have made changes to the wording of the piece online to reflect the correct proportion.The Sun did publish a correction in print once it had been made aware of the error, but the watchdog said the tabloid had not taken sufficient action in terms of the the online version of the article. Some criticises Ipsos soft approach towards Kavanagh, Labour MP Paul Farrelly, who sits on the culture, media and and sport select committee, said the regulator should actually remove Kavanagh from its board "If they want to demonstrate that they are not under control of paymasters like the Sun and News UK they really should take steps towards making him resign".

I believe that journalists should be more wary of what the publish, as inaccuracies can have a significant impact on readers such as in this case provoking more hate crimes against asylum seekers. I also think that Labour MP Farelly does have a point in there being harsher steps to prevent journalists from manipulating statistics in their favour, 

Identities: applying feminism

Media Factsheet #86 Applying Feminism

1) What are the five types of feminism outlined on the first page of the Factsheet?

Radical Feminism 

This type of feminism sees the cause of women’s oppression as men. It assumes that men deliberately exploit women as this benefits them. One of the main aims of this theory is to address concerns over violence against women, especially in sexual relationships.

Liberal Feminism

This type of feminism is mainly concerned with gender socialisation in order to show that gender roles are not biologically determined. The main aim of this type of feminism is to change the ways children are socialised into stereotypical gender roles and to attempt to change social policy to improve the position of women within the family.

Marxist-Feminism

This feminist approach looks at women’s oppression in relation to capitalism and the class system. One of the aims of this type of feminism is to look at the role of domestic labour within capitalism, namely that women work in the home for ‘free’, and the role women play in producing the next generation of the labour force.

Black Feminism 

This approach is primarily concerned with black and Asian women’s experiences of oppression and exploitation. It combines ideas about capitalism, patriarchy and anti-racism.

Postmodern Feminism 

This type of feminism is associated with third wave feminists. It acknowledges the diversity amongst women and encourages individual women to find feminist ideas that combine with their own experiences of life to create a brand of feminism suitable for them.

2) Which category would Judith Butler fit into? What about Angela McRobbie? Laura Bates and Everyday Sexism? Explain your answers.

Judith Butler: Butlers theory fits into the concept of liberal feminism. Butlers theory states that gender roles are a social construct, similarly to liberal feminism which states that children are socialised into stereotypical gender roles. 

Angela McRobbie: McRobbie theory fits into the postmodern form of feminism, as she argues that the empowering nature of magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour, taking a different perspective to traditional feminists.

Laura Bates (Everyday Sexism): 

3) What was the difference between suffragists and suffragettes? Which approach do you agree with?

The suffragists could be argued to have been liberal feminists. They aimed to achieve gender equality through moderate, peaceful and lawful means. On the other hand, the suffragettes were more radical feminists. Some women felt that the NUWSS were not making enough progress quickly enough so they formed abreakaway group called the Women’s Social and Political Union.They were not afraid to useful violence as they strongly believed in what they fought for. 

4) What was Laura Mulvey's argument regarding Hollywood film? Do you agree with it? Why?

Laura Mulvey claims that the cinematography of classic Hollywood films objectifies women. Mulvey argues that the camera, which represents the male gaze 'looks’ at women in an objectifying manner which presents them as no more than a desirable sexual object. The male gaze theory states that women are either viewed in a ‘voyeuristic’ way which portrays women as ‘whores’, or in a ‘fetishistic’ way which makes women desirable as virgins. I agree with this theory as women are often objectified in major blockbuster films for the sake of the male audience but I also agree with some critics arguments that women can enjoy watching films from a male perspective.

5) Watch this YouTube video extract on Jean Kilbourne's Killing Us Softly series and list five examples she gives of the media objectifying women:

• 1989 - Oprah Winfreys head put on Anne Margarets body for a TV guide cover
• Beyonce's L'oreal advert
• Womens bodies being dismembered in ads - Eva Herzigova ad 1990's
• Glamour magazine
• Beauty knows no pain advert

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6) What is Killbourne's argument regarding the representation of women in advertising?

Killbourne argues that the advertising industry reinforces the idea that a woman's most important aspect is how she looks. Advertisers surround us with the image of ideal female beauty, women as a result of their subconscious feel the need to spend enormous amounts of time energy and money striving to achieve these looks and feeling ashamed and guilty when they fail. The beauty ideal is based on absolute flawlessness, which no one can ever achieve or look like let alone the model. Airbrushing cosmetic procedures and computer retouching create a division between how a real woman. According to studies, as a result men judge "real "women more. Additionally, Killbourne also discusses how advertising does not cater to women of colour, and how advertising uses the of objectification of women to sell. 

7) What is Naomi Wolf's argument in The Beauty Myth?

Wolf's argues that as a result of the increase in social power and prominence of women in society, pressure to feel the need adhere to unrealistic social standards of physical beauty have grown stronger. The unrealistic portrayal of women in advertisments have had a negative influence on the mass female audience.The pressure from these adverts have lead to unhealthy behaviors by women and a preoccupation with appearance in both sexes, as women desire to look like those in adverts while men judge real women for not looking like them.

8) Why is the representation of women in music videos a controversial topic for feminists?

The representation of women in music videos is a controversial topic for feminists because women are mostly in music videos to be objectified by being portrayed as nothing more than sexual objects. Yet on the other hand, some feminists believe that the sexualisation of women can be used as an empowering tool in society as presented through the third-wave of feminism during the 90's, This contrasts the previous societal standard of women in the past. 

9) What is your view of female artists such as Nicki Minaj or Beyonce - do they empower women or reinforce sexist, patriarchal views?

I believe artists such as Nicki Minaj and Beyonce do empower women as they have been successful in the male dominated music industry. However, I also do believe that in some of their music videos they do reinforce sexist patriarchal views as they unintentionally portray a subordinate and male dependent image. 

10) Has new and digital media given women an opportunity to challenge sexist views or is it simply another media platform for women to be oppressed? Explain your view.

I believe that new and digital media has given women an opportunity to challenge sexist views as it has provided a platform for the fourth-wave of feminism to emerge. Women are now more engaged in fighting against oppression and challenging sexist views on social media platforms such as Twitter. 

weekly news articles

Mark Zuckerberg pens major Facebook manifesto on how to burst the bubble (47)

This article discusses Zuckerbegs Facebook manifesto, which outlines the future of Facebook in terms of the changes it wants to bring and the impact it hopes to have on the global community. One area of focus was using artificial intelligence to police content on the platform. Zuckerberg states that Facebook is starting to explore ways to use AI to tell the difference between news stories about terrorism and actual terrorist propaganda so it can be quickly removed in order to prevent their services being used to recruit for a terrorist organization. Throughout the rest of the letter, Zuckerberg emphasises on Facebooks ability to connect people, suggesting that it is the solution to the worlds problems.“Facebook stands for bringing us closer together and building a global community. When we began, this idea was not controversial. Yet now, across the world there are people left behind by globalization, and movements for withdrawing from global connection.". The manifesto also discusses new forms of safety checks, fake news and sensationalism in the media. The spread of information on Facebook, such as “fake news” and sensational click-bait headlines which are amplified by Facebook’s algorithms have lead to increased polarization of the social media site. Zuckerberg claims that “If this continues and we lose common understanding then even if we eliminated all misinformation, people would just emphasize different sets of facts to fit their polarized opinions. That’s why I’m so worried about sensationalism in media.”

I believe that Facebook certainly does have an impact on the global community, and that the manifesto is a positive contribution towards trying to overcome the various problems that the media world have been facing in the past year. The fact that Zuckerberg has outlined various possible changes he wants to bring to Facebook suggests that the social networking site has taken on board its criticisms to bring about change. 

Donald Trump savages media at Florida rally (48)

This article discusses Trumps attack on the press and media industry at a rally in Florida. Trump has claimed that reporters "are part of the corrupt system", and when he attacked the media, people in the audience screamed their support. In his speech, Mr Trump said he wanted to speak to Americans "without the filter of fake news". Similarly, Mr Trump has attacked the media at a press conference on Thursday, as pressure mounted on his presidency. Throughout the week, Trump had launched attacks on the media, the 76-minute press conference he held on Thursday led to Trump arguing that the reporters "level of dishonesty was out of control", referring to coverage of his campaign's alleged contacts with Moscow. 

I believe that Trumps perspective on the media world and the press should be a cause of concern, as he is essentially calling for the press to be moderated to portray him in a manner he finds acceptable. This can be argued to be a form of censorship, and I believe that if he regularly continues to perceive the media as a threat to his presidency he may just possibly make the general public and his supporters turn against the press and journalists despite their positive roles in the public. 

weekly news articles

Trump is a media troll – so stop feeding him (45)

This article written by Hyde explores her beliefs that the media should not be subconsciously encouraging Trump to spew hate through the regular exposure they give to him on the news. Hyde disagrees with the concept of media outlets leading their Trump coverage with Donald Trump’s attacks on media outlets. Hyde believes that media outlets should ease off on news of Trump’s latest “unprecedented attack on the media” due to the fact that it is becoming so familiar that it shouldn't even be considered as news. Hyde states that Trump uses the term “fake news” to everything he dislikes, everything he disagrees with, everything that gets to him, and everything that makes fun of him. Therefore, the media shouldn't be giving Trump the platform to allow him to manipulate the news in such a manner.

I believe with the columnist as media outlets are providing Trump with a platform which allows him to constantly degrade the press for simply doing their jobs. If media outlets were to ignore his negative responses to the press under the term "fake news" perhaps he would stop his attacks on the news.  

Journalists to get greater reporting protections on AFP cases (46)

This article discusses the changes that have been brought about that now give Australian journalists additional protection for reporting on Australian federal police operations that could previously have seen them jailed for up to two years. A spokesman for the attorney general, George Brandis, confirmed that their government would move amendments to the Crimes Act to provide some additional protection for journalists and others. Although the changes to the act were welcomed by news organisations, there were still criticisms that they did not go far enough in protecting public interest reporting, leaving whistleblowers still subject to criminal offences. Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance chief executive, Paul Murphy, warned in February 2016 that, even with the changes to the Asio laws, journalists could still face jail

I believe that this is a first step to protecting journalists worldwide, as many journalists have faced persecutions due to simply doing their jobs similarly to whistleblowers who have exposed corruption. However, this change has to continue, as many journalists in countries around the world still face persecution. 

Media Magazine: The fourth wave?

The Fourth Wave? Feminism in the Digital Age in MM55 (p64)

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?

Networked feminism is often associated with the fourth-wave of feminism. Networked feminism aims to tackle social equality issues through the use of modern technology such as the internet. Social media campaigns, blogs and hashtags have been used to cause feminist upheaval and bring awareness to feminist issues. Networked feminism has also seen the increase of user-generated content websites that encourage feminism such as blogs, submission sites and YouTube. Twitter is another important player in representing modern feminism it allows users to engage with the ideologies of feminism through hashtags such as #WomenAgainstFeminism and #YesAllWomen.

However, networked feminism can be seen as a problem because many people believe in the concept of post feminism, that feminism is no longer needed as women have achieved equality in the eyes of the law. As technology continues to become more advantaged and more people use social networking sites, there is an increase of societies, communities and denominations which all claim to represent feminism or are against it. As a result, the concept of feminism faces various misconceptions due to the true definition of feminism and its ideologies are becoming blurred. Furthermore, many feminists are labelled as "man haters" or often still associated with the suffragettes which highlights the continuing misconceptions of feminism and the fact that it is still needed. 

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 

The ‘first wave of feminism’ began in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, with a main focus on suffrage for women in terms of voting. The ‘second wave’ began in the 1960s where women campaigned for the growth of equal rights and leading to the Equal Pay Act of 1970, and other equality laws. The late 1990's are associated with the ‘third wave’ which is often identified as post-feminism. The new fourth wave of feminism is known as networked feminism. I believe that we are in the fourth wave of networked feminism as there has been an increase in social media campaigns and movements which all link back to the concept of feminism. Additionally, more people are identifying themselves as feminists on social media, suggesting that the movement still continues. 

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.

Everyday Sexism

The Everyday Sexism project was started by Laura Bates in 2012 as a website, allowing users to submit examples of sexism that they faced every day. Laura set it up after facing sexism herself in public, and also after finding feminism hard to talk about, she claims that ‘Again and again, people told me sexism is no longer a problem – that women are equal now’. The Everyday Sexism website has received 50,000 entries of sexist experiences by December 2013. The websites user-generated content and its popular #EverydaySexism Twitter feed has led to the Everyday Sexism project becoming one of the most effective and well known feminist digital campaigns. 

FCKH8

The FCKH8 campaign focuses on the modern representation of girls and the various social inequalities they face whilst featuring young girls ‘F-Bombing’ to highlight society’s imbalance when it comes to offences. The video has created a shift in the representation of young girls, and could be seen as a representation that audiences enjoyed. After just three months on YouTube the video had gained 1.6 million views. However, the fact that the FCKH8 is actually a for-profit company, and the video is actually trying to sell its t-shirts has caused backlash due to the video acting as a form of exploitation of feminism as an advertising tool. 

HeForShe

The HeforShe campaign is led by Emma Watson. The campaign focuses on male support for gender equality as she believes that feminism should not be promoting matriachy but gender solidarity. In a UN speech she states that "Fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating... it is not the word that is important but the idea and the ambition behind it... Men, gender equality is your issue too." Watson has utilised social media to hold Q&A sessions, allow users to help pledge to fight for womens issues. The campaign has been effective in removing the misandry that is commonly associated with feminism, but some feminists argue that the campaign is undermining the "strong women" element of feminism and that it is instead reinforcing the idea that women still need men to achieve their goals. 

This Girl Can

This Girl Can is one of the first fitness campaign for women which doesn’t shame or exclude them. The campaign shares photos, videos and quotes of women without the usual sexual exploitation of a women’s fitness advert and without the body shaming. This campaign has also been heavily criticised by feminist activists on social media.

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?

I believe that we have indeed entered the fourth wave of feminism as social media feminists and feminists campaigns have been rapidly on the rise. More women and also men are engaging with the concept of feminism to fight inequality which contrasts the third wave form of feminism which promotes post-feminism due to the beliefs held that women's equality has been achieved. 

Identities: Feminism and new/digital media

Key notes

Waves of feminism

First wave: early 20th century, suffragette movement (right to vote).
Second wave: 1960s – 1990s, reproductive rights (pill), abortion, equal pay.
Third wave: 1990s – present, empowerment, reclaiming of femininity (high heels, sexuality etc. See Angela McRobbie's work on women's magazines).
Fourth wave? 2010 – ongoing, use of new technology and digital media (e.g. Twitter) for activism.

Fourth wave
Many commentators argue that the internet itself has enabled a shift from ‘third-wave’ to ‘fourth-wave’ feminism. What is certain is that the internet has created a ‘call-out’ culture, in which sexism or misogyny can be ‘called out’ and challenged.  This culture is indicative of the continuing influence of the third wave, with its focus on challenging sexism and misogyny in advertising, film, television and the media.
Key quote: “power users of social media”
The internet has facilitated the creation of a global community of feminists who use the internet both for discussion and activism. According to #FemFuture: Online Feminism, a report recently published by Columbia University’s Barnard Center for Research on Women, females aged between 18 and 29 are the ‘power users of social networking’.

(Source: Political Studies Association. Read more about this:http://www.psa.ac.uk/insight-plus/feminism-fourth-wave)

Critics of online feminism

Critics of online feminist movements suggest that petitions and pressure from Twitter campaigns is simply a witchhunt orchestrated by privileged middle-class white women. They ask: are ‘trolls’ the danger they are portrayed to be?

Blog tasks

Case study: Everyday Sexism



1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?

Laura Bates started the everyday sexism project as a way of raising awareness on the issue of sexism that women and also men face in public and at the workplace. The website allows women to project their voices by sending in the issues they have faced, as a result bringing people into contact with the seriousness of sexism and the emotional/physical impact it can have on women.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?

The everyday sexism project links back to the concept of post-feminism as it counteracts the idea that feminism is no longer required in society. The fact that women need a platform to express the troubles they face with sexism highlights the importance of feminism as a positive force which allows women to discuss sexism while also raising awareness and empowering one another.

3) How can you apply Judith Butler's theory of gender as a 'performance' to the creation of the Everyday Sexism project?

Butlers theory of gender as a 'performance' can be applied to the creation of the everyday sexism project, as the role of the women is a social construct in which women are prescribed to be subordinate to men, hence the reason many women have felt voiceless or even seen sexism as the norm. As a result, women perform the role of being subordinate and inferior to men by not speaking out about the assaults and harassment they have faced.

4) How does Angela McRobbie's work on female empowerment link to the Everyday Sexism project?

Mcrobbies work on female empowerment links back to the everyday sexism project as the project provides women with a platform to openly discuss the forms of sexism they have faced without feeling any shame or ridicule for it. This can be argued to be a form of female empowerment as women are creating a conversation about a topic that is often perceived as taboo, thus creating a force against the degradation of women.

Identities: Feminist theory and blog task

Judith Butler: gender roles

• Butler believes traditional feminists are wrong to divide society into ‘men’ and ‘women’ and says gender is not biologically fixed.
• By dividing men and women, feminists accidently reinforced the idea of differences between the two genders
• Butler believes gender roles are ‘a performance’ and that male and female behaviour is socially constructed rather than the result of biology.

Butler and the media

• If gender is a ‘performance’ rather than biological, we then need to think about what is influencing that ‘performance’.
• And that’s where the media comes in. How might the media influence our behaviour in terms of gender roles

Angela McRobbie: empowering women

• McRobbie is a British cultural theorist known for her work analysing magazines aimed at women and teenage girls in the 80s and 90s.
• McRobbie highlights the empowering nature of magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour, taking a different perspective to traditional feminists.
• This idea of ‘popular feminism’ fits into the idea of post-feminism and challenges the radical feminism of the 1970s.

Feminism: blog task

Watch the Beyonce video for ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’ 

 

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

This video contributes to Butlers idea that gender roles are a performance as we see Beyonce fulfilling the gender roles women are prescribed by society. Beyonce is seen cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry, which links back to the concept of women being perceived as housewife figures. Furthermore, the lyrics create a sense of subordination, as Beyonce is seen pleading for the acceptance and love of a male figure through her talking about her assets.  As a result, it can be argued that the role of a women is a social construct and that Beyonce is simply performing this role. 

2) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

On the other hand, McRobbie would view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women, as Beyonce is also portrayed as a woman of knowledge and class in her lyrics despite her attire being perceived as scandalous by some audiences. Although sexualised, this can be seen as a tool of empowerment for women as Beyonce is taking control of her body, having the power to choose how she dresses and she portrays herself. Furthermore, Mcrobbie could argue that the lyrics empower women as Beyonce is recognizing her quality as an individual. 

3) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?

I personally believe that Beyonce is empowering women, as she is outlining her quality as an individual and recognising her worth. Yet, I do agree that this video in particular rather reinforces the traditional male gaze as she is portrayed as subordinate to men, she questions why a man does not love her despite knowing her worth while also placing herself in the typical role of a woman who needs acceptance by a man to be satisfied. 

Weekly news articles

Twitter accounts really are echo chambers, study finds

This article discuses how members who use Twitter for political engagement with other users are really in fact part of an echo chamber of tweets and views. According to a study, 2,000 Twitter users who publicly identified as either Labour, Tory, Ukip or SNP supporters were found to be more likely to interact with others from the same party and to share articles from publications that match their views. The research was carried out by the thinktank Demos, which looked at the tweets sent between May and August last year by 2,000 people who have publicly stated their political allegiance on their profiles. According to Krasodomski-Jones, the behaviour of these users were amplified by niche media outlets who used their polarised viewpoints to attract audiences. The rising popularity of alternative news is something that attracts specific groups, suggesting that these users are ideologically driven rather than for the news.

•  According to a study, 2,000 Twitter users who publicly identified as either Labour, Tory, Ukip or SNP supporters were found to be more likely to interact with others from the same party and to share articles from publications that match their views.

I agree with the article as Twitter is in some form an echo chamber as represented by the research done. Users also do not come across alternative views often due to the control they have over the people or groups they follow, which ultimately adds onto the theory of echo chambers.

Is Snapchat the new Facebook?

This article discusses the similarities between Snap and Facebook, which have got many financial analysts and advertising experts asking if Snapchat is the new Facebook. The article provides interesting statistics as outlined below:

• Facebook has grown to 1.86bn monthly active users – more than half the world’s population that has access to the internet. 
• About 1.2bn check their Facebook accounts every day.
• BUT Snapchat has far fewer users, but the company claims they are much more engaged than Facebook’s. 
• Snapchat had 158m daily users at the last count. 
• Two-thirds of snapchat users check the app every day – and the average daily user visits the app 18 times a day, spending an average of 25-30 minutes a day sending snaps and watching snaps from their friends, celebrities and advertising brands.
• Facebook made a profit of $10.2bn in 2016, up 177% on 2015. Its total advertising income was almost $27bn. 
• Snap, which is spending a lot of money on expanding its user base, made a net loss of $515m in 2016 – up on the $373m it lost in 2015.
• Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, the world’s largest advertising company, has said his clients spent $1.7bn advertising on Facebook last year whereas $90m was spent on Snapchat.

Both companies make their money from advertising. The article states that Snapchat has tried to differentiate itself from Facebook by not allowing adverts targeted directly at users’ interests or browsing history. On the other hand, Facebook’s advertising is sold entirely by computer program. 

I personally find these statistics very interesting as they highlight how Snapchat is rapidly growing in popularity and also in the markets. This suggests that Snapchat may one be on the same level as Facebook and have a dominance in the social media world as it continues to adapt and grow.

Identities and the Media: Feminism

Playing With The Past: Post-feminism and the Media (MM40, page 64)

1) What are the two texts the article focuses on?

Beyonces 'Why don't you love me' and the period drama Pan AM

2) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?

Beyonces music video is suggested to be an example of the 'male gaze', as the article suggests that she is submitting herself to sexual objectification. However it could also be argued that she is controlling the gaze, which links back to the concept of post-feminism as although she may be controlling the gaze and putting herself in that representation she is still creating an image that reinforces male activism and female passivity. In terms of Pan Am, the period drama reinforces the male gaze while also subverting it as the image of the main steward is constructed and mediated. She is represented as someone to be admired and aspired to by women, and visually enjoyed by men.

3) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

I believe that these texts all have their contradictions and in some form create a sense of passivity in women rather than empowering them, as women are represented as either needy or self-conscious rather than fully empowered. On the other hand, one could argue that in fact women are empowered and that there is no need for feminism, as the steward in Pan Am is represented as independent and a woman of the new world, and in Beyonce's music video Beyonce is embracing her sexuality which women were not able to do a few decades ago. 

4) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Post-Feminism - A concept and ideology which argues that in our current society we are past our needs for feminism and that the attitudes and arguments of feminism are no longer needed.

Male Gaze - A theory created by Mulvey in her article ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’ which argues that mainstream Hollywood films subject female characters to the ‘male gaze’ of the camera, as a result objectifying their bodies.

Third wave feminism - A movement that redefined and encouraged women to be dominant and sexually assertive.

No More Page 3

1) Research the No More Page 3 campaign. Who started it and why?

No More Page 3 was started in August 2012 by Actress and Author Lucy-Anne Holmes as a response to the objectification and sexualisation of women in the tabloid newspaper The Sun. 

2) What reasons did the campaign give for why Page 3 had to go?

The main reason that had been stated to explain why page 3 had to go is the fact that society has transformed, and that sexual objectification has become recognised as am offensive and discriminatory factor, and contributory to the derogatory treatment of women. 

3) Read this debate in the Guardian regarding whether the campaign should be dropped. What are Barbara Ellen and Susan Boniface's contrasting opinions in the debate?

Susie Boniface believes that the campaign against page 3 should be dropped, due to her belief that society has reached a stage of evolution where some people see page 3 as an empowering force for women. On the other hand, Barbara Ellen believes that the campaign against page 3 shouldn't be dropped, as it is sexist and demeaning to women. Ellen states that the campaign isn't about forcing women to cover up, bur rather a major news outlet recognising that Page 3 is outdated.

4) The main campaign website has now been replaced by a site called Sexist News, designed to highlight sexism in the media. Give an example of a recent story the website has highlighted. Do you agree with the view of the website?

The article "Little mixed up about what to wear?" discusses how the music Little Mix faced backlash during their performance on the X Factor due to their chosen attire. The article continues on the feminist viewpoint that no one should tell women what to wear, and how the pressures bearing down on young women to conform are linked to neo-liberal ideas of choice and the marketing of female flesh.I agree with the view of the website as the double-standards within mainstream TV shows are having a negative impact on women, and that women are constantly being degraded because of it.

5) How can the No More Page 3 campaign and Sexist News website be linked to the idea of post-feminism?

I believe the No More Page 3 campaign and the Sexist News website can be linked to the idea of post-feminism because they both highlight how we live in a society where sexism still exists. The fact that we still need feminist movements and campaigns to empower women and educate others on the importance of going against sexism suggests that we have a long way to go before we reach a state of post-feminism.

6) What are your OWN views on these campaigns? Do you agree with their aims? Is there still a need for these campaigns in the media?

I believe that these campaigns have legitimate aims and that there is still a need for these campaigns in the media because the media is an influential mechanism in society. Therefore, if the media were to distribute sexist content such as Page 3, it has a serious impact on society and the status of women as represented by these campaigns. 

7) Finally, do you agree that we are in a post-feminist state or is there still a need for feminism?

Personally I believe that we are not in a post-feminist state and that there still is a need for feminism simply because many people do not understand the blatant sexism that surrounds us today. Although progress has been made, there are still various improvements that need to be made on the protection of a womans dignity and rights not only in the UK but around the world. 

post-colonialism bonus readings

MM58: Social Media and Black Identity

1) List three theorists discussed in the article and what they believe regarding black identity.

Aisha Harris - Harris argues that social media plays a negative role in the construction of black identities, and that this process is an unconscious reflection of of a "deep-rooted desire" to see black people perform and entertain. Ultimately, the rise of social media has created a culture where black people have become subject to "memeification", where content which includes black people becomes a decontextualised internet meme.

Giddens - Giddens view contracts Harris', and instead argues that social media can alternatively be a platform for the construction of positive black identities.This is represented through ‘The Blackout’ concept which is a campaign that originated on the social network ‘Tumblr’ to celebrate of blackness. As a result, Giddens argues that black people have used social media as a tool to inspire, and to construct an image of black identity that is often misrepresented by the mass media.

Henry Jenkins - Jenkins believes that social media is a platform where "participatory cultures" can be established in which members can creatively channel the skills they gain online into political activism and the voicing of marginalised viewpoints. This is represented through "Black Twitter" which is evolved to become a socially-constructed community that actively challenges negative representations of black identity in the mass media and wider society while also reinforcing positive views of black identity through humour, art, activism, and education. Jenkins suggests that this has the power to influence politics and to positively shape the world around them such as social campaign BlackLivesMatter had done.

2) In your opinion, is social media a positive or negative force when it comes to issues of black identity

I believe that social media is to an extent a positive force when it comes to issues of black identity, as audiences have been seen partaking in campaigns to empower themselves, as represented through Jenkins viewpoint. Despite this, social media can be argued to only be an echo chamber, therefore it isn't actually solving the problems that black people face due to the negative stereotypes that surround their identity. Furthermore, as Harris suggested, social media can also be a negative force as it does fuel the process on the negative constructions of black identities as audiences.

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the issue of social media and black identity?

Fanons theory on racial representations can be applied to the issue of social media and black identity through the theme of decivilise, as audiences are represented as dangerous and "backwards", furthermore these representations essantalise them,grouping them into one representation. Similarly, Alvarados theory on representation can also be applied through the theme of dangerous and also pitied, as black individuals are often represented as dangerous or either coming from an impoverished background, especially on the news. 

A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

1) What examples of different representations of refugees in the media are offered in the article?

The article suggests that refugees are being represented as migrants rather than refugees, as a result creating an impression that they are travelling by choice rather than fleeing from war zones. Furthermore, the use of language and imagery portrays refugees as a threat, essentially dehumanising them. This can be represented through the columnist Katie Hopkins, who repeatedly referred to refugees as "feral" and "cockroaches". In other cases, refugees are represented as helpless and pitied, which is portrayed through the documentary Exodus: Our journey to Europe.  

2) In your opinion, is the documentary genre more or less biased than the news media? What examples can you provide from the article to support your view?

I believe that although documentaries all have aims to educate, they can be as equally biased as news stories as the producer is essentially portraying the issue through their view point so one should be wary. Nevertheless, programmes such as Exodus highlight the ability of documentaries to alter the negative impression of refugees given elsewhere in the media, as some do give a personal viewpoint of the suffering such as Exodus which gave smartphones to refugees to film their journey, and similarly A Refugee Camp also gave an impartial yet alternative representation of refugees, as audience came in contact with their desires to go back to their homes and peace. This alters the dominant impression of refugees being "scroungers". Therefore documentaries can be argued to be a positive force, and that they are not always essentially biased.

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the representation of refugees in the media?  

Saids theory can be applied to the representation of refugees in the media as there is a clear division between the west and the east. As nearly all the refugees come from the eastern world, they are often represented as impoverished and pitied, or in some cases even dangerous. This contrasts the representation of the civil western world. Similarly, Alvarados theory can also be applied, as the theme pitied is recurring in the representation of refugees in the media, and in some cases dangerous.