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Aim: To gain a deeper more critical understanding of media theory in order to choose a theme for documentary
Objectives:
Understand the basic principles and concepts of Marxism.
Recognise how Marxism can be applied to the analysis of media and its influence on society.
Analyse media content through a Marxist lens.
Starter: What influence does the media have on society?
Starter: What influence does the media have on society?
Marxism- Marxism is a social, political, and economic philosophy named after Karl Marx (1818-1883). Marxism has had a great historical influence on the organization of countries, as well as numerous theories in sociology. In sociology, Marxism has manifested as a method for socioeconomic analysis. Using the methods of Marxism, sociologists can outline the dominant power structures of society and examine their effects on how people within society see power structures.
Marxism- Marxism is a social, political, and economic philosophy named after Karl Marx (1818-1883). Marxism has had a great historical influence on the organization of countries, as well as numerous theories in sociology. In sociology, Marxism has manifested as a method for socioeconomic analysis. Using the methods of Marxism, sociologists can outline the dominant power structures of society and examine their effects on how people within society see power structures.
Watch this video and answer these questions:
Watch this video and answer these questions:
What is the middle class referred to as?
What is the working class referred to as?
What was Karl Marxs' aim of this theory?
What role does the media have on this theory?
Click the link below to find out more about the sociological theory
Click the link below to find out more about the sociological theory
What influence does society have on the media?
What influence does society have on the media?
Task:
Task:
Think about the scene, how are the unemployed represented?
Think about appearance, costume, facial expression.
Think about this critically, the film is set in Sheffield, down the road from us, so what does it suggest about the location and people?
(Is it glamorous?) ( Are the people attractive? Smart? Got their life together?)
Your turn- Watch this short film and analyse it from a Marxist point of view.
Your turn- Watch this short film and analyse it from a Marxist point of view.
Talk about social class and how this is represented in the film.
Talk about social class and how this is represented in the film.
Let's discuss this article:
Let's discuss this article:
Representation
Representation
Objectives:
Understand keywords and the meanings in relation to representation.
Investigate media product that provide opportunities to discuss issues of representations.
Identify issues of representations.
Key Terms
Key Terms
Stereotypes - A widely held, but fixed oversimplified image of someone or something.
Subversion - A modern interpretation or unexpected representation of the stereotype.
Mis-representation - When social/cultural groups are unjustly stereotyped.
Under-representation - A disproportionate inclusion of a social or cultural group that doesn't reflect society or culture as a whole.
Sexual objectification - The practice of regarding a person as an object to be viewed only in terms of their sexual appeal and with no consideration of any aspect of their character or personality.
Consider this: Media producers select and combine various elements to create specific representations. Who is to blame? The producers for creating them or us for accepting them?
Consider this: Media producers select and combine various elements to create specific representations. Who is to blame? The producers for creating them or us for accepting them?
Stuart Hall- Representation theory
Stuart Hall- Representation theory
The idea that representation is the production of meaning through language, with language defined in its broadest sense as a system of signs
The idea that the relationship between concepts and signs is governed by codes
The idea that stereotyping, as a form of representation, reduces people to a few simple characteristics or traits
The idea that stereotyping tends to occur where there are inequalities of power, as subordinate or excluded groups are constructed as different or ‘other’ (e.g. through ethnocentrism).
In basic terms stereotypes reduce people to a few traits and places them into categories. Stereotypes tend to occur when there are inequalities of power e. g: Men in higher powered jobs in the media will continue to result in female objectification.
White Chicks is a massively controversial film, with themes of stereotypes, representation and racism. However it is important to not only see how films like these aren't acceptable but also to point out the mis-representation, unjust stereotypes, racist behaviour and sexual objectification to which is unfair and unequal.
Write about this scene
Is it acceptable to pose/ portray the opposite gender? Race? Why so?
How are the two characters shown represented at the start? And then again at the end? Think of the type of job they have, the clothing they wear/ change into....
Considering the representation of white women, what is also wrong with these characters?
Think about the dialogue, is it acceptable for the phrases used? Why?
Side note: How are the 'scientists' represented?
Delve deeper, consider the location/ accent. What does this infer?
Stereotypes
Stereotypes
Outcomes
Engage with historical contexts that influence today's representations
Identify multiple racial/cultural/ gender stereotypes
Form discussions around gender and identity
Group Task - Racial/Cultural Stereotypes
Group Task - Racial/Cultural Stereotypes
In groups you will be given one race/culture to discuss. I would like you to identify a range of stereotypes (positive and negative) portrayed in film and television. Pay close attention to mis-representations. What social and cultural issues/ideas do these stereotypes perpetuate?
Black culture/people
South/Latin Americans
Brits
Eastern Asians
Americans
Moving closer to home, it is common for regional identities to be mis-represented. Can you identify stereotypes for the following regions of the UK?
Londoners
Northerners
Irish
Scottish
Racial inequality
Historically, the USA has a complicated relationship with human rights, in particular with racial inequality. There are numerous key events throughout history that have shaped the USA, and the society we live in now. Dating back to the age of the slave trade, complicated relationships have been formed. Having an understanding and awareness of key events in history, will enable you to engage with issues of racial/cultural representations more confidently.
Rosa Parks (1955)
Is it fair to recreate these events on screen? Is it fair to 'mainstream' these events?
Discuss with the group and make notes of racial stereotypes in your portfolio:
What racial inequality have you seen in recent media?
Have they (producers) told the story accurately (if it is a past event, like above) OR have they played into the mis-representation, fake stereotypes and negative portrayal of these people?
Gender and Identity
Gender and Identity
The World Health Organisation identifies gender as a social construct. Sex refers to biological and physiological characteristics. It is important to note how different genders are difficult to differentiate and the characteristics are dependable on an individual's identity. Understanding the premise that everyone is an individual with an individual identity is enabling a more liberal approach to gender representations in film, television and media in general. Typical gender representations will remain as the vast majority adheres to these social constructs. However, as discussions around LGBT rights increases, gender will continue to develop accordingly.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Gender Performativity Theory - Judith Butler
Gender Performativity Theory - Judith Butler
The idea that identity is performatively constructed by the very ‘expressions’ that are said to be its results (it is manufactured through a set of acts)
The idea that there is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender
The idea that performativity is not a singular act, but a repetition and a ritual.
Identity Theory - David Gauntlett
Identity Theory - David Gauntlett
The idea that the media provides us with ‘tools’ or resources that we use to construct our identities
The idea that whilst in the past the media tended to convey singular, straightforward messages about ideal types of male and female identities, the media today offer us a more diverse range of stars, icons and characters from whom we may pick and mix different ideas
The media provides us with the tools to construct our identity. Today the media offers us a more diverse range of influences to ‘pick and mix’ our identity from. Do you agree?
Independent task- Based on both Butler and Gauntlett's ideas of identity, secretly identify the following things about your consumer habits:
Independent task- Based on both Butler and Gauntlett's ideas of identity, secretly identify the following things about your consumer habits:
- A social media influencer you follow
- A celebrity you follow
- The last film you watched
- The last game you played
- The last TV show you watched
Feminism
Feminism
Feminist Theory 1 - Laura Mulvey
Feminist Theory 1 - Laura Mulvey
Probably one of the most notable film theories in general is the work of Laura Mulvey - the male gaze.
Mulvey states that women are seen on screen as the object of ‘the male gaze’. She suggested two modes of the male gaze:
Voyeuristic – the woman being there just to be looked at.
Fetishistic – Seeing a woman as a substitute, in the underlying fear of castration.
Written in her journal article 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema (1975)', Mulvey only intended on provoking a response. She never intended it to be so widely accepted academically. Access the original text below.
Feminist Theory 2 - Bell Hooks
Feminist Theory 2 - Bell Hooks
The idea that feminism is a struggle to end sexist/patriarchal oppression and the ideology of domination
The idea that feminism is a political commitment rather than a lifestyle choice
The idea that race and class as well as sex determines the extent to which individuals are exploited, discriminated against and oppressed.
Feminist Theory 3 - Liesbet Van Zoonen
Feminist Theory 3 - Liesbet Van Zoonen
The idea that gender is constructed through discourse, and that its meaning varies according to cultural and historical context
The idea that the display of women’s bodies as objects to be looked at is a core element of western patriarchal culture
The idea that in mainstream culture the visual and narrative codes that are used to construct the male body as spectacle differ from those used to objectify the female body.
Your turn- Putting theory into practice.
Your turn- Putting theory into practice.
Lets watch the 2017 movie Hidden Figures. The movie is a historical drama that focuses on the lives of three American women, whose intellect had a significant impact in NASA sending people to space. How are the women portrayed on screen and how do you think the story is presented in a different lens now, rather than in the 60s when it takes place? What was the state of society in the 1960s that might have impacted the 'covering up' of the womens' stories? Consider the theories during this session and utilise the key terms that we discussed earlier.
Task
State the issues of representation and/ or stereotypes within this film
Evidence the issues of representation/ stereotypes with actions/ quotes from the film
Explain these issues linking to gender, race and identity
Link to society and culture nowadays
Postmodernism
Postmodernism
Would you agree that Christopher Nolan is a post modern filmmaker? Further reading below:
Task 1:
Task 1:
In your portfolio and in your own words create an investigation of the post modern and towards the end think toward your audience.
What is post-modernism?
Who are post-modernist filmmakers? What films of theirs have fallen into this definition?
Deep dive a director of your choice who you would consider to be a post- modern filmmaker, this is to further explore and investigate this subject.
Christopher Nolan is one film director who takes on the post-modernistic approach to storytelling.
Alongside the majority of Nolans films the person building these worlds is this man...
Postmodernism Theory- Jean Baudrillard
Postmodernism Theory- Jean Baudrillard
The idea that in the modern world, what something represents has become more important than what it actually is. E.g.: A handbag- The handbag itself may not be significantly different in terms of functionality or materials from a less expensive brand. However, owning a Louis Vuitton bag represents status, wealth, and fashion sense, making it more desirable for its symbolic value rather than its practical use OR Instagram influences- The life portrayed by influencers on social media often represents an idealized version of reality. Followers may value the curated image of success, beauty, and happiness more than the actual day-to-day life of the influencer, which might be quite different
The idea that we can identify accepted cultural norms that are manufactured by society. . E.g.: advertising and consumerism, social media, news media and political.
The idea in which we challenge these accepted normal patterns of behaviour or belief. . E.g.: Consumerism, media representation, political narratives, social norms and historical narrative.
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