Collective Identity: Representation of women in the British Media

You are to collate and collect examples of the representation of women during the course of the summer and present your examples in the form of a ppt when you come back in September.

Look at the press and how stories relating to women or women's issues are covered - you may want to focus on the Olympics and coverage of that:  Are the women athletes represented differently to the men? Are some sports covered more than others, eg: beach volley ball or gymnastics.

Look at any British dramas on TV and comment on how the female characters are represented.

Look at the press and follow any news stories that are relevant. You could look at the charges relating to Rebecca Brookes and compare her treatment to the men facing the same charges.

Your presentation is only going to be about your 'findings'  what you observe or think. There is no right or wrong way to do this so do not worry, it is just a 'way in' to our question on Collective Identity and to provide a means of discussion - something I know you are good at!

Have a great summer!

Ms Scott

Summer Research Project

The summer hols have finally arrived! 

Make the most of your time: be creative and enjoy adding videos and research ideas to your blog.

You have two main tasks to complete
1. Conduct your artist research project (see post below for information about what to include).

2. Storyboard ideas for your music video. Be creative: make mindmaps/prezis/magazine collages of ideas, then storyboard frame by frame each 2-3 seconds of your video. Match each frame to lyrics, ensure you have an 'angle' or meaning behind your ideas.

Take photographs, use your flip cams to film footage and visit different locations.

Finally, have a safe and fun break. See you in September...
Mrs Eff

Thinking of including stop animation in your vid? Here's a great example of how to produce creativity with an impact on a shoe string budget....

Start collecting your own examples of inspirational videos and ideas: from films, TV adverts, music channels....

Collective Identity & representation of youth in Hip Hop

Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis talked about how he thought Hip Hop was responsible for a negative portrayal of black youth on BBC Radio 4's Front Row programme last night.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kjtdy

Marsalis also agreed with violinist Nicola Benedetti's recent comments; Benedetti has recently created a media furore over her comments on British Youth and their lack of culture and their celebrity obsession.  Read about it in the Telegrapgh: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9387824/Nicola-Benedetti-Todays-children-need-culture-not-celebrity-obsession.html

You might like to consider the value of her comments and question whether she is truly representative of young people given her background and experiences.

Ms Scott

Song Ideas

How about Massive Attack, Morcheeba or Nouvelle Vague?

Star Image Summer Project

Star Image: Artist Research Summer Project

What makes a star a star?

The star, as well as the music video, is a media text: both can be ‘read’ and analysed. 

“A star is an image constructed (as any other aspect of fiction is) from a range of materials – eg advertising and magazines, as well as films and music.” Richard Dyer

TOP TIP: start collecting theory on music videos and audience - you will need this for your A2 exam!

Your project is to research into how a star’s image changes over time.

§  Choose a ‘big’ name artist

§  Choose an artist from your chosen genre

       STAR IMAGE RESEARCH PROJECT: How do record companies construct a star image?

           Upload all your research under a 'research and planning' label on your blog. Areas to cover are:

a)      Which star (from your genre) have you chosen to research? Mention time period and genre

b)      Debut single / album and image. Provide textual evidence of early star image (video / print / website). Who are their fan base? How do they appeal to their audience (fans)?

c)      How have they changed and why? How do they maintain / grow their fan base? Textual evidence of changing star image (include video).

d)      Any press coverage / media manipulation / product endorsement / controversy / appearances on talk shows etc.?

e)      Summarise the changing image of your star (refer to a range of changing characteristics)

           EXT: any intertextuality?

           Robbie Williams’ Millennium à James Bond

           Madonna à Marilyn Monroe

           J-Lo /Geri Halliwell à Fashdance

                   Key Terminology to use in your Research Project

§  Record company

§  Product endorsement

§  Star image

§  Richard Dyer (theorists)

§  Audience appeal

§  Representation

§  Colour symbolism

§  Intertextuality

§  Media Manipulation

§  Generic conventions (eg female artists always…)

        Don’t forget, by Friday’s lesson you also need to have uploaded your prelim with commentary and chosen your song for your music vid.

Collective Identity and Britishness

Olympic Countdown!
Make sure you are keeping track of news and media with regrard to the build up to the Olympics. Follow the torch relay:
http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/ and consider how the coverage reflects our values and culture as a nation.
You must watch the opening ceremony on the 27th and analyse how it relects our national identity.

Ms Scott

Genre Research

TASKS TO DO BY END OF LESSON TUESDAY

TASK ONE - leftover tasks from last week: Upload your preliminary, comment on what went well / difficulties with filming/editing lip synching etc.

1. As a group, decide which genre you’re going to produce a music video for and upload 3 music videos within your genre. Comment on why you've chosen this genre (and reasons for not choosing others).

2. Conduct some research about your artists:

a)      Which record label does the artiste/ band belong to? Is that an independent or major label?

b)      What was the name of their last album?

c)       Do you think they are designed to have mass appeal (are they pop) or more elite, underground  fans?

3.  Create a montage of images/spider diagram/prezi for each artist/ band. Comment on how they represent themselves and how this may appeal to their target audience: see below for elements you need to include on your montage..

REMEMBER: your blog is your A2 COURSEWORK. Add a post every 2 - 3 days. Upload all your genre research under your ‘research and planning’ label