http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/19/konnie-huq-hiv-awareness
The former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq appears as a seductress in a tongue-in-cheek web video ad that aims to show young people that it is OK to kiss someone with HIV.
The online ad, created by the British Red Cross, has been created in the runup to World Aids Day on 1 December.
Developed by Red Bee Media, the 60-second ad aims to tackle the prejudices that many under-25s hold about those with HIV and Aids.
The ad opens in the style of a fashion or drinks commercial with Huq sitting sexily on a bar stool, asking: "If I had HIV, what would it take to get you to kiss me?"
Huq then runs through an increasingly ridiculous set of measures, such as shaving her tongue and wearing a chemical hazard suit, as she attempts to convince viewers to agree to kiss her.
"Knowing you can't catch HIV from kissing is one thing – but when young people were asked if this was something they would actually do, the majority still said no," said Huq. "The video is a light-hearted way of challenging some of the negative assumptions people hold and hopefully forcing them to rethink."
The British Red Cross ran research among 15- to 25-year-olds that found that while 85% of young people knew that it is not possible to contract HIV from a kiss, 69% still said they would not kiss someone HIV positive.
"The video also acts as a call to action to young people to encourage them to sign up as peer educators – young people who train and teach people their own age, covering a range of humanitarian issues including HIV," said Alyson Lewis, the health and care team leader at the BRC.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Cadbury Dairy Milk ad cleared of racism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/11/cadbury-dairy-milk-cleared-racism
The advertising regulator has cleared Cadbury of racism and perpetuating colonial stereotypes of African people in its latest TV advertising campaign.
Cadbury's campaign featured Ghanaian musician Tinny and aimed to promote the chocolate brand's tie-up with the Fairtrade organisation for cocoa from the African nation for its Dairy Milk range.
The Advertising Standards Authority received 29 complaints that the TV campaign was demeaning to African people and perpetuated racial stereotypes.
However, the ASA's council has decided not to formally investigate the complaints. "Although the council acknowledges that Cadbury had used stereotypes in their ads, they felt that the stereotypes were not harmful or offensive," said the ASA, which argued that most ads use some form of stereotype device to get a age across.
Cadbury has steadfastly maintained that the company went to "considerable lengths" to ensure that the ad campaign was culturally sensitive and developed as a "joyous and uplifting portrayal of Ghanaian culture and something which Ghanaians can feel proud of".
In 2007 the ASA banned an ad for Cadbury's Trident chewing gum, which featured a black "dub poet" speaking in rhyme with a strong Caribbean accent, after more than 500 complaints that it was racist.
The advertising regulator has cleared Cadbury of racism and perpetuating colonial stereotypes of African people in its latest TV advertising campaign.
Cadbury's campaign featured Ghanaian musician Tinny and aimed to promote the chocolate brand's tie-up with the Fairtrade organisation for cocoa from the African nation for its Dairy Milk range.
The Advertising Standards Authority received 29 complaints that the TV campaign was demeaning to African people and perpetuated racial stereotypes.
However, the ASA's council has decided not to formally investigate the complaints. "Although the council acknowledges that Cadbury had used stereotypes in their ads, they felt that the stereotypes were not harmful or offensive," said the ASA, which argued that most ads use some form of stereotype device to get a age across.
Cadbury has steadfastly maintained that the company went to "considerable lengths" to ensure that the ad campaign was culturally sensitive and developed as a "joyous and uplifting portrayal of Ghanaian culture and something which Ghanaians can feel proud of".
In 2007 the ASA banned an ad for Cadbury's Trident chewing gum, which featured a black "dub poet" speaking in rhyme with a strong Caribbean accent, after more than 500 complaints that it was racist.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Relation to Different Media Representations
BBC Opinion Based
Ch Supt Jack Russell said: "I called a meeting because of serious concerns I had regarding possible trouble between rival groups who may attend the carnival.
"I believe that some groups who have been involved in the recent spate of firearms incidents could use the event to continue their disagreements.
"I want the carnival to go ahead because it wouldn't be reasonable or fair to cancel an event which not only celebrates the history of the West Indian culture but also brings together many other diverse communities in our city."
About 12,000 people are expected to attend the event.
Ch4 Opinion based
A teenager was killed in a gang-related shooting a few streets from where I live in East London. As the police cordoned off the crime scene and the TV cameras arrived, I began to wonder what separates our lives so much that while some of us can look forward to a bright future full of opportunity, others end up involved in guns, drugs and crime before they have a driving licence. In Britain, does your postcode determine your future or are teens in poorer areas just easy targets to blame? Are schools failing to inspire teens to chose another route? Why are gangs, so-called ASBO kids and 'hoodies' all so attractive to frustrated and disillusioned teens in the first place? Young people have always rebelled, but is it all getting increasingly violent? Or is the whole idea that teenagers are 'out of control' a product of media hype?
Ch Supt Jack Russell said: "I called a meeting because of serious concerns I had regarding possible trouble between rival groups who may attend the carnival.
"I believe that some groups who have been involved in the recent spate of firearms incidents could use the event to continue their disagreements.
"I want the carnival to go ahead because it wouldn't be reasonable or fair to cancel an event which not only celebrates the history of the West Indian culture but also brings together many other diverse communities in our city."
About 12,000 people are expected to attend the event.
Ch4 Opinion based
A teenager was killed in a gang-related shooting a few streets from where I live in East London. As the police cordoned off the crime scene and the TV cameras arrived, I began to wonder what separates our lives so much that while some of us can look forward to a bright future full of opportunity, others end up involved in guns, drugs and crime before they have a driving licence. In Britain, does your postcode determine your future or are teens in poorer areas just easy targets to blame? Are schools failing to inspire teens to chose another route? Why are gangs, so-called ASBO kids and 'hoodies' all so attractive to frustrated and disillusioned teens in the first place? Young people have always rebelled, but is it all getting increasingly violent? Or is the whole idea that teenagers are 'out of control' a product of media hype?
Marxism..
Marxist on Gangs
As Marxists we have to note that the material reality has a large effect on
the distance gangs usually travel down the political road. The Watts
uprising of 1965, for instance, united different gangs in their struggle
against police brutality which paved the way for a formation like the Black
Panthers which could recruit from different gangs and put aside petty
differences in favour of revolutionary struggle and unity. And the heyday
of the Black Panthers was the late 60s; no one on this list needs to be
reminded of the political climate during that time. Or more recently the
police killing of New York City resident and black man Sean Bell created a
climate where the Bloods and Crips (who are usually in a state of war with
each other) both marched together to protest police brutality in NYC.
Marxist on Gangs
As Marxists we can look at street gangs sociologically or politically.
Sociologically, Marxists favour a much more sympathetic view towards gangs
then the mainstream view, for the reasons Piercy stated. We acknowledge
that these groups are almost entirely composed of impoverished people and
are often targets of the blame game when capitalist politicians need a
scapegoat for the system and its results. As Mike Davis so brilliantly
noted in an interview he gave in the DVD 'Bastards of the Party,' if you had
39,000 union jobs in L.A. you could very well get 39,000 gang members to
leave the negative aspects of their gang lives behind. Gang leaders
pursuing reform often complain that without jobs they find it extremely
difficult to stop members from pursuing monetary gain through illicit
means.
Marxist Perspective
From the Marxist perspective, adolescent gangs are a collectivist subculture which forms as a reaction to an impoverished lifestyle and an environment lacking in intellectual stimulation, in order to share knowledge about criminalistic activities, and to share the proceeds generated from deviant behaviour.
As Marxists we have to note that the material reality has a large effect on
the distance gangs usually travel down the political road. The Watts
uprising of 1965, for instance, united different gangs in their struggle
against police brutality which paved the way for a formation like the Black
Panthers which could recruit from different gangs and put aside petty
differences in favour of revolutionary struggle and unity. And the heyday
of the Black Panthers was the late 60s; no one on this list needs to be
reminded of the political climate during that time. Or more recently the
police killing of New York City resident and black man Sean Bell created a
climate where the Bloods and Crips (who are usually in a state of war with
each other) both marched together to protest police brutality in NYC.
Marxist on Gangs
As Marxists we can look at street gangs sociologically or politically.
Sociologically, Marxists favour a much more sympathetic view towards gangs
then the mainstream view, for the reasons Piercy stated. We acknowledge
that these groups are almost entirely composed of impoverished people and
are often targets of the blame game when capitalist politicians need a
scapegoat for the system and its results. As Mike Davis so brilliantly
noted in an interview he gave in the DVD 'Bastards of the Party,' if you had
39,000 union jobs in L.A. you could very well get 39,000 gang members to
leave the negative aspects of their gang lives behind. Gang leaders
pursuing reform often complain that without jobs they find it extremely
difficult to stop members from pursuing monetary gain through illicit
means.
Marxist Perspective
From the Marxist perspective, adolescent gangs are a collectivist subculture which forms as a reaction to an impoverished lifestyle and an environment lacking in intellectual stimulation, in order to share knowledge about criminalistic activities, and to share the proceeds generated from deviant behaviour.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
To what extent is the media to blame for the raise in moral panic in Britain surrounding Black Male Teens
Media Language and Institutions..
I will use media language relevant to the text i am studying. The reference point for my production will be the BBC documentary "MAX: Black Britain".I will be focusing on looking at BBC, and Channel 4 as they have a tendancy to feature the same shows as i wish to. With this i will cast an eye on the clothes which are stereotypically found amongst young black boys.
Narratives..
There are no real narratives, however we can talk about the ways in which the interviewee will be addressed etc.
Genre..
The genre of my piece will be drama-documentared, as it will show the real life conventions of the black 'gangtser life' and the successful working black mans life. I will be studying moving image adverts, and still images such as posters for example.
Ideologies..
I will be addressing the stereotypes of young black people, and investigating whether the media could be partly to blaim for the image put across about them. My research is a radio clip talking about the successes of Black peaople in britain, and how the had originiated to the country. I believe strongly that taking the problem or investigation back to its source can help to reach conclusions.
Audience..
My main audience would obviously be black people, but this isn't a race war, so any other ethnic group will also be accepted as an audience. The secondary audience however would be males, as this is surrounding them also.
Historical values..
Ways in which my prodution can be deemed as historical, is through its relationship and influence from the past. This is through the slave trade, and through the migration and settlization of black people in britain. Also how does this affect the standards of life in which they live when they grow up... And why do teens not strive to get out of this stereotype? Is media really to blaim?
Social issues..
My production is related to social issues, as this is an ongoing moral panic, which is affecting Britain as wide scale. I will take research from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=267 Which is a table of racially related crimes. This shows that white people are at the least attacted (pre 2000).
Economic..
The ways in which black youths are going to be at the bottom of the class system in terms of wealth (relation to Marx's theory). The stereotype of feeling the need to steal etc in order to earn money.
Political..
Talks about the ways in which Black youth crime may be sensationalised undercoverly through newspapers and other texts. An example being the amount of stabbings on an increase, and the ongoing conferences about how to reduce these levels of crime. Additionally, how this may have a negative affect on their social image.
"This study fits into the contemporary media landscape because it looks at the effect of stereotypes and Marxism in life, and the affects it may have in society".
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
What is the Guardian 100 and who are the panellists who create it?
The media guardian 100 are the top 100 symbolic figures in the media industry. They are judged on three main criterias: their cultural, economic and political influence in the UK.
The media guardian 100 are the top 100 symbolic figures in the media industry. They are judged on three main criterias: their cultural, economic and political influence in the UK.
The panellists are Peter Barron, Peter Bennett-Jones, Brent Hoberman, Tessa Jowell, Siobhan Kenny, Andrew Neil, Trevor Phillips, Chris Powell, Janine Gibson, Jane Martinson
There are 15 women in the top 100
The women and their roles are..
Jane Tranter - Controller of fiction, BBC
Lesley Douglas - Controller, BBC Radio 2 and 6Music, BBC popular music
Jana Bennett - Director of vision, BBC
Helen Boaden - Director, BBC news
Dame Marjorie Scardino - Chief executive, Pearson :publishing, digital media
Elisabeth Murdoch - Chairman and chief executive, Shine Group : broadcasting
Rebekah Wade - Editor, the Sun
Carolyn McCall - Chief executive, Guardian Media Group
Arianna Huffington - Founder, editor-in-chief, Huffington Post
Veronica Wadley - Editor, London Evening Standard
Katie Price - Reality TV star, author
The percentage of the list that are women is 15.
How would you assess the balance of power in this list and why do you think it is this way?
"I believe that the balance of women in power compared to men is inadequate, and doesn't reflect the overall achievements or capabilities of women".
Friday, 9 October 2009
FLIGHTPLANFlightplan is a movie which is directed by Robert Schwentke, and produced by Brian Grazer. It hosts Jodie Foster playing Kyle Pratt as the leading character, in a film about a woman who loses her husband after he falls from a building. She is summoned to Long Island by plane with her daughter in order to bury her husband; however her trip takes a turn for the worst when her daughter is kidnapped, and all documentary statements proving she was a passenger on the plane have been erased. Background information on Jodie Foster shows that she is known for being an actress who likes to put herself into the spotlight by starring in hard-hitting memorable films; the most well known being Silence of the Lambs, where she played Clarice Starling, and the Accused (A film about her being abused and raped 1988) where she had won her 1st academy award.
The film was made in 2005, which is important as this was a time-period where which females felt they belonged and that there was no real segregation through work pay etc. In this movie, Kyle Pratt is made out to be insane and told that her child never boarded the plane. Throughout many scenes, her madness is reiterated through camera angles, such as that taken when she is talking to the captain of the plane. In this scene we see a 360 degree shot where she is depicted as a mad woman as most of the people in the room were men, and were looking at her madly; in relation to this, the two women in the room were also looking at her madly which could emphasise a point of women being groomed into a man’s sidekick. This shows that post modernist feminism exists as it shows the theory of everyone being against her, and her having to survive and fend for herself.
This film is patriarchal, but the stereotype is questionable, as she dominates the film. Although she is being helped by a male police officer, it is obvious that the crew still don’t believe anything she says. This is because through normalisation, people are taught, or brought up usually thinking and believing that men are the most constructive force, and that women are merely ‘offspring’ who have no say in situations unless there is a male voice of approval.
There is a scene in the film where the Kyle sends across the message that she is mad, in order to draw less attention to herself. This is shown when the psychiatrist is seen speaking to her and she breathes into the window, and sees the heart which her daughter drew on the window hours before. This can show us that the only way females in the film, and reflected in society, can make their voice heard is by going along with the male voice, and having a male to back up their situation. Concluding this with the point of females never actually being equal to men, they are in fact more subordinate.
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