Friday, 16 March 2012
Touch Or No Touch?
A new smartphone has just been released where users can browse the web by hovering a finger above links rather than touching them. Sony is the creator of this and hopes to go on sale before the end of 2012. There are still a few issues and problems where people are deciding whether the phone will be practical and useful as well as being popular. Sony says the aim of the new smartphone is to allow users to answer calls, use the web, and flick through pictures etc without having to touch the actual phone but to use gestures instead. Will this prove beneficial? In my opinion it seems Sony has created this gadget to cause a huge buzz around the new creation. Whereas I don’t think it will prove to be any better than what a touch phone already is.
Wi-Fi At The Underground
Virgin Media has finally won the battle of providing free Wi Fi at the London Underground by the end of 2012. Wi-Fi will only be found in specific areas as it would have cost a lot of money to reconstruct the tube in order to receive internet signals. This service will only be free before the Olympics finish and then will be a pay as you go service. Virgin Media has said to start with Wi-Fi in 80 stations by the summer and then up to 120 stations by the end of 2012. Virgin Media’s CEO; Neil Berkett, said: "We'll help people make the most of the city and will continue to evolve the service, ensuring everyone can benefit from a service London will be proud of” I believe this an excellent idea as it shows how we have become so dependent on the internet for our everyday lives and it will also be very useful for travelling workers and students.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
The Hypodermic Needle Theory
The Hypodermic Needle Theory suggests audiences are completely passive to their surroundings, “Uniformly controlled by their biologically based 'instincts' and that they react more or less uniformly to whatever 'stimuli' came along" . Female characters in Vampire Diaries, are seen to be strong, wise and powerful, which are characteristics for young girls to aspire to and creates the ideology that they have the idealistic lives that girls would admire, hence drawing in a larger female audience. In Vampire Diaries, the female protagonists are successful of painting the image of strong love, but it not at the expense of character portrayal. The women of Mystic Falls are independent, physically powerful, well written characters and they’ve developed their personalities throughout the seasons. In The Vampire Diaries, Elena is shown to be a strong character through close up shots which show her powerful facial expressions and serious tone. She is also shown in low angle shots which make her seem domineering and authoritative. Elena’s dialogue and scenes are serious which highlight her character of being successful and strong. By addressing these characteristics, young girls tend to conform to typical stereotypes and make the audiences strive to become like the protagonists, influence them to fulfil their aspirations and copy their looks and attitudes. "People are becoming inspired by the characteristics of the vampire, and see them as a source of fulfilling their potential and inner abilities.” There are negative impacts towards the Copycat Theory, where young girls have gone around biting other young girls to act as Vampires. The JSYK website has written an article called “Love Bites: Vampire Craze Inspires Teen Biting Trend" and have raised the issue where teens are biting each other to show their love and affection. Cohen’s theory of delinquency elaborates on this as it shows younger people have lower prospects and education which leads to frustration and replacing societies’ norms.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Ciara - Like A Boy Analysis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLVZFJ5MyZU
At the beginning of the music video we hear Ciara starting the song with "Ladies, I think it’s time to switch the roles" this emphasises the song title and begins to convey her message across. We then see a close up shot of Ciara’s hands and arms which have tattoos all over them and wears very big, manly rings. Also in the second shot we have Ciara sitting in a throne like chair which could connote her strenght and power. Her slouch and posture definatly contrasts with a way a woman is supposed to sit which makes her look quite like a man.
Her clothing is the complete opposite to what a woman normally wears as we see Ciara wearing baggy jeans, a vest top and a hat. Her accessories consist of chunky chains and rings to bring out the masculinity she is trying to convey. This begins to highlight Ciara's masculine approach and alters the stereotypical gender roles women usually have in hip hop videos.
We also see Ciara circling a man who is at a lower level than her. This could imply she has a greater power than him and is at a higher rank than him, acknowleding women are the greater sex in this video. The close ups of her talking in his ear and her angry facial expressions also suggest this and show that the man is weak and helpless. Ciara also spells her name in a bold sort of manner "C.I.A.R.A". This emphasises her status.
There is a shot of Ciara holding the crotch area, this plays around with gender roles as men are usually seen to do this to show their power. Ciara's clothing is very man-ish even when shes wearing a suit, she looks exactly like a man and dances like one. Her stick used could be seen as a phalic symbol to highlight the manhood of this video. Ciara's dance moves are also quite masculine.
At the beginning of the music video we hear Ciara starting the song with "Ladies, I think it’s time to switch the roles" this emphasises the song title and begins to convey her message across. We then see a close up shot of Ciara’s hands and arms which have tattoos all over them and wears very big, manly rings. Also in the second shot we have Ciara sitting in a throne like chair which could connote her strenght and power. Her slouch and posture definatly contrasts with a way a woman is supposed to sit which makes her look quite like a man.
Her clothing is the complete opposite to what a woman normally wears as we see Ciara wearing baggy jeans, a vest top and a hat. Her accessories consist of chunky chains and rings to bring out the masculinity she is trying to convey. This begins to highlight Ciara's masculine approach and alters the stereotypical gender roles women usually have in hip hop videos.
We also see Ciara circling a man who is at a lower level than her. This could imply she has a greater power than him and is at a higher rank than him, acknowleding women are the greater sex in this video. The close ups of her talking in his ear and her angry facial expressions also suggest this and show that the man is weak and helpless. Ciara also spells her name in a bold sort of manner "C.I.A.R.A". This emphasises her status.
There is a shot of Ciara holding the crotch area, this plays around with gender roles as men are usually seen to do this to show their power. Ciara's clothing is very man-ish even when shes wearing a suit, she looks exactly like a man and dances like one. Her stick used could be seen as a phalic symbol to highlight the manhood of this video. Ciara's dance moves are also quite masculine.
Emo Culture And Vampires
It is believed that when institutions create such films they are produced for a reason. Vampires have become increasingly popular and this has generated a large target audience and profit. As the Vampire phase came in our lives, more and more Vampire related media texts were being produced due to the current trend. Cycles of popularity can be seen “When any texts become exceptionally popular you can be certain that ‘follow ups’ will not be far behind” Institutions understood the popularity of Vampires and decided to capitalise on the present fashion. Today we are aware of the different stereotypes created in society. “Emo culture” is relatively new and is based upon a rebellious, anti-social, cult-like nature. “The popularity of the vampire today [...] being a "vampire" (or a Goth, for that matter) is for today's youth what being a "hippie" was for the youth of the 60s” . Emos and Goths tend to follow dark films and aspire to horror movies involving Vampires, ghosts and death etc. Their culture has followed around the Vampire phase and has made it become even more popular.
Edward Cullen Analysis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO37pjrTBEY&feature=related
In The Twilight Series, the male protagonist, Edward, possesses these dominant characteristics and attracts many young females with ease. Throughout the Twilight Series, Edward Cullen seems to enter in a sensual and exotic manner, which immediately connotes his charismatic and stunning persona. We see Edward in a majority of close ups which enable us to see his perfect features and beautiful face. A slight smirk and sexy look draw the female audience like a magnet. Edward Cullen never looks directly towards the camera which allows the audience to feel comfortable whilst watching him. The background behind him is very plain and simple which keeps all eyes focused towards him. His personality is shown through the non diegetic sound whilst he walks towards Bella and makes him seem very dominant and masculine. Within the first few minutes of watching Edward, we become aware of the attractiveness and give him an increased sense of masculinity which allures the “female gaze” which “sets up a relationship between the male body as an object of erotic visual pleasure” producing a bold expression of the female desire. Gamman and Marshment’s description of the female gaze is “a mere cross-identification with masculinity" which is mainly shown in teen magazines and films that are clearly designed to appeal to the Female Gaze. The high key lighting is used to highlight Edward’s perfect features which make him seem more desirable. His eyes continuously look to the floor which gives him a frightening, yet vulnerable approach; this invites the female audience in and draws them into becoming obsessed. Edward Cullen is also immortal; this ideology allows him to be forever young and handsome but also making him mature and cynical; a combination of the “bad boy attitude” which young girls are fascinated with. Chris Weitz, the director of The Twilight Saga; Eclipse, reinforces the new traits of a Vampire and allow the main target audience to be drawn into the looks, powers and personalities of the new Vampire.
In The Twilight Series, the male protagonist, Edward, possesses these dominant characteristics and attracts many young females with ease. Throughout the Twilight Series, Edward Cullen seems to enter in a sensual and exotic manner, which immediately connotes his charismatic and stunning persona. We see Edward in a majority of close ups which enable us to see his perfect features and beautiful face. A slight smirk and sexy look draw the female audience like a magnet. Edward Cullen never looks directly towards the camera which allows the audience to feel comfortable whilst watching him. The background behind him is very plain and simple which keeps all eyes focused towards him. His personality is shown through the non diegetic sound whilst he walks towards Bella and makes him seem very dominant and masculine. Within the first few minutes of watching Edward, we become aware of the attractiveness and give him an increased sense of masculinity which allures the “female gaze” which “sets up a relationship between the male body as an object of erotic visual pleasure” producing a bold expression of the female desire. Gamman and Marshment’s description of the female gaze is “a mere cross-identification with masculinity" which is mainly shown in teen magazines and films that are clearly designed to appeal to the Female Gaze. The high key lighting is used to highlight Edward’s perfect features which make him seem more desirable. His eyes continuously look to the floor which gives him a frightening, yet vulnerable approach; this invites the female audience in and draws them into becoming obsessed. Edward Cullen is also immortal; this ideology allows him to be forever young and handsome but also making him mature and cynical; a combination of the “bad boy attitude” which young girls are fascinated with. Chris Weitz, the director of The Twilight Saga; Eclipse, reinforces the new traits of a Vampire and allow the main target audience to be drawn into the looks, powers and personalities of the new Vampire.
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