Super curricular

Super curricular 1 - Summarised Article 

Media Magazine: issue 18, December 2006 

The media effects debate

‘Is tv dumbing down?’

 

The article was written by Sara Mills, and she is taking a step back from her usual articles on popular tv culture, such as shopping channels and lifestyle programmes, and is instead wondering whether these examples of ‘Trash TV’ can really be accused of ‘dumbing down’ their audiences – or whether they’re scapegoats for broader fears about class, power and media influence.

The dumbing down debate is the idea that today’s society is becoming less intellectual and that all aspects of the media (newspapers, television, education, exams etc) are becoming more easy and simple year by year. 

“Trash TV’ is seen as evidence of dumbing down, such as love island or big brother as they are said to be ‘dumbed down TV for dumbed down people’. Although Mills argues that dumbing down seems to be a way for certain people to dismiss elements of today’s culture that are new and different, and that they often just don’t like and don’t understand.

The BBC has a remit to inform and educate as well as entertain, and it focuses on intellectual and cultural improvement, giving the public what was good for them, rather than what they want.

The increase in mass education now means that people don’t have to rely on TV to educate them, so this could suggest why TV has been ‘dumbed down’, as people use it as an escape from their hardworking lives.

The information age – seemingly ‘old’ technologies are now being used for narrower purposes, as things like computers are relied on for learning so therefore the TV is used for some light relief.

Super curricular 2 - Triangle of micro/macro

Super Curricular 3 - A Level Media Theory Book 

For today’s homework task we were told to find a new piece of information from The essential revision guide - Media theory for A Level. I looked at Judith Butler’s theory - Gender as a performance and found that she says ‘our gendered identities are not naturally given but constructed through repetition and ritual’. I also learnt what the term ‘abjection’ means - it’s the process of constructing an object or person as repulsive, and Butler infers that this is used to suggest that non-heteronormative identities are unnatural (the view that gender is binary - either male or female).

Super curricular 4 - Shelter YouTube video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_YfE4l69pAk

In this video, there is a montage of different people who grew up in social housing who are advocating for social housing for the new generations. They each have a different story to tell about how social housing helped shape them into the people they are today and how without it they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to grow and thrive in later life.

They use powerful, emotive language that not only highlights the importance of these houses for children, but also encourages the audience to do their part to help. This is because Shelter is a charity so their main goal for this advert is to gain support and motivate people to donate.

Super Curricular 4 - Big Issue Infographic

Super Curricular 5 - Media Magazine Conference 

On Friday 24th January, at the BFI, we saw many inspirational people in the media, whether they worked in it, taught it, or came up with the theories we study. First was a lecture on AI, in which I found out that ludic limits refer to the boundaries or constraints within which play or games operate. He spoke about how Simon Stevens says that theatre is the ultimate tool to look at AI, and also that AI only gives you average - never the best, as its a combination (average) of many things. He also spoke about Marshal McLuhan - media tetrad - which suggested all media products can be studied using a combination of these: 1.enhance 2.cancel 3.bring back 4.flip out. We then saw a Q&A from an ex Daily Mirror publisher, who spoke about the somewhat dangerous affects that news companies can have. She said that 90% of all digital ad revenue goes to google. She also highlighted how the prices of news can lead to an educated informed elite, those who are willing to pay, and everyone else being uniformed. She highlighted how conglomerates can lead to fewer alternative viewpoints, and that billionaires can decide what you can and can’t see - that tech companies have all the power. We also had a lecture on fandoms, but more specifically ‘fangirls’. In this we learnt about the nature of fan girls and how they can behave - particularly the extreme lengths they go to to get closer to the artist (such as camping outside a convert venue overnight). She also highlighted the negative side of fandoms and how it can lead people to believe they know someone, when really all they know is the choreographed side of them thats painted in the media, not their true self. Her examples included Chappel Roan and Phoebe Bridgers, who both experienced the negative side of fandoms. We saw a Q&A from a music video director, who told us all about the music industry in relation to its videos, and what their journey looked like to get to the level they’re at right now. A key change in the music industry is that ;music videos are no longer drip fed after a few weeks of a single coming out. Instead they come out at the same time, as such a big part of listening to a new song is watching the video. Harv Frost worked with a band called ‘the last dinner party’ and we were able to see a collection of the music videos that had been strung together to create a short film. We we able to see a Q&A with David Hesmondhalgh, one of our media theorists we study. His focus was one cultural context. What I found fascinating was how he brought to light cultural contexts surrounding all the most popular and trending programmes that I had never even acknowledged before. For example, TV shows such as traitors and squid games have themes of distrust, which is contextual of the fact that all around the world right now everyone is slightly distrustful. These TV shows present people as immoral, which in this day and age many people conspire about others, particularly those is power and paint them all out to be completely evil. He briefly spoke about the Daily Mail and how they profit from fear and anxiety, although when producing these media products, its not just about finance but more about the culture and morals of the writers. Lastly we watched a Q&A with Nida Manzoor, the writer of a TV show ‘We are Lady Parts’. She spoke about her journey to being able to produce and write her own shows and movies, and how although her parents were not always 100% on board with the idea, she still managed to persevere to pursue her dreams and make them a reality. The entire day was so inspirational and has shown me many interesting aspects of the media in a new light, and has also highlighted the different paths to get such a vast variety of jobs within the media.

Super Curricular 6 - Radiohead and Lil Nas X research

Radiohead, a British rock band, is often regarded as one of the most innovative art-rock groups of the early 21st century. Known for crafting some of the most powerful and emotionally intense music of the postmodern era, this highly respected quintet pushed artistic boundaries. Formed in the mid-1980s, Radiohead consisted of singer-guitarist Thom Yorke, bassist Colin Greenwood, guitarist Ed O’Brien, drummer Phil Selway, and guitarist-keyboardist Jonny Greenwood. The band has been praised for their commitment to artistic integrity, their willingness to experiment, and their ability to challenge both the conventions of rock music and the business of the music industry. Their work has earned numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, and the recognition of being one of the greatest bands of all time by various music publications. The lyrics of "Burn the Witch" convey a sense of paranoia and warning, with themes of fear, suspicion, and collective violence. It suggests a society that is quick to accuse and condemn, with references to witch hunts and the dangers of groupthink. This theme is strongly embodied in the video, where a seemingly peaceful, idyllic community hides darker, more sinister practices. Some of the lyrics include lines like:

• "The enemy's inside"
• "We know where you live"

These lyrics point to an underlying menace and societal tension that aligns with the band’s themes of modern alienation and fear.

The video was created using stop-motion animation, inspired by the work of children’s television programs from the '60s and '70s, particularly the British puppet show Trumpton (and other similar shows like Camberwick Green). The animation is deliberately quaint and charming at first glance, but it quickly reveals a much darker, more sinister undercurrent. The animated village is presented in a seemingly peaceful, rural setting with quaint houses and friendly-looking villagers, yet the atmosphere becomes increasingly disturbing as the video progresses. The song and video received widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike. "Burn the Witch" was praised for its bold, experimental sound and for its rich, layered orchestration, while the video was lauded for its striking visual concept and its effective use of animation to complement the song's dark, paranoid themes. It also garnered attention for its timely relevance to contemporary issues. Many saw the song as a critique of modern society's tendency to scapegoat and persecute marginalised individuals or groups, especially in the context of political or social upheaval. The video’s eerie village, with its seemingly harmless yet ultimately threatening nature, was seen as a representation of contemporary fears about societal breakdown and violence.

Lil Nas X, born Montero Hill on April 9, 1999, in Lithia Springs, Georgia, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who rose to international fame in 2019 with his viral hit single "Old Town Road." He is widely recognized for his genre-blending approach to music, combining elements of country, hip-hop, and pop, and for his unapologetic embrace of his identity, which has made him a groundbreaking figure in both the music and LGBTQ+ communities. Lil Nas X’s career skyrocketed with the release of "Old Town Road" in 2018. The song, originally released independently, blends elements of country and hip-hop, creating a unique sound that defied genre conventions. The song went viral on TikTok, and its catchy chorus and memorable beat led it to become a massive global hit.

"Sun Goes Down" is a song by Lil Nas X from his debut studio album Montero, released in 2021. The track, which was released as a single in May 2021, explores themes of self-acceptance, loneliness, and the struggles of growing up. It features an introspective tone, as Lil Nas X reflects on his journey toward embracing his true self, including his experiences with bullying, his sexuality, and the challenges of finding peace with who he is. In "Sun Goes Down," Lil Nas X delves into personal themes of mental health, self-doubt, and the difficulties of being different. The lyrics convey a feeling of longing for acceptance and a desire to escape the pain of feeling isolated.

One of the most significant aspects of the song is Lil Nas X’s honesty about his emotional struggles, particularly growing up in a world that didn’t accept his sexuality. The song also touches on his experiences with being bullied and the loneliness that often accompanies self-discovery, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Key lyrics include:

• "I wanna be loved, I wanna be loved, I wanna be loved, I wanna be loved"
• "I don’t wanna be here, but I don’t wanna leave”

"Sun Goes Down" was praised for its emotional depth and vulnerability, showing a more introspective side of Lil Nas X compared to the more playful and provocative tracks like "Old Town Road" and "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)." The song’s candid look at the challenges of self-acceptance, bullying, and growing up in a hostile environment resonated with many listeners, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community.The music video, with its surreal visuals and symbolic imagery, was also praised for its artistic and personal expression. Many viewed it as an empowering and relatable message for anyone struggling with their identity or facing adversity.