MEST3 Independent case study: New/Digital Media

MEST3 Independent case study: New/Digital Media

The basics

Your chosen industry:

Music

Your chosen case study:

The impact the growth of Spotify is having on the music industry


Audience

1)

New and digital media has meant that audiences can now gain access to music whether it's a single or an album 'in an instant.' Digital has taken over, allowing audiences to access music on a variety of devices with just a few taps being required unlike their physical counterpart.

2)

Rather than use things like a CD or record player like in the past, audiences now use their internet-connected devices to go on a streaming service like Spotify and listen to their collection of music there. This gives them the opportunity to access it on multiple devices that they own.

3)

4)

Services like Spotify have made it so that it's a lot easier not only to access, but to also gain new access to music that perhaps the listener wouldn't have paid attention to before. Things like curated playlists make way for things like this, creating a set of songs for the audience to listen to based on their previous listens. As well as this, people get to see what music is the most popular around the world easily whether it's based on genre or nation.

5)

6)

Diversion: with the ease involved in accessing music as a result of the emergence of services like Spotify, a greater sense of this can be said to derived by audiences as they are able to listen to virtually whatever music they want to

Personal Relationships: N/A

Personal Identity: N/A

Surveillance:

7)

Distribution of active Spotify users in the United States as of April 2015, by age:

13 - 18 years: 21%
18 - 24 years: 26%
25 - 29 years: 15%
30 - 34 years: 11%
35 - 44 years: 14%
45 - 54 years: 9%
55 - 64 years: 4%
65 years and older: 2%

Institution

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

UGC

1)

2)

Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony

1)

2)

3)

Globalisation

1)

2)

3)

Social media 

1)

2)

3)

Statistics

1)

2)

3)

Theories

1)

Issues/debates

1)

Wider examples and secondary texts

1)

INDEX

1) Institution: the impact of Google on the newspaper industry
2) Ofcom report: how news consumption has changed
3) The future of newspapers: Build The Wall analysis
4) The decline of newspapers: the effect of online technology
5) The future of journalism: John Oliver and Clay Shirky
6) The decline of newspapers: Media Magazine case studies
7) Citizen journalism and hyper-reality: Media Magazine article and questions
8) News Values: theory and updating them for digital media landcape
9) Marxism & Pluralism: Media Magazine article and questions
10) Alain de Botton on the News: lecture and questions
11) Full NDM essay including paragraphs on Marxism and Pluralism
12) Globalisation and news: cultural imperialism
13) Globalisation: taking it further (Google Glass case study and capitalism)
14) Fake news and globalisation - Guardian and New York Times articles
15) News on the Tweet
16) Reading the riots

17) Post-colonialism: theories and Destiny Ekaragwa film analysis

18)Post-colonialism: Orientalism theory and Yasmin clip task
19) Post-colonialism: Media Magazine articles and questions

20) Feminism: post-feminism and No More Page 3 research
21) Feminism: Feminist theory and Beyonce video analysis

22) Feminism: waves of feminism and online activism
23) Feminism: Applying feminism - Media Factsheet
24) Identity and Film - Media Factsheet
25) Identity and the wider media - Factsheet

26) Collective identity and the media

Identities and the Media: Feminism

Identities and the Media: Feminism

Media Magazine reading

1)

The two texts that the article focuses on are Pan Am, a period drama set in the 60s based on the lives of both pilots and stewardesses working for the Pan American World Airline and Beyonce's 'Why Don't you Love Me' music video, parodying the role of a typical 1950s housewife.

2)

One of the examples from Pan Am showing the 'male gaze' is the magazine cover displaying Laura. Here she's portrayed as a woman whose purpose is to be 'visually enjoyed by men' and nothing more. Another one is present in the final sequence of the pilot episode. Here the stewardesses are presented in slow motion which works to 'provide even more visual pleasure as we can take in all the glorious period detail of their uniforms and of course appreciate their perfectly coiffed hair and make up.' Shots like this work at least mostly to satisfy the desire of men. The 'Why Don't you Love Me' video exemplifies the male gaze with the way in which Beyonce is dressed. Wearing things like 'tight high-waisted knickers' and a 'vintage style bra,' we're shown a women that is being highly sexualised. This goes further when when she can be seen touching herself up and playfully looking down at the camera.

3)

Texts like these represent that sexism still does definitely exist, albeit in a different form. While they may be working to allow women to exercise freedom that they want to, wearing what they want and doing what they want, they may still be unintentionally reinforcing the levels of sexism that there are in society.

4)

Third wave feminism - was a movement that redefined and encouraged women to be dominant and sexually assertive

Nostalgia - a sentimental longing for the past, often only remembering the positives of the time

Patriarchy - an ideology that places men in a dominant position over women

No More Page 3

1)

The No More Page 3 campaign was started by Lucy-Anne Holmes, both an actress and an author. She did with it with the purpose of stopping the reinforcement of this attitude that women and their can be viewed as objects subjects to both public scrutiny and comment by the general (male) public.

2)

One of the main reasons given for why Page 3 had to go is how its objectification of women has meant that they are often recognised in an offensive, discriminatory and derogatory way. Not only this, but it simply doesn't reflect the 'progressive' nature of the times we currently live in, with the feature heralding from the 1970s.

3)

Barbara Ellen holds the view that the No More Page 3 campaign should continue as Page 3 itself is not only something that is 'a pathetic leering bare-breasted woolly mammoth' but also part of the old ages, 'reeking of male dominance, of women as sexualised and neutralised objects.' Susie Boniface on the other hand is of the opinion that the campaign should be abandoned saying that actually, it's come about at a time when society has actually been evolving to the point where some people actually find the page to be empowering women.

4)

The 'Little Mixed up about what to wear?' article discusses the dress choice of the band Little Mix during the performance on X-Factor. It goes into how this concept that young girls can have of not wearing much to embrace freedom is false, and how if it wasn't then boys would too be doing the same thing among other things. Based on this article, I do think that I believe the view that the paper is taking since what it is saying are things that I believe too.

5)

Both the No More Page 3 campaign and Sexist News represent that we in fact do not live in a post-feminist state. The very fact that matters of sexism are still having to be discussed at length like this whether it relate to the portrayal of women in newspapers or reality TV, shows that actually we're still in a position where things can very much be debated. At the same time though, it could be said that perhaps it highlights the fact that more needs to be done to reach this post-feminism state that we aspire to in a number of walks of everyday life.

6)

I do agree with the aims of the campaigns in that the equality of men and women should be achieved. However I feel that they can often end up campaigning against not necessarily the wrong, but least relevant things that they could possibly on the road to achieving this equality with men.

7)

Personally I feel that there still is very much a need for feminism in the modern world. While progress has without a doubt been made, things aren't 100% in the state that we might want them to be. While I say this though, I think it's important that this feminism is exercised in the right, relevant areas of society. Page 3 could definitely be seen as something that reflected the more male dominated society we live in, however like what Susie Boniface said, there are a lot more significant issues that should be addressed with women totally in mind other than that.

Identity and the wider media

1) The Factsheet suggests that identity is defined by the individualised experiences we have had as people mostly based on the context we're in as well as the relationships we have with others. However the relationship we have with the media is also quite significant in determining this too since we often utilise it to view things like reflections of ourselves.

2)

• Non-mainstream - La Haine could be considered as being a text that a non-mainstream person would access, at least in the UK, with it being a foreign language drama/crime film portraying young people from the banlieues of Paris, France
• Edgy - Game Of Thrones since it's a TV show that relies quite heavily on shock value in terms of both nudity and also killing off main characters
• A pleasure seeker - Narcos would appeal to this aspect as looking at it from a Uses and Gratifications front, a huge sense of diversion can be derived from viewing the action that goes on in it
• Fashionable - Cosmopolitan magazine applies here as keeps women up-to-date regarding things like fashion and health
• Witty and fun - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fits in here with the type of humour we see on show in it and particularly fun nature
• Cutting-edge - Mr Robot aligns with the cutting-edge trait since it displays the impact that modern/new technology and hacking in particular, can have on the society that we live in

3)

Examples suggested for a case study on urban youth are The Jeremy Kyle Show, Harry Brown with its portrayal of the working class youth as villains to older people and Eden Lake with its representation that youth culture acts as a threat to middle classes.

4)

Richard Hebdige argues that youth cultures display their resistance/opposition to the dominant culture through their style choices. This can be seen with how the 'urban youth' portray themselves as non-mainstream by 'adopting the uniform feared by mainstream culture.'

5)

Acland is referenced in talking about how the media is what makes for the representation of the youth as deviants, helping reinforce the mainstream values that exist. Perkins elaborates in adding that representations of this nature though are formulated by people outside the group [youth] with Giroux adding how it is a reflection of the adult culture's fear of urban youth.

6)

Ill Manors can be linked to the identity of the youth since in it, we more often than not see representations that align with what Acland discusses of the youth represented as deviants within society. This can be seen with the numerous occasions in the film that we see young people being the perpetrators of a variety of crimes. As well as this, the music video for 'Ill Manors' shows off large groups of the youth as being harbingers for public disorder with how the way in which they're rioting in the street. 

7)

David Gauntlett suggests that the media have influence over the construction of identities meaning that the manner in which the media stereotypes groups can become part of how individuals view themselves. This ends up being used by media institutions to help sell their products.

8)

I do agree with Hebdige in saying that youth culture will continue to resist mainstream culture. As long as media heavily associated with (urban) young people like hip-hop and rap music continue to possess the anti-establishment sentiment they've always had, then it'll more likely than not be the case that they too challenge the dominant ideologies seen more typically within adult culture. The sense of rebellion runs too deep within the age group to be changed at all and new and digital media like Facebook and Twitter with their online communities is another thing representative of how this resistance will only continue e.g. Black Twitter.

Identities: Post-colonial theory & blog tasks

Identities: Post-colonial theory & blog tasks

1) 

Films:

• Slumdog Millionaire 
• Kidulthood
• Adulthood
• Attack The Block
• Shank

TV programmes:

• Top Boy
• Citizen Khan
• Casualty
• Luther
• Line of Duty

Online-only productions:

• Brothers With No Game
• Venus vs Mars
• The Ryan Sisters
• All About The McKenzies
• Meet the Adebanjos

2)

Looking firstly at Gone Too Far, and we see that a number of different aspects of the theories can be applied to the film that predominantly reinforce typical black stereotypes. In terms of Alvarado’s theory, the very Nigerian roots of the film is something that can undoubtedly be viewed as exotic  and foreign to (white) British audiences. This is displayed through things such as the traditional West African attire worn by Yemi’s mum and not least through the use of the Yoruba language by her and Ikudayisi. This goes hand in hand with Fanon’s primitivizing element of black stereotypes, simply because the characters in the film are something that the audience is not. Danger is also something present here, with Razer’s showing this particularly. The connotations he gives off whether it’s in terms of behaviour or (more arguably) clothing are ones that can be likened to that of a gangster. This would also link in to the decivilizing that the black community is often victim to through portrayals in the media. To some extent, pity can be said to be a theme within the film. Although not an issue directly explored by any means in it, the environment it mostly takes place in, a council estate, has most of its associations being with poverty and just general adversity. Tight Jeans doesn’t work to subvert any of these stereotypes either and actually, it could be said that it does more than Gone Too Far to reinforce them. For example, the theme of humour is something shown with all 3 of the boys in it with the quite comical discussions they’re having. 

Post-colonialism - bonus reading and tasks

Post-colonialism - bonus reading and tasks

MM58: Social Media and Black Identity

1)

• Aisha Harris - believes that social media has made black people subject to 'memeification.' This entails that they are shown as always performing or entertaining, helping reinforce the dominant attitudes and satisfy what is a 'deep-rooted desire' within society
• Anthony Giddens - social media can act as a tool that actually uplifts and inspires black people in a way that mass media simply doesn't
• Henry Jenkins - believes that social media is an 'arena wherein participatory cultures' can be established.' This ranges all the way from actual political activist groups, with a key example being '#BlackLivesMatter,' to even socially-constructed communities such as 'Black Twitter.' In communities like this, the voicing of perspectives that would usually go unheard from get a platform to thrive on, working to challenge some of the negative representations that exist of black people in mass media

2) 

I feel that social media hasn't had an outright positive or negative effect in terms of black identity. It has definitely had its pluses in helping construct positive identities of black people whether it be through the celebratory hashtags of 'The Blackout' campaign or expression of marginalised voices through 'Black Twitter.' However it has also without a doubt helped reinforce them too, with 'Digital Blackface' coming to mind here. Non-black people often tend to utilise the anonymity that comes with social media and use it in a way that they can parade as being black, simultaneously degrading black identity as this is done e.g. @ItsLaQueeta.

3)

Alvarado's theory can be applied to identities of black people on social media as online, they often tend to be portrayed as belonging in one of the four themes. Pitied, in the sense that they are often seen dwelling in the 'ghettos' of society, humorous for the uploads of a more light-hearted nature they're in, dangerous for fights that are posted on websites like WORLDSTARHIPHOP and exotic with the amount of black musicians there happens to be. Fanon's theory also fits in here as what tends to happen on social media is that black stereotypes decivilise the community, often making each individual fit into some archetype of a sort e.g. 'gangsta.'

A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

1)

One of the representations we see of refugees in the article is that they are travelling by choice as evidenced by the word 'migrant.' Rather than portray them as 'fleeing a genuine disaster,' they're shown as doing it on their own accord. Representations range from this to the more dehumanising, with Katie Hopkin's 'cockroaches' and 'feral' comments being testament to this. This isn't helped by the imagery of the actual refugees themselves, with it giving the out the perception of a 'swarm, horde or tide, marauding and invading their way across the world.'

2)

I personally feel that the documentary genre can have an equal amount of bias as that of the news media, although it can be the case that they offer less of it. 'Exodus' is representative of this, with it for example letting us into the actual perspectives of the refugees themselves through them being handed smartphones to film their experiences on. 'The Refugee Camp: Our Desert Home' also manages to show that this bias is lessened in documentaries as what we see in this are refugees that are attempting to return to their country when it's safe. This goes against this whole convention of 'migrants' fleeing their country to come into Europe.

3)

Edward Said's theory can be used here in that refugees in news media tend to be represented as being both dangerous and uncivilised. We see this through things like Katie Hopkin's description of them as 'feral,' but also images of them with the 'swarm, horde, or tide' they move around in to get from place to place. Alvarado's could also be applied to in the sense that refugees receive a sense of pity with the situation they've been placed in and to some extent, this goes hand-in-hand with Fanon's theory with them being infantilized and depicted as 'needing to be looked after.' 

Weekly New and Digital Homework

19/12/16 - Complex Media shuts down print magazine after 14 years (29)

Complex Media, a New York media company founded in 2002, has announced plans to cease production of its bi-monthly print edition centred mainly around pop culture and the hip-hop genre, Complex Magazine. With the December 2016/January 2017 issue marking the last edition of the magazine, Complex has said in a statement to Billboard that this move was made as the company 'embarks on a rapid expansion of premium video creation across the company's networks and with a growing list of distribution partners.' With this of course comes with redundancies, with a number of staffers from the editorial department of the company making it clear that they had been laid off on Twitter, though Complex have not made clear the exact amount of these.

• Verizon Communications Inc. and Hearst Corp. said they have agreed to acquire Complex Media, with the deal valuing Complex at $250 million to $300 million

This article just continues to chronicle this downfall that the print platform is going through. While it doesn't appear that Complex Magazine is necessarily doing badly as a print product, it seems that from an cost efficiency point, continuing to invest in it just doesn't make any sense. Something that should also be paid attention to is the fact that this move will be done as a way of 'reallocating certain positions to address its content needs' which funnily enough lie in the e-media platform. Again, this is representative of this 'death' that e-media is causing for print.