Harry Brown is a recent British film starring the well-known actor Michael Caine. Caine has starred in other notorious films such as 'The Italian Job' and 'Get Carter'.
As Harry Brown, Caine plays an elderly ex-royal navy marine who takes on a congregation of yobs that terrorised his friend to death. As Police are not efficient enough in dealing with the gang, Brown takes the matter into his own hands and takes a vigilante approach to avenge the loss of his friend. He uses the group's own violent, intimidating, manner to punish them one by one.
This film, like other Michael Caine films, is extremely gritty and opens the eyes of a viewer that is unaware of urbanised culture that is idolized by naive adolescents. It displays crimes which are graphic, extremely intense and shocking.
The film has a sense of nostalgia as it almost praises the era of the second world war and suggests that the crimes shown would not have occurred in Britain in that period.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Friday, 4 December 2009
To what extent do both ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Spooks’ rely on racial and other stereotypes?
Casino Royale is a typical British action drama which follows a group of spy’s who work for the British government. The plots usually contain someone from another country who is involved in some kind of misconduct which is mostly circulating around recreational drugs or terrorism. The protagonists that are followed in the episode are British whereas the characters of opposition are usually of another nationality. Although the British spy’s e.g. James Bond, use weapons and dangerous techniques and also kill in this particular episode, they are portrayed to be heroes. The creators do this by using a protagonist who is also a sex symbol.
Spooks is a very similar drama which doesn’t incorporate as much action as Casino Royale. It follows the British Security Service in their tasks to keep the country safe. In this particular episode wealthy businessman are held hostage by individuals of a different ethnicity. The story suggests that the wealthy British have harmed those in poorer communities because of their greediness.
These episodes both rely on racial stereotypes in particular as the plots are about other nationalities breaking the law in some way. In comparison to Britain the other countries or characters are shown to be unstable and less economically developed which gives denotations that Britain is a much more economically developed and stable country. The episodes are also nostalgic as they show Britain in a positive light. Although most characters within Spooks are White, there is also an Asian character who works alongside them. This represents the Britain today as a country who are able to work with other nationalities and also suggests London itself is a very culturally diverse place; which it is.
Other stereotypes are used in the Spooks episode but some are also subverted. In Spooks, countertypes are used; Blonde, attractive women are also part of the security service. Women with these attributes would usually be stereotyped as sexual and dumb, however in this episode they are extremely intelligent, they dress smart and are the complete opposite to the traditional stereotype. Casino Royale shows women for sex appeal too, one female is portrayed as only being useful as a girlfriend as her partner is rude to her and speaks down to her as if she is not as good as he is. Also Bonds interactions with her are sexual, again suggesting that women are only good at the stereotypical role. However this is also true for the female colleague Bond works with until the audience realizes she was playing Bond along and betrays him, suggesting women should not be underestimated.
Cultural identity in these episodes is of a high social class. This is visible as in particular the language used is of an intellectual and higher class. Their jobs are also very high profile and the employees of security service jobs are usually ex university students from Cambridge or Oxford and so are therefore highly academic. This also suggests Britain as an academic country suggesting most individual in this country attend university and have Academic qualifications.
In Casino Royale, women are just as equal in job roles as men or if not better. James Bonds’ female colleague is a lot older than he is and is shown to have a higher ranking in her job role. Although this suggests women can now have equal opportunities, it also shows that women have the same role as they always have as she only seems to sit around whereas Bond does a lot more physical tasks and puts himself in danger; which is characteristic of men. Therefore although cultural identity has changed in the way we view males and females, the job roles aren’t very different at all.
Spooks is a very similar drama which doesn’t incorporate as much action as Casino Royale. It follows the British Security Service in their tasks to keep the country safe. In this particular episode wealthy businessman are held hostage by individuals of a different ethnicity. The story suggests that the wealthy British have harmed those in poorer communities because of their greediness.
These episodes both rely on racial stereotypes in particular as the plots are about other nationalities breaking the law in some way. In comparison to Britain the other countries or characters are shown to be unstable and less economically developed which gives denotations that Britain is a much more economically developed and stable country. The episodes are also nostalgic as they show Britain in a positive light. Although most characters within Spooks are White, there is also an Asian character who works alongside them. This represents the Britain today as a country who are able to work with other nationalities and also suggests London itself is a very culturally diverse place; which it is.
Other stereotypes are used in the Spooks episode but some are also subverted. In Spooks, countertypes are used; Blonde, attractive women are also part of the security service. Women with these attributes would usually be stereotyped as sexual and dumb, however in this episode they are extremely intelligent, they dress smart and are the complete opposite to the traditional stereotype. Casino Royale shows women for sex appeal too, one female is portrayed as only being useful as a girlfriend as her partner is rude to her and speaks down to her as if she is not as good as he is. Also Bonds interactions with her are sexual, again suggesting that women are only good at the stereotypical role. However this is also true for the female colleague Bond works with until the audience realizes she was playing Bond along and betrays him, suggesting women should not be underestimated.
Cultural identity in these episodes is of a high social class. This is visible as in particular the language used is of an intellectual and higher class. Their jobs are also very high profile and the employees of security service jobs are usually ex university students from Cambridge or Oxford and so are therefore highly academic. This also suggests Britain as an academic country suggesting most individual in this country attend university and have Academic qualifications.
In Casino Royale, women are just as equal in job roles as men or if not better. James Bonds’ female colleague is a lot older than he is and is shown to have a higher ranking in her job role. Although this suggests women can now have equal opportunities, it also shows that women have the same role as they always have as she only seems to sit around whereas Bond does a lot more physical tasks and puts himself in danger; which is characteristic of men. Therefore although cultural identity has changed in the way we view males and females, the job roles aren’t very different at all.
To what extent do both ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Spooks’ rely on racial and other stereotypes?
Casino Royale is a typical British action drama which follows a group of spy’s who work for the British government. The plots usually contain someone from another country who is involved in some kind of misconduct which is mostly circulating around recreational drugs or terrorism. The protagonists that are followed in the episode are British whereas the characters of opposition are usually of another nationality. Although the British spy’s e.g. James Bond, use weapons and dangerous techniques and also kill in this particular episode, they are portrayed to be heroes. The creators do this by using a protagonist who is also a sex symbol.
Spooks is a very similar drama which doesn’t incorporate as much action as Casino Royale. It follows the British Security Service in their tasks to keep the country safe. In this particular episode wealthy businessman are held hostage by individuals of a different ethnicity. The story suggests that the wealthy British have harmed those in poorer communities because of their greediness.
These episodes both rely on racial stereotypes in particular as their plots are about other nationalities breaking the law in some way. In comparison to Britain the other countries or characters are shown to be unstable and less economically developed which gives denotations that Britain is a much more economically developed.
Spooks is a very similar drama which doesn’t incorporate as much action as Casino Royale. It follows the British Security Service in their tasks to keep the country safe. In this particular episode wealthy businessman are held hostage by individuals of a different ethnicity. The story suggests that the wealthy British have harmed those in poorer communities because of their greediness.
These episodes both rely on racial stereotypes in particular as their plots are about other nationalities breaking the law in some way. In comparison to Britain the other countries or characters are shown to be unstable and less economically developed which gives denotations that Britain is a much more economically developed.
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
How has the internet changed our notion of collective identity.
The internet has already changed our society in many ways. The most major change is communication. Throughout the years it has got much easier to connect with others than it used to be. Easy is how things are getting for us as a society, a lot of things we do or use are by the touch of a button whether on a computer or mobile phone. Technology itself and the internet are almost dominating our worlds, without them we would crumble. To some, the internet is a fascinating invention but to others it isn’t so great. However to some it is completely meaningless; those who do not interact with the internet or cannot, those who abide by old ways and ideas.
Since the 1970’s communication has improved rapidly. From sending telegrams, letters and smoke signals, the 1980’s brought mobiles. However they were not as cool as they look today, but like huge bricks with long aerials, texting wasn’t available until the decade later either. In the 1990’s there was a huge difference and a major invention kicked off; the internet. Web pages were made and bulletin boards, text messages and e-mails were also used. Web conferences and video conferences were deigned also. More improvements occurred in the 21st century, we don’t now only have the internet on a computer, we can access it on our mobile phones, there is also instant messaging and online gaming. File sharing is possible; saving individuals having to print them off and deliver them to where they need to go. Social network sites couldn’t be more popular.
The new and improved designs can help us to stay in touch however they also help youngsters of today to be lazy. 30 years ago people would have to be more physical, to see someone it could only be done by physically walking around to that persons house. Now we don’t have to do that we have webcams and video calling. It doesn’t just make kids lazy but according to ‘Marc Prensky’ students no longer want to put effort into their studies, they would rather do the minimum that is required. In the long term this is dangerous and poses serious threats to our collective identity. In Prensky’s article he discusses the differences between today’s adolescents and elders. He suggests that we are almost like and entirely different culture and nationality because of the technology that we use. It is because the elder generation have not grown up with technology they are ‘digital immigrants’ to it. Whereas the younger generation are ‘digital natives’ who constantly use the internet and have learnt how to use it since they have been physically able. Students also disagree with how they are taught. ‘Digital immigrant’ teachers have stuck to old methods of teaching; step by step guides, taking it slow. Students today prefer to be quicker, because of the speed they learn with the internet. They want instant gratitude, they do not know how to wait for things as with the new technologies there is no waiting. Children haven’t experienced waiting days, weeks or months to hear from somebody or to receive a letter and so the most they may wait is a few hours to receive a text. It is not their fault they haven’t experienced old ways which elders constantly say is the only way.
In Prensky’s article he demonstrates how in the long term these new technologies could damage the way students are taught. He says the way to teach students now and in the future would be by video games. He claims that this is the only way they want to learn as they spend more time on the internet and watching TV then reading books. New methods have to be introduced to grab students attention in order for them to learn quicker.
New technologies such as virtual worlds on the internet is a way of meeting someone without actually being present. Lectures can be taught whilst sitting at home on a computer screen. This may be useful for students who cannot make it to school or for teachers even. Characters can be made to represent individuals to show that someone is logging into the lecture or lesson. However by making characters instead of physically attending school is one way in which our identity’s can be lost and therefore our collective identity too.
Since the 1970’s communication has improved rapidly. From sending telegrams, letters and smoke signals, the 1980’s brought mobiles. However they were not as cool as they look today, but like huge bricks with long aerials, texting wasn’t available until the decade later either. In the 1990’s there was a huge difference and a major invention kicked off; the internet. Web pages were made and bulletin boards, text messages and e-mails were also used. Web conferences and video conferences were deigned also. More improvements occurred in the 21st century, we don’t now only have the internet on a computer, we can access it on our mobile phones, there is also instant messaging and online gaming. File sharing is possible; saving individuals having to print them off and deliver them to where they need to go. Social network sites couldn’t be more popular.
The new and improved designs can help us to stay in touch however they also help youngsters of today to be lazy. 30 years ago people would have to be more physical, to see someone it could only be done by physically walking around to that persons house. Now we don’t have to do that we have webcams and video calling. It doesn’t just make kids lazy but according to ‘Marc Prensky’ students no longer want to put effort into their studies, they would rather do the minimum that is required. In the long term this is dangerous and poses serious threats to our collective identity. In Prensky’s article he discusses the differences between today’s adolescents and elders. He suggests that we are almost like and entirely different culture and nationality because of the technology that we use. It is because the elder generation have not grown up with technology they are ‘digital immigrants’ to it. Whereas the younger generation are ‘digital natives’ who constantly use the internet and have learnt how to use it since they have been physically able. Students also disagree with how they are taught. ‘Digital immigrant’ teachers have stuck to old methods of teaching; step by step guides, taking it slow. Students today prefer to be quicker, because of the speed they learn with the internet. They want instant gratitude, they do not know how to wait for things as with the new technologies there is no waiting. Children haven’t experienced waiting days, weeks or months to hear from somebody or to receive a letter and so the most they may wait is a few hours to receive a text. It is not their fault they haven’t experienced old ways which elders constantly say is the only way.
In Prensky’s article he demonstrates how in the long term these new technologies could damage the way students are taught. He says the way to teach students now and in the future would be by video games. He claims that this is the only way they want to learn as they spend more time on the internet and watching TV then reading books. New methods have to be introduced to grab students attention in order for them to learn quicker.
New technologies such as virtual worlds on the internet is a way of meeting someone without actually being present. Lectures can be taught whilst sitting at home on a computer screen. This may be useful for students who cannot make it to school or for teachers even. Characters can be made to represent individuals to show that someone is logging into the lecture or lesson. However by making characters instead of physically attending school is one way in which our identity’s can be lost and therefore our collective identity too.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Digital Natives, Digital immigrants.-Marc Prensky
This article describes todays younger and older generations as two seperate cultures. The young generation are stated as digital natives; where computer games and e-mails are integral parts of their lives. The digital immigrants are those who have tried to pick up these new technologies later on in their lives, who have become fascinated with the new aspects, however were not born into them. Digital Immigrants use technology as a backup, as a second resort to finding information, they prefer to read through books than start on the internet which digital natives would do first.
On a larger scale Marc Prensky tells us that we are socialized differently to the older generation and that we are learning a new language which is likely to stick. This language isn't the same as the change which happens through generations already, e.g change in hairstyles or clothes, its a completely new way of life; we are unlikely to go back now. The bigger problem is in education; "digital immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language(of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language." Natives want to learn quickly and recieve information fast, they are not used to sitting down and studying instructions they expect or prefer a networked way of learning and want "frequent rewards". However the immigrants insist on teaching slowly as they belive their way is the only way and they have no gratitude towards the native's way of learning.
Marc Prensky belives that a solution to the struggles of teaching a population with a different language, which is digital, is to change old ways of teaching and use more technology to get the information through. He talks about the success in using video games in order to teach people how to use computer aided design software. Individuals who were shown the software found it a steep learning curve to work out how to use it. Therefore the article suggests it is the methodology that needs to be modified to adapt to the native's usual learning tecnhiques.
Prensky describes how if a child can remember names of pokemon then they can remember the details of each nation in the world. He belives it's all in the presentation and that if these digital immigrants really want to teach the natives of today they need to change their methods and stop
groaning about how things were different in their day.
On a larger scale Marc Prensky tells us that we are socialized differently to the older generation and that we are learning a new language which is likely to stick. This language isn't the same as the change which happens through generations already, e.g change in hairstyles or clothes, its a completely new way of life; we are unlikely to go back now. The bigger problem is in education; "digital immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language(of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language." Natives want to learn quickly and recieve information fast, they are not used to sitting down and studying instructions they expect or prefer a networked way of learning and want "frequent rewards". However the immigrants insist on teaching slowly as they belive their way is the only way and they have no gratitude towards the native's way of learning.
Marc Prensky belives that a solution to the struggles of teaching a population with a different language, which is digital, is to change old ways of teaching and use more technology to get the information through. He talks about the success in using video games in order to teach people how to use computer aided design software. Individuals who were shown the software found it a steep learning curve to work out how to use it. Therefore the article suggests it is the methodology that needs to be modified to adapt to the native's usual learning tecnhiques.
Prensky describes how if a child can remember names of pokemon then they can remember the details of each nation in the world. He belives it's all in the presentation and that if these digital immigrants really want to teach the natives of today they need to change their methods and stop
groaning about how things were different in their day.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Internet and Collective identity
Communication is alot easier now then it was in the 1970's or before. In the 1970's letters and telegrams were the most popular way of communicating with friends and family. Morse code and smoke signals were stil used, whereas in the 80's fax and mobile phones were invented. Although mobile phones existed text messaging wasn't available until the 1990's when online chat occured with news groups and bulletin boards. E-mail was introduced aswell as web pages and web conferences, yet nowadays in the 21st century we have all these types of communications and more such as; online gaming, social networking sites e.g facebook and twitter, we have blogs, and file sharing sites along with virtual worlds.
Huge shifts that have occured may seem recent but actually have been manifesting for a number of years. The digital switchover is an example of a technological shift, people now have to have digital to be able to watch the television. Artefacts can now be downloaded people do not consume as many as they used to. Sabbah talked about 'new media' as far back as 1985, stating that there was no longer a mass audience receiving messages they were given, but that audiences now select what they want to hear/see because of the multiplicity of sources.
Today, due to new media sources, we live in a trans-medial society where we are exposed to new forms of technology such as simulations and sx cinema and therefore we begin to have new representations.
In the long term we may be losing our collective identity to the internet. Shifts that occur can affect the our culture as consumers become prosumers, the audience becomes active rather than passive, and experts may not necessarily be experts any more as everyones works or ideas become valid. This may be due to the audience having more freedom with their feedback. In the old media there is a time delay between broadcast and the third party however now it is a two-way intgeraction between a broadcast and the audience. Media are no longer controlled by ologopolies but by the produser. It used to be the bigger audiences that were more valuable, however in the new media it is the smaller communities such as facebook friends or monile phone contacts. The internet contributes to the losses of copywrite as it is so easy to take others works and 'mash' them up with other works and pass them off as one's own. And so maybe this means the end of the artefact.
Huge shifts that have occured may seem recent but actually have been manifesting for a number of years. The digital switchover is an example of a technological shift, people now have to have digital to be able to watch the television. Artefacts can now be downloaded people do not consume as many as they used to. Sabbah talked about 'new media' as far back as 1985, stating that there was no longer a mass audience receiving messages they were given, but that audiences now select what they want to hear/see because of the multiplicity of sources.
Today, due to new media sources, we live in a trans-medial society where we are exposed to new forms of technology such as simulations and sx cinema and therefore we begin to have new representations.
In the long term we may be losing our collective identity to the internet. Shifts that occur can affect the our culture as consumers become prosumers, the audience becomes active rather than passive, and experts may not necessarily be experts any more as everyones works or ideas become valid. This may be due to the audience having more freedom with their feedback. In the old media there is a time delay between broadcast and the third party however now it is a two-way intgeraction between a broadcast and the audience. Media are no longer controlled by ologopolies but by the produser. It used to be the bigger audiences that were more valuable, however in the new media it is the smaller communities such as facebook friends or monile phone contacts. The internet contributes to the losses of copywrite as it is so easy to take others works and 'mash' them up with other works and pass them off as one's own. And so maybe this means the end of the artefact.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Moral Panic summary of end of article
The article is challenging the belief that others do not talk about it, if they were they would be thought as defending paedophiles. Therefore this article makes a clear discussion about paedophilia and how it has an increased horror to it by a moral panic.
Moral panic does not mention masculinity or even treatment for paedophiles, the media are only concerned with locking them up. The article states that nobody has dared to mention it is a mental illness suggesting that people are afraid to talk about it and perhaps defend paedophiles.
Paedophiles are associated with evil connotations such as : perverted, twisted, monstrous and sex maniacs. The definition of a paedophile however, is not clear. Panic is created because of the connotations it is linked with.
Megan’s’ law was passed immediately in 1996 in New Jersey after she was raped and murdered by a released sex offender. Individual states had already made laws to keep sex offenders in prison when due to be released. But when Megan kanka, a 7 year old girl, was killed it became a national law.
The article also states that the panic is unnecessary. Parents don’t need to be anxious about everyday events when concerning paedophiles. In fact more sexual abuse comes from within or around the family. (La Fontaine, 1990) The construction of paedophilia misrecognises real threats to children (McNeish and Roberts, 1995) -children are more likely to get harmed in accidents then by adult abuse, showing parent worry is panicked by the media which exaggerates the issue.
Paedophilia discourse misrecognises paedophiles as real men and instead they are a small minority who are different to normal men.
Moral panic does not mention masculinity or even treatment for paedophiles, the media are only concerned with locking them up. The article states that nobody has dared to mention it is a mental illness suggesting that people are afraid to talk about it and perhaps defend paedophiles.
Paedophiles are associated with evil connotations such as : perverted, twisted, monstrous and sex maniacs. The definition of a paedophile however, is not clear. Panic is created because of the connotations it is linked with.
Megan’s’ law was passed immediately in 1996 in New Jersey after she was raped and murdered by a released sex offender. Individual states had already made laws to keep sex offenders in prison when due to be released. But when Megan kanka, a 7 year old girl, was killed it became a national law.
The article also states that the panic is unnecessary. Parents don’t need to be anxious about everyday events when concerning paedophiles. In fact more sexual abuse comes from within or around the family. (La Fontaine, 1990) The construction of paedophilia misrecognises real threats to children (McNeish and Roberts, 1995) -children are more likely to get harmed in accidents then by adult abuse, showing parent worry is panicked by the media which exaggerates the issue.
Paedophilia discourse misrecognises paedophiles as real men and instead they are a small minority who are different to normal men.
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