- The Leveson Study was a study based on media outlets paying off the government to hack the general public’s devices to gain information and create stories for profit, as well as blackmailing celebrities with this info.
- One of the main story’s that came from this study is the involvement of the media with the murder of Milly Dowler. She was a young teenager who had been murdered and her body was supposedly never found. The media used her death and info surrounding the murder to create many stories and generate many sales, a method on which they achieved this was with the polices consent, they hacked into the victims phone and began texting and communicating with the victims parents to make them believe she was still alive, to then create more stories on her for as long as possible without any knowledge of the family and the public.
- The Levenson study was created to reveal the disingenuous and corrupt world of media, to stop all the manipulation on info and of the public and to finally put an end to it. This was 10 years ago and the world has hardly changed.
Daily Archives: December 3, 2021
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Remote Learning Notes – 3 December
Gauntlett Text Notes
“The roles that men and women are expected to fulfil are tightly regulated” – this implies that men and women already have preset expectations which can not be worked around, and these are also constantly enforced with notable punishment for absconding to the ideas.
“Most story structures are concerned with the transformation of a central hero” – this could link to the idea that we can relate ourselves to the central core character in fiction and aspire to be like them in the challenges they face and overcome.
“Marketing and advertising agencies construct multiple possibilities of who we might be through products branding” – this could relate to the idea that there are multiple future identities we could attain, and that the potential range in identities that they could inspire have very few bounds.
“Gender is socially constructed” – this means that gender defers from the biological term of “sex” but is instead something made up by our society, and by the views of other people.
“Contemporary media practices mean that heteronormativity does not completely dominate” – this could indicate that heterosexuality is becoming less and less prevalent as time goes on and new ideas surface.
Butler Text Notes
“Gender does not exist inside the body” – this suggests that the biological idea of sex has no correlation to someone’s gender, and as such gender’s definition is a rather grey area.
“The normalisation of heterosexuality is established as a result of long-standing social rituals” – the idea that long ago, homosexuality was not typically accepted or even remotely believed in, and as such heterosexuality dominated in society.
“Alternatives to the gender binary exist but are presented as subversive.” – This means that genders that are not clearly labelled as male and female are disruptive to society and are therefore not needed or wanted.
“The absence of homosexuality in mythic stories provides evidence that our natural sexual inclinations are heterosexually orientated”- This shows that the dominant ideology is straight couples, and this has been shown to us in stories passed down from long ago.
harry styles on identity for the guardian
This is Pleasing: Harry Styles sets out to ‘dispel the myth of a binary existence’
By Karen Dacre – Nov 2021
‘the mission of this venture is to “bring joyful experiences and products that excite the senses and blur the boundaries”. Styles announced that he hoped to “dispel the myth of a binary existence”.’
‘this brand is about celebrating what is already there and encouraging customers to be themselves.’
‘In July, the global beauty industry was valued at $511bn’
David Gauntlett – media & identity
Fluidity of identity – an identity that has the potential to be changed and shaped frequently in many directions.
This is often due to different representations of men and women in media and as a result people find themselves adapting and changing their identity’s in order to reciprocate said representations they are exposed to.
Constructed identity – an identity that has been built upon experiences, relationships and connections. A persons identity will differ depending on:
- where they’ve been brought up
- how they have been brought up
- who they have been brought up with
- their financial state and/or social class
- a persons faith
- life experience
The list if different influences is endless and each factor can also be affected by one another.
Negotiated identity – the process of which people reach an agreement of their identity and well as their relationships with other people’s identities – once the agreement is established, people are expected to remain faithful to their identity.
This establishes what people can expect from one another and therefore reinforces the inter-relations that holds relationships together.
Collective identity – cognitive and affective attained from belonging to certain groups (ethnic, gender, class, sexual orientation ect…) creating a sense of belonging to that group for the individual.
It seems that if someone begins to reciprocate certain practices of a group, such as they way they dress, their mannerisms etc, they will become part of that persons own individual identity and will develop a sense of belonging within that group. This can sometimes take over other aspects of a persons individual identity.
Traditional and Post-Traditional Media Consumption: Anthony Giddens
‘The notion of who we are is heavily determined by long-standing social forces’
Too often, people are basing their identity on what they are told is ‘right’ by surrounding influences such as institutions, media, family members, friends, religion etc, rather than how they actually want to present themselves. Although…
‘We are transitioning… to a distinctly different phase that he calls ‘late modernity’.’
meaning that certain social constructs of the past are relaxing and people are coming to realise that they have control over their identity and have the power to shape it themselves, despite what other influences tell them otherwise. However, in my opinion, as traditional conventions begin to die out, more conventions begin to appear which quickly become seemingly hard to exceed.
Reflex Identity Construction: David Gauntlett
‘audiences are now in charge of the remote control’
Whilst media attempts to influence our identities and encourage us to look and act in a certain way, it is actually up to us as consumers to decide how far we let those messages influences and therefore it is us who control how we want to look and how we want to act.
Media manufactures ‘narrow the the interpretations of certain roles or lifestyles’
Gauntlett suggests that the media does not present every aspect, good or bad, of certain identities which creates a huge issue when it comes to interpreting these representations as it can cause people to feel insecure in terms of how they perceive themselves as they begin to wonder – why doesn‘t my hair look like that? or, why does she look like that but i don’t? etc…
With regards to the power of media narratives, we can ‘borrow from these stories when shaping our narratives of the self’
He highlights a positive aspect of media, the way in which TV characters or video game characters influence they way in which we build upon our own character and often how we can become someone thing better. however, in some situations the power and influence of media narratives could be negative, depending on what type of characters you are exposing yourself to.
Revision Notes
Judith Butler :
“our gender identities are not fixed objects; they are constituted as a result of our behaviors”
“our gendered identities are not naturally given but constructed through repetition and ritual.”
“Society also presents male/female relationships as the norm”
“Our bodies or sex do not define our gendered identities”
“rituals and performative actions constantly reinforce our identities: the act of wearing makeup”
David Gauntlet :
“Gender is socially constructed”
“Audiences realise they can change their identities”
“media manufacturers narrow interpretations of certain roles or lifestyles”
“the characters we watch in television shows or on online games offer us examples of how we can transfigure ourselves”
David gauntlett
Fluidity of identity– Gauntlet states how someone’s identity can change because of how men and woman are being represented differently in media. He now says we have a “greater diversity of identities”. Fluidity of identity means that a persons identity is always changing and they’re personality traits differ vastly.
Constructed identity– This is when people build up their identity and it slightly changes, depending on their peers/audiences. Now people can decide and create different genders and ideas and make it an identity, this generation allows for almost every idea and feeling to be dawned as a new identity. Different forms of media and influencers help us construct this reality.
Negotiated identity– A negotiated identity is a balance between our own ideologies and desires, as well as meeting the expectations of others and their ideas.
Collective identity– Means that we refer to our sense of belonging to group, weather that be out of a shared interest/experience or even something in common. Our desire to engage with others and “fit in”. These groups could be social, religious, occupational or gendered.
REVISION NOTES
Judith Butler:
“Our bodies or sex do not define our gendered identities” – We do not have to conform to society’s demands of being masculine or feminine.
“Our gender identities are not fixed objects; they are constituted as a result of our behaviors” – Our identity will change depending on the situation we are in eg. a spending time with family and friends compared to a funeral
“Our genders are culturally rather naturally formed” – Society influences and interacts with the audience which changes people’s behavior.
David Gauntlet:
“Gender is socially constructed” – The way that both genders behaviors change is naturally reoccurring.
“Audiences realise they can change their identities” – They can be whoever they choose to be
“30 second glimpses of who we might become”– Suggests our identity could change overtime
NOtes – Revision – Gauntlet & Butler
David Gauntlet quotes / phrases :
- “We are transitioning from a society in which our identities were constructed via rigid traditions to a distinctly different phase that he calls ‘late modernity” – Changed from a society of stereotypes to opinions.
- “Tradition dominates the notion of who we are and is heavily determined by long standing social forces” – Traditions and hierarchy are a reason for our stereotypes to the present day.
- “Social roles of gender in a traditionally ordered society”
- “Marketing and advertising agencies construct multiple possibilities of who we might be through products branding” – Advertising giving us a glimpse of who we could become (potential ‘us’)
- “Transformations offered suggest that our identities are not fixed” – Meaning in games, they lead with the main characters weaknesses to gain happiness, this can give us the right motivation to give us a chance to change who we are.
Judith Butler quotes / phrases :
- “Myths reinforce male power as the norm because males are the more naturally dominant gender” – This displays that the idea of male dominant society is true.
- “Micro performances that continuously signal our identity to ourselves and to others” – Explains that the way we act is a form of our own identity shown.
- “Biological anatomies do not determine our gender” – This can related to people feeling as if they are more masculine than feminine even though they are a woman. A mental decision that our brains come to.
- “Male and female identities are not naturally configured”
- “Gender is not solely determined by primary experiences during childhood” – Meaning throughout our lifetime, people change their gender and sexual orientation, some people don’t stay the same gender they were when they were a child.
revision notes
Butler –
‘Our bodies or sex do not define our gendered identities.’ – Meaning your identity is defiant of your gender not your outward appearance or DNA
‘ the media assists in the marginalisation of subversive identities through absent representations, abjection and parody.’ – meaning the media creates an idealised view of how each gender should perform, when in reality people should decide freely how they wish to act, according to their gender.
‘Society also presents male/female relationships as the norm’ – meaning society’s idealised view of a relationship is one between two different genders not the same.
‘Alternatives to the gender binary exist but are presented as subversive.’ – meaning genders of which are not labeled male and female are disruptive and not needed.
‘Our gendered identities are not naturally given but constructed through repetition and ritual.’ – meaning the way we construct ourselves by gender, is only the persona that society wish to see.
Gauntlett –
‘Contemporary media practices mean that heteronormativity does not completely dominate’ – meaning a more inclusive community is apparent now, and that heterosexuality is not seen as the only accepted sexual orientation.
‘Audiences realise they can change their identities’ – meaning we are starting to create our own identities and are ignoring the idealisation created by society
‘Front covers of magazines such as Vogue and Men’s health are shop windows to amore sexier, more successful future self for their reader-ships’ – meaning identity is something constructed by the media and not by ourselves
‘Gender is socially constructed’ – meaning gender is only something constructed by the media and what we see day to day
‘Linked to family expectations and rigid social codes’ – meaning depending on your gender, there are different expectations to adhere to
AT HOME NOTES 2:
“Far reaching social changes currently affecting western society” – Concept one, David Gauntlett.
This gives me the idea that the idea and opinion of genders people have are widely affecting a large amount of people.
“The notion of who we are is heavily determined by long-standing social forces” – Concept one, David Gauntlett.
This connotates the idea that gender determines our personality.
“Linked to family expectations and rigid social codes” – Concept 1, David Gauntlett.
This shows how people believe genders have responsibilities to fill.
“Sheer new amount of products and channels, both niche and mainstream, facilitates the process of identity editing by audiences” – Concept 2, David Gauntlett,
All types of media have an affect on people and gender identities.
“Self help books tell us that we do not have to endure the personality flaws that hold us back from the jobs we want or the relationship we desire” – Concept 2, David Gauntlett.
The idea of change of identities started with self-help books.
“Popular culture within the process of constructing their sense of identity” – Interview with David Gauntlett
The general idea of genders is constructed by opinions and stereotypes.
“She highlights his conclusions that myths are powerful makers of meanings” – Gender as performance, Judith Butler
Even though its all a lie, the stereotypes have a big effect on people.
“Male and female identities are not naturally configured” – Butler gender revolution
Stereotypes and opinions do not decide who you are.