Jean Baudrillard – Simulation, Hyperreality; Baudrillard observes that the contemporary world is a simulacrum, where reality has been replaced by false images, to such an extent that one cannot distinguish between the real and the unreal.

Essay Structure:

Define Postmodernism, define simulation and hyperreality, Take out examples from the example, then a concluding sentence saying what you think Postmodernism has come to.

definitions: Hyperreality – Being unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Postmodernism –

1. Deliberately playful, intertextual, reflexive
2. Fragmentation, disorder, displacement
3. A disconnection between cerebral and physical (ie mind and body Descartes – The Cartesian dilemma)
4. A lack of coherent time and place creates a world built around uncertainties and half-truths = a virtual world
5. A lack of knowledge and understanding
6. Lack of Metanarrative – the new postmodern world is structured and built upon complex and sometimes contradictory layers of organisations, instructions, ideas and individuals.
7. Individuals struggle to make sense and meaningful connections with this postmodern world.
8. No rational explanation, for cause and effect.
9. A loss of faith in scientific, empirical evidence.
10. Emphasis on repetition = Simulation – a series of simulated events, sequences and characters
11. Lack of overall Truth or coherent meaning
12. Memento represents a world of nobody’s living in nowheresville!
13. Individual and community alienation Individualistic / isolated narrative
14. Results in individuals becoming isolated and vulnerable
15. So individuals on focus on (understand, can cope with, are knowledgeable about) surface and style. As opposed to substance, content, cohesion, meaning, truth.
16. Individual personal pleasure and gain is the only significant motivating factor
17. Role of big organisations in dividing up society and individuals
18. pastiche (re-makes of familiar genre, Film Noir, Thriller or Who dunnit?) re-make
19. Fractured / split / multiple identity
20. hypperreality – it seems real, but unreal? exaggerated reality? an un-reality?

1. Pastiche – a work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist.
2. Parody – an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.
3. Bricolage  – Bricolage is a technique or creative mode, where works are constructed from various materials available or on hand, and is often seen as a characteristic of postmodern art practice.
4. Intertextuality – can be a reference or parallel to another literary work, an extended discussion of a work, or the adoption of a style.
5. Referential –
6. Surface and style over substance and content –
7. Metanarrative – theory that tries to give a totalizing, comprehensive account to various historical events, experiences, and social, cultural phenomena based upon the appeal to universal truth or universal values.
8. Hyperreality – something that give a representation of characters that aren’t socially normal or acceptable. eg disney world. exaggerated otherness
9. Simulation (sometimes termed by Baudrillard as ‘Simulacrum’)  – an image or representation of someone or something
10. Consumerist Society – a society in which people often buy new goods, especially goods that they do not need, and in which a high value is placed on owning many things.
11. Fragmentary Identities –
12. Alienation –
13. Implosion –
14. cultural appropriation –
15. Reflexivity –

First, “The War of the Worlds” was aired by Columbia Broadcasting Systems (CBS) – one of only two national broadcasters who were trusted by millions of listeners every day to deliver reliable and impartial news. It is also important to note that CBS frequently interrupted scheduled programmes to inform their listeners of the latest updates from Europe. In the weeks prior to “The War of the Worlds” episode, the network reported on Hitler’s continued occupation Czechoslovakia and the inevitability of another global conflict.

“The War of the Worlds” mixes science fiction tropes with the conventions of radio broadcasts to create a very entertaining narrative. Combining these two elements into a hybrid radio form was a great innovation, but it may have duped some listeners into believing the news bulletins and reports were a true account of the Martian conquest.

The hypodermic needle theory suggests a media text can have a powerful and immediate effect on the passive audience. It would seem “The War of the Worlds” production supports this argument because so many terrified listeners, for example, “rushed out of their houses” to escape the “gas raid”.⁴

Newsbeat became apparent on 10th September 1973 and now was a target audience of 16-24 year olds.

Until the start of the 21st century, the Newsbeat brand was only used for the 15-minute lunchtime and teatime bulletins as all other news bulletins, which were always broadcast at half-past the hour, were branded as Radio 1 News. Also, for the first four years of the 1990s, Newsbeat was only broadcast at lunchtime as the evening bulletin was a 30-minute programme called News 90/91/92/93.

Having listened to a small part of a newsbeat radio station, the story was on James Cordon stealing Ricky Gervais’ jokes. This kind of information can be found on any type of social media which is a reason as to why not many young people are listening to radio; Newsbeat.

Presenters and reporters on Newsbeat have been told to steer clear of polysyllabic words and address listeners as if they were talking to a friend, the programme’s editor has revealed. – This shows that they know people are starting to not listen to radio as they feel the listeners don’t want to engage. Using smaller words requires less attention.

Media Industries

• Newsbeat as a BBC News product with bulletins are broadcast on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Xtra and BBC Asian Network
• The funding of BBC Radio through the license fee, concept of hypothecated tax
• Issues around the role of a public service broadcaster within a competitive, contemporary media landscape
• The distinctive nature of the programme connected to its public service remit
• Arguments on the need for addressing a youth audience already catered for commercially
• The influence of new technology on media industries – Newsbeat as multi–platform media product. eg
o Website
o Twitter
o Instagram
• The regulation of the BBC via Ofcom and the governance of the BBC

Media Audiences

• The techniques the broadcast uses to target a youth audience and create audience appeal, eg
o Presentation style
o News values
o Content selection
• The opportunities for audience interaction, participation and self-representation
• The way external factors – such as demographics and psychographics – are likely to also affect audience response and produce differing interpretations
• Cultivation theory including Gerbner
• Reception theory including Hall

Questions that may come up about Audience and Industries

1. How has Newsbeat caught up with new technologies?
2. How does Newsbeat attract its audience?
3. Does Newsbeat reflect who their target audience is?

Things I know

1. Newsbeat has a target audience of age 16-24 but 84% of the viewers are aged between 12-14.
2. BBC is funded by the public paying their TV license.
3. The BBC has a Royal Charter that they check every 5-10 years. The current charter will be reviewed in 2027.
4. Newsbeat is a 15-minute program run on BBC Radio 1, Radio 1 Xtra and Asian Network at 12:45 and 17:45 during the week.
5. Newsbeat launched on 10th September 1973.
6. Newsbeat provides written articles, podcasts and videos as well as live radio.
7. Newsbeat have changed their language to engage younger viewers.

What I want to argue

I want to argue that the BBC are putting in all their effort to keep providing news to the younger audience but still sticking to the main principles of the BBC but it is inevitable that

Oh Comely is owned by Iceberg press (Lisa Sykes) and was launched in 2010. It is a mindful magazine with a fresh perspective. It constructs a representation of femininity with its focus on creativity and quirkiness. The focus is on women as artists, entrepreneurs, athletes and musicians and female empowerment is a major theme. The absence of men as part of the representation of masculinity in Oh Comely magazine.

Typically, Women’s magazines often use content that focuses mainly on appearance, whether that be makeup, weight or clothes.