Thursday 4 December 2008

Censorship vs Classification

1. From where does the BBFC get its funding?
*They get their funding from charging film distributors.

2. What types of texts do the BBFC classify?
*They classify classify video games dvds and films.

3.What are the problems / issues that the BBFC must deal with when classifying material? Look at the types of things they classify, ability to account for all types of content, changing context etc.
*They deal with problems such as voilence, rape, sexual assualt aswell as extremes of human experience that are uncomfotable and serious issues in sosicety right now like medical operations, attacks on animals and real life executions.

4. Note the range of classification categories and what they mean e.g. U, PG, 12A etc.
*U-It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. U films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.Videos classified 'Uc' are particularly suitable for pre-school children and normally raise none of the issues set out below.

*PG- Mild bad language only, natural nudity, with no sexual context and moderate violence justified by its setting (eg historic, comedy or fantasy).

*12A- Suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.

*'15' – Suitable only for 15 years and overNo-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video or DVD.

*18- No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video. Where material or treatment appears to the Board to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – e.g. any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which is likely to promote the activity.

5. Look at how different themes /content within texts are classified. Make notes. Why might a DVD featuring content of skateboarders and BMX bikers performing dangerous stunts be classified as 18 but a film containing a sex scene and use of the ‘f’ word only get a 15 rating?

*The BBFC's current guidelines identify a number of specific areas of concern which are considered when awarding certificates. These are themed, language i.e. sex, violence, sexual violence, harmful actions. The BBFC also continues to demand cuts of any material which it considers may breach the provisions of the obscene publications act or any other legislation. Some of these materials in films that are in 15 rated one like sexual activity might not breach the publications act and that's why its rated at 15 compared to possibly lighter ones like bike moves that are rated at 18.

6. Why might a film be given a rating of 15 upon release at the cinema but 10 years later be classified as a 12?

*A film might be given a rating of 15 and then a decade later given a 12 rating due to the reason that as the years go by classified issues such as kissing become more and more acceptable in society therefore they will change the ratings.

7. Who is responsible for classifying films in the USA? How has this changed over time? (Look back to the studio system of the 1940’s).

*MPPA (The Motion Picture Association of America) is the instituion that is resposonsible for classifying films in America. Before in the 60's young "directors" made films that were heavily to do with sex, drugs and violence (snuff movies), nowadays it is illegal for this type of genre film to be shown.

8. Research the following case studies exploring why they were brought to the attention of the BBFC:a. Canis Canem Edit (2006, Rockstar)b. Crash (1996, David Cronenberg)c. A Clockwork Orange (1971, Stanley Kubrick)d. Fight Club (1999, David Fincher)e. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001, Simon West)f. Sweet Sixteen (2002, Ken Loach)g. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988, Martin Scorcese)h. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper)

Thursday 13 November 2008

Cosmo

Media language:
Beyonce is modelling for this cover of Cosmopolitan. The colours on the cover are mostly pink, red or gold. This can connote love, desire and lust- sexual connotations.The theme of the issue is sexual; all the articles are to do with sexual intercourse. The way Beyonce is standing, with a revealing deep neck, pink dress, can also highlight the theme. Her hand is coming above her knee, which can also give sexual connotations. Her skin is the same colour of the background-golden.The fact that she is looking down upon the reader, and is covering the masthead, shows how powerful she is.

Instsitution:
The Institution is well known for its priority for fashion and beauty as well as celeb gossip. They have used a well known singer/actress and idolistic person – Beyonce, because the TA aspire to be like her, because she is very successful.
-'Cosmo'

Genre:
A magazine

Representation:
She is represented to be very sexual, due to her body pose.
Women = sexual, as well as women = gossip "queens"

Audience:
Older females about 18 -30+ due to sexual content (what they discuss about.)
and The TA is females aged 16-30, who want to be attractive and appealing like Beyonce.

Ideology:
Laura Mulvey= Male Gaze
Feminist ideologies as the magazine is targeted at women, as well as capitalist as the magazine is made to make money.

Narrative:
Visual as well as informative narrative.

Heat Magazine

Media language:
There are many images, on this cover, which can suggest to the reader that the magazine would also be filled with many images, to make it look interesting and appealing.The 3 main images on the cover, are seen to be glamorous and slim- the issue that can arise through here is the size zero debate. However the appealing story here is the Hair of these females. They are represented as ‘know it alls’ of fashion. The fact that there are only two males can oppose the patriarchal society. The males are seen to be not attractive because of the issues surrounding them, such as High Grants issue with the prostitute and in eastenders the case with Little Moe and her rape case.The colour red is used a lot on the cover, this can connote passion, love or danger. It could suggest the magazine is dangerously filled with a lot of issues and articles.

Institution:
Heat

Genre:
Magazine

Representation:
Women as gossip people as well as the representation of the stereotyped female due to the colours used.

Audience:
Females aged from about 18 - 30 because of the issues involved in the magazine as well as the colours used further shows how the audience will be females.

Ideologies:
Laura Mulvey/The fact that there are 7 females on the cover can show how the media has changed; before there used to be males on the cover of magazines.

Narrative:
Visual as well as informative narrative.

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Time Warner


Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) is one of the world's largest media and entertainment conglomerates, headquartered in New York City. Formerly three separate companies: Warner Communications, Inc. and Time Inc. before the Time-Warner merger in 1990 and America Online, Inc. before its purchase of Time Warner in 2001 has created the current Time Warner , with major operations in film, television, publishing, Internet service and telecommunications. Among its subsidiaries are AOL, New Line Cinema, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, HBO, Turner Broadcasting System, The CW Television Network, UBU Productions, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Cartoon Network, CNN, and DC Comics.


Presentation on Steve Jobs

Slide 1:
STEVE JOBS

Slide 2:
Who is Steve Jobs???

Slide 3:
Does his picture ring any bells?



Slide 4:


Slide 5:
He’s the co –founder of Apple

Slide 6:
Little bit about him
¨In the late 1970s, Jobs, with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, created one of the first commercially successful personal computers. In the early 1980s, Jobs was among the first to see the commercial potential of the mouse-driven GUI (Graphical User Interface). After losing a power struggle with the board of directors in 1985, Jobs resigned from Apple and founded NeXT, a computer platform development company specializing in the higher education and business markets. NeXT's subsequent 1997 buyout by Apple Inc. brought Jobs back to the company he co-founded, and he has served as its CEO since then. Steve Jobs was listed as Fortune Magazine's Most Powerful Businessman of 2007.

Slide 7:

Why I think he is influential?


¨I think he was put down as one of the influential people as he is the co-founder of apple and he influences people to buy the latest technology thing such as an I-pod which was the most poplar mp3 and apple laptops and other technological products.


¨He is influential as people buy his products as he knows what products are in demand for today's generation.