Postmodern media texts tend to portray sequences of events not in chronological order, with the use of flashbacks. This can be seen in the film 'Blow' 2001 Ted Demme where the last scene is shown at the beginning of the film. This 'non linear narrative is used to engage the audience to force them to become more actively involved in the understanding of the film. Other texts which use similar non linear fragmentation are: Pulp fiction, 24 and lost.
Fragmentation can also be used to show a range of character conventions in relation to values, for example family. Simpson's is a classic text to mention when speaking about family values. The running motif throughout the animated series is that no matter what happens the family will not be broken up, despite various changes in circumstances. This can also be seen in relation to family guy, although the focus seems to be less on values and more on a very erratic/random narrative to create comedy.
The Coen Brothers
The Coen brothers use a range of postmodern traits in their films, such as a hypereality. A hypereality is created via the use of 'allegory'. This can be clearly seen in 'O'brother where art thou'2000 - Ethan and Joul Coen. The film represents the classic tale 'The Odyssey'. This is done by taking the general narrative of the Odyssey and reconstructing it applying it to a more contemporary text. Playing with a classic text keeps an audience active as they are constantly having to differentiate between the classic tale and the hybrid that has been created.
A pastiche is another postmodern trait used in O' brother. The films opening titles intertextualised the same traditional music and font style as old fashioned silent films. It can be argued that by infusing the Odyssey with a narrative that involves such a juxtaposition of character traits, with the heroes of the Odyssey being portrayed as low status convicts to some extent unsantifies the entire text, which again portrays a lack of values. The ways in which the Coens have represented the Odyssey are subtle and require an active audience. A example of how the Odyssey has been represented can be seen through the 3 convicts being chained together at the start of the film representing the three headed hydra of the Odyssey. There is also a link between the convicts being drawn towards the singers in the forest and the sirens at sea.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Monday, 8 March 2010
Lesson summary - Thursday 5th March 2010
This lesson was split into 2 sections, we firstly exploed postmodernism in relation to both high and low culture. We started off by brain-storming aspects of high culture while finding the opposite in relation to low culture.
Postmodernism is typically a mixture of High and Low culture
Low culture: Pop music, Football, ITV, TV (in general, Tabloids
High culture: Classical music, Opera, Polo, BBC, theatre, Broadsheet, Ballet
We then went on to investigate Texts that referenced both high/low culture that also included modernist/posmodernist traits. The first text we looked at was Dixon of Doc green (BBC 1950's - 1970'). - The first thing we noticed was that the main character 'Dixon' spoke to the camera head on therefor adressing the aduience directly, which in itself is a very modernist trait as it is not tyring to hide the fact that it is not 'reality', much like some aspects of 'fly on the wall' documentaries. We also looked at Tarantino's Pulp fiction. We firstly noticed that the opening is a pastiche of 'the good the bad and the ugly'the begining credits included the same colours, fonts and quick transitions. As we watched on we noticted that there were various refrences to aspects of low culture such as: night clubs, fast food, popular culture and TV game shows.
The second part of the lesson was spent experimenting with podcasting. We used a free recording program called audacity and became familiar with how it worked, as we plan to use podcasting with a presentation as a way to evaluate our projects.
Postmodernism is typically a mixture of High and Low culture
Low culture: Pop music, Football, ITV, TV (in general, Tabloids
High culture: Classical music, Opera, Polo, BBC, theatre, Broadsheet, Ballet
We then went on to investigate Texts that referenced both high/low culture that also included modernist/posmodernist traits. The first text we looked at was Dixon of Doc green (BBC 1950's - 1970'). - The first thing we noticed was that the main character 'Dixon' spoke to the camera head on therefor adressing the aduience directly, which in itself is a very modernist trait as it is not tyring to hide the fact that it is not 'reality', much like some aspects of 'fly on the wall' documentaries. We also looked at Tarantino's Pulp fiction. We firstly noticed that the opening is a pastiche of 'the good the bad and the ugly'the begining credits included the same colours, fonts and quick transitions. As we watched on we noticted that there were various refrences to aspects of low culture such as: night clubs, fast food, popular culture and TV game shows.
The second part of the lesson was spent experimenting with podcasting. We used a free recording program called audacity and became familiar with how it worked, as we plan to use podcasting with a presentation as a way to evaluate our projects.
Monday, 1 February 2010
Postmodern chapter pages 136 - 167 - Precis
Postmodernism chapter pages 136 -167 - Precis
Postmodernism influence can be seen in a variety of different media texts and portrayed in numerous ways. One key trend in post modern texts is there is a definite blurring of boundaries between both modern values and in some cases fiction and reality. When fiction and reality is merged together in such a way a hyperreality is formed. A real example of hyperreality can be seen in places such as Disney Land, where the space is real but the contents and theme is entirely fictional.
Music can also be described as post modern either if it is created in the post modern era, or if follows post modern ideology. The music of DJ shadow is a perfect example of post modern music, as it has been created in the pos modern era and includes so many styles merged together it is impossible to classify it as a single set genre. This is another example of boundaries being blurred and merged into something that is different or abstract. The work of DJ shadow can be seen as very unique as he can entwine two completely conflicting music styles into one, for example merging classical music with Nirvana songs.
TV programs such as The Mighty Boosh and The Office can also be described as post modern. The Boosh consists of many different post modern traits, the most interesting of which is the fact that before each show starts the two main characters always introduce it in front of a large red curtain. This breaks away from the norm of going straight into a TV programme. Something I noticed while watching a episode of the Boosh was that they actually use a riff from a song created by DJ shadow (mentioned above) in one of their own songs. This can be seen as another post modern trait by combining both post modern music and TV into one media text. Postmodernism stretches to situation comedies also, for example the Office. Comedy is only because the audience is used to seeing the day in day out functions of a office while the characters completely break the stereotype therefore destroying boundaries of normal life.
Not only are some TV programs post modern but adverts can to include post modern traits and ideologies. A perfect example for this is the Cadburys gorilla. The astonishing fact that the advert had very little obvious relation to either Cadburys as a company or chocolate itself illustrates a very post modern element to this text. For example if the audience were not aware of what Cadburys is or even what products they make they would be left clueless after watching it. Despite the advert being seemingly random there are views that it subtly portrays chocolate as a secret or something more special than it really is, for example the man in the gorilla costume could represent primal urges/instincts to indulge by eating chocolate.
Its not only traditonal media texts that can contain postmodern elements, video games are becoming increasingly more postmodern. The perfect example for this is the game series GTA (Grand Theft Auto). This game in particular offers a inventive storyline which to some degree allows the player to live the life of someone else without the consequences applicable in real life. There are two concepts which helps to define video games as postmodern, flow and immersion. Flow is defined as a state where a activity becomes increasingly more difficult but also progressively more enjoyable to play as a clear goal is always set. Immersion describes how the gamer is brought into the game and absorbed by its content. Especially with GTA the question comes to mind is it a story or a game?, the arguement is both sided as some believe that adding a form of narrative to a game structure does not work, whilst others use GTA as a prime example of how it can be succesful.
Postmodernism influence can be seen in a variety of different media texts and portrayed in numerous ways. One key trend in post modern texts is there is a definite blurring of boundaries between both modern values and in some cases fiction and reality. When fiction and reality is merged together in such a way a hyperreality is formed. A real example of hyperreality can be seen in places such as Disney Land, where the space is real but the contents and theme is entirely fictional.
Music can also be described as post modern either if it is created in the post modern era, or if follows post modern ideology. The music of DJ shadow is a perfect example of post modern music, as it has been created in the pos modern era and includes so many styles merged together it is impossible to classify it as a single set genre. This is another example of boundaries being blurred and merged into something that is different or abstract. The work of DJ shadow can be seen as very unique as he can entwine two completely conflicting music styles into one, for example merging classical music with Nirvana songs.
TV programs such as The Mighty Boosh and The Office can also be described as post modern. The Boosh consists of many different post modern traits, the most interesting of which is the fact that before each show starts the two main characters always introduce it in front of a large red curtain. This breaks away from the norm of going straight into a TV programme. Something I noticed while watching a episode of the Boosh was that they actually use a riff from a song created by DJ shadow (mentioned above) in one of their own songs. This can be seen as another post modern trait by combining both post modern music and TV into one media text. Postmodernism stretches to situation comedies also, for example the Office. Comedy is only because the audience is used to seeing the day in day out functions of a office while the characters completely break the stereotype therefore destroying boundaries of normal life.
Not only are some TV programs post modern but adverts can to include post modern traits and ideologies. A perfect example for this is the Cadburys gorilla. The astonishing fact that the advert had very little obvious relation to either Cadburys as a company or chocolate itself illustrates a very post modern element to this text. For example if the audience were not aware of what Cadburys is or even what products they make they would be left clueless after watching it. Despite the advert being seemingly random there are views that it subtly portrays chocolate as a secret or something more special than it really is, for example the man in the gorilla costume could represent primal urges/instincts to indulge by eating chocolate.
Its not only traditonal media texts that can contain postmodern elements, video games are becoming increasingly more postmodern. The perfect example for this is the game series GTA (Grand Theft Auto). This game in particular offers a inventive storyline which to some degree allows the player to live the life of someone else without the consequences applicable in real life. There are two concepts which helps to define video games as postmodern, flow and immersion. Flow is defined as a state where a activity becomes increasingly more difficult but also progressively more enjoyable to play as a clear goal is always set. Immersion describes how the gamer is brought into the game and absorbed by its content. Especially with GTA the question comes to mind is it a story or a game?, the arguement is both sided as some believe that adding a form of narrative to a game structure does not work, whilst others use GTA as a prime example of how it can be succesful.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Postmodern Media
Postmodern media contains these aspects, this is just a way of remembering them.
B & H P A I N P I P E S
Bricolage
&
Hypereality
Play
Aestaetic
Irony
Ninilism
Parody
Intertextuality
Pastiche
Eclectic
Selfreferential
Example of music as a postmodern text - Cold cut Beats and pieces:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adLFpRP_MkA
The song includes aspects of various genres and styles. Songs comprised of such material are known as mash-ups.
Parts of this particular song are used in a very postmodern sitcom known as 'spaced'.
Styles included in example: Classical (Peter and the wolf)
Hip hop
Big beat
Alternative
Funk
Effects such as static and scratching on vinyls
Postmodernism Homework Task - The Mighty Boosh as a postmodern text
1. Eclecticism - A wide range of influences and techniques
2. Intertextuality - An authors borrowing and transformation other a previous text
3. Parody - A satirical imitation of a text
4. Bricolage - A technique where the product is created from various materials
5. Acts against modernism - Postmodern ideology goes against the ideas of the modern era e.g. progress, reason, certainty, personal identity and grand narrative
6. Nostalgic - Celebrates/remembers the past for its good points
7. Narcissistic - Fascination with your self much like vanity
8. An active audience - Meaning and experience can only be created by the individual, and cannot be made objective by an author or a narrator.
9. Hyper-concious - Aware of itself
B & H P A I N P I P E S
Bricolage
&
Hypereality
Play
Aestaetic
Irony
Ninilism
Parody
Intertextuality
Pastiche
Eclectic
Selfreferential
Example of music as a postmodern text - Cold cut Beats and pieces:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adLFpRP_MkA
The song includes aspects of various genres and styles. Songs comprised of such material are known as mash-ups.
Parts of this particular song are used in a very postmodern sitcom known as 'spaced'.
Styles included in example: Classical (Peter and the wolf)
Hip hop
Big beat
Alternative
Funk
Effects such as static and scratching on vinyls
Postmodernism Homework Task - The Mighty Boosh as a postmodern text
1. Eclecticism - A wide range of influences and techniques
2. Intertextuality - An authors borrowing and transformation other a previous text
3. Parody - A satirical imitation of a text
4. Bricolage - A technique where the product is created from various materials
5. Acts against modernism - Postmodern ideology goes against the ideas of the modern era e.g. progress, reason, certainty, personal identity and grand narrative
6. Nostalgic - Celebrates/remembers the past for its good points
7. Narcissistic - Fascination with your self much like vanity
8. An active audience - Meaning and experience can only be created by the individual, and cannot be made objective by an author or a narrator.
9. Hyper-concious - Aware of itself
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
How has the internet changed our notion on ‘collective identity’?
How has the internet changed our notion on ‘collective identity’?
Glen Waine
As different forms of technology have been produced and laid upon the public it is a definite trend above anything else that technology especially the internet has made the public lazy. Although this is definitely true it can be argued that instead of it making people lazy the internet has justly just made life easier. As the internet has progressed many uses have also developed, people can now choose to even do their grocery shopping over the internet. This being a very simple day to day chore has been made perhaps overly simplified due to the internet. As the internet has progressed from its origins in the 1990s as ‘the web 1.0’ a large following of gadgets have been created as it has changed to what Is called ‘web 2.0’. Items which are considered to be more or less ‘miniature computers, such as iphones’ have been created with very hi-tech additions such as the touch screen, the fact that devices such as these are also available to access the internet show the technological advances that have been made to make something so advanced fit in your pocket. The age of this new media has broadened the horizons and brought forward a large scale of new communication techniques all thanks to the internet. People can now talk to each other free of chare using the internet, social networking sites such as facebook, msn and twitter allow this to happen. The public can now very easily socialise with other people online from all over the world but is this effecting the British notion of collective identity?
The internet is definitely effecting our ideology of collective identity, as our new found love of being able to talk and send information across the world seems to allow use to in some way merge with other cultures in a digital format removes certain aspects of being individual and different into one global networking audience. The media has such a large audience due to not one single culture but other cultures surrounding it working together and merging in a way to develop[ technologies. One very large influence (especially on the internet front) has been America. Britain gets a lot of its media from America, especially films as a large percentage of films are primarily American funded. It can be argued that as other cultures have slyly integrated themselves with Britain through the media and internet that certain influences have been made on unwary people without them knowing. For example certain T.V advertisements that encourage you to ‘claim money’ for accidents and injury’s at work have most certainly migrated from American culture to British as suing is seen as a very Americanised thing to be done now a days.
It has been argued that a possible watershed would have a good effect on internet users. The idea of limiting internet use to certain times could effect the country in different ways. For Young people who use the internet more than anyone else it could be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing. As people can see the internet as being very distracting it also provides a wide range of information that can be accessed fast. This makes it very hard to decide if a watershed would be beneficial or not as students can use it to work as well as use it for games and social networking.
The generation that has grown up with the internet using it regularly is known as ‘digital natives’ while the generation that just missed the internet developing or grew while it was in its very early stages are known as ‘digital immigrants’. The contrast between these two generations is very large as digital immigrants lack a very basic understanding of how the internet is used in theory making it harder for themselves to use.
Sabbah said ‘web 2.0 isn’t a thing, it’s a state of mind’ this is very true as what he is trying to say is that the world has become so reliant on the internet that is has fused itself so much in to our day to day routine that at a flick of a finger it can be accessed. This is definitely seen in the teenage use of the internet who would be referred to as ‘digital natives’, one statistic about teenage internet use is that teenagers generally spend at least 2 hours a day on the internet. This statistic clearly show how much this generation relies on the internet therefore how much It will in the future as well as the next generation, or whatever is to replace internet 2.0. This being said our notion of collective identity being in tatters already could disappear in future generations quite easily as the ideology of using the internet on such a regular basis to do things that can be done in person but in such a more easy way for the user using the internet. It can definitely be said that our idea of collective identity has had a large impact on by other cultures and ideologies from countries such as America and across Europe.
Glen Waine
As different forms of technology have been produced and laid upon the public it is a definite trend above anything else that technology especially the internet has made the public lazy. Although this is definitely true it can be argued that instead of it making people lazy the internet has justly just made life easier. As the internet has progressed many uses have also developed, people can now choose to even do their grocery shopping over the internet. This being a very simple day to day chore has been made perhaps overly simplified due to the internet. As the internet has progressed from its origins in the 1990s as ‘the web 1.0’ a large following of gadgets have been created as it has changed to what Is called ‘web 2.0’. Items which are considered to be more or less ‘miniature computers, such as iphones’ have been created with very hi-tech additions such as the touch screen, the fact that devices such as these are also available to access the internet show the technological advances that have been made to make something so advanced fit in your pocket. The age of this new media has broadened the horizons and brought forward a large scale of new communication techniques all thanks to the internet. People can now talk to each other free of chare using the internet, social networking sites such as facebook, msn and twitter allow this to happen. The public can now very easily socialise with other people online from all over the world but is this effecting the British notion of collective identity?
The internet is definitely effecting our ideology of collective identity, as our new found love of being able to talk and send information across the world seems to allow use to in some way merge with other cultures in a digital format removes certain aspects of being individual and different into one global networking audience. The media has such a large audience due to not one single culture but other cultures surrounding it working together and merging in a way to develop[ technologies. One very large influence (especially on the internet front) has been America. Britain gets a lot of its media from America, especially films as a large percentage of films are primarily American funded. It can be argued that as other cultures have slyly integrated themselves with Britain through the media and internet that certain influences have been made on unwary people without them knowing. For example certain T.V advertisements that encourage you to ‘claim money’ for accidents and injury’s at work have most certainly migrated from American culture to British as suing is seen as a very Americanised thing to be done now a days.
It has been argued that a possible watershed would have a good effect on internet users. The idea of limiting internet use to certain times could effect the country in different ways. For Young people who use the internet more than anyone else it could be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing. As people can see the internet as being very distracting it also provides a wide range of information that can be accessed fast. This makes it very hard to decide if a watershed would be beneficial or not as students can use it to work as well as use it for games and social networking.
The generation that has grown up with the internet using it regularly is known as ‘digital natives’ while the generation that just missed the internet developing or grew while it was in its very early stages are known as ‘digital immigrants’. The contrast between these two generations is very large as digital immigrants lack a very basic understanding of how the internet is used in theory making it harder for themselves to use.
Sabbah said ‘web 2.0 isn’t a thing, it’s a state of mind’ this is very true as what he is trying to say is that the world has become so reliant on the internet that is has fused itself so much in to our day to day routine that at a flick of a finger it can be accessed. This is definitely seen in the teenage use of the internet who would be referred to as ‘digital natives’, one statistic about teenage internet use is that teenagers generally spend at least 2 hours a day on the internet. This statistic clearly show how much this generation relies on the internet therefore how much It will in the future as well as the next generation, or whatever is to replace internet 2.0. This being said our notion of collective identity being in tatters already could disappear in future generations quite easily as the ideology of using the internet on such a regular basis to do things that can be done in person but in such a more easy way for the user using the internet. It can definitely be said that our idea of collective identity has had a large impact on by other cultures and ideologies from countries such as America and across Europe.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Notes
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Notes
Today’s average graduate has spent no more than 5,000 hours reading and more than 10,000 gaming as well as 20,000 watching TV.
Due to the day in day out use of technology and the fact this generation has literally grown up around it, has effected the way today’s students fundamentally think and process information. - Possibility that brain structure has physically changed.
Students who have massively integrated technology into their lives are known as digital natives.
Those people who were not born around new technology but have developed a linking for it later in life are known as Digital Immigrants. - Older generation tends to not rely on things such as the internet as a first option rather than digital natives.
Teaching problem as teachers are speaking in out dated language and as effect are struggling to teach a group who speaks a entirely different language.
Digital Natives used to receiving information really fast.
Digital immigrants don’t see how education can be fun or in other words learn through using T.V and the internet, this is of course due to the fact that they didn’t grow up with it learning how to use it.
Today’s teachers need to learn how to communicate in the same language as the students in order to allow them to reach there full potential. ß methodology.
Games introduced to help aid learning with software such as CAD.
Example of how the idea of fun plays a acute role in learning, “There is no reason that a generation that can remember over 100 different pokemon cant learn the names, populations, capitals of all the 81 nations in the world, it just depends on how its presented”.
Today’s average graduate has spent no more than 5,000 hours reading and more than 10,000 gaming as well as 20,000 watching TV.
Due to the day in day out use of technology and the fact this generation has literally grown up around it, has effected the way today’s students fundamentally think and process information. - Possibility that brain structure has physically changed.
Students who have massively integrated technology into their lives are known as digital natives.
Those people who were not born around new technology but have developed a linking for it later in life are known as Digital Immigrants. - Older generation tends to not rely on things such as the internet as a first option rather than digital natives.
Teaching problem as teachers are speaking in out dated language and as effect are struggling to teach a group who speaks a entirely different language.
Digital Natives used to receiving information really fast.
Digital immigrants don’t see how education can be fun or in other words learn through using T.V and the internet, this is of course due to the fact that they didn’t grow up with it learning how to use it.
Today’s teachers need to learn how to communicate in the same language as the students in order to allow them to reach there full potential. ß methodology.
Games introduced to help aid learning with software such as CAD.
Example of how the idea of fun plays a acute role in learning, “There is no reason that a generation that can remember over 100 different pokemon cant learn the names, populations, capitals of all the 81 nations in the world, it just depends on how its presented”.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Moral Panics Essay
Compare and contrast three case studies how do moral panics help form fragmentation in cultural identity? Glen Waine
Case studies used: Rave culture and ecstasy, Video Nasties and Aids
Moral panic can be described as the intensity of a negative feeling towards a particular group of people who appear to be threatening social order at a certain time. In this essay I shall be contrasting three rather different forms of moral panic these being Aids, Rave/Drug culture and Video Nasties.
Raves were originally founded in America, namely Chicago, New York and Detroit but the culture migrated to England around 1988. Raves tended to be located in rural areas, such as large barns, unused or abandoned air fields and large fields in the country. As these raves were illegal the organisers had a technique to limit the chance of police interference. Organisers would keep the rave in question secret until a matter of hours before it was due to begin, as once a rave had started police were almost powerless due to being so massively outnumbered. By the end of the 80’s raves were seen as the largest youth culture Britain had ever encountered as it was seen as a somewhat ‘breeding ground’ for the sale and intake of drugs. Raves also generated a massive revenue for the actual organisers, which could range from £50,000-£75,000. It was not the actual ideology of the raves themselves which caused such a moral panic but the drug uses which went hand in hand with them. Amphetamines were the most commonly used type of drugs, as the consumers would ingest them to be able to dance and stay awake for the entire night. It was not until the media got involved with a relation between the raves and drug culture that a panic set in. The Sun and Daily Mail both published articles about a Midsummer Night Dream party (19890 which took place at an abandoned airstrip; headlines included ‘Ecstasy Airport’ and the articles tended to emphasise the events as nothing more than a attempt to hook an entire generation on drugs under the guise of friendly party’s. Shortly after these articles were published the Media started to focus more on the drug use rather than the events, which was triggered by the death of Leah Betts. Although her death is still closely related to rave culture she actually consumed ecstasy at her own home and instead of dieing of an over dose her death was actually due to swelling of the brain from water intoxication.
Raves and drug culture caused fragmentation and panic particularly with parents. The way the media portrayed and worded their articles turned the minds of thousands of parents creating a great deal of concern with what their children were doing particularly when going out. In terms of cultural identity it would be unfair to say that any one country would be overly ashamed of their appearance due to drug taking as it happens all over the world. Although you can certainly argue that when comparing the generation in question to previous ones a massive change is clearly there, which among other things creates a large sense of worry but with a topic so wide is sadly unavoidable and to an extent uncontrollable.
The next moral panic issue I will be discussing is Aids. This issue can to some extent be linked to the influx in rave and certainly drug culture. As the epidemic was recognised in 1981 - 1986 ( closely related timeframe to rave culture) and one of the ways it was being transmitted was through the use of drugs, although it being heroin and any other drug where it was being administered intravenously. This caused a very large panic with drug users and people/family familiar with drug users. Aids caused a great deal of controversy and stigma especially towards gay men and drug users with the press having headlines such as ‘Gay Plague’. As there was such a panic arisen by the media all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories were being thrown around, such as the disease was created in order to commit genocide and even to kill off homosexuals. Naturally the gay community would have been set into a massive panic but also largely scared of in some cases reporting having the disease, due to the stigma that came with it. Sadly Aids was not only being contracted through sexual activity and sharing needles. Haemophiliacs who needed regular blood transfusions were contracting it to through being given infected blood. This sparked off a large scale panic in itself as all given blood that needed to be used in certain medical procedures could be infected. This itself made people very sceptical about not only aids but medical procedures.
Aids has caused a large collection of opinions on a variety of relating subjects that have linked from the epidemic, but it has been questioned whether moral panic is really the right word to describe it. “ It is time to recognise that the Aids scare was one of the most distorted, duplicitous and cynical public health panics of the past 30 years. Instead of being treated as a sexually transmitted disease that affected certain high-risk communities, and which should be vigorously tackled by the medical authorities, the ‘war against Aids’ was turned into a moral crusade” - Brendan O’Neill.
The term ‘video nasties’ refers to films that are looked down upon for their massively violent content. The term was first introduced in the beginning of the 1980’s and progressed through the 80’s. The films in question were usually looked down upon by religious organisations and the press. Very much like rave culture it was not the actual ideology of the videos that people had a problem with it was more what seeing them would do to peoples perception and judgement especially young children. The most famous case of this is the James Bulger murder. The murder was apparently of a result of 2 boys carrying out a scene they had seen in a film. This type of moral panic is not seen as bad as it could be until actual acts start occurring from the interpretation of certain films being seen. Before the James Bulger happened a ‘moral crusade’ against hugely violent films was launched which involved the UK’s video recordings act. This act tightened restrictions on the codes of censorship on videos, this led onto the banning of many films. Before this act was introduced there was only the Obscene publications act which defined the term ‘Obscenity’ as something that which may corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it. This definition being quite vague was open for interpretation by everyone but it was solely reliant on the director of public prosecutions to decide whether certain films were fit for public viewing.
All 3 examples of moral panic I have mentioned all occur in relatively the same timeframe. Each one interlinks with the other in some degree especially the aids and rave culture examples. Each one causes fragmentation in different ways and to different extents but they all seem to lead the same trend, this being once the subject is raised and commented on by the media its from then that the public escalate it resulting in external opinions leading to panic. Its also easily seen that over the period of time the media or press get involved with it turns into somewhat of a bounce back scenario. What I mean by this is that the media will say something then leading to public reaction which again will return to the medias opinion.
Case studies used: Rave culture and ecstasy, Video Nasties and Aids
Moral panic can be described as the intensity of a negative feeling towards a particular group of people who appear to be threatening social order at a certain time. In this essay I shall be contrasting three rather different forms of moral panic these being Aids, Rave/Drug culture and Video Nasties.
Raves were originally founded in America, namely Chicago, New York and Detroit but the culture migrated to England around 1988. Raves tended to be located in rural areas, such as large barns, unused or abandoned air fields and large fields in the country. As these raves were illegal the organisers had a technique to limit the chance of police interference. Organisers would keep the rave in question secret until a matter of hours before it was due to begin, as once a rave had started police were almost powerless due to being so massively outnumbered. By the end of the 80’s raves were seen as the largest youth culture Britain had ever encountered as it was seen as a somewhat ‘breeding ground’ for the sale and intake of drugs. Raves also generated a massive revenue for the actual organisers, which could range from £50,000-£75,000. It was not the actual ideology of the raves themselves which caused such a moral panic but the drug uses which went hand in hand with them. Amphetamines were the most commonly used type of drugs, as the consumers would ingest them to be able to dance and stay awake for the entire night. It was not until the media got involved with a relation between the raves and drug culture that a panic set in. The Sun and Daily Mail both published articles about a Midsummer Night Dream party (19890 which took place at an abandoned airstrip; headlines included ‘Ecstasy Airport’ and the articles tended to emphasise the events as nothing more than a attempt to hook an entire generation on drugs under the guise of friendly party’s. Shortly after these articles were published the Media started to focus more on the drug use rather than the events, which was triggered by the death of Leah Betts. Although her death is still closely related to rave culture she actually consumed ecstasy at her own home and instead of dieing of an over dose her death was actually due to swelling of the brain from water intoxication.
Raves and drug culture caused fragmentation and panic particularly with parents. The way the media portrayed and worded their articles turned the minds of thousands of parents creating a great deal of concern with what their children were doing particularly when going out. In terms of cultural identity it would be unfair to say that any one country would be overly ashamed of their appearance due to drug taking as it happens all over the world. Although you can certainly argue that when comparing the generation in question to previous ones a massive change is clearly there, which among other things creates a large sense of worry but with a topic so wide is sadly unavoidable and to an extent uncontrollable.
The next moral panic issue I will be discussing is Aids. This issue can to some extent be linked to the influx in rave and certainly drug culture. As the epidemic was recognised in 1981 - 1986 ( closely related timeframe to rave culture) and one of the ways it was being transmitted was through the use of drugs, although it being heroin and any other drug where it was being administered intravenously. This caused a very large panic with drug users and people/family familiar with drug users. Aids caused a great deal of controversy and stigma especially towards gay men and drug users with the press having headlines such as ‘Gay Plague’. As there was such a panic arisen by the media all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories were being thrown around, such as the disease was created in order to commit genocide and even to kill off homosexuals. Naturally the gay community would have been set into a massive panic but also largely scared of in some cases reporting having the disease, due to the stigma that came with it. Sadly Aids was not only being contracted through sexual activity and sharing needles. Haemophiliacs who needed regular blood transfusions were contracting it to through being given infected blood. This sparked off a large scale panic in itself as all given blood that needed to be used in certain medical procedures could be infected. This itself made people very sceptical about not only aids but medical procedures.
Aids has caused a large collection of opinions on a variety of relating subjects that have linked from the epidemic, but it has been questioned whether moral panic is really the right word to describe it. “ It is time to recognise that the Aids scare was one of the most distorted, duplicitous and cynical public health panics of the past 30 years. Instead of being treated as a sexually transmitted disease that affected certain high-risk communities, and which should be vigorously tackled by the medical authorities, the ‘war against Aids’ was turned into a moral crusade” - Brendan O’Neill.
The term ‘video nasties’ refers to films that are looked down upon for their massively violent content. The term was first introduced in the beginning of the 1980’s and progressed through the 80’s. The films in question were usually looked down upon by religious organisations and the press. Very much like rave culture it was not the actual ideology of the videos that people had a problem with it was more what seeing them would do to peoples perception and judgement especially young children. The most famous case of this is the James Bulger murder. The murder was apparently of a result of 2 boys carrying out a scene they had seen in a film. This type of moral panic is not seen as bad as it could be until actual acts start occurring from the interpretation of certain films being seen. Before the James Bulger happened a ‘moral crusade’ against hugely violent films was launched which involved the UK’s video recordings act. This act tightened restrictions on the codes of censorship on videos, this led onto the banning of many films. Before this act was introduced there was only the Obscene publications act which defined the term ‘Obscenity’ as something that which may corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it. This definition being quite vague was open for interpretation by everyone but it was solely reliant on the director of public prosecutions to decide whether certain films were fit for public viewing.
All 3 examples of moral panic I have mentioned all occur in relatively the same timeframe. Each one interlinks with the other in some degree especially the aids and rave culture examples. Each one causes fragmentation in different ways and to different extents but they all seem to lead the same trend, this being once the subject is raised and commented on by the media its from then that the public escalate it resulting in external opinions leading to panic. Its also easily seen that over the period of time the media or press get involved with it turns into somewhat of a bounce back scenario. What I mean by this is that the media will say something then leading to public reaction which again will return to the medias opinion.
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