Students continued looking at media regulation. Each class member offered opinions relating to specific media regulation informed by their research homework.The feedback was superb. Big thanks to all.
Students were asked to consider how regulation relates to audience theory. Clearly the fact that regulation exists suggests that the media is capable of influencing behaviour.
The lesson then considered the recent East Enders' cot-death storyline that inspired 6000 complaints across various media platforms and how this relates to the Audience/Producer debate. Should we celebrate the ability of the audience to use digital media to pressure the BBC to change their emotive plot or worry about the fact that producers of East Enders may now feel pressure to avoid dealing with controversial social issues? Mumsnet was instrumental in this campaign.Students were asked to consider all the arguments surrounding this issue.
Students were exposed to Mark Kermode discussing the issue of moral panics and a class discussion developed around the issue of moral panics and how the influence of some media texts has been blamed for inspiring violent crime.
Homework: The task is another research task similar to the last homework. Students must produce a detailed A4 sheet that explores the issues relating to a series of media texts linked to 'copycat behaviour' and controversy. Students need to provide answers to the following questions when constructing their A4 response:
A.Why is the text considered so controversial?
B. What specific incidents are attached to the text? How is the text linked to influencing specific examples of 'real' human behaviour? For example Clockwork Orange was blamed for inspiring a young teenager to murder an old man as the film contains a scene where a gang of teenagers attack an old man. Similarly, two young men attempted to kill themselves after listening to the music of Judas Priest. Judas Priest were accused of influencing this destructive behaviour.
C. How does the text relate to Audience theory or Marxist Theory? The fact that these texts have been considered 'influential' is evidence that their content can be related to Audience Theory or Marxist Theory. Chomsky?
D. Students should include any information linked to this controversial text that you think may engage or interest your fellow media students.
Choice of texts:
ZQ: Stanley Kubrick's film A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
ZW: Issues relating to the Judas Priest court case in 1990 that related to an incident in 1985 when Raymond Belknap killed himself and James Vance attempted to kill himself.Judas Priest were accused of influencing their behaviour by placing subliminal messages in their music that encouraged these two young me to kill themselves!
AD: Issues relating to the film BORAT [mainly relating to religion AD!].
BF: Issues relating to digital games such as GRAND THEFT AUTO, CALL OF DUTY and MANHUNTER.
In today's lesson I made reference to a documentary that explores the moral panic and controversy surrounding Stanley Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Click on link to access the first segment of 'Forbidden Fruit'. This was broadcast on Channel 4 in 1993 when the film was still banned in the UK.
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