YEAR 13 Thursday 24th March 2016..last lesson of the term.

This last session was basically me moaning about work ethic. 50% of the course is linked to your coursework. If you do not take your coursework seriously you are in danger of receiving a very low grade. I have not been impressed by the attitude toward the construction of coursework.

HOMEWORK:
RIGHT THEN. The next two weeks are not a break. This is the time when students send me their CRITICAL INVESTIGATION so I can check and guide content. I expect some serious email ACTION. THREE students remain a MASSIVE concern as I feel that they have wasted far too much time pontificating and pretending to be students when they should have been producing work. My comments in the final lesson captured exactly how I feel. I give sincere praise when it is due but, equally, when you need a kick up the arse, I will administer the boot. Some of you need the boot.
THIS IS MAKE OR BREAK TIME FOR SOME PEOPLE IN THIS CLASS. I think that the success of the final A2 results rest on the amount of work you offer over the next two weeks when we are not at school. THIS WILL INVOLVE INDEPENDENT STUDY and CRITICAL AUTONOMY.

STUDENTS ALSO NEED TO BE CONSTRUCTING THEIR LINKED PRODUCTIONS.

DO THE WORK. THE SUCCESS OF YOUR FINAL GRADE MAY DEPEND ON THE WORK YOU PRODUCE BEFORE WE RETURN TO The Pauline Quirke Academy of Corporate Nonsense.

I WILL BE IN SCHOOL FROM 11am until 3pm on the Wednesday before we return to work.

YEAR 12 Thursday March 24th 2016

Today's session pushed our academic focus back toward the exam. Students need to digest the resources below:
Section A Resources:
Singapore teaching advertisement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l48FyAmQNOc
How are teachers represented in this promotional film?
How are media forms used to shape meaning?
Teach First advertisement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRArPoGUN-c
Where is the audience being positioned by this advertisement?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTzzZaaJ9uw
What is the aim of the Department of Education in this promotional film?

CROSS MEDIA STUDY:
Use the Easter to research your film documentary [or two].
How is the film promoted?
Check online sources for interviews that were used to promote your film...interviews in newspapers or film magazines? Total Film?
How does print media link to broadcast media?
Does the e-media benefit audience or producer?
How can the audience access the film?
How is independent filmmaking reaping the benefits of digital media?
What is the e-media offering its audience?
How does your film link to the Uses and Gratifications Theory?

Students need to research their hybrid-documentary.
Again, the focus should be audience and producer. The big feature of Channel Four is the broadcast remit. How does your text access the broadcast remit?

Cross-Media Study..... Answer two of these questions:

1. Who benefits most from your cross-media study: Audience or Producer? [Compulsory Q]
2. How significant is the print media in your cross-media study?
3. 'All Media is profit driven.' To what extent does this apply to your cross-media study?
4. Convergence allows audiences to access media content from multiple platforms on one device. Assess the impact of convergence in your cross-media study. Support your answer with reference to a range of products from three media platforms.
5. 'When we engage with media we both act and are acted upon, use and are used.' Consider how much control audiences have in relation to their use of media products from your cross media study.
6. 'The print platform is dead.' To what extent does this statement link to your cross-media study?
7. 'New Digital Technology has been an enormous benefit to the independent documentary filmmaker and documentary genre.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? 

HOMEWORK:
Complete the Section A questions that relate to the resources at the top of the blog entry and hand the work to me in our first lesson after the Spring break.
Students need to complete TWO Cross-Media study essays. ALL students must answer the AUDIENCE/PRODUCER question and select one more question from the list of seven titles.

When we return we will be hitting examination content so it absolutely imperative that students have been attempting to research their own cross-media study texts. The TWO essays are a BIG DEAL so don't return to BGS without your Section A and Cross-Media  homework.

WE will have two weeks to tweak coursework when we return. Check your emails over the break as I will be sending students some evaluation feedback and commenting upon the creative media.

RESOURCES FOR HARRY......

Harry...the question/title that we will be addressing is something like...HAS INCREASED ACCESS TO NEWS INFORMATION ALLOWED THE AUDIENCE ACCESS TO TRUTH?

The FIRST SECTION OF THE INVESTIGATION needs to deal with the popular media conception that increased access to non-mainstream News has allowed the audience to access information that has not been shaped by a mainstream editorial policy.
Resources that may be useful:
http://joel.is/the-power-of-ignoring-mainstream-news/

Look at the ABOUT section in AlternativeMedia.org
http://www.alternativemedia.org/about/
Again, look at the ABOUT section, especially the 'our philosophy' section.
http://medialens.org/index.php/about-us/what-is-media-lens.html
The blog and these two non-mainstream online News sites believe that they provide a representation of World News that is closer to truth than the 'propaganda' of mainstream News institutions.
Here is THE YOUNG TURKS site:
https://www.tytnetwork.com
Again, research the ABOUT section. Consider why this News Institution is so unique. How did TYT begin? What is their philosophy? How do they use new media? How did they become so popular?
All these resources are examples of how an audience can access non-mainstream News sources...but does access to this version of News move the viewer closer to truth??? Of course not!! You need to discuss how editorial policy is always subject to mediation. You will need to link this to a media theory...POSSIBLY BAUDRILLARD..but I want to see evidence of independent research. You need a quote that suggests the search for truth is impossible as all media is mediated by institutional ideology.
Some great quotes here. Especially John Swinton's comments:
http://www.newsfocus.org/media_control.htm
Read the first two paragraphs:
http://reason.com/archives/2015/05/22/theres-no-such-thing-as-unbiased-journal
This is from The Encyclopedia of Political Communication. Look at the first paragraph of THE PROBLEM WITH TRUTH. This might be useful for the evaluative conclusion. See screenshot below:

The SECOND SECTION OF THE INVESTIGATION needs to deal with whether the explosion of social media has allowed an audience to access unmediated News sources.
BBC article that suggests social media has accelerated our ability to access News...but not necessarily allowed the audience to access truth. Twitter is wonderful for passing information quickly but this does not necessarily lead to the audience receiving unmediated News. Examples of Twitter being first to report a news item that became mainstream global news?
http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/internet/10-news-stories-that-broke-on-twitter-first-719532
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18013662
Advantages/disadvantages of using social media to gather news:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/advantages-disadvantages-social-media-news-channel-bob-garlick
This is probably a good moment to use some quotes from ANDREW KEEN.

The THIRD SECTION of the investigation needs to examine the News reporting of the BBC. Is the BBC subject to bias News reporting. Look at the BBC remit. What are tyne guidelines that the BBC work within? Does the remit refer to truth?
New Statesman Article looking at BBC bias:
http://www.newstatesman.com/broadcast/2013/08/hard-evidence-how-biased-bbc
The Guardian examines BBC bias:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/14/bbc-political-bias-news-nick-robinson
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/30/bbc-complaints-ukip-election-coverage-bias
LOTS of resources available on this topic H.

THEN WE MOVE INTO YOUR EVALUATIVE CONCLUSION......but crack on with the three sections of the essay and we will discuss the conclusion after you have shaped the main section of the essay...Obviously the conclusion needs to discuss the impossibility of accessing News information that is not subject to mediation.

Is it possible to find truth in News?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-durnell/is-it-possible-to-find-tr_b_4647147.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalistic_objectivity
http://www.mediaite.com/online/there-is-no-such-thing-as-objective-journalism-get-over-it/

ELLIE...Resources...

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/13/blurred-lines-most-controversial-song-decade
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/i-m-sure-kate-moss-doesnt-care-about-posing-for-playboy-but-i-do-8981148.html
http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/playboy-feminist-icon
http://whatiseeproject.com/2014/08/is-nudity-empowering/
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/06/miley-cyrus-exploited-empowered-debate
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/miley-cyrus-im-one-of-the-biggest-feminists-in-the-world-8935495.html

Annie Leibovitz photoshoot with Miley Cyrus...controversy:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1906675/Miley-Cyrus-Vanity-Fair-photo-Annie-Leibovitz-defends-her-portrait.html
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/apr/28/pressandpublishing1

Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3214394/He-wanted-naked-possible-Miley-Cyrus-calls-Robin-Thicke-saying-DID-know-going-racy-twerking-2013-MTV-Video-Music-Awards.html
Wrecking Ball video:
http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/sep/10/miley-cyrus-wrecking-ball
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2418231/Miley-Cyrus-defends-controversial-video-Wrecking-Ball--reveals-hidden-message.html
http://www.bedes.org/senior-school/news-and-blogs/senior-school-news/2013/09/bcc-miley-cyrus-and-the-wrecking-ball-controversy.aspx
http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2014/2/Blurred-Lines-to-Wrecking-Ball-the-naked-truth-behind-controversial-music-videos

ELLIE...these resources link to our discussion today [23rd March 2016]. This the structure we discussed with resources and guidance notes.....
Title:

An investigation into media influence: Can the mainstream 'pop' artist Miley Cyrus really be considered to be a negative influence upon her audience?

The introduction needs to refer to Marxist Theory that believes that media can influence human behaviour and The Uses and Gratification Theory that states that we use media to identify positive models of behaviour. Media Theory suggests that she could influence her audience.

THE FIRST PARAGRAPH needs to explore the accusation that she is encouraging the OBJECTIFICATION of WOMEN therefore she could be considered a negative influence. Could refer to the Wrecking Ball video and the VMA performance. Resources:
Objectification is not Liberation.
https://lavenderblume.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/objectification-is-not-liberation/
http://howdoidate.com/studies/sex-studies/miley-cyrus-personifies-female-objectification/
http://www.examiner.com/article/photos-miley-cyrus-slut-shaming-sexual-objectification-and-morality
Sinead O'Connor's letter to Miley Cyrus:
http://thestake.org/2013/10/03/sinead-oconnor-pens-letter-to-miley-cyrus/
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/anne-theriault-/miley-cyrus-vma-performance_b_3819177.html
http://www.millennialevangelical.com/the-feminist-problem-objectification-empowerment-or-both/
WE discussed the fact that statistics suggest that there is definitely a problem with violence and negative attitudes toward women. You need to gather some stats and these two websites may be useful:
Object.
http://objectupdate.tumblr.com
Women's Aid.
https://www.womensaid.org.uk

The SECOND SECTION needs to deal with her audience. There may be a problem with teenage girls watching Hannah Montana and then the Wrecking Ball video!!! THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE VERY CONFUSING!!
Voted worst role model for teenage girls. A lot of this criticism relates to her transforming her Hannah Montana character so could be useful for the Audience paragraph.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1352027/Miley-Cyrus-voted-worst-role-model-young-girls.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3209970/Parents-rank-Miley-Cyrus-WORST-celebrity-role-model-children.html
https://www.parentmap.com/article/the-miley-effect-do-celebrities-shape-kids-values
WE DISCUSSED HOW HER CHANGE OF IMAGE COULD BE A CYNICAL ATTEMPT TO REBRAND HERSELF FOR A MALE/GLOBAL AUDIENCE IN THE HOPE OF MAKING MORE MONEY!! Could this be damaging for a young teenage Hannah Montana audience??

The THIRD SECTION should explore the idea that Miley Cyrus is actually empowering women. You will need some quotes to support this theory.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/miley-cyrus-im-one-of-the-biggest-feminists-in-the-world-8935495.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jincey-lumpkin/why-miley-cyrus-is-a-feminist-icon_b_4078373.html
Brilliant article criticises expectation of the celebrity music industry.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/23/miley-cyrus-beyonce-celebrity-feminist-2013-women
You might be able to discuss issues linked to the ANNIE LEIBOVITZ 'Vanity Fair' Images.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1906675/Miley-Cyrus-Vanity-Fair-photo-Annie-Leibovitz-defends-her-portrait.html
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/apr/28/pressandpublishing1
WE discussed today that accusations of overly sexualised imagery can be linked to institution and the purpose of the images. Look at the work of Terry Richardson. He is a controversial fella!
http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/06/terry-richardson-interview.html

Then you can move on to discussing her audience gaining gratification from the fact her brand image appears to reject social norms. WE discussed this today...

Then it is the evaluative conclusion.....SEND ME A DRAFT AS SOON AS POSS ELLIE...good luck.

MUSIC in the DIGITAL AGE....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35724501

Free Streaming is killing the music industry...Guardian article:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/11/ministry-of-sound-streaming-switch-off-free

Pete Townsend..'APPLE is a digital vampire'..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ljms2

Is streaming technology saving the music industry?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28023116

Keira...Resources....

Lena Dunnam and Photoshop:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2540756/Did-Vogue-Photoshop-Lena-Dunham-Girls-stars-missing-arm-raises-questions-magazines-use-airbrushing.html
Lena's letter:
http://www.lennyletter.com/life/a292/retouched-by-an-angel-lena-dunham/
Caitlin Moran:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32141242
http://www.stylist.co.uk/people/caitlin-moran-powerful-letter-to-the-girls-i-meet-at-my-book-signings-women-girls-anxiety-depression-love-feminism-moranifesto
When Lena met Caitlin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPj2FwjhrkI

CURRENT MEDIA ISSUES AND DEBATES.....

BBC News Article..Apple and the FBI:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35820872
Chinese Hackers turn to ransom ware:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35811777
Social media highlights Hilary Clinton's amnesia:
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/hillary-forgets-bernie-sanders-healthcare/2016/03/14/id/718979/
Donald Trump...social media genius????
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/23/donald-trump-social-media-strategy-internet-republican-nomination-president

YEAR 13 Tuesday 15th March 2016

Today's session was a return to formal lessons and considered Question 3 of Section A in the exam. Class discussion considered possible content for two questions:

1. Multiplatform media can allow access to a wider range of views, including extreme ones. Should the internet be more regulated? 
2. Is the media able to challenge traditional representations of femininity? 

Class discussion was excellent. We will be attempting timed essays in the near future and these two questions will be offered as timed essays so be aware that a written response to these  questions will be expected next week.

HOMEWORK: COMPLETE COURSEWORK.

The next session will be a series of tutorials. Chloe C, Keira and Hannah need to see me during dinner break. The rest of the times appear below:

1.30 James S

1.45 James W

1.55 Harry B

2.05 Chloe S

2.15 Elliott

2.25 Ellie

See you there Media Chimps.

YEAR 12 Monday 14th March 2016

Another Mac session in the library. The creative work is looking impressive. Well done.

HOMEWORK: Complete coursework.

YEAR 13 Friday 11th March 2016

One on One tutorials linked to creation of coursework. JamesS..you really need to produce some work. The time for talking is over.
HOMEWORK: Complete your critical investigation. The deadline is the end of this half-term.

YEAR 13 Tuesday 8th March 2016

How is the mainstream media represented in these two texts?
The Young Turks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2umTi-ylMs
Source Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guaLbl_WmVw

YEAR 12 7th\10th March 2016

These two sessions were MAC sessions in the library. Students were constructing coursework. I am very impressed with the quality so far.
HOMEWORK: Create your coursework.

YEAR 13 Friday 4th March 2016

Section A response.
How are the views of Donald Trump represented in these two news items:
Euronews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwUiSM-NIbg
BBC News segment played before studio discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FbyWBDdXwI

YEAR 12 Thursday 3rd March 2016

This session involved the class camping in the library to keep warm. I discussed the coursework with students and the aim of the session was to make sure that the class are not having any issues with this significant section of the course. I WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE BROADCAST MEDIA. Some of the work is fantastic. KEEP IT UP.
I APOLOGISE if i confused students constructing PRINT MEDIA for BRIEF ONE. The focus of the print media is your own film. Try and make this work VISUALLY DISTINCTIVE. The photography is incredibly important so make sure that your visual images are creative and striking.

HOMEWORK: Keep creating the coursework. On Monday we will be in the library creating coursework and I will be bumbling around checking that students are accessing the requirements of the brief and offering some direction with creative work.