'Lesbian vampire killers'

Lesbian Vampire Killers is a 2009 British comedy horror film written by Stewart Williams and Paul Hupfield, produced by Steve Clark-Hall and directed by Phil Claydon.

http://www.unblockyoutube.com/index.php?q=aHR0cDovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS93YXRjaD92PWJPSVJxNGhTSU13

'Lip service'

Lip Service is a British television serial drama portraying the lives of a group of lesbian women in Glasgow,
Scotland. Production on the series, which stars Laura Fraser, Ruta Gedmintas and Fiona Button, began in summer 2009 in Glasgow. The show debuted on BBC Three on 12 October 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHwgUfr5m0o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy-cxkhxiAc

Homosexuality - print

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/30/one-five-uncomfortable-homosexuality
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/01/bbc-gay-peter-tatchell

Representations of Homosexuals in Television

'Eastenders'
Clips ( Syed & Christian )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x2RAOWy21k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9VUWLE-4c&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/user/EastEnders#p/search/7/ZihpRoYL06E

'Corronation Street'

Clips ( Sophie & Sian )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY2ldOLOtu4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzFJFLiH9Xs&feature=related

Representations case study

What group of people or place you will be studying the representation of, and on which platform(s):
Homosexual’s – Television.

Why have you chosen this topic and why do you think it will be a rich area of study?
I have chosen this topic as I feel in recent years television has shown an increase in the representation of homosexuals , particularly in pre-watershed Soap opera’s such as Hollyoaks and Eastenders. I feel that it would be interesting to see how realistic and positively/negatively they are represented and to what exactly is shown of them.

Identify at least 3 media texts that you will use as your primary sources (e.g. a specific newspaper, TV programme, film, magazine, website...)
• Eastenders
• Hollyoaks
• Corronation Street

List the theorists who are relevant for your study (choose from: Gaye Tuchman; David Gauntlett; Laura Mulvey; Judith Butler; Stuart Hall; Antonio Gramsci; Anthony Giddens; Manuel Alvarado; Nick Lacey; Richard Dyer; Marshall MsLuhan; Theodor Adorno.)
Gaye Tuchman –symbolic annihilation
Judith Butler
Anthony Giddens?
Nick lacey?
Richard Dyer

1- I’ve come accross the term used in the way Lurker describes, similarly, in academic circles, and for academic reasons I don’t think anyone should use it. The problem lies in the ambiguity of the prefix “post”, because post can mean since something commenced OR since something concluded. So, while technically a “post-feminist society” could mean a society since feminism began to be an influence, there will always be people who think you mean since feminism ended.
[orlando (Hi There. Plus, Postfeminism: Innocuous Descriptive Term or Crock of Antifeminist Poop?):
-People misunderstand the phrase 'Post-femenism' for 'after the end' instead of 'after the start'.
-Also assume there was an immediate transaction rather then a long process.

2- In raising these questions, I am only at the beginning of figuring out what a more positive kind of post-feminist account of religion and family might look like, and so have no compelling summary to offer, let alone a call to a specific research agenda. In my own work, I do want to take some feminist insights for granted. But I explicitly reject the idea that strong feminist critiques have had their day and must now give way gracefully to approaches that favor a consensual and functional, or even communitarian, interpretation of the good society. I am feeling more combative, or at least constructively critical, about theories that neatly divide society into a “public” and a “private” realm, while systematically devaluing those feminine things (religion, family) assigned to the private (cf., Warner 1999). I am not sure where it will lead, but it feels right to begin pushing back the boundaries of post-feminism by asking a different set of questions.
[Penny Edgell Becker (Sociology of Religion, Winter, 2000): Boundaries and Silences in a Post-Feminist Sociology]
-Rejects the idea that femenism is over.
-Does not believe that it is possible to define teh society completely by one theory , this process is much more complex.

3- What the hell is postfeminism, anyway? I would think it would refer to a time when complete gender equality has been achieved. That hasn’t happened, of course, but we (especially young women) are supposed to think it has. Postfeminism, as a term, suggests that women have made plenty of progress because of feminism, but that feminism is now irrelevant and even undesirable because it has made millions of women unhappy, unfeminine, childless, lonely, and bitter, prompting them to fill their closets with combat boots and really bad India print skirts.
[Susan J. Douglas (Alternet): Manufacturing Postfeminism]
-It is impossible to claim a 'post' era , when there has been very limited change after teh inrodiction of feminism.

4- It’s about deeply held political convictions, not to mention strategy. If there’s a wad of people out there extolling postfeminism and meaning “I think feminism is flawed and I’d like to see some goal-shifting, fresh tactics, and revisiting of contentious topics,” this isn’t just an issue of what’s going on in a speech group that doesn’t overlap with mine. It’s about defending feminism’s ground. Feminism is already doing the work that these (as I have come to think of them) non-evil postfeminists think comes with their prefix. And it’s beyond obvious that feminism suffers from its terrible reputation and from the vast misunderstandings that stunning numbers of people still have about it (no matter how many times it happens, I will never, ever get used to being asked if I hate men). I can’t help but see even the non-evil usage of “postfeminism” as a rejection of and attack on feminism, and an implication that the movement is finished. And that means I need to challenge it at every turn.
[Lisa (Feministe): Hi There. Plus, Postfeminism: Innocuous Descriptive Term or Crock of Antifeminist Poop?]
- Quite cliche.
- 'Post feminism' simply a way for men to shun femenism.

Bianca's essay - Key words/phrases

What are the different representations of women in adverts and how are they signified?

The representation of women can be positive: challenging the roles and expectations of women or negative: reinforcing a patriarchal society. This essay questions how and why these representations are constructed in an advert for Gucci Guilty Perfume and Stella Artois beer.

Firstly the Gucci advert is in widescreen which connotes a dramatic cinematic experience to engage its audience. More attention is gained by the female character first seen in the text and her protagonist is signified through this. The protagonist has female dominance which is signified through the use of colour- everything is in black and white while her hair is gold/blonde. This colour connotes gold, power and divinity signifying her importance in the text.

The use of intertextuality in this text will appeal to a particular audience. The film references a great deal to the neo film noir Sin City, with the use of colour and the female dominant femme fatale character. Sin City appeals to a male audience due to the action genre, this trailer could also appeal to the same audience due to the intertextuality. In terms of the Uses and Gratifications theory, a female audience might realise and accept the protagonist in the text is a form of escapism and also a male gaze, by theorist Mulvey, and therefore might aspire, from Young and Rubicam's 4Cs, to be the object of male gaze too.

Though the protagonist is an object of male gaze, it could be suggested that she sexually objectifies herself to tease the audience. The protagonist puts her leg into the frame of the shot. As she puts into the frame, it signifies self objectification, allowing the audience to fetishise her body. Another shot, a high angle, of their sexual activities signifies CCTV and spying which is voyeuristic. The fact she is on top signifies her control of the situation for both the male character and the audience.

Not only does the protagonist exert her feminity through self objectification she also presents herself as an anarchic character signified by adopting male stereotypes. The advert begins with a long shot of an unknown character speeding down the motorway, which stereotypically would be expected to be a male character. However, the audience's expectations are challenged when a medium shot of the driver shows to be a female.

In contrast, women are negatively represented in the Stella Artois text. The most obvious editing technique used in the advert is the split screen: one side shows the female getting dressed and the other side is of the beer getting "prepared". This use of split screen signifies that neither the beer nor the woman know they have been placed side by side. This puts the audience in position of control as they can voyeur the woman, in a socially acceptable way. Audiences may identify this control as patriarchy, and also identify with the unknown male character whose presence is felt within the text. This text then reinforces the idea of a patriarchal society and that women are subordinated by men.

Not only does the female share the screen with the beer, but the screen is split equally between the two "objects" which connotes the woman is equally objectified to the status of beer. It is suggested the audience is male due to the female and beer subject. Though the advert is targeted at men, it also negatively stereotypes men as people who have little respect for women which however is a dominant representation.

A range of close up shots of the female are used to fetishise her body. There is a close up shot of the female's leg slowly and elegantly rising from the bath tub. On one hand this could signify femininity and her control over it which is the oppositional reading. However, the more dominant reading is that her legs are an important part of the female body and connotes a male audience who can voyeur her body.

The text near the beginning of the trailer says "the preparation" which is an enigma code as the audience question "what event is the preparation for?". It is signified through the shots that the woman and beer preparation is for the male through the use of action codes. Action codes of both the preparation of the woman and the glass of beer are the same.

Women are represented as people who prioritise their looks and appearance, and this ad reinforces this ideology. Action codes including close ups of her: brushing her hair, doing her make up and putting on heels strongly represent women as image conscious. It could be said that the advert reinforces this representation, which is always seen in the media. Funnily enough, it could also be said that the media itself is the cause of this representation as this ideal, perfect woman is always represented in the media, and women feel they have to aspire to it.

In conclusion, both texts females are the protagonists and are sexually objectified for male audiences to fetishise and vouyer their bodies. However, while Gucci’s advert’s protagonist controls her sexuality through self objectification, the Stella Artois’ protagonist is objectified by an unknown but present male character.

In the Gucci’s ad, there are many examples in the text that signify the protagonist’s female dominance, but it is arguable whether this could be seen as a positive representation. The dominant reading is that the protagonist exerts her female dominance over the male challenging the historical patriarchal society and even subordinating males as easily manipulated and easily tempted by women and sex and this would favour feminism. However the oppositional reading which would favour the ideologies of the Stella Artois advert, might be that females can control their sexuality, but it is still for the male gaze and male dominant society.

Beyonce Pink Britney - Pepsi Commercial

 

 

This commercial for Pepsi starring Beyonce , Britney and Pink i feel represents women positively , portraying them as the subordinated individuals breaking through to the dominant group. Although  in the initial stages of the commercial the three women appear to be subordinated , shown in settings with low-key lighting , 'sexy' costumes and enclosed spaces as though they are trapped in comparison to the shots of Enrique in high-key lighting and open settings , this theme is then juxtaposed showing the women as the characters in power.
The women are first shown to break the typical stereotype when they throw in their weapons and break into song , were in effect they are in control of the crowd in the stadium surrounding them shown by the crowd singing with the characters.
In the advert it appears as though the women are using their sexuality and femininity as a weapon instead of being suppressed by it , connoting that they have the power to use such features to control those around them.
The shot near the end of the commercial where Enrique "the ruler" is standing in front of a lion with a vulnerable expression on his face , shows the switch in the binary opposition within the advert (Women .vs. Men) as it contrasts with the final shots of the women who are drinking the product standing in a powerful stance. I feel that the advert is stating that women can receive the power from the product acting as a means of breaking through the patriarchal society.

Dove Perfect Curves (30 sec)

Although to the average eye this advert may appear to be empowering for women through the use of the “average” sized woman , showing off their curves , this advert in my opinion does quite the opposite representing women in a sexual manner subordinating women.

The use of blow up exercise balls can be used to connote the ideology that women are merely play-toys to the dominant groups within society such as the typical white middle-class male. This prop is used throughout the advert and in a number of close up shots with the women sitting and/or bouncing on them.

An example of this is at 0:06 seconds into the advert where there is a close up shot used of the women’s bottom and lower stomach whilst bouncing on the ball to demonstrate the desired ‘elasticity’ received through using the product. Although this can appear as a innocent shot, the shot may also be seen to show the woman in a provocative position in slow motion aiming to lure in the male gaze and gratifications for men so they will go out and buy the product for their partners/wives etc.

As well as this there are a series of shots of 3 women standing together in their underwear comparing their bodies with one and another , playing with the exercise balls and getting very close to one and another which could reflect male fantasies .

Although the adverts claims to “campaign for real beauty” and aims to empower women I belive that the advert shows women negatively as though they are simply objects of which are existing to entertain men.

TOP 5 : Student internet presentations

I selected this as one of my top 5 videos as i feel it is very entertaining whilst still putting across information about the internet , however i feel that it could possibly use more factual information and portray the positive and negative effects of the internet.
In general i think this video is a creative and very original piece of work showing skill in editing/animation ,successfully presenting a view on the internet as a whole but could use more specific information .

The internet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1QluCGhWGk

After research into internet use for the short video i found that most of my views prior to this were confirmed. It is clear that although there are many highlights of the rising popularity of the world wide web such as quick and easy socializing, access to information and simply a means of entertainment , the internet also holds numerous down falls such as its addictive qualities , publication of information resulting in negative effects and the sheer danger of something holding so much information being so accessible to all .


To complete this task i used 'iMovie' a movie making software for Macbook's . I used images and statistics gathered from google , as well as short video clips filmed by myself .

WWW- I gathered a sufficient amount of statistics and background info surrounding the subject whilst also gathering public perceptions of the internet in a successful manner.
EBI- I focused more on the actual technical elements of the video creating a professional end product .