Collective identity and representing ourselves: blog tasks
Task 1: Media Magazine article
Read the Media Magazine article on collective identity: Self-image and the Media (MM41 - page 6). Our Media Magazine archive is here.
Complete the following tasks on your blog:
1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'
-We have complex ideas about our selves; there is a difference between the person we think we are, the person we want to be and the person we want to be seen to be.
-Our identity would have been based around aspects of our lives that were constructed outside of our selves; class, religion, gender and the predetermined roles that were part of the accident of the family we were born into.
=This consumer boom was based on convincing people that it was no longer enough simply to buy what you needed to survive.
The creation of this group conforms to the following ‘repeated’ view from Henry Jenkins: ‘fan genres
grew out of openings or excesses within the text that were built on and stretched, and that it was not as if fans and texts were autonomous from each another; fans created their own, new texts, but elements within the originating text defined, to some degree, what they could do’.
Read the Media Magazine article on collective identity: Self-image and the Media (MM41 - page 6). Our Media Magazine archive is here.
Complete the following tasks on your blog:
1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'
-Our identity would have been based around aspects of our lives that were constructed outside of our selves; class, religion, gender and the predetermined roles that were part of the accident of the family we were born into.
=This consumer boom was based on convincing people that it was no longer enough simply to buy what you needed to survive.
-By the late 1960s and 1970s the notion of individualism began to take hold, reacting against what can be seen to be the more conformist values of the past. During the second half of the 20th century, people began defining themselves as individuals, and so wanted to express their ‘difference’ and ‘uniqueness’; they were empowered by being encouraged to ‘be themselves’.
-Branding is the association of a ‘personality’ with a product. Advertisers sell the personality rather than the product, so that people will choose products that match their own self- image.
-Branding is the association of a ‘personality’ with a product. Advertisers sell the personality rather than the product, so that people will choose products that match their own self- image.
-Chandler analyses the way that self-image is communicated through the technical and artistic decisions made in creating a ‘home page’ (a personal website).
Baudrillard proclaims modern society has become so media saturated it is impossible for audiences to experience the natural or real world. The media instead constructs an imaginary space that celebrates stardom and celebrity.
5) Is your presence on social media an accurate reflection of who you are? Have you ever added or removed a picture from a social media site purely because of what it says about the type of person you are?
I think that my presence on social media does reflect who I am
6) What is your opinion on 'data mining'? Are you happy for companies to sell you products based on your social media presence and online search terms? Is this an invasion of privacy?
I think it allows the audience to see things that are more likely to want or buy because of the things that they are interested in. If they see something related to what they may be looking for, they may be more likely to actually purchase the product.
Task 2: Media Magazine cartoon
Now read the cartoon in MM62 (p36) that summarises David Gauntlett’s theories of identity. Write five simple bullet points summarising what you have learned from the cartoon about Gauntlett's theories of identity.
-Gauntlett provides an overview of key theories influencing representations of identity in the mass media and promotes the view that audiences use the media to help construct their own identities.
-He argues that mass media texts offer us a more diverse range of representations.
-As part of his review of relevant theories of identity, he explodes Laura Mulveys concept of the male gaze and Anthony Giddens concept of structuration.
-He questions the popular idea that a masculinity is in 'crisis' and conclude that whilst women are told by the media that they can be anything they want to be, identities promoted to men are 'relatively constrained.'
4) How has new technology changed collective identity?
2) List three brands you are happy to be associated with and explain how they reflect your sense of identity.
3) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean?
Style over substance means when someone or somethings aesthetic and perceived value, mask the lack of content and depth of character.
4) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.
3) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean?
Style over substance means when someone or somethings aesthetic and perceived value, mask the lack of content and depth of character.
4) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.
Baudrillard proclaims modern society has become so media saturated it is impossible for audiences to experience the natural or real world. The media instead constructs an imaginary space that celebrates stardom and celebrity.
5) Is your presence on social media an accurate reflection of who you are? Have you ever added or removed a picture from a social media site purely because of what it says about the type of person you are?
I think that my presence on social media does reflect who I am
6) What is your opinion on 'data mining'? Are you happy for companies to sell you products based on your social media presence and online search terms? Is this an invasion of privacy?
I think it allows the audience to see things that are more likely to want or buy because of the things that they are interested in. If they see something related to what they may be looking for, they may be more likely to actually purchase the product.
Task 2: Media Magazine cartoon
Now read the cartoon in MM62 (p36) that summarises David Gauntlett’s theories of identity. Write five simple bullet points summarising what you have learned from the cartoon about Gauntlett's theories of identity.
-Gauntlett provides an overview of key theories influencing representations of identity in the mass media and promotes the view that audiences use the media to help construct their own identities.
-He argues that mass media texts offer us a more diverse range of representations.
-As part of his review of relevant theories of identity, he explodes Laura Mulveys concept of the male gaze and Anthony Giddens concept of structuration.
-He questions the popular idea that a masculinity is in 'crisis' and conclude that whilst women are told by the media that they can be anything they want to be, identities promoted to men are 'relatively constrained.'
-More recently, he has challenged conventional media theory, suggesting we look at media, not as 'channels for communicating' as 'triggers for experiences.'
Task 3: Representation & Identity: Factsheet blog task
Finally, use our brilliant Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #72 on Collective Identity. The Factsheet archive is available online here - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to complete our introductory work on collective identity:
1) What is collective identity? Write your own definition in as close to 50 words as possible.
Task 3: Representation & Identity: Factsheet blog task
Finally, use our brilliant Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #72 on Collective Identity. The Factsheet archive is available online here - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to complete our introductory work on collective identity:
1) What is collective identity? Write your own definition in as close to 50 words as possible.
Collective identity is the sense of belonging to a group. It is how individuals define themselves as belonging to a group based on markers such as race, ethnicity, culture, gender, socio-economic class, religion, dis/ability etc.
2) Complete the task on the factsheet (page 1) - write a list of as many things as you can think of that represent Britain. What do they have in common? Have you represented the whole of Britain or just one aspect/viewpoint?
London, buses, big ben, queen, crown, BBC, fish and chips
3) How does James May's Top Toys offer a nostalgic representation of Britain?
the programme also dwells upon and explores aspects of British history: the history of the race track, the history of Scalextric and wider British issues such as the decline of manufacturing jobs in northern Britain and a sense of regret that many of these toys are now manufactured abroad, such as Meccano in France, for instance.
2) Complete the task on the factsheet (page 1) - write a list of as many things as you can think of that represent Britain. What do they have in common? Have you represented the whole of Britain or just one aspect/viewpoint?
London, buses, big ben, queen, crown, BBC, fish and chips
3) How does James May's Top Toys offer a nostalgic representation of Britain?
the programme also dwells upon and explores aspects of British history: the history of the race track, the history of Scalextric and wider British issues such as the decline of manufacturing jobs in northern Britain and a sense of regret that many of these toys are now manufactured abroad, such as Meccano in France, for instance.
4) How has new technology changed collective identity?
The rise of technology and social media has changed collective identity because online personas and digital profiles have become an extension of our identity, and we tend to compare ourselves to others on these platforms.
5) What phrase does David Gauntlett (2008) use to describe this new focus on identity?
5) What phrase does David Gauntlett (2008) use to describe this new focus on identity?
He suggests that "Identity is complicated; everyone's got one."
6) How does the Shaun of the Dead Facebook group provide an example of Henry Jenkins' theory of interpretive communities online?
6) How does the Shaun of the Dead Facebook group provide an example of Henry Jenkins' theory of interpretive communities online?
grew out of openings or excesses within the text that were built on and stretched, and that it was not as if fans and texts were autonomous from each another; fans created their own, new texts, but elements within the originating text defined, to some degree, what they could do’.
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