Collective Identity And Representing Ourselves
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.
1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'
"Who are you" - constructing an image to communicate our identity.
"I think, therefore I am" - social constructs
"The rise of the individual" - individualism
"From citizen to consumer" - creating and then satisfying desires
"Branding and lifestyle" - Branding is the association of a ‘personality’ with a product.
2) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean?
The style over substance fallacy occurs when an argument is judged or accepted based on its presentation rather than its content.
3) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.
Jean Baudrillard's theory of media saturation revolves around the idea that contemporary society is overwhelmed by an excess of media images and messages, to the point where reality itself becomes distorted. In his view, the constant bombardment of signs, symbols, and representations through media leads to a situation where the boundary between the real and the simulated blurs. The media no longer merely reflect reality but actively construct it, creating a hyperreality where simulations, such as advertisements, news, and entertainment are perceived as more real than the actual world. This saturation results in individuals living in a world of illusion, where the distinction between truth and falsehood becomes irrelevant.
4) 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?
5) 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 like it because it shows and suggests me things I am interested in which makes my online experience better and easier
Jean Baudrillard's theory of media saturation revolves around the idea that contemporary society is overwhelmed by an excess of media images and messages, to the point where reality itself becomes distorted. In his view, the constant bombardment of signs, symbols, and representations through media leads to a situation where the boundary between the real and the simulated blurs. The media no longer merely reflect reality but actively construct it, creating a hyperreality where simulations, such as advertisements, news, and entertainment are perceived as more real than the actual world. This saturation results in individuals living in a world of illusion, where the distinction between truth and falsehood becomes irrelevant.
4) 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?
5) 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 like it because it shows and suggests me things I am interested in which makes my online experience better and easier
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. Our Media Magazine archive is here.
- British media theorist
- made a textbook of key theories influencing representations of identity in the mass media
- believes audiences use media to help construct their own identities
- argues that mass media gives us a more diverse range of representations
- pays attention to generational differences
THE FACTSHEET WONT OPEN ITS BROKEN!!!!
2) How does James May's Top Toys offer a nostalgic representation of Britain?
3) How has new technology changed collective identity?
4) What phrase does David Gauntlett (2008) use to describe this new focus on identity?
5) How does the Shaun of the Dead Facebook group provide an example of Henry Jenkins' theory of interpretive communities online?
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