Slumdog Millionaire- Distribution, Marketing and promotion

                             

Research- moral panics

Media casts youth in a constant bad light

Matt Wells, October 2004

“The media habitually portrays young people in an overwhelmingly negative light”  

“one in three youth-related articles were about crime, and young people were only quoted in 8% of stories.”

“The tabloids come in for particular criticism, with 90% of youth workers saying they portray a negative image.”

"polarised view”.

“The quality papers were mostly concerned with parenting and education, and were generally more neutral, but still contained "biases and stereotypes," Mori said.”

“32% of stories featuring young people were related to crime or antisocial behaviour. But Home Office figures show that 196 out of 10,000 boys aged 10 to 15 in England and Wales committed violent theft and or other serious offences, rising only to 606 out of 10,000 young men aged 16 to 24”

"How press sees young
Newspaper articles about youths, by newspaper type and tone
Tabloid - Broadsheet - Local
Negative 82 - 50 - 71
Neutral 8 - 36 - 9
Positive 11 - 15 - 20
% of 603 articles in 17 titles August 2 to 8 2004"

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/12/pressandpublishing.broadcasting

Moral Panics- Kenneth Thompson

"Newspaper headlines continually warn of some new danger resulting from moral laxity"
 
"Moral panic are nothing new" - " Been panics over crime, and the activities of' 'youth' in particular"
 
"First jazz and then rock 'n' roll were said to be leading youth into promiscuity and antisocial behaviour."-"1950s  there was panic about the effects on young people moral of spending time in coffee shops"
 
"one barely finishes before another takes its place. Almost anything can spark off a panic"
example "children killing other child(the murder, in 1993, of James Bulger)
 
"Earlier panic tended to be focused on a single group- teenagers who went to coffee shops, drug addicts or young black muggers. Contemporary panics seem to catch many more people in their net."
 
"increasingly frequent in modern societies"
 
"newspaper sought to address the alleged and 'real' causes of social breakdowns"

That newspaper always have something to report on with moral panics. Moral panics have been round a long time and they are never ending. They have also changed to fit modern life. They can cause certain groups in society to develop image problems. Finally moral panics are becoming a more popular thing for  papers to report on.

research

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hoodies-louts-scum-how-media-demonises-teenagers-1643964.html

"The portrayal of teenage boys as "yobs" in the media has made the boys wary of other teenagers, according to new research."

"Figures show more than half of the stories about teenage boys in national and regional newspapers in the past year (4,374 out of 8,629) were about crime. The word most commonly used to describe them was "yobs" (591 times), followed by "thugs" (254 times), "sick" (119 times) and "feral" (96 times)."

‘Other terms often used included "hoodie", "louts",  "heartless", "evil" "frightening", "scum", "monsters", "inhuman" and "threatening".’

"best chance a teenager had of receiving sympathetic coverage was if they died."

 "some news coverage where teen boys were described in glowing terms – 'model student', 'angel', 'altar boy' or 'every mother's perfect son"

"nearly 1,000 teenage boys found 85 per cent believed newspapers portray them in a bad light."

"The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent – portrayed them in a better light"

''80 per cent felt adults were more wary of them now than they had been a year ago. "Nearly a third said they are 'always' or 'often' wary of teenage boys they don't know."

 ''cited by 51 per cent was 'media stories about teen boys' compared with 40 per cent who said their wariness was based on their own or friends' bad experiences of other teens."

''45.7 per cent, was boys avoiding places where teenagers hung around. Others included dressing differently (14.2 per cent), and changing who they were seen with (11.9 per cent).'

"For much of the press, there is no such thing as a good news story about teenagers,"

''Fewer than one in 10 articles about young people actually quoted young people or included their perspectives in the debate.''

''Fiona Bawden, "When a photo of a group of perfectly ordinary lads standing around wearing hooded tops has become visual shorthand for urban menace, or even the breakdown of society, it's clear teenage boys have a serious image problem''

"The teen boys' 'brand' has become toxic. Media coverage of boys is unrelentingly negative, focusing almost entirely on them as victims or perpetrators of crime"

The research, Hoodies or Altar Boys?

Representations of events-Luis Suarez bite

This piece of media is from a news paper article. They use of the work 'disgrace' is capital letter show how bad the action that Suarez done was.
The focus shown by this newspaper is negative. Although the image my be blurry, we still get a clear view of the bite its self taking place. The use of quoteations  around the word sorry gives the impression that his apology is meaningless. The paper makes out as if this is a really serious offence.








This is a sort of mockumentery. This piece of text represents Suarez as a predator as he is been made in to a shark. This video implies that he targets that he is going to bite.

The uses of the picture shows how much pain Ivanovic is in, creating a negativity look for Suarez, although the heading show that he is sorry for his actions.

Psycho - Alfred Hitchcock

During the film we are able to use Todorov's 5 stages of narratives. The equilibrium being the opening scene of the story. This state the location, data and time, looking out on to a normal road. showing the audience that everything is normal. The disruption is when Cassidy come in to the office flash off with £40 000 and trying to impress and win over Marion Cane played by Janet Leigh, the main character. When she is asked to bring the money the bank by her boss. Marion see her opportunity to be with her true love Sam Loomis play by John Gavin. Recognition of disruption is when Marion is on the run after stealing the money. Attempt to repair disruption is when Marion is speaking to Norman Bates played by Anthony Perkins . After a long conversation with Norman, Marion see the wrong in what she is doing and decides that in the morning she will return back to Phoenix's and face her punishment. The story then has a new equilibrium as Marion is murdered. You could use these 5 stages in all different parts of the story as so much is going on .

Hitchcock uses many different ways to challenge and surprise the audience. One of them being the death of Marion. This is a shock to the audience as you identify with her for 47 minutes of the story. As for the whole film up to now we have only seen close ups of Marion's face and point of view shots, we are then lost as to how we need to identify with.  After seem the latch on the Anthony Perkins character Norman, but we don't seem to agree with what his character is doing as he is hiding Marion's body. We then start to identify with a more lawful character Arbogast. But we only get to do that for a shorter time than we did with Marion as he is also killed by Norman Bates Mother. I think the biggest supervise for the audience is when Norman turns out to have a split personality and he is not only himself but also his mother. Making him the psycho killer. this is so shocking as the first time we meet Normal he come across as a nice young man looking after his mother.

 

 

The narration of Psycho is restricted as the story is presented from one person's point of view. The audience only have access to the same information as the character. Meaning the audience have to work harder to figure out the narrative. I would also say that the binary oppositions of this film would be good vs. bad, Mother vs. child, crime vs. law and order and life vs. death. These  fit in with the narratives of the movie.

 

During the most famous scene in the movie a montage of shots are used. The lead up to this scene is slow as if time is dragging. Its as if Marion is doing everything she can to expand her time alive. when she is in the shower itself and we see the mother everything starts to move faster. As we watch the life and hope leaving Marion's body as she slowly dies everything starts to slow down again. During her murder there is around 52 different shots used, this is show the murder form different angles. This is also the first time in the film where we are not watching Marion from a close up or from her point of view.

Genre Essay; Attack The Block

Attack The Block is what I have chosen to use for my trailer. Release in 2011 and directed and written by Joe Cornish.  In the trailer it states that it is was created by the same producers from Shaun Of the Dead. The actors featured are not as well-known but it does star Nick Frost. Nick is mostly seen in comedies. Most of the actors are mostly up and come and are perusing careers in acting. It belongs to 3 different genres, these being action, comedy and sci-fi. This is called cross- genre or hybrid genre, meaning it a mix of more than 2 genres.

The film was based on 5 young teens and a young women living on a council estate in South London and how they survive the night during an alien invasion.  It shows the level of violence children can get up to. Throughout the trailer it shows the disruption, recognition of disruption and attempt of equilibrium. This shows the audience key parts of the story but without revealing the full story line. With the uses of voice overs from different characters it help to tell the story line. The use of subtitles throughout the trailer, tells us more information about the movie such as the producers, how they deadliest species in the galaxy meets it ultimate enemy. It also says inner city Vs outer space, this links in with binary oppositions. As its conflict between two qualities, which are expressed as opposites. You can also use other binary oppositions such as; live Vs death, hero Vs villain and society Vs outcasts. These are good examples as they conform with the movie.

Throughout the trailer we pick up on certain iconographies. One of them being the way they dress and the way they talk. This fit the stereotype of a typical south London teen. Also you can tell that that the alien is an alien . This is because they are like nothing we have ever seen before. It becomes clear that the main character is the leader of the gang, Moses. He comes across as tough and fearless, as we seen the huge cut across his face. As we get a close up on his face, we directly his eyes and see the bravery. This reinforces the fact that he is hero in the story. His gang behind him are helper, as they help Moses fight against the aliens. The aliens are clearly the villain and the woman is the princess as she is being rescued. The mise-en-scene plays a huge part in the trailer. It’s in every shot. The use of props, would be the weapons and fireworks, they have to use in the war they are having with the creates from outer space. The setting is normal block of flats seen all over the South London area. We are shown this at the start of the trailer when we get flash images of the block from different angles, giving us an all-round view of the surrounding we are going to spend the next 90 minutes or so in. It’s also set on bomb fire night, covering up the fact of the alien invasion. Making it the perfect scene. There is a number of shot type commonly uses through the duration of the trailer. One of them being a medium close up. This lets us identify the characters and see the true feeling on their faces. This is good because it make the viewer interested in why the character may be feeling that way. Medium close ups are the most used shots of the trailer, whether that be on the character, the aliens or cars being drove around. Another shot type that is used in the trailer is low angel shot, this is where the alien is jumping over the bridge. It gives the audience the feeling as the alien is going to land on them. Creating a real fear factor.

The trailer uses music. The first song used emphases the fact that it has sci-fi parts in it. But it has been given a more modern twisted, to appeal to the younger audience. In the second half of trailer the music changes. It keeps up with the fast changing shots to show that a lot of things are happening and everything is moving a lot faster. The use of sound effect are used when the music isn’t playing, these are sound such as raw’s and screams. Other times the music stops playing is when important dialogue is said. This dialogue highlights the fact that the movie is a comedy.   

word count- 765

media diary- week 6

My guilty pleasure would have to be the channel 4 programme Top Boy.Based on the day to day life of youths and families living in Hackney, London. The show doesn't really have a main character as its telling different about peoples lives.
I would say the target audience would be the explorer, as they are looking for something different. Its not everyday a programme is made on  how people live there lives in crime and drug filled areas. Think it would also appeal to the struggler as it lets them seek escape, which is one of their key needs. Mostly I think it appeals to the aspirer as they want the life style and money that the gang has.  I  found that  I had took a oppositional reading, as I understand stood the ideologies that they was putting out but didn't agree with them all. I think what appeals to me was that I found programmes like this really interesting. I like to find about what life is like in other places .                                                             

Media Diary- week 5

This week is. Uses & Gratifications week. The two different types of texts I have consumed are The Chase and X factor.

The Chase
The Chase is a game show on general knowledge, this is often shown around tea time.  Each contestants has to work with their team mates to try and collect the largest amount of money they possibly can and therefore beat the chaser.  The personal identity would be the contestants back story. This could be why they are on the show or what they are going to spend the money on.  Each person gives a different response this is where the personal id is identified. The Chase  is a very popular programme with over 5.1 million view in 2013.  Families may also watch the show test each other knowledge. This means their is a lot talk about the show on social networking and also with an app to download and play. This also ties in with social interaction. The entertainment of the show is when the contestants goes up against the chaser. The audience can interact with the question whether that by themselves or with family or friends. Humour is also seen sometime between the host, the contestants and the chaser.

X factor
the entertainment is the singers, mostly the ones that cant sing. On Sundays you have 2 famous performers. This keep the audience interested, as they will turn in to see if there favourite singer is performing that week. The personal identity is the person back stories of the contestants. For the audience their personal identity could be sharing opinions. Another could be
sharing the same age and living in the same area as the contestant. The media keeps up to date with the contestants. The show becomes a large part of news for a few months. The X factor has a large part in social interaction as it has its own app and social media accounts. This is so that viewers can keep up to date with the show daily. Another being that the audience have to phone up and vote for there favourite act/ singer to stay in.

media Diary: Week 4

Good Girl, Gone Bad

The media that has changed my life was the first ever singer I loved. Rihanna was the first ever person I seen in concert too, back in 2008 in the Echo Arena . When I first heard her back in 2005 I thought nothing of her but only that I liked her catchy song 'Pon de Reply'. After really starting to like her music, my mum and dad got me ticket to go and see her, right here in Liverpool. It is still to this day one of this best concerts I have been to! Before going to see her I received my first ever album of hers 'Good Girl, Gone Bad' Is when I really fell in love with the whole Rihanna persona. After getting her next 3 album and close to getting tickets to her 2013 UK tour. My love for her has only grown over the years. I think I like to listen to her music as it all different. As you can go from listening to a reggae to hip-hop. Finally I think my love of other hip-hop stars have came from my love of her and by listening to her music has introduced me to other types of music such as rap and house, that I wouldn't have probably like otherwise.

Media Diary: Week 3

For this weeks Media diary I have chooses to do Doctor Who. The audience for this media text is sci-fi fans of all ages.

Income/ status model
I think that Doctor Who could apple to all those include in each category as they my have grew up with the programme and also with it being aired from such a popular station. But mostly I think it target the lower half of the model such as C2,D,E. I think this because its a programme that you watch weekly. Also the show mostly target children, they are not included in this model as they do not have an income.

Audience Profiling
Although the producers of media view audiences as a mass audience rather than a set of individuals, they will often have a 'typical' or ideal audience member. For this programme it would be a young boy around the age of 9 or 10.  He would love sci-fi type things. and have a great imagination. This helps the producers target a specific audience.

Young and Rubicam's '4C's'
For the 4C's model I think it targets the explorer. As the are looking for discovery and something new, the programme gives them this as each week is something different with a new quest to go on. Or a new problem develops. Another audience that could be targeted is the mainstream. This is because the programme is on weekly, this is perfect for them as they are looking for familiarity.

Lifestyle Categories
I think the lifestyle categories Doctor Who target is the 'drop-outs'. I think this because they don't want to commit to things. This is easy as Doctor Who is the type of programme you can start watching at any time. Another would be 'traditionalists' as they don't like change. As the programme has been getting aired for years, they will like this programme.

Lines of Appeals

1. The use of humour as a persuasive device

 The Evian advert uses babies roller staking to create humour. As it's not an everyday site and makes the viewers laugh. They use of babies is to represent  and reinforce their slogan 'live young' and during the adverts it says how water keeps the body young. The advert uses love and belonging as most of the views of the advert will have a family. This supports the need for security as a mother or fathers role is to protect their children, as though out the adverts the babies are doing dangerous things they would never be able to do. Also the need for nurture is meet as it appeals to the viewers paternal or maternal instances. The use of music in this keeps it upbeat and fun.


2. Use of Slogan- 'have a break, have a Kitkat'

 The slogan is short and easy to remember. As they use repetition. However you will always relate KitKat's and breaks together. It acts as an order,  telling you that you must have a KitKat. But at the same time the adverts orders you in a nice way, as if you need to have break or a rest and treat yourself by having the KitKat. This meets the needs for affiliation, as sharing the kitkat with friend's, Also meeting the need of love and belonging. Making you feel like you achieved the break, meeting the need for achievement. This advert would target the mainstream as these  four factors are familiar in everyday life. Finally meeting the physiological needs. They are the  needs for sleep, eat and drinks . Making the advert appeal to the viewer as its about food. As food is key to survival.


3.The use of shock tactics- Talk To Frank

This advert for Talk to Frank uses shocking images by talking about the truth of drugs on todays streets. It gives a number of views on drugs and facts about them.  It grabs peoples attention by giving such shocking statements such as '30% cocaine and 70% who the hell knows'. So the adverts is not so glum and boring like other drug adverts, they bring in a slight hint of humour by having a talking dog. By doing this it appeals to the need of nurture, as its a small helpless dog that done nothing wrong but is still being/ been hurt. It challenges the need for security. As you have no control over what is happening in the advert or of what happened to the dog. In a way it meets the need for guidance, as its telling you right from wrong. The music playing in the background changes with each new scene or sketch within the advert, making the seriousness of the advert stand out in the parts it most needed. It carries a valuable message that drugs are dangerous and can kill, creating fare. Meeting parts of Maslows hierarchy or the 4C's such as Physiological needs (survival), esteem needs (control) and finally love and belonging (security).

4.stereotype in advertising 

  'Who said men can't multi-task' this is the stereotype in this is advert. I think this stereotype is more accepted as its meant in a playful way. I think this advert has been aimed at the aspirer. As they care about their appearance and image. The model on the advert is handsome and meets all the aims that the aspirer wants. This meet the esteem needs for control and status. This advert also appeals to self-importance and pride. Also the need for attention, as we want people to notice us, be looked at and to be put in a type of spotlight. The slogan 'for men who dare to care' relates to the need for prominence. This is having a social status and be respected or even admired. On the advert itself uses shortcuts to meaning, they do this by not including a lot of text. 

 

5.Interetextuality in advertising 

In this Volkswagen advert the use of interetextuality is used. A young boy plays the role of  Darth Vader, trying to use ‘The Force’. We also feel some form of reward because we understand the reference to Star Wars and we feel nostalgia, when we think back to when we were children, and how we used to imagine things and think we had super powers, so this ad mostly uses personal identification because we relate with the character. It also relates to the mainstream because it relates to families and everyday life. This is the largest group out of the 4C's so people are more likely to relate to it.  Finally the need to nurture is in the text as you feel sad for the small boys as he cannot use 'the force'  and he his disappointed by this.

6. Elite person in adverting 

 This advert by myx promoting drink supported by Nicki Minja. By using Nicki as an elite person in this advert it appeals to the basic need for sex. This is a basic human need and is the most effective persuasive tools. This is because Nicki is a sex icon, this is also backed up by the clothes she is wearing. This sex appeal is also emphasised in her body language. Give the product the ideologies that the product will also give you this sexiness. It also appeals to beautiful women, as men and women both adore her. The audience that is being targeted in this advert is the explorer, as they are always looking for something new. Also think it targets the aspirer as its give them the status they want. for example  by them having that drink, they feel like the can relate to Nicki's lifestyle.

7.Reward and Punishment in advertising 

 The NHS advert is an image of a small child inhaling second hand fumes from a cigarette. This is an example of reward and punishment because it makes the audience think that if they smoke around their children, it will affect them just as much as it will affect them. This advert also uses reward and punishment to relate to the audiences Safety Needs and also their Love and Belonging Needs. This is why the NHS have used a baby as the subject of the advert. Also it touches on the needs for nurture, as your not looking after your child properly and putting them in danger. The advert is aimed at the mainstream as it  interferes with there core needs of security, which is familiar to their everyday lives. 

Media dairy week 2:

LONG.LIVE.A$AP is the debut studio album by American rapper Asap Rocky. Released on the 15 January 2013 but the album had been leaked in October 2012. Even with the leak the album sold over 139,000 copies. I found the album on Spotify and listen to it as I had previously liked his other work. The genre is hip hop. This means it can apple to a bigger audience rather than just lovers of rap. The purpose of this text is for the consumer to enjoy and also for himself to enjoy and make. My reaction to this text was that I really enjoyed it. It had a laid back, druggy feel to it. I also felt like I could listen to the songs on reply.  The songs range from an upbeat fast tempo to a slow motion type style. I like this because all the songs aren’t the same. I think people would consume this text also for the same reason I do.  His fans will also consume this text, as the enjoy his work. Personally I think other member of society may have a problem with his song. I think this because in most his songs his raps involves sex, drugs and violence.  Also the music he creates isn’t the same as other rap artist’s.

Classifying Audiences

A) The Mainstream:  For those who fall under the mainstream audience, their main need in life is for security. This doesn’t mean having locks and passwords on everything they own, but security to know that they are safe within society and that they fit in. The X Factor is a good example of this. I think this because a great deal of people talk about and it get high viewings. This has the biggest mainstream audience, making it the largest group across the 4C's across the world. The X Factor receives a large amount of media attention all year round, even when the show isn’t being aired. It appears in such media's as newspaper articles to social networking sites. Mainstream show are part of everyday life, these are also shows such as Big Brother and strictly come dancing.

The Succeeder: The succeeders are those who seek rewards and often try and find out the best because they feel that they deserve it. They tend to be very organised and set strong goals for themselves. I think a good example for this Dragons den because they come up with the ideas themselves, as they are enotupernor. The dragons decide whether they want to invest money in to the business. The judges have a high position of control over the contestants, which is the key need in life for the succeeder.

The Explorers: Explorers like challenging texts that test their minds in an unusual way. Shows that aren't popular appeal to them because they seek out difference. Explorer’s dont necessarily engage with texts about exploring or travel. For example I think a sci-fi film such as start wars would suit this audience as the story line is not feed to them.

The Aspirer: The Aspirer is looking for something to help them make themselves look and feel better. They want to be driven by other people’s perception of themselves and people’s opinion on them and how they look and feel about themselves.  The media text I would choose is Glamour magazine. The magazine has the latest fashion, run ways, hair and beauty tips and other related theme. This helps the aspirer to find a belonging and also help them with 'fitting in'. Reading this type of media help the aspirer feel good about themselves.

 B) I think these types of audience categories are helpful as they help divide society into groups where media can target them. But personally I dont think that there are 7 types of people in the world as we are all different types of people and have our own interest's.

C) The programme on the TV right now is Hollyokes

 Name- Sarah

 Age- 28

Family- single mother of 1 child

Self-image- Like to watch the soaps as it distracts her from her own life.

Class- E as she is unemployed

Nationality/ethnicity- white British

Education- high school education

Religion- Christian but not strong

Politics- doesn't care too much, but is thankful for the money she gets to support her family.

Location- UK

The reason I choose Sarah because it is mostly women that watch the soaps. Also I think that Hollyokes is aimed as younger audience then other soaps, that’s why she is around 28.

D)  For the X factor I would say the audience would be puritans, these are people who feel like they have done their duty. But the audience may also be cynics; these are people who always have something to complain about.  Dragons den are cowboys, these are people that want to make money quick and easy. Also innovators, may watch this as they want to leave there mark on the world. With Star Wars I think the audience would be rebels, as they want the world to fit in with their ideas of how it should be. Finally Glamour Magazine audience would be groupies, these a\re people who want to be accepted by those around them.

Media Diary: American Horror Story

For this weeks media dairy I'm going to be writing about American horror Story. Before watching American horror story I had never heard of it before. After seeing it on Netflix and watching the first episode, I was totally hooked. With each season is a new story line, with the same actors but with new characters. Giving the viewer a fresh air type of feel, as the same old story line isn't being dragged on. Each main character comes with a untold background story and a individual story through out the series that links in with the main story line. Each season is not for the faint heart as it contains violent and gory scenes.
In the first season the main focus is on a family of 3, Ben, Vivien and daughter Violet. Moving from Chicago to LA for a new life, not knowing of what has happened over the past few years in the house they have just bought. Through out all the horror and murder there still seems to be a slight bit of happiness and a young blossoming romance between Violet(Taissa Farmiga) and Tate(Evan Peters).
I think the reason that I really like to watch American horror story is because it always has you sitting on the edge of your seat and you can pick up the story at anytime. Also the story lines are always really interesting, so you don't get bored.While reading other reviews online, many people seem to agree with me.With the new season starting in October 2014, I really cant wait to see what Alexis Martin Woodall and Patrick McKee as producers have done this time round.

Photographic composition

rule of thirds

The image i have chosen is a good use of the rule of thirds.You can clearly see the 3 different sections as they are outlined by the grid. In each box there is something different  even though the main focus is the girl.

Foreground and background 

In this image it has a main point in the background and the foreground. The foreground being the ball and the background being the man. The eye switches between both images, even though the ball is in main focus and the rest of the photo is slightly blurry.

Lines and shapes

The curved lines and shapes allow the picture to come together.  For example the lines on the path make it look like the path doesn't end. But also brings the attention to london bridge facing the path.

cropped and skewed 

light and shade