SSC Media Studies: Tess Penman

Showing posts with label Tess Penman. Show all posts

Representation of Homosexuality in FILM : Research

This article was written by The Guardian in 2014, broadcasting how Hollywood has been criticised by Glaad a US gay rights organisation for it's "inadequate" representation of LGBT characters.
The article itself does not criticise Hollywood but provides an overview of the criticisms made by Glaad and statistics to support them.
For example, only 17/102 major studio films from the 7 biggest studios (Warner Brothers, Sony, Lionsgate, Paramount, Disney, Universal and 20th Century Fox) featured gay characters with "the majority being offensive and defamatory portrayals"
The CEO suggests that Hollywood is doing "more harm than good" with it's lack of "substantial LGBT characters in mainstream film in addition to the outdated humour and stereotypes"
The Guardian includes the fact that Sony was the only major picture studio to be rated "good" for it's "positive" characters in Battle of The Year and The Mortal Instruments (described as "the most inclusive film release of 2013")

The Guardian highlights the picture studios that failed and the reasons for their failed rating. For example, Paramount and Warner Brothers failed due to "including no positive portrayals of LGBT characters in any of their films". Films like Pain & Gain and We're The Millers were criticised for having elements of "gay panic" and Scorsese's Wolf of Wall Street was criticised for it's gay butler having an orgy.
This article explains what the Vito Russo test is and how it works. It was pioneered by Glaad, similar to the Bechdel test but instead of focussing on the importance of women roles in cinema it focuses on LGBT characters. For a film to pass this test it has to "feature an LGBT character not solely defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity and who if removed, from the film would significantly affect the plot." The Guardian found only 7/17 films that feature an LGBT character passed the test. The portrayal of transgenders was worse with only two appearances, both "tiny" roles neither in a "positive light". The Guardian mentions the damaging effects inadequate representations could have as they quote Glaad saying "these images continue to marginalise a community". It criticises films like Anchorman 2 and Identity Thief for their use of anti-transgender slurs by a main character "for no reason other than to make a joke". Glaad claims that "the media's representation of transgenders has long remained decades behind that of gay and lesbian people"
The Guardian described how none of the films praised by Glaad featured a gay main character as "the starkest fact" conveying it's shock at such statistics.

In my opinion, I feel obliged to agree with the article as there are hard core facts to defend the sad yet true claims that the LGBT are still disadvantaged even in cinema and that it is still difficult even in the most fairest society yet for a LGBT character to land a leading role or even serve a purpose other than fulfil a stereotypical, derogatory, prejudice role insinuating they are only relevant when highlighting their sexuality.
One criticism of the article though is the focus on characters sexuality and not relationships. In some cases, a characters sexuality is irrelevant to their purpose in the narrative. I think there should be more focus on LGBT relationships and not the character itself.

Generic TV talent shows have many conventions. For example, one of the most popular is Britain's Got Talent (BGT) which is filmed weeks apart from October - December and aired late May. They have had a variety of judges throughout the series; David Walliams, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Alesha Dixon. They have had a variety of winners including: Pudsy the Dog, Diversity, Paul Potts and George Sampson.

This show definitely applies to the mainstream as it is a generic talent show a part of Saturday Night television and it has mass success with viewing figures. Sometimes the show influences the aspirer to audition but this show definitely targets the mainstreamer. Audiences watch it for entertainment purposes as only a handful of the auditions are classed as talented. One of the reasons it is so successful is due to the humour the abysmal auditions generate. Examples are shown below:

Another reason why this show appeals to the audience is because the contestants are ordinary people just like the people watching it. It is a show for all ages and nationalities which means more people can identify and relate to the people they're watching. Some share the saddest and most heartbreaking moments of their lives that is usually their motivation to audition and succeed in life. Audiences can relate to some situations such as losing a loved one or having a tough childhood because many people in the UK go through similar battles. During these types of audiences, instrumental soundtracks play over their introduction and post audition to magnify the emotion. Artists like The XX and Ludovico Einaudi are frequently used.

Others decide to watch the show as it is so popular therefore it is always a big topic to talk about with others either online or face to face. Many people use the show to socially interact on Facebook and Twitter to share their thoughts. This is usually when an act is very good. The show is set in arenas throughout the country meant for fans of the show to buy tickets and enjoy the experience live together. This show lives off social gathering.

The show has a variety of contests. The bad ones tend to be the most confident thus making their disastrous audition even funnier. Ironically, the talented ones tend to be the most shy thus making them easier to like.

George Sampson, for example, was an extremely gifted and confident dancer. Somehow his confidence made him seem more charismatic.

However, a more recent audition by Jasmine Elcock created a love for a teenage girl due to her modesty and kindness. The fact she didn't realise how great she was and her response to feedback only made the appeal for her grow. People were rooting for her - watching the show just for her - as they wanted a genuine talent to go far and possibly win the show.

From watching the show for all 10 series, I think the funniest auditions are either the angry contestants who are so oblivious to how awful they are or the naive contestants that judges like David Walliams take advantage of to wind others (Simon Cowell) up and put them through to the next stage of the competition just to spite other judges. An example of this is Lorraine Bowen from 2015 who performed her own song about apple crumble that was so bad it caused Simon to buzz almost immediately. However, her positive attitude and will to go on made the audience side with her and encourage her to continue. Seeing Simon's reaction made David encourage her too and he even put her through to the semi finals by pressing his golden buzzer just to spite Simon.

This magazine holds both traditional and post qualities. For example, this cover shows the levels of progress society has reached over the generations regarding views on women. The fact a woman is on the front cover is evidence that women are becoming more independent and less submissive to men. That woman being the then FLOTUS, Michelle Obama. The strapline "Embrace your POWER" is almost as large and prominent as the masthead itself. The attitudes to black women also has indefinitely changed also as Michelle is the first and only black First Lady in US history and she is famously known for being the rock of her husband's life as their marriage appears very equal. Her intelligence and strong mindedness is also what society associates with her. The respect for women has changed over the years and this cover embraces that; the encoders are targeting women especially to know their value and worth and be the best they can be, an ideology that Michelle Obama has embraced her entire career. The fact she graduated from three Ivy League colleges shows women and the rest of society that women have just the same capability as men and can accomplish anything men can. Paying recognition to "28 most influential black women" conveys that the encoders intend to highlight women's achievements in a generation where black women especially are degraded and discriminated for their sex and ethnicity.

JUSTIN BIEBER

These images are from Daily Mail from 27 July 2013. Here, he is shown allegedly spitting from a balcony, where his fans wait below. The encoders have represented him here as ill-mannered, arrogant, inconsiderate and disrespectful. They even label him as "Pop Brat". During this time period throughout 2013, Bieber embraced his obnoxious, egotistical, diva. This was just after his infamously short stay in London when he was 2 hours late to his own concert at the O2 and had to be restrained by security whilst attempting to attack a paparazzi. After, he arrived at Amsterdam and wrote about himself in Anne Frank's diary memorial. After that, he and his monkey got detained in a German airport, where his monkey was confiscated and referred to a German zoo.

Not only is Bieber's reputation and image being criticised here, but so are his posse and entourage, who he chooses to surround himself with because essentially, they are guilty by association and those around you not only represent themselves but represent you too and their character is also a reflection of your character. The pictures here show Bieber spitting over the balcony followed by him and his friends, which includes his childhood best friend Chaz Somers and rapper Lil Za, laughing at his actions clearly showing no remorse. Here, the encoders have represented Bieber as a teenager surrounded by bad influences.

Daily Mail would expect their audience to take the preferred reading of this text and agree with the representation Daily Mail has given Bieber, one that is an ungrateful, arrogant and disrespectful pop star turned diva and accept the fact that he isn't the world's angel anymore, instead fame has corrupted his behaviour and morals. He is no role model and this is exactly what Daily Mail wish to convey in this article.