Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Coursework ideas: Band Aid

Band Aid (1984) - Do they know its Christmas? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQzJAKxTrE
Band Aid II (1989) - Do they know its Christmas? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83xYDazJavE
Band Aid 20 (2004) - Do they know its Christmas? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5vMdmajxFY
Band Aid 30 (2014)- Do they know its Christmas? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1jeiC-JEsI

It can be argued that the evolution of 'Band Aid' is to reach new audiences in younger generations, spreading the message to everyone. The use of You-tubers such as Zoella and young pop-sensations such as One Direction and Olly Murs mean that the message can reach larger audiences in western culture. (Evolution of Band-Aid - http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertain/pages/entertainment/music/band-aid-do-they-know-its-christmas-history.htm) -Mode of address

 http://news.sky.com/story/1374910/bob-geldof-denies-adele-band-aid-song-snub - Bob Geldof interview with Sky News, interviewer states that if  "People like Bono paid their taxes correctly then there would be no need to rehash the song". - Marxism

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/ebola/11236278/Why-Adele-was-right-to-ignore-Bob-Geldof-and-Band-Aid.html - arguing Adeles side on Band Aid 'snub'. Adele was snubbed for not attending the Band Aid recording, yet as she has a toddler to care for she privately donated money to Oxfam. This is apparently 'not done' in celebrity world. Post-colonialism (the expectations of people with higher power)

 Angela Barry: The Other - Songs like Band Aids' provide stereotypes to the 'Other', such as them being the 'dependant', shown as victims. -Post-colonialism

 http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/band-aid-30-ditched-the-only-halfdecent-line-it-had-9867716.html - the changing of the lyrics from "Well tonight thank god its them, instead of you" to "Tonight were reaching out and touching you". It could be argued that this is because we live in a postmodern society in the west, where the original line could be under-analysed and seen as selfish, even though it is pinpointing the selfishness of not giving to the cause, not the selfishness of the lyric itself. The article states that the reason for this may be to not cause a 'twitter' rage over the line, which can easily be done in this mislead post-modern society. - Postmodern

 Campaigns first started with Telethons and celebrity filled rallys to gain awareness. Band Aid has grown with Technology to a certain extent, now moving to iTunes and purchasing the track via mobile etc. http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/1.2840715 - This link shows quotes from Caroline Riseboro, a VP in marketing for Addicts and Mental Health. She says "I would say the celebrity telethon for charity is dead," and "Compared to 30 years ago, accessible information and travel has allowed the public to educate themselves, and challenge some of the statements that celebrities can make.". This is where more campaign methods have been created, such as the Ice-Bucket Challenge for ALS Research, No-makeup Selfie for Cancer Research UK and Movember for Mens Health. These are more 'democratic efforts' of raising awareness and giving to charity that Band Aid haven't quite tapped into yet. Technology, Mode of Address and Post-modernism - Global Village/Electronic Village

 http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/band-aid-30-you-know-it-must-be-christmas-when-everyones-shouting-about-a-charity-single-9881668.html - Fuse ODG turns down chance on "Do they know its Christmas?" because of the skewed representation on Africa, refusing to sing “There is no peace and joy in West Africa this Christmas”, when he says: “For the past four years I have gone to Ghana at Christmas for the sole purpose of peace and joy.” -Postcolonialism, Angela Barry and the Other

 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/band-aid-30-emeli-sande-says-lyrics-for-do-they-know-its-christmas-need-to-be-rewritten-and-admits-her-own-edits-were-rejected-9878221.html - Emeli Sande and Angelique Kidjo also challenged this stereotypical view of Africa by attempting to change the lyrics in the song, although Bob Geldof did not allow the original song to be 'changed with the times'. Emeli says she is "so proud of my Zambian heritage. No offence or disrespect to the beautiful and prosperous continent was ever intended. In my eyes, this song is specifically addressing a medical crisis, which is very real and in urgent need of awareness and support.", yet still agrees that some less offensive lyrics should have been incorporated into the song to give a more positive representation on Africa and rid of the negative connotations surrounding the continent. Post-colonialism, Anglea Barry and the Other

 http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/18/band-aid-30-becomes-fastest-selling-single-of-2014 - Band aids sales figures in the first weeks and Sir Bob Geldofs quote on the 'digital age'. - Postmodernism

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bob-geldof-hits-back-at-band-aid-critics-they-can-fck-off-9912594.html - Nick Dearden who is the director of the World Development Movement, argues in an interview at London Live that Bob Geldof is "ignoring the fact that Africa is in a political crisis caused by the western world", and that he is portraying an "ignorant vision of Africa" through his lyrics such as "a world of dreaded fear", "how can they know its christmas time at all?" - yet the majority of Africans are christian and celebrate christmas.
 Plan:
Title: Are Band-Aids efforts in raising awareness truly
Intro - Link to Wondrous Stories, factual information (record label, when it was released, sales figures)
Para 1 - Postcolonial
Para 2 -
Para 3 -
Para 4 -
Para 5 -
Conclusion -
Posted by at No comments:

Dapper Laughs:

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/17/dapper-laughs-itv-turn-off-vine-vlogger

Dapper Laughs was a 'vine' star, known for his short vine and Facebook clips which the comedy featured usually revolved around the sexualisation and objectification of women, showing younger generations that it is okay to treat women disrespectfully.

Dapper Laughs
The show Dapper Laughs: On the Pull, which aired on ITV was shut off after the first series as it received 10x more criticism than his vines.
Posted by at No comments:

Postmodernity: Description

Postmodernism is largely a reaction to the assumed certainty of scientific, or objective, efforts to explain reality. 'Looking for meaning in a meaningless world'

Links for postmodernism: 

http://www.essortment.com/definition-postmodernism-20903.html - an in depth description on post modernism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0DwRAVJZ4A - This definition is not accurate. Dadaism is more 'weird for the sake of weird'. Postmodernism is just playing with what has gone before, and self-reflexivity

Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Coursework ideas

Are Disney Princesses in actual fact role models to younger generations?

http://www.ranker.com/list/7-disney-princesses-that-make-the-worst-role-models/molly-mahan?format=SLIDESHOW&page=1 - analysis as to why the princesses aren't feminist and are bad role models.

http://micechat.com/71968-feminism-and-disney-princesses/ - an analysis as to why they are role models and very feminist.

-                      Ask a little girl if the scene where they sing “A Girl Worth Fighting For” where Mulan says “a girl who speaks her mind” and the men respond “Nah!” is supposed to be taken seriously, 99.99% of them will look at you like your crazy. 
-                    Oh, Mulan. She’s meant to be non-offensive, and she ends up being not-anything. Despite claims to the contrary, she’s not a feminist hero. She has to dress as a boy to achieve selfhood, and refuses political influence in order to return to the domestic constraints of her father and husband-to-be. The movie itself doesn’t even pass the Bechdel test, if you consider that the only topic the other female characters discuss is Mulan’s marriageability – a hypothetical relationship with a man. The final defeat of the antagonist is achieved by the male Mushu riding on a phallic firecracker, as Mulan flails helplessly at his feet. Positive female role model? Case closed.
-                 For my final piece of analysis I wanted to look at the ending after Mulan saved the entire city from the Hun’s. She is offered a job by the Emperor as the Emperor’s consul in which she refuses so she can return home and be with her family. This was the most shocking moment because she had the chance to be empowered beyond many men and yet she decided to return home. This gave me the speculation of her in the end playing into the stereotype of what women should be like: homemakers.
http://thesnarkwhohuntsback.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/things-feminists-hate-disney-princesses-mulan/ - feminists issues on the movie 'Mulan'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZyVNDti2Fg - video on deconstructing disney 'happily never after'

http://rmonaleza.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/the-paradigm-of-the-disney-princess/ - very in depth article of the change from oldto new disney, taking on issues such as ethnical and feminist views.


-         Men want girls with good taste
Calm
Obedient 
Who work fast-paced 
With good breeding 
And a tiny waist 
You'll bring honor to us all (youll bring honor to us all lyrics)
-        Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons? (make a man out of you lyrics)
-        How 'bout a girl who's got a brain 
Who always speaks her mind? 
Nah! (a girl worth fighting for lyrics)
http://www.fpx.de/fp/Disney/Lyrics/Mulan.html - mulan lyrics

https://sites.google.com/site/disneyprincessproject/home/how-gender-is-constructed - blog posts on disney princesses affecting self esteem and gratifying gender roles

http://www.scoop.it/t/the-effects-of-the-feminist-movements-on-the-disney-princesses - list of articles all relating to disney princesses and feminism

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/05/30/the_merchandising_for_brave_breaks_the_mold_of_the_disney_princess_while_still_appealing_to_girls_.html - how brave is marketed in shops

http://ldeare1.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/38/ - a whole new world of consumerism
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)