Moral Panic

Art mirrors life

App-users at the SXSW festival have been unwittingly mimicking the plot of Ex Machina, by finding themselves quizzed by a gorgeous robot-in-disguise. This way of generating a viral buzz that doesn't feel as gimmicky as it should as it ties in quite neatly with its key themes. Check out the guardian article here.

Daniel Shields Posted on March 16th, 2015

Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider is a 2013 action-adventure video game published by Square Enix . Tomb Raider is the fourth title developed by Crystal Dynamics in the Tomb Raider franchise. As the first entry in a new Tomb Raider continuity, the game is a reboot that emphasises the reconstructed origins of the lead character Lara Croft. Tomb Raider was released on 5 March 2013 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and on 23 January 2014 for Mac OS X.

Crystal Dynamics began development of Tomb Raider soon after the release of Tomb Raider: Underworld in 2008. Rather than a sequel, the team decided to completely reboot the series, establishing the origins of Lara Croft for the second time, following Tomb Raider: Legend. Tomb Raider is set on Yamatai, an island from which Lara Croft must save her friends and escape while being hunted down by a malevolent cult. Gameplay elements focus more on survival, although exploration is used within the game when exploring the island and various optional tombs. It is also the first game in the series to have multiplayer and the first game to be published by Square Enix , after the latter's acquisition of Eidos Interactive in 2009. Camilla Luddington voiced and performed as Lara Croft.

After a delayed release from late 2012 to March 2013, Tomb Raider received much anticipation and hype. Upon release, the game received critical acclaim, with critics praising the graphics, the gameplay, Luddington's performance as Lara, and Lara's characterization and development, although the addition of the multiplayer mode was criticised. Tomb Raider sold one million copies within 48 hours of its release, and has sold more than 6.5 million copies as of 9 June 2014. An updated version, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, was released in North America on 28 January 2014 and in Europe on 31 January 2014 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One containing all features and DLC.

Official Game Synopsis

Tomb Raider explores the intense and gritty origin story of Lara Croft and her ascent from a frightened young woman to a hardened survivor. Armed only with raw instincts and the ability to push beyond the limits of human endurance, Lara must fight to unravel the dark history of a forgotten island to escape its relentless hold.

Critical response

Lara Croft has been discussed as being a positive female role model and criticised for simply embodying the desires of the teenage-boy audience. Games critic and feminist Annemarie Schleuner states of the Lara Croft of the previous games that she was the ‘monstrous offspring of teenage boy’s spending power…an idealised, eternally young, malleable techno-puppet created by and for the male gaze.’

In the 2013 re-launch of the brand, Lara Croft was a less sexualised and more vulnerable heroine, seen crying and riddled with self-doubt. This however was to humanise her, not to weaken her. According to the designer, Rhianna Pratchett, this was not an issue of gender:

You can’t have bravery without fear…we’re so used to characters who can do everything. Male characters are often undercooked. We probably suffer from the fact that we don’t think about them as being human – they’re heroic and there’s not much else to them. That is a problem we tried to address. [With Tomb Raider 2013.]

Who is being represented, and how? Describe the mise-en-scene, including colour scheme, body codes, costume, and facial expressions.

How does this representation appeal to the audiences of the game?

To what extent does the text challenge or support typical representations of gender? (HINT: Or…does it do both?)

Explain your answer by referring to at least one other video-game to support your ideas.

Evaluate whether this image could be said to be positive or negative. Why?

Intertextuality

Daniel Shields Posted on March 16th, 2015

Kingsmen Marketing masculinity

Media Product One- Webpage from www.kingsmanmovie.com (01/03/15)

Media Product Two- Kingsman: The Secret Service Trailer (Published on 22 Sep 2014)

Media Product Three-Kingsman publicity poster (Published on October 2014)

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a 2014 spy action comedy film, directed by Matthew Vaughn, and based on the comic book The Secret Service, created by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar. The screenplay was written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman. The film stars Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Taron Egerton and Michael Caine.

Kingsman follows the recruitment and training of a potential secret agent, Gary "Eggsy" Unwin into a secret spy organisation. Although he is not recruited for the Kingsman organisation, Eggsy joins a three-man mission to tackle a global threat from an eco-terrorist billionaire. The film had general release in the United Kingdom on 29 January 2015. In the United States 20th Century Fox released it on 13 February 2015 after delays. The film received positive reviews, and has grossed over $171 million worldwide.

The premiere of the film was held in London, with director Vaughn and stars Firth, Egerton and Strong attending, and Take That performing the film's theme live. A regional premiere was held in Glasgow at exactly the same time as the London event, and live footage was streamed from the premiere to Glasgow. Mark Millar also hosted a charity screening of the film ahead of its release in Glasgow to raise money for his old school, St. Bartholomews.

The trade paperback collecting the comic miniseries was released on 14 January 2015. Director Matthew Vaughn teamed up with luxury retailer Mr Porter to create a 60-piece clothing line based on the film and changed the film's name from The Secret Service to Kingsman: The Secret Service. Mr Porter worked with the film's costume designer, Arianne Phillips, to design the bespoke suiting, while everything from the ties and shirts to eyewear, umbrellas, shoes and watches were designed by heritage brands such as Cutler and Gross, George Cleverley, Mackintosh and Bremont. The collaboration is the first of its kind, making Kingsman: The Secret Service the first film from which customers can buy all of the outfits they see.

The film includes significant product placement for Adidas Originals

Production Companies

* Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents)

* Marv Films (as Marv)

* TSG Entertainment (made in association with)

Distributed by 20th Century Fox (2015) (UK) (theatrical)

1. How does Kingsman create a strong brand identity in these broadcast and online products? (8 Marks)

2. How is Masculine identity constructed to appeal to the audience? You may also refer to other media products to support your answer. (12 Marks)

3. How important is it for Film producers to have a multi-platform presence? You should also refer to other media products to support your answer. (12 Marks)

Daniel Shields Posted on March 13th, 2015

Constructions of femininity and empowerment

How is feminine identity constructed in this advert to appeal to an audience?

How transgressive a construction of female identity is this advert? Or does it reinforce dominant hegemonic norms?

How is the iconography of the war film used to to subvert hegemonic norms of gender identity?

Daniel Shields Posted on March 11th, 2015

Useful open access journals

If you are looking at construction of Fan identities or for interesting insight into Cult productions try the following:

Daniel Shields Posted on March 11th, 2015

Bernays would not approve of Brandalism

A recent guerrilla art movement Brandalism has lead the way in fighting back against increasingly focused, intrusive advertising. It is certainly an intriguing approach to what many see as an aggressive approach to advertising.

Daniel Shields Posted on February 25th, 2015

The perils of internet identity

Daniel Shields Posted on February 25th, 2015

Propaganda and distraction

Daniel Shields Posted on February 25th, 2015

More thoughts on disabilty

The Independent ran an interesting article about Jamie Brewer modelling. It adds to the ongoing social model of disability.

Daniel Shields Posted on February 20th, 2015

Citizen journalism and the risk of the social media echo chamber

Social media is evolving into a cold and reactionary place. An echo chamber where what we believe is constantly reinforced by people who believe the same thing, and when people step out of line in the smallest ways we destroy them leading to endless flame wars and accusations of trolling. As we become locked into our social media Eco-sphere we find ourselves trapped within a bubble of our own creation. Search Engines provide us with the answers they think we want and we are complicit in this by spasmodically liking and following anything that reinforces our view point. As more of us gain our 'news' from Twitter we find ourselves in danger of losing any challenges to the status quo.

Daniel Shields Posted on February 12th, 2015