Moral Panic

A student doing a case study on national identity and news could choose a major national event, such as the:

• The fatal attack on the soldier Lee Rigby in London
• The fire fighters' strike
• The Syrian crisis in the wake of a chemical weapons attacks or the peace talks
• Edward Snowden’s leaks on US spying practices
• Same-sex marriage becoming legal in England and Wales
• The fear of Romanian immigrants 'flooding' to the UK in January 2014

• BBC news coverage at the time
• YouTube citizen journalist video
• Analysis of the events by an alternative news website in the week following the story
• A non British news source's coverage
  

• What national identity or identities are being constructed?
• What ideas and values do the identities communicate?
• What is the role of mainstream and alternative media?
• What is the role of the audience? How could audiences and different audiences use and respond to the different products?
• What is the impact of social media and user generated content?
• How and why are collective identities formed?
• Are the products and identities similar or different, why? Does one national identity dominate or are there diverse or contradictory identities? Why is this, considering, for example, producers, production, aims and audiences?
• How do the national identities reflect and reinforce power in society?

Identity

1. Mainstream media is a powerful influence on the construction of an individual’s identity. Use your case study to explore the impact of the media in the construction of identities.
2. ‘We are defined by the media we use.’ How does your case study suggest audiences use the media to construct their own identity?
3. ‘Social media has only served to reinforce existing values and ideologies’. Does your case study suggest social media has played a positive or negative role in the construction of identities?
4. ‘The variety of media available encourages us to create many different identities for ourselves’. How far do you agree with this statement?
5. How are constructions of identity used by media producers and why are they so popular?
6. Audiences are now too sophisticated to be taken in by negative and stereotypical constructions of identity. Do you agree?
7. There are a wide range of constructions of identity in the media and audiences are free to choose how they interpret them. Do you agree?
8. How and why do alternative constructions of identity challenge mainstream values and ideology?

New digital Media

1. The world first heard about the resignation of Jeremy Clarkson from the Twitter.
2. How has new/digital media changed the ways in which information reaches audiences and what are the implications
3. “New and digital media offers media producers different ways of reaching audiences". Consider how and why media producers are using these techniques.
4. ‘New and digital media erodes the dividing line between reporters and reported, between active producers and passive audiences: people are enabled to speak for themselves.’ (www.indymedia.org.uk)
5. Have such developments made the media more democratic, with more equal participation by more people
6. Although new and digital media may promise audiences more freedom, it does not necessarily give them more power. Discuss.
7. New and digital media is creating one global culture. Do you think that this is true?

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)