Moral Panic

Daniel Shields

Resources, homework and revision for Mr Shields English and Media classes. Cover photo Kristina Alexanderson / CC BY-NC-SA

Showing all posts tagged "Media Studies"

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)

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?

Useful open access journals

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





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.

The Century of the Self and new digital media

The Century of the Self is a 2002 British television documentary series by Adam Curtis. It focuses on how the work of Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, and Edward Bernays influenced the way corporations and governments have analyzed, dealt with, and controlled people. This certainly should inform our understanding of digital Britain and who really benefits, audience or institution.

Happiness Machines. Part one

The Engineering of Consent. Part two

There is a Policeman Inside All of Our Heads, He Must Be Destroyed. Part three

Eight People Sipping Wine In Kettering. Part four


Film Case Study Research

Phil Hoad's regular analysis of global box office trends over at the Guardian is very useful for starting off a case study.

Constructing disabled identity

The Social Model of disability
Stella Young's intriguing take on the social model of disability
There is a interesting article about actors 'crippling up' in the guardian

Victoria Modesta Prototype Channel 4 Born Risky
The making of...
The Mandeville sisters respond to Prototype
Para-olympic closing ceremony featuring Modesta

Targetting audiences

Institutions are effective at focussing on specific audiences. This is an interesting insight into how audience interaction affects an institutions message.

Chipotle case study

An interesting if somewhat business oriented approach, but it gives a clear sense of what a good case study can communicate about institutional values and targeting audiences.