Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Faking It tv show

in class we have been watching the 'bicycle courier to polo player'

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/faking-it/4od#2921435

we have been focusing on Woody and his change in identity.
there are similarities between him and his polo trainer, Casper that relates to their stereotype like their clothing, accent and hobby. also when they first meet, convergent body language tells us about their identity and how they react to different people -  possibly because they think they are of different social class.

a strange aspect of the show is the disregard for Woody's polo abilities and a larger focus on his appearance. after the first 10 mins, he has already lost his dreadlock ponytail and beard and with the help of a personal stylist who values different things to him, Woody has become a materialist high culture polo spectator.

"I just have to look good". Woody says when asked about the aspects of his new identity.

this is related to Goffman's theory of dramaturgical performance.



Thursday, 3 October 2013

Links for Comms

AQA website: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/communication-and-culture/a-level/communication-and-culture-2625

C&C help website: http://www.communicationandculture.co.uk/

Communication&Culture Key concepts for exams

Communication: sender --> message --> receiver. 
Everything can be interpreted as a message.

Culture: cultural capitol links to taste. Its a way of expressing someone's means and values. Cultural practices and products are important. e.g. eating dinner on laps or at a table. there are even some products that we don't like to live without e.g. mobile phones

Context: what determines our behavior and culture. Our identity is shaped by it.

Representation: there are two types - positive and negative. It 

Value: is it "dead white guy" who decides? but we value many different products. 
There is high and low value of cultural products and there is debate on who decides what something is worth.

Identity: theories of identity - Johari Window and Goffman. Our identity is based on the roles we play e.g. student, daughter, husband

Power: is related to status, class, money, politics and culture (mainly consumerism). there are people with and without power which leads to a Hierarchy.

Code: reading messages- semiotics in context. We link images with codes also