Rachael's Culture & Communication

Thursday, 16 April 2015

vampire clips and key concepts

Interview with the Vampire -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7m_n2aM51Q
Narrative: using genre theory, this film keeps to the horror fiction sub genre of vampires with the use of creepy dark setting and imagery and the images of blood, necks, fangs.
However as Patrick Phillips says "commercial films are made up of a large base of generic conventions, but with a small, telling, twist of originality" and this film does that by having a non typical 'family' as the centre of the plot - 2 men and a little girl thus making the theme different to other vampire films by insinuating a gay subtext.

Fright Night -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ISgM9sjza8
Discourse: most importantly when discussing discourse of a vampire film is to consider the audience's experience or 'situated culture'. For this kind of film where the lead character is not believed by anyone but the audience can empathise with him, vampires happen to be the cause of the character's fears for his mother and girlfriend.
When watching in groups; emotions, images and reactions are mixed together and can create a unanimous feeling of discomfort and fear. As Wes Craven says "horror films don't create fear, they release it". Also this is a good example of vampire fiction becoming a brand as there are numerous sequels and even modern remakes of this narrative which shows the popularity of the storyline.

Underworld -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqT-e44kIM8
Mode of Address: in this film, the main vampire is represented as a pretty female warrior fighting the enemy that killed her human family. She still burns from daylight etc but the character creates sympathy and male audiences would be attracted to her. the assumptions of the audience is that she will win as she is the protagonist and this storyline is familiar to the audience thus means it has been succesful enough to release 3 sequels. The film's fast pace and sexy style means it is nothing like 1930s Dracula but a more modern approach to a classic fiction.

Bram Stoker's Dracula -
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bram+stoker%27s+dracula+trailer+
Ideology: based on the novel with some slight changes, the "prince" still has the menacing impact on audiences but with the added details of his wife that died and his desire to find happiness in immortality.
vampire fictions are said to contain metaphoric references to the prevalent fears within contemporary society. Paul Wells highlights the historic link of society's fears - the "other" linked to immigration of Eastern Europeans, promiscuity and sexualisation of youth counter culture, AIDS and contamination of blood.

Monday, 13 April 2015

Fear - why people watch vampire films

'situated culture' where, who with, how you watch something and the effect of your enjoyment and reaction to the fiction.

to watch a vampire film alone is a test of strength but at a practical level as Eli Roth says vampire films are 'great date movies' as the female viewer is stereotypically more frightened and the context of a dark room aids this theory.

visceral horror physical reaction to sound and images

pyscological horror the suspense we feel in unknown situations

Vampire fiction

genre terminology:

Iconography - images, objects and sounds which we associate with a genre.
Style - the ways in which the iconography is presented.
Setting - location typical of the genre
Character - key 'types' of character associated with the fiction.
Narrative Moments - the set pieces, the events, which an audience expect
Themes - the deeper meanings investigated by the particular genre

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

well. i am speechless to think that this statement is nessecary at the 2015 Grammys

Beyonce's performance at the 2015 Grammys included the hands up, dont shoot gesture which is used in the "I cant breathe" campaign...

and this is the cast of Selma at the 2015 Oscars.....

why the flipping hell have such big stars got to campaign for fair treatment of all American citizens by the US law enforcement? IT MAKES ME SICK

Friday, 6 February 2015

sexual objectification in all about that bass

feminism? not a size 2 but saying being bigger will get the boys

compare with parody
original views: over 300,000,000 (9th dec 14)
parody bart Baker over 15,000,000 (9th dec 14)
parody barely political 1,000,000 (11/12/14)

similar songs: booty by JLO and iggy
anaconda by nicki minaj
but these guys arent white so its not as unusual......
meghan trainor is more pretty pink pop - her next song "dear future husband

record label is epic record - one of the three divisions of Sony Music.
also represent Michael Jackson, Avril Lavigne, Nicole Sherzinger,
epic is the newest of all three and originally jazz imprint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records
nominated for an AMA. Michael Jackson has record for most

Sales
number 1 in UK for 4 weeks
http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/meghan-trainors-all-about-that-bass-becomes-first-song-to-chart-on-streams-alone-3158/

Her background - normal family. wrote music and tried to be in a band with her cousin at 13.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghan_Trainor
originally signed to Big Yellow Dog music as a songwriter at 18

talk about is it actually challenging stereotypes?
she isnt even that big

http://vintagevandalizm.com/2013/01/16/numbers-and-labels/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2067821/Add-5lb-solid-flesh-week-The-vintage-ads-promoting-weight-GAIN.html