Viral ads December 2012

An article with links to the most popular viral videos of December 2012.  There's a big variety on the list from speeches from political figures, a fake viral of a bird snatching a toddler, to film trailers.. which have you seen?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/dec/21/viral-video-chart

Shock advert for anti smoking

This is the new UK government's anti smoking advert.  It uses shock advertising to explain that cigarettes cause tumours to grow in your body.

1) Why would audiences engage with this advert?

2) How does it represent smokers?

3) Why does the government rely on shock tactics for campaigns like this?

4) How have they used mise-en-scene to communicate a message about the lifestyle of a smoker?

Facebook's new Poke App

Facebook have developed a new app called Poke which allows users to send a short Facebook private message to another user, including a photo or a short video, that users can set to delete immediately after it has been viewed.  So for example, you could send a photo or message to someone else, and withint 10 seconds of that person reading it, the message would "self destruct" leaving no evidence of that conversation on the phone or on that person's facebook account..  Some people are complaining that it could do the following things:
* Encourage cyber-bullying with users able to send threatening messages to others with no evidence kept
* Encourage cheating as people could message each other without their other halves ever finding out
* Encourage sexting among children and teens who will no longer worry that their dodgy photos and videos could be saved / kept by the other person
* Encourage the sharing of child pornography with no evidence left behind

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2012/dec/27/facebook-poke-snapchat-app-thumbs-down

You Tube tries to beat hackers..

This week You Tube tackled hundreds of music companies who had found a way to hack You Tube to artifically increase the number of "views" a video had.  This made a song or artist look more popular than they really were.  As a result You Tube have deleted a large number of videos, cut viewing figures etc..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2254181/YouTube-wipes-billions-video-views-finding-faked-music-industry.html

1) Why do you think institutions like Sony and Universal use You Tube as a way of publicising artists?  Give 4 advantages.

2) Use theories to explain why audiences might enjoy listening to music on You Tube

3) How does You Tube allow a band / artist to represent themselves on their You Tube channel?  Look up some examples to help.

4) How important a design feature do you think the "hits" counter is on You Tube?

Shock Drink Driving Advert

A really shocking anti drink driving advert brought out by Australian authorities this Christmas.  This advert is a montage of all the adverts they have produced over the last twenty years.  Things to think about..

1) How does the use of editing contribute to the shocking nature of the advert?

2) How have the advertising company tried to create a sense of narrative in the advert?

3) What about the advert would engage an audience?

4) How does the advert represent people who drink drive?

Video mash ups / song parodies to be made legal

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2251617/Video-mash-ups-song-parodies-legalised-just-long-funny.html


So previously it was illegal for people to make parody  videos / mash ups / spoofs using footage or music they didnt own because it breached copyright laws.  They would be made and uploaded to You Tube and then often the company that owned the footage or music would report the video and get it removed for breaching the copyright laws.. the government have announced that all that is changing and that these will now become legal.

1) give 3 reasons why companies might not like this law to be changed

2) Try and explain how it might benefit them in the long run

3) Why do you think audiences enjoy watching these types of videos?  Try and give 3 reasons with examples.

Fiat's Motherhood Viral Advert

So Fiat have made this new viral advert to advertise their car.  It features a woman doing a spoof gangster style rap about motherhood.

Things to think about:

1) Name 3 reasons why audiences would like this advert?

2) Discuss how the mise-en-scene, camera, editing and lyrics communicate meaning

3) How is the life of a mother represented overall?

4) Why do you think Fiat chose to do a viral advert like this?  Why this style?

5) How do Fiat use and challenge the conventions of a typical Gangster Rap music video?

Negative Representation of LGBT

So we all know that unfortunately people who are lesbians / gay / bisexual / transexual are often represented in a negative way in the media.  This article is a perfect example.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2251347/Nathan-Uptons-wrong-body--hes-wrong-job.html

The article is about a male primary school teacher who is transitioning to live as a woman.  The journalist suggests the following things in his article:

* This event is unbelievable.  Evidence =  "One parent said: ‘I saw what I thought was Mr Upton dressed as a woman in town one weekend, but I decided I had imagined it.’

Oh no, you hadn’t."

* Children will be confused and disturbed by this transition.  Evidence: "But has anyone stopped for a moment to think of the devastating effect all this is having on those who really matter? Children as young as seven aren’t equipped to compute this kind of information."

* Children will need to be "protected" from people like this.  Evidence: "It should be protecting pupils from some of the more, er, challenging realities of adult life, not forcing them down their throats"

* Children will be 'forced" to deal with this against their will.  Evidence: Why should they be forced to deal with the news that a male teacher they have always known as Mr Upton will henceforth be a woman called Miss Meadows"

* Children should not have to treat this teacher in a respectful manner.  Evidence: The head teacher denies that pupils will be punished for referring to the teacher as Mr Upton but added ominously that they would be ‘expected to behave properly around her.’

As if this wasn't enough, the online article has TWO articles on the same page which is highly unusual and often only done if the two stories are linked in someway.  In this case, the first main article is about this teacher, the second article is about paedophile Jimmy Saville.  This design choice intrinsically links the two stories and suggests that these two men are similar!!!

A very negative representation and something to consider for the exam.  Are there any positive representations of LGBT people that you know of in the news?

Did you know Facebook OWN your Instagram photos?

Now that Facebook has bough out Instagram, it turns out that Facebook now also own all the rights to your Instagram pictures!  They can use them in sponsored stories or in advertising campaigns and there is nothing you can do about it.  Some people have complained that big media institutions are just invading our privacy and using us to make money.  This is a very good example.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2249952/Users-Instagrams-product-Privacy-row-photo-sharing-app-claims-right-users-pictures-adverts.html

How much information do YOU post online?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249715/Do-TMI-thats-Too-Information-online-Third-social-network-users-regret-posted-online.html


How much do you post about yourself on line?  Is there anything on there that might get you in trouble with the police?  Current or future employers or universities?  Why do you think audiences are so tempted to post these things on sites like Facebook?  What do they gain from it?

Voting on Reality TV Shows

So we all know that most reality TV shows have some sort of voting system in place.. We vote people in, we vote people out, we vote for people we hate to do trials, we vote for people we like to get treats..  Several years ago, shows such as as X Factor and Britain's Got Talent got into trouble for charging people too much for voting, and even charging them if they rung after the cut off time.

This week the BBC were complained about on Twitter as people couldn't get through to the voting line to vote for their favourite Sports Person Of the Year.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249368/Jammed-phone-lines-leave-thousands-angry-viewers-unable-vote-Sports-Personality-Year.html

Remember that most institutons are commercial.  They are designed to make money.  How many programmes can you think of that ask you to ring or text in for some reason?

Are children exploited in the media?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249523/Line-Duty-BBC-rapped-watchdog-using-child-actor-13-violent-police-TV-drama.html

So the BBC got in trouble this week for using a child actor in a role that involved sexual language and extreme violence/ torture.  Do you think many channels exploit children in their programmes?  What about the children that appear on Britain's Got Talent?  Is it ok if it is REAL children showing off REAL talents even though it can often be just as traumatising for them as they get upset / humiliated etc..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249803/Im-A-Celebrity-2012-Ofcom-probes-ITV-Charlie-Brooks-daughter-used-prize.html



 

Christian Dior Adverts and Airbrushing

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2221757/Natalie-Portman-ad-Christian-Dior-mascara-banned-misleading-women-thinking-gave-lusher-lashes.html


The latest Christian Dior mascara advert has been banned for misleading audiences due to the extreme photo manipulation (digital retouching) of the eyelashes.   Should adverts be retouched?  What effect do you think this retouching has on an audience?

Are different sexuality people under-represented on the BBC?

The BBC has come under criticism this month for failing to represent enough people on their channels who are from lesbian, gay and bisexual backgrounds.  The research body's argument is that as a public service broadcaster, the channel has an obligation to educate people about different sexualities.  What lesbian / gay / bisexual characters or presenters are you aware of on tv?  Are they shown in a particularly negative way?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2205033/Twitter-largest-overhaul-launch-brings-cover-photos-page-builds-mobile-apps-ground-up.html 

Is Twitter being forced to change to compete with Facebook?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2205033/Twitter-largest-overhaul-launch-brings-cover-photos-page-builds-mobile-apps-ground-up.html


Twitter has announced changes to the site including the ability to have a cover picture and photo streaming underneath recent posts.  Why do they have to compete with Facebook like this?  Some people argue that Twitter and Facebook shouldn't be too similar as they are used for different purposes.  What do you think the different is between the way people use Twitter and the way people use Facebook?

Social Networking as a Political Tool

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140748/US-election-2012-Barack-Obama-Mitt-Romneys-Twitter-war-words.html

An interesting examination of how Twitter was used in the recent US elections.  Questions to ask yourself
1) How powerful does this make Twitter?
2) What are the implications of this power?
3) How does this change the way people are using Social Networking sites?

Twitter at war with Facebook and Instagram

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2246209/Twitter-rolls-Instagram-style-photo-editing-filter-features.html


For those of you who don't know Facebook bought out Instagram.  As it is now owned by Facebook, users of Twitter are no longer able to post photos directly from Instagram to Twitter.  A good article about this war and why it is happening.  Why are institutions fighting over companies lie Instagram?

Is Facebook struggling?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2185455/Facebook-rocked-THREE-MORE-resignations-Ethan-Beard-Katie-Mitic-Jonathan-Matus-share-prices-tumble.html


Everyone always sees Facebook as being ultra successful but it has hit some stumbling blocks recently. With senior staff quitting and share prices falling, this article makes it clear what problems it is facing

Does the media rely on shock tactics and ethically wrong content?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2249065/JANET-STREET-PORTER-After-Kate-Middleton-hoax-Jacintha-Saldanhas-death-columnist-muses-cruel-prank-calls.html


An interesting article here about the morally and ethically wrong things that media companies have done in the name of "entertainment".  Are reality TV shows and indeed other media products relying too much now on humiliating people?  Should they think about the consequences of their actions?

Can we and should we regulate and censor the internet?

A range of debates this week about whether organisations CAN or SHOULD regulate what we can access on the internet.

First of all Google set up a new filter that supposedly made it harder for people ti find pornographic images in the US.  But people have said it still isn't good enough.  And lots of people have complained!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247730/Google-failing-stop-easy-access-porn-despite-tweaking-search-results-US-hide-indecent-images.html 


There is an interesting article here about what some countries do already to block or regulate the internet.  They had a bit meeting this week where lots of countries discussed whether the internet should be controlled or not, and if so, who should do it.  But out of the 80 odd countries there, 55 voted against it.  Why do you think they might have done that?  It might be useful for you to make a two lists.  One of examples of why the internet SHOULD be regulated (eg people can slander / libel other people on it etc and give an example) and one of why the internet should NOT be regulated (eg people have used the internet to break important political stories that might not otherwise have been heard - give examples)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2248217/U-S-UK-refuse-sign-treaty-lead-greater-government-control-cyberspace.html


Another interesting article here about how many young people are accessing pornography on their phones etc.  Do you think it damaged young people's perceptions of relationships, and gender?  Should the access to pornography be controlled and if so, how?  There are some ideas on this article.  Originally the government said they WOULD NOT automatically block pornography....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2248839/As-David-Cameron-rejects-automatic-blocks-online-porn-Deputy-Labour-Leader-Harriet-Harman-bitterly-attacks-latest-broken-promise.html

....But now they have been talking some more about it and said they WILL block it!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2250809/Victory-Mail-Children-WILL-protected-online-porn-Cameron-orders-sites-blocked-automatically.html

Video Games and Violence

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249308/Obama-advisor-attacks-showing-violent-video-game-adverts-wake-Sandy-Hook-massacre.html 


What do you think?  Are violent video games encouraging real life violence?  What are the theorists arguments for and against?  Can you find other examples of video game institutions marketing murder as "fun"?

Some people are calling for a ban on video games like Call Of Duty..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2250811/Sandy-Hook-shooting-reignites-debate-violent-video-games.html 

New Film Censorship Rules for Violent Films

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2246216/At-censors-crack-sexually-violent-films-corrupt-teenage-boys-minds.html


Do you agree?  Do violent films corrupt people?  Should films be censored (eg have parts removed) or does that stop the audience being able to see the whole "artistic message" of the director?  Could you come up with an argument for and against the censorship of films using media theorists to back up your points?  Theorists to think about are Bandura, Ross and Ross as well as Frankfurt School, Stuart Hall, David Gauntlett etc..

Representation of gender in Christmas Adverts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/17/asda-christmas-ad-gender-stereotypes


So what do you think about the representation of men and women in the recent array of Christmas adverts from the likes of Asda and Morrisons?  Do you agree with this journalist?  Are men often represented as lazy, stupid, and incapable of looking after a family?  Are women often seen as the leaders of the household?  Workaholics?  Why do you think these companies rely on gender stereotypes likes this in their adverts?

Represention of women in the media - all about appearances?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2249229/Sports-Personality-Year-Liz-Jones-gives-verdict-sports-stars-outfits.html


Thought of the day - Even when people are talented, skillful, hard working and achieve great things for their country, are women still just judged in the media by their appearances?  This article fails to really focus on the achievements of the women nominated for Sports Personality Of the Year and instead, picks apart their fashion choices.