Facebook and the misogynistic pages urging people to attack women

Facebook in trouble this week for allowing people to set up groups about raping women.  Lots of companies that advertise on Facebook are withdrawing their adverts after finding out that the ads for their products could appear down the sides of these pages.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2332028/FBRape-campaign-Companies-pull-adverts-Facebook-refuses-remove-anti-women-content.html

Iron Man 3 - being censored / re-edited for the Chinese audience

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324077/Iron-Man-3-execs-changed-film-Chinese-audience-adding-minutes-film-Chinese-actors-toning-ethnicity-lead-villain.html

An interesting article about the changes made to Iron Man 3 so it can be legally shown in cinemas in China.  These include cutting out some scenes, filming an extra 4 minutes of footage featuring chinese celebrities and putting in product placement for Chinese products.  In China, the government control the film censorship board and they get to decide what does and doesn't end up at the cinema.  As the previous films in the franchise made so much money in China, the produces were happy to re-edit the film and add extra things in to ensure the Chinese government were happy with it to ensure it's release in Chinese cinemas was granted.

New rules about press regulation

Two articles about the possible new rules regarding the regulation of the press.  Lots of debate about whether they will be able to regulate internet websites as well.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295067/Oh-shambles-Party-leaders-hail-deal-Press-fears-grow-threat-free-speech.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295658/Press-regulation-Internet-targeted-MPs-time-chilling-threat-free-speech.html

US Government censors US war films

A very interesting article about how the US government (from The Pentagon) uses its power and resources to control the film industry and how they portray the US and their enemies in films.

For example, if a director wants to make a film that shows the US army in a positive light, they are often given the "green light" by The Pentagon and are offered free equipment eg fighter jets for scenes etc..

If a director wants to make a film which criticizes the US army, they are often censored by The Pentagon, or refused help and support.

Some people argue that as video games don't need actual helicopters, or actual jet fighters to make their war based games, then they might be said to be a more accurate portrayal of the US Army

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/criticalintel/10180-The-Pentagon-Goes-Hollywood

Film Censorship by a government

A story about how Ben Affleck's new flm Argo (oscar winning film) has been banned in Iran because of the way it portrays the Iranian government and their people.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2292054/Iran-sue-Hollywood-unrealistic-portrayal-secretive-state-Ben-Affleck-movie.html

BBC - Silent Witness - violent scene

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285103/BBC-says-sorry-sadistic-sex-attack-Silent-Witness-episode-triggered-hundreds-complaints.html

Was the BBC wrong to screen this violent scene?  It was shown after the watershed.

Does the influx of new niche TV channels mean a new platform for extremist views?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276753/Muslim-fanatics-spouting-British-TV-Extremists-use-fringe-stations-terror-murder-torture-gay-people.html#axzz2KaQqICG3

Some people are arguing that as there are so many niche digital tv channels now, that more people will use them for extremist point of views.  Some people have given examples of homophobic or violent content being shown on these channels which would not get shown on a "mainstream" channel.  Is there enough censorship and regulation on television?

Does Reddit need to be regulated?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276882/William-Shatner-slams-Reddit-allowing-racism-homophobia-sexism.html#axzz2KaQqICG3

An article talking about the potentially offensive comments that are often found on social networking site Reddit. Can and should this be regulated?

What are you allowed to post on Twitter?

New laws in France have massive implications for the rest of the world.  Twitter will be forced to reveal the real names of users who use racist and anti-semitic language.  These names will be handed over to the police when needed for cases.  What does this mean for social networking?  Will we finally be able to prosecute people who use offensive language online?  Where will we draw the line between what is offensive and what isn't?  Is it the same "crime" if you come up with the comment as if you retween what someone else has said?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2267649/Twitter-ordered-hand-names-racist-anti-Semitic-users.html

Censorship and TV

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2266738/Censorship-row-BBC-cuts-racist-lines-classic-Fawlty-Towers-episode.html

Lots of people might agree with the view that racist or offensive language should be censored from TV in some cases.  However, what if the programme was made in the 1970's when that language was more culturally acceptable?  This week the BBC have edited out the N word from an episode of Fawlty Towers in case it offends people.  Lots of people have complained that his is "airbrushing history".  The character that says this word in the show is well known in the series for being old fashioned and not really "with it".  So doesn't it make sense that he might use this sort of language?  Or it is offensive no matter who says it and no matter what context it is said in?  What do you think?

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

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.

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



 

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..