AS - some stimulus material and a question on verbal communication

here's an article from this weekend's guardian on the power of language, specifically what women call themselves...

this is an excellent article to help you think about VERBAL COMMUNICATION

read the article, thinking about the KEY CONCEPTS, particularly POWER, CONTEXT, IDENTITY

here's an exam question on verbal communication - you might be able to use the article as a jumping-off point to answer the question...

'The ways in which we use spoken language in our everyday lives is worthy of study: verbal communication says a lot about how we see ourselves and others.' Discuss the statement, supporting your ideas with examples.

A2 - a great article on little red riding hood

here's  a link to an article from ms. magazine, all about the portrayal of women in the various tellings of little red riding hood.

make sure you read it and take notes...

AS - revision site

here's a link to a good site to help with your revision...

 lots of past questions, lots of terminology help.

a2 comms - another vampire documentary

we're watching a documentary in class about the origins and development of the vampire myth, so here, here, here and here are the links to another documentary called 'Nightmare:The Birth of Horror - Dracula.'

(it's an hour long, in four fifteen minute parts)

watch and take notes...

think about, and take notes on, the KEY CONCEPTS, particularly IDEOLOGY, DISCOURSE and NARRATIVE, as well as the CRITICAL APPROACHES of FEMINISM, POSTMODERNISM and POST-COLONIALISM

comments below...

AS - more pop culture - snog, marry avoid!

here's a clip of 'snog, marry, avoid?'

it's a bbc 3 programme, series 6

we're interested in this as comms students because it's an example of POPULAR CULTURE.

but also, it's an example of FEMALE REPRESENTATION in the media, and iT says a lot about our VALUES as a society, as well as FEMALE IDENTITY.

what's your reaction to this kind of programme? 

what's your reaction to the girl? 

why do people watch this stuff?

can you apply the key concepts of VALUE, REPRESENTATION, CONTEXT, POWER, IDENTITY and CODE?

here's a QUESTION 4 from the exam based on this clip:

Watch the clip from Snog, Mary, Avoid.

‘The media representation of women in the 21^st century is still problematic for a number of reasons.’ Using examples, explore your reaction to the statement.

use this question to help your KEY CONCEPTS and THEORY revision .

AS- JLS split!

here's a link to the news that JLS have split.

of course, we're interested in this as comms students as JLS are a perfect example of POPULAR CULTURE , its EPHEMERAL nature, how fame can be MARKET-DRIVEN. JLS's music could also be seen as DUMBED DOWN.

what do you think?

are JLS an example of dumbed down, ephemeral pular culture which only serves to lower our expectations of our own cultural products and practices?

post your answers below...