Week 25: Story 50 - 'Facebook bans 'offensive' Swedish breast cancer awareness video'

'Facebook bans 'offensive' Swedish breast cancer awareness video'

      https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/20/facebook-bans-swedish-breast-cancer-awareness-video-for-being-offensive

Facebook have been slated by The Guardian for banning a video that focused on breast cancer awareness

• Cancerfonden said, “We find it incomprehensible and strange how one can perceive medical information as offensive" 
• Facebook took down the video believing that the video portrays images and themes that would be uncomfortable for a facebook audience 

This story showcases social networks such as Facebook utilise censorship in the wrong way. The breast cancer awareness charity is sending out useful information to women regarding this illness. however some of the images where seen to be 'incomprehensible and strange how one can perceive medical information as offensive" by Facebook

Week 25: Story 49- 'Social media can be a pretty ugly place if you're a woman in politics'

Social media can be a pretty ugly place if you're a woman in politics

https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2016/oct/21/female-politicians-social-media-abuse-european-parliament

Social media can be a place for politicians to express their opinions however its also a place where they can receive backlash due to social medias interactivity.

• New report about social media, based on a survey of more than 900 female parliamentarians from 107 different countries. All the MEPs agreed: social media can be an pretty ugly place if you’re a woman in politics.
• 22.8% of national members of parliament are women, and there are still 38 countries in which more than 90% of MPs are men.
• “I do think there’s a psychology about this that we’re not trained in but I’m learning by accident,” she says.

I believe that it showcases how powerful social media is as its one of the biggest hosts for people to share there thoughts and opinion. This is evident in sites such as Facebook and Twitter where people can voice their opinion can also be countered with harmful and hateful comments. 

Identities: Applying Feminism

1) What are the five types of feminism outlined on the first page of the Factsheet?

Postmodern Feminism

Liberal Feminism

Marxist Feminism

Radical Feminism

Black Feminism

2) Which category would Judith Butler fit into? What about Angela McRobbie? Laura Bates and Everyday Sexism? Explain your answers.

Bates would fit into post modernism as they talk about past experiences. I believe that Butler would fit into liberal feminism as this suggests that gender roles are not biologically fixed.

3) What was the difference between suffragists and suffragettes? Which approach do you agree with?

The main difference between the suffragists and suffragettes was that suffragists were non-violent. They were more peaceful. Suffragettes were the more radical in term of their protest

4) What was Laura Mulvey's argument regarding Hollywood film? Do you agree with it? Why?

Laura Mulvey said that Hollywood objectifies women so make them look sexy and sexual. This in her opinion was through the cinematography.

5) Watch this YouTube video extract on Jean Kilbourne's Killing Us Softly series and list examples she gives of the media objectifying women:

Beyonce's L'oreal advert
Womens bodies being dismembered in ads
Glamour magazine
Beauty knows no pain advert

6) What is Killbourne's argument regarding the representation of women in advertising?

She states that many women are women are affected by advertising as it produces the right body image for a woman and can often make women feel ashamed.

7) What is Naomi Wolf's argument in The Beauty Myth?

Naomi Wolfs argument is that the influence that the advertisers are having on women is driving unhealthy habits by making them spend money and time on appearance. 

8) Why is the representation of women in music videos a controversial topic for feminists?

I believe that the representation of women in music videos is controversial for feminists because some would feel empowered and encouraged by it, others would say its objectifying women.

9) What is your view of female artists such as Nicki Minaj or Beyonce - do they empower women or reinforce sexist, patriarchal views?

I personally believe that it is influencing women in a negative way as they would feel that it is the ‘ideal’ body shape when some of the women we see on videos and adverts are unnatural and unhealthy.

10) Has new and digital media given women an opportunity to challenge sexist views or is it simply another media platform for women to be oppressed? Explain your view.

I personally believe that it has given a platform to challenge sexist views and ideologies through social media. However, it has also given a platform for negative views to be shared as well.

Week 24 Story 48 Elon Musk wants to cover the world with internet from space

Elon Musk wants to cover the world with internet from space 

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/17/elon-musk-satellites-internet-spacex

The story talks about how Elon Musks company Tesla is planning to employ 4,000 satellites in space. 

• Musk said in January 2015 that the plan would cost at least $10bn.
• Measuring 4m by 1.8 by 1.2m and weighing 386kg. 
• US government to operate a massive network of 4,425 satellites

I believe that this innovation will be very beneficial to the world due to the fact that people will have access to the internet when they need it which is useful as any information people are restricted from obtaining are able to do so because they now have access.The world we live in can have internet where ever you are. There's been no date for the release of the satellite itself but it is said to be that it would orbit in a range between 714 miles and 823 miles above the Earth

Week 24 Story 47- Twitter users to get ability to mute words and conversations

Twitter users to get ability to mute words and conversations

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/15/twitter-users-to-get-ability-to-mute-words-and-

• After nine years, Twitter users will finally be able to mute specific conversations on the site, as well as filter out all tweets with a particular word or phrase from their notifications.
• “Our hateful conduct policy prohibits specific conduct that targets people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease. Today we’re giving you a more direct way to report this type of conduct for yourself, or for others, whenever you see it happening,” the company said. “This will improve our ability to process these reports, which helps reduce the burden on the person experiencing the abuse.”

This article talks about bout how users will now be able to mute the names of popular TV shows, for instance, or the teams playing in a match they intend to watch later in the day, from showing up in their notifications, although the mute will not affect a user’s main timeline. 

Week 23 Story 46-Apple stops making wireless routers and shuts division

Apple stops making wireless routers and shuts division

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/22/apple-stops-making-wireless-airport-routers-shuts-division

Apple has closed the division responsible for designing its wireless routers, reassigning the employees within the company and putting an end to its 17-year-old AirPort product line, sources close to the company have confirmed.

• Every single other piece of hardware, including the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and all of Apple’s accessories, is bundled into an “Other Products” category, which brings in less than 5% of Apple’s overall revenue – less than the amount Apple makes from “services” like the iTunes Store and iCloud.
• attempt to “sharpen the company’s focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue”, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Apple began shutting down the wireless router team over the past year, dispersing engineers to other product development groups.” Beneficiaries include the Apple TV division

Week 23 Story 45: Sixteenth time lucky: Facebook goes after Snapchat, again

Sixteenth time lucky: Facebook goes after Snapchat, again

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/26/sixteenth-time-lucky-facebook-goes-after-snapchat-again

Facebook are now competing with snapchat to try and eliminate them from future completion. 

• “We’re hoping to bring Stories ... to the rest of the world in the coming months”
• A Facebook spokesperson told Recode that “We’re hoping to bring Stories ... to the rest of the world in the coming months”, suggesting that Facebook Stories may not be limited to Ireland for long.

The competition that media Institutions have are competitive and that innovation is the key to success which is why snapchat, Facebook and Instagram are so successful. 

Week 22: Story 44- Twitter staff give $1m to fight Trump order

Twitter staff give $1m to fight Trump order

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38840576

Twitter are giving a million dollars to stop Trump from banning refugees. Nearly a thousand twitter employees have given money to help support the cause of fighting the ban. 

• The civil rights group has reportedly raised more than $24m in online donations in the past few days.
• Nearly 1,000 Twitter employees donated more than $500,000, which was matched by chief executive Jack Dorsey and executive chairman Omid Kordestani, according to TechCrunch

I think that this is a primary example of how social media has a positive impact on people and that life changing things it can help with. In this case it's benefiting a lot of people and because of Twitter it's possible to gain further support for this cause.

Week 22: Story 43-Amazon Web Services: the secret to the online retailer's future success

Amazon Web Services: the secret to the online retailer's future success

Amazon has sold $32 billion worth of goods but there is now amazon Web services and is responsible for a tenth of their revenue.

• Including $6bn of media, $10bn of sales outside North America, and $23bn of electronics 

From the article I can gather that Amazon are taking over and this would affect people who are working as they'll be losing their jobs due to Amazon selling things online more people will buy from them and not go to the shop so less people will be needed for work.

Identities and the Media: Feminism

Media Magazine reading

2) What are the two texts the article focuses on?

Beyonce 

Pan Am
3) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?

The example is the shot of the women's legs which will leave the audience interested and guessing who the female is.

4) Do texts such as these shows there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

I believe that to some extent because people are now accepting the role and using it as part of their sexual identity because they've accepted the roles given to them.

5) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Third wave feminism – Was a movement that redefined and encouraged women to be dominant and sexually assertive

Feminism – A movement aimed at defining, establishing, and defending women’s rights and equality to men

Patriarchy – An ideology that places men in a dominant position over women.

No More Page 3

1) Research the No More Page 3 campaign. Who started it and why?

Lucy Ann Holmes

Raised over 200,000 signatures

2) What reasons did the campaign give for why Page 3 had to go?
The reasons were that children shouldn't see this, Boobs aren't news, doesn't give females a positive representation of themselves and sexualising women

3) Read this debate in the Guardian regarding whether the campaign should be dropped. What are Barbara Ellen and Susan Boniface's contrasting opinions in the debate?

She argues that the page 3 should be removed because it's out of date and is something that should've moved on with the times.


4) The main campaign website has now been replaced by a site called Sexist News, designed to highlight sexism in the media. Give an example of a recent story the website has highlighted. Do you agree with the view of the website?

One example would be little mix on Britain's got talent, they decided to dress in a specific way which was seen to be sexual but the music that they were selling was to children and about love. This is seen as being controversial as people such as Adel have been seen to do the same thing but she doesn't present herself in a sexual way.

5) How can the No More Page 3 campaign and Sexist News website be linked to the idea of post-feminism?

Post feminists believe that we no longer need feminism and this links back as people are now being sexualised and rather than challenging it people are accepting it as a norm in societies traditional norms and values.

6) What are your OWN views on these campaigns? Do you agree with their aims? Is there still a need for these campaigns in the media?
I believe that feminism is still needed because there are a lot of issues and debates where women are inferior to men so even though people are fine with women being sexualised in music videos and films.
7) Finally, do you agree that we are in a post-feminist state or is there still a need for feminism?

I personally believe we need feminism and society isn't past the stage of not having it because women still are inferior, face misogynistic comments and are still sexually assaulted.

Post-colonialism - bonus reading and tasks

1) List three theorists discussed in the article and what they believe regarding black identity.

Jenkins - social media is a place where other cultures can be seen 
Giddens - Black people are represented in a positive way.

Harris - social media represents black people's negatively

2) In your opinion, is social media a positive or negative force when it comes to issues of black identity? 

I personally believe that social media is a good force for black people as it is a platform for people to  talk about the issues black communities face and tries helping the issues.

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the issue of social media and black identity?

One post-colonel theorist I could apply is Alvarado. People believe that black people are criminals and therefore are a threat to society and we could also use fannon so people who are black put on a white mask in order to be seen as normal in society.

A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

1) what examples of different representations of refugees in the media are offered in the article?
Refugees are represented as migrants who are trying to have better life for their family. This is to survive which makes them seen as a negative part of society because people will start to hate them.

2) In your opinion, is the documentary genre more or less biased than the news media? What examples can you provide from the article to support your view?

I think that people will find this bias and people who are misinformed this will create a negative representation and people will see this as a part of their ideology.

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the representation of refugees in the media?

I could apply Alvarado  as  people will feel sympathy for them because they're in trouble and in need of help.

Identities: Feminist theory and blog task Beyoncé

Identities: Feminist theory and blog task Beyoncé

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

I believe that the video supports the gender stereotype that women are the ones who perform the role of being a housewife and being attractive for their husbands. This is the case as Beyoncé is the one who is cleaning up the house but performing that role of being attractive by the use of certain clothing being worn.

2) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

I believe that the song gives women the power and authority to do as they please and can pick any man they want.

3) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?

I personally believe that Beyoncé is actually challenging the traditional gender stereotypes women face and the male gaze as she is one of the most powerful female artists who can get her voice heard.

Waves of feminism
First wave: early 20th century, suffragette movement (right to vote).
Second wave: 1960s – 1990s, reproductive rights (pill), abortion, equal pay.
Third wave: 1990s – present, empowerment, reclaiming of femininity (high heels, sexuality etc. See Angela McRobbie's work on women's magazines).
Fourth wave? 2010 – ongoing, use of new technology and digital media (e.g. Twitter) for activism.

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?
Network feminism is when feminism is dived into waves. The First wave: early 20th century, suffragette movement (right to vote).Second wave: 1960s – 1990s, reproductive rights (pill), abortion, equal pay.Third wave: 1990s – present, empowerment, reclaiming of femininity (high heels, sexuality etc. The reason why it is a problem is because its a problem in 2015 as they still deal with the problems that women faced years ago.


2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 
The fourth 2010 – ongoing, use of new technology and digital media. it aims to tackle social equality issues found both on, using modern technology. 

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?

Case study: Everyday Sexism

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?
Laura bates starts her Everyday Sexism project due to her past experiences concerning sexual harassment.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?
The Everyday Sexism project links to the concept of post-feminism as showcases the examples of in which indicates that women are still not equal to men this is the case as for example 1 of 5 people in the house of lords are women.
3) How can you apply Judith Butler's theory of gender as a 'performance' to the creation of the Everyday Sexism project?
Butler believes traditional feminists are wrong to divide society into ‘men’ and ‘women’ and says gender is not biologically fixed.By dividing men and women, feminists accidentally reinforced the idea of differences between the two genders.Butler believes gender roles are ‘a performance’ and that male and female behaviour is socially constructed rather than the result of biology. This is evident in the ted talk as the examples showcases how women of sexually objectified in their work place.

4) How does Angela McRobbie's work on female empowerment link to the Everyday Sexism project?

McRobbie highlights the empowering nature of magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour, taking a different perspective to traditional feminists. This links the Everyday Sexism 

Critical Investigation: learner response

24 (D)

WWW:

• There are very good elements to this essay: The section on institution + US TV networks is well researched and very interesting. Overall, though you need to develop key aspects to reach level 3+.

EBI: -

• You don’t clearly lay out an argument in your introduction and then due this the essay lacks focus on the Q.
• Written English is poor: you consistently fail to use capital letters for names/titles.
• You have cut pasted without referencing which is a huge problem + must be addressed.
• Research: you are pretty solid for web sources but lacking academic books/journals. This holds you back from the high marks.
•  The section  on the representation of women  could be very good but currently feels like it is drifting away from your question

Aiming for a B in the second draft.

Post-colonialism - bonus reading and tasks

1) List three theorists discussed in the article and what they believe regarding black identity.

·         Henry Jenkins- believes that social media is an arena where participatory cultures can be seen.

·         Aisha Harris- believes that social media is the creation of presenting black community negatively.

·         Giddens- believes the opposite for what Harris is arguing; whereby black people can be presented positively with the use of social media. 

2) In your opinion, is social media a positive or negative force when it comes to issues of black identity? 

I personally believe that social media allows people to take control in the ways in which they want to present themselves, and don't need the negative stereotypes to invade their lives. It allows the control and power to be in the user’s hands, and therefore, showing a much more positive and accurate portrayal rather than the outside world, with all its stereotypes. 

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the issue of social media and black identity?

I can  apply Fanon due to the belief 'putting on the white mask' This is because the user can change the way other viewer see themselves, and by presenting them as a white person, people may accept them more than what they were before.

I can apply Alvarado due to one of his factors ‘dangerous’. This is the case as social media can be responsible for presenting black people as 'criminals', as discussed with a case study above

A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

1) What example of different representations of refugees in the media is offered in the article?

The many use of the word 'many', but used in different synonyms such as 'horde', or 'swarm' shows how its giving off a sense of invasion across the world; like an outbreak.

2) In your opinion, is the documentary genre more or less biased than the news media? What examples can you provide from the article to support your view?

In my opinion I believe that the documentary is less biased than traditional news media. This is the case due to news bulletins such as Fox News was they have no regulations in terms of being biased. This is because, a range of facts and research is presented before the viewer when viewing documentaries, keeping them informed always.

3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the representation of refugees in the media?

You could apply Alvarado theory of pitied. This is the case as linked to the refugees as we, the helpers, are there to feel sympathy for those who aren't in the same place as us, and to do something about it.