Male beauty - is there such a thing?

We're always scrutinising women in the media based upon how they look and act - but is male beauty such a thing that exists?  The pressures put on gender to act and look a certain way stems from Jacques Lacan's gender constructionist theory - which for men, I think, is more prevalent today now than ever.  The article below shows a range of ways in which the expectations of men in society have changed over time; from butch, masculine and patriarchal, to more effeminate, sensitive or even metrosexual.

https://brightside.me/wonder-people/how-standards-of-male-beauty-have-changed-over-the-last-100-years-188655/

Anyone can be a producer of the media!

Smart phones, computers, citizen journalism.... we all have the potential to be producers of media, as well as consumers - PROSUMERISM!  One of the latest editions of Time magazine actually used an iPhone to shoot the main focal images for its cover - read the article below to be inspired to take photos on your own smart phone!

https://petapixel.com/2017/09/11/times-latest-cover-photos-shot-iphone/

How has audience consumption changed?

With the growth of convergence, increase of accessibility and synergy, and basically consuming the media anywhere and everywhere, audience consumption has significantly changed over such a short amount of time.  With the influx of online providers such as Netflix and Now TV, binge watching has become an engrained part of audience consumption and culture.  This has also adapted the dynamics of the family at home and changed how society interacts with each other too.

An interesting read below!

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/03/end-of-families-gathering-round-the-tv-as-binge-watching-grows

Wider contexts! How film reflects politics and societal attitudes of

It has been argued that the media reflects sociological and political context; look no further than Dunkirk, 2017!  Has Christopher Nolan used his film as a propaganda tool to help the UK through this process?

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jul/20/dunkirk-spirit-british-film-brexit-national-identity-christopher-nolan

Photoshopping women comes under fire again!

With the anticipated release of the new Tomb Raider film, Alicia Vikander's main focal image on the new poster has been digitally altered which has been hotly contested by audiences.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41331702 read more here!

Sexual politics has now entered British film and TV!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/bafta-tv-awards-2017-james-nesbitt-sexism-inequality-speech-best-actress-sarah-lancashire_uk_5918c13ae4b0031e737e7ba9

Advertisers and their appropriacy...

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/14/is-this-the-year-advertisers-wake-up-to-perils-of-cultural-appropriation

It's the been the year of muck ups and cultural misappropriation for advertisers... and it's only May!  Should advertisers make reference to the wider world and context for their benefit? 

The impact of social media

Let's face it, it does impact on audiences and it certainly has an impact on the mental health of users, with Instagram being named the worst culprit.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/19/popular-social-media-sites-harm-young-peoples-mental-health?CMP=fb_gu

An exploration between sexual identity and faith

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1683c222c58354347eca54f6964df838aa287edf/11_85_5103_3062/master/5103.jpg?w=620&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=fb26a192a0a3bad99309295210d99bf3

Net neutraity - a decision will be made in 10 days time!

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/09/what-is-net-neutrality-fcc-vote-why-it-matters

Social Media's political impact

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/07/facebook-set-play-decisive-role-general-election-despite-totally/

Facebook set to play decisive role in General Election despite being 'totally unregulated'.  A great read if you're studying anything to do with new and digital media!

Has Emma watson's fight on feminism come to a peak?

The introduction of gender neutral awards as seen at the MTV awards this week , some might say is a step in the right direction for feminism and gender equality.  Is society at the right stage to accept this huge political change and statement?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39513543

Want to know more about alternative media? Then listen to this podcast!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-38794905/fake-news-a-war-on-alternative-media

Does Fake News make social media sites money?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-39841142/has-facebook-profited-from-fake-news

a brief intro - but there's a Panorama special on 8th May that you can watch to find out more!

Is the regulation of advertising stringent and strict enough?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39861092

Khloe Kardashian's advert has been approved by the ASA - the advert was made by the same agency as the 'Beach Body Ready' campaign (below) which was banned - but are there actually any differences?!

NDM and the selfie - it CAN go wrong!

So many younger audiences are part of this selfie-obsessed culture... take a look at when it goes wrong.  Really thinkt wice about where you're taking these pictures!

https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/889473294527512/

Have you seen the latest Heineken ad? I mean just wow!

This great advert appeared on my timeline and it really made me think about our own values and beliefs and how opinions are formed.  You're in for a treat and some surprising moments in the Heineken's newest advert:

Mest 3 - great video for identities and stereotyping!

https://www.facebook.com/JayShettyIW/videos/1748936578754133/

An excellent video highlighting why we shouldn't pigeon hole people in terms o frequentation.  This video has a great human feel to it!

How badly does sexism exist in the media?

https://www.ted.com/talks/stacy_smith_the_data_behind_hollywood_s_sexism

Read up on the facts - is it a problem in the world's biggest film industry?

Will this save cultural heritage in filmmaking?

http://www.indiewire.com/2017/03/martin-scorsese-african-film-heritage-project-initiative-restore-classic-films-trailer-1201789925/

with the latest argument of #oscarssowhite, is this a step in the right direction that Scorsese has announced?  Is he the right man for the job?  some might say a hegemonic, middle class, Hollywood director maybe isn't...