1.
READINGS & UNDERSTANDING - THE PRODUCTION PERIOD/CONTEXT and notions and issues which have informed/SAHPED the texts: Think of the attitudes or things with in the society which have INFLUENCED AND SHAPED its content thus conveying the values.1. The 20th century saw a proliferation of enabling law across the world, which helped to drive economic booms in many countries before and after World War I. Starting in the 1980s, many countries with large state-owned corporations moved toward privatization, the selling of publicly owned (or 'nationalised') services and enterprises to corporations. Deregulation (reducing the regulation of corporate activity) often accompanied privatization as part of a laissez-faire policy.2. A celebrity is a person, who has a prominent profile and commands some degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media. The term is often synonymous with wealth (commonly denoted as a person with fame and fortune), implied with great popular appeal, prominence in a particular field, and is easily recognized by the general public.Various careers within the fields of sports and entertainment are commonly associated with celebrity status. These fields have produced prominent figures within these two industries.While people may gain celebrity status as a result of a successful career in a particular field (primarily in the areas pertaining towards sports and entertainment), in other cases, people become celebrities due to media attention for their extravagant lifestyle or wealth (as in the case of a socialite); for their connection to a famous person.3. Body image refers to a person's feelings of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of their own body. The phrase body image was first coined by the Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Paul Schilder in his book The Image and Appearance of the Human Body (1935). Human society has at all times placed great value on beauty of the human body, but a person's perception of their own body may not correspond to society's standards.The concept of body image is used in numerous disciplines, including psychology, medicine, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, philosophy and cultural and feminist studies. The term is also often used in the media.A person's body image is thought to be, in part, a product of their personal experiences, personality, and various social and cultural forces. A person's sense of their own physical appearance, usually in relation to others or in relation to some cultural "ideal," can shape their body image. A person's perception of their appearance can be different from how others actually perceive them.A 2007 report by the American Psychological Association found that a culture-wide sexualization of girls (and women) was contributing to increased female anxiety associated with body image. Similar findings associated with body image were found by an Australian government Senate Standing Committee report on the sexualization of children in the media. However, other scholars have expressed concern that these claims are not based on solid data.Throughout history it has been extremely difficult for people to live up to the standards of society and what they believe the ideal body is. There are many factors that lead to a person’s body image, some of these include: family dynamics, biological predispositions (e.g., depression and anxiety), and cultural expectations (e.g., media and politics). People are constantly told and shown the cosmetic appeal of weight loss and are warned about the risks of obesity; this is something that can lead to a change in a person’s body image.4. In the 21st centuryBeginning in the 1990s, the most frequent reason given for attending college had changed to making a lot of money, outranking reasons such as becoming an authority in a field or helping others in difficulty. This correlates with the rise of materialism, specifically the technological aspect: the increasing prevalence of compact disc players, digital media, personal computers, and cellular telephones. Madeline Levine criticized what she saw as a large change in American culture – “a shift away from values of community, spirituality, and integrity, and toward competition, materialism and disconnection.”Businesses have realized that wealthy consumers are the most attractive targets of marketing. The upper class's tastes, lifestyles, and preferences trickle down to become the standard for all consumers. The not so wealthy consumers can “purchase something new that will speak of their place in the tradition of affluence”.A consumer can have the instant gratification of purchasing an expensive item to improve social status.5. The Family6. Representation of Youth and Gender
2.
Matilda's representation is best describe as
Correct Answer
C. A person who exhibits Absolue values honesty and fairness.
Explanation
She generally represented a voice of wisdom and did represent the value of fairness and honesty. She supported these DOMINANT ABSOLUTE societal values.
3.
Dominant social values are the views which the majority of citizens with in a culture or society see as being acceptable or important.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Yes, values are fluid and relate often to the society in which people reside. The dominat values are the beliefs and attitudes which the majority of people within that culture see as important or acceptable. Its a principle, standard or quality considered worthwhile.
4.
Individual (substanive) values are the beliefs and attitudes which a large number of people see as important within a society or culture.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Individual (substantive) values are values which less (a minority) of people believe in within a culture. For example a loving and caring supportive family is seen as both desirable and important as opposed by the Zoolander family for the majority of the text whose father's belief was to disown his son because of his occupation. His belief and attitude was that a male should be physically strong and being a "metro sexual" wasn't manly. Perhaps this isn't a dominant view of society but at present still widely accepted as an attitude.
5.
The production period of The Graduate is 2012
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
The production period was 2001 which sees the importance of society placing on popularity/body image, celebrity life, culture and consumerism which have all shaped the text. The traditional mass media like Magazines, TV and radio fuelled the discourse and attitudes towards the celebrity discourse. The rise of the internet,social media and REALITY TV as entertainment has seen unknown people in society become house-hold names and famous for for cetain periods of time. The has lead to the emerging belief and attitude that celebrity culture is important with in western society.
6.
Derek Zoolander's character representation placed much importance on
Correct Answer
D. Being really, really good looking and that this belief would bring success, fame and fortune.
Explanation
Derek Zoolander's character representation placed much importance on being really, really good looking and believed that this would bring him success, fame, and fortune. This is evident in his obsession with his appearance and his belief that being attractive is the key to achieving his goals.
7.
The importance of a consumerist society is represented through Derek who sees fashion in particular as
Correct Answer
C. He is self abosrbed for most of the text and he sees material goods as being more important than the relationships which is a comment by the text produces about western society at present.
Explanation
The correct answer suggests that Derek is self-absorbed and values material goods over relationships, which reflects the text's commentary on Western society's focus on consumerism.
8.
Media representations are constructed form symbolic and technical codes which form a language which the audience takes a reading from. On the advertisement the phrase " Transcend the ordinary" is loaded language. What is the value/s it means sub-textually?
Correct Answer
B. The amount of Kim Kardashian's clevage attracks an audience. The Golden evening gown and background fabrics infer and represent exclusivity. Therefore the audience reads this advertisement is that its important to consume and you too can become well known and well off by "transcending" your social class or be considered as important.
Explanation
The correct answer explains that the advertisement uses symbolic and technical codes to construct a message. The amount of Kim Kardashian's cleavage and the choice of a golden evening gown and background fabrics suggest exclusivity and attract the audience's attention. The audience interprets this as a message that consuming the product can lead to becoming well known and well off, thus "transcending" their social class and being considered important. This aligns with the dominant belief in western society that consumerism can solve problems and elevate one's status. The grooming of Kim is also seen as important, reinforcing the idea that physical beauty is significant.
9.
Some of the behaviour and attitudes in Keeping up with the Kardashian's seems self-indullgent and ethically and morally inappropriate.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Yes, at times and to gain an audience the viewer is lured into the sensationalised world of the Kardashians. An example is when the younger daughters Kylie and Kenndel simulate a stripping performance which challenged the dominant societal value of acceptable behaviour for minors.
10.
Both texts have representations of the "Family". The dominant value of society with regard to the family unit would be
Correct Answer
D. That the dominant societal attitude is that a family value should be one of mutural respect towards each other and parents should enforce standards of acceptable behaviour amongst children. At points in each text this notion was disputed and challenged by the representations. (Bruce for an example)
Explanation
The correct answer suggests that the dominant societal attitude towards the family unit is that there should be mutual respect among family members and parents should enforce standards of acceptable behavior among children. This value is reflected in both texts, Zoolander and the Kardashians. However, this notion is challenged and disputed by certain representations in each text, such as Bruce.
11.
Kim represents a person and celebrity who has an attitude of self entitlement and who exhibits narcisstic tendencies. ( Narcissism is a term that originated with Narcissus in Greek mythology who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water.) This is represented in Zoolander too when Derek peers into a puddle and asks who am I?Do you think that these character representation place to much importance on the attitude that they are important and beauty is important attribute and ingreadient in becoming popular and successful.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Yes this is a belief which can be represented and encoded in the images of celebrity. Zoolander particularly challenges this notion by suggesting popularity, looks and material goods such as fashion have to much importance placed upon them within the production period/context. Derek's constant reference to being ridiculously, ridiculously good or naming one of his famous "looks" is a comment by the produces that western celebrity culture has these characteristics and that these attitudes in society have emerged as being seen by some as important.
12.
Becasue Zoolander is a Satirical Comedy which actually comments on many beliefs and attitudes in regard to celebrity fame and fortune. The text makes comical comment upon the cult of celerity which has become commercialised and invasive within society. It could be said that Dereks look represents...
Correct Answer
C. The importance that society places upon pHysical beauty which has resulted in look having mythical powers. Here the code of the costume represents he's a prisoner to the importance placed on image/fashion and consumerism with the prisoner motif adorning his shirt and headband being the symbolic signifier.
Explanation
The correct answer is that the code of the costume represents that he is a prisoner to the importance placed on image/fashion and consumerism. The prisoner motif on his shirt and headband symbolizes this. This suggests that society places a high importance on physical beauty, to the extent that it has mythical powers. This interpretation aligns with the satirical commentary on the cult of celebrity and the commercialization of fame and fortune in the film Zoolander.
13.
Absoultue values are beliefs and attitudes which are always considered important and subject to little change.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
For example the belief about what acceptable behaviour might be or the importance of a loving and caring supportive family would be dominant absolute beliefs with in most cultures.
14.
Relative values are fixed and change little due to the people involved.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
These values are less fixed and subject to change due to societal contexts. Hence they are relative beliefs subject to the society at the time.
15.
Mugatu's character could be symbolic of the power and rise of the corporations. The gigantic "M" signifies (signals) this to the audience adorning a massive skyscraper. He embodies
Correct Answer
D. Values of greed and control. The text suggests that these heads of such organisation are evil and see money and exploitation of workers as acceptable.
Explanation
Think about what he represents, a large and powerful CEO who believe wealth and fashion should come through maximising profit through the exploitation of others ie Mylasian workers and low wages which goes against workers/human rights. So the DOMINANT/ABOSLUTE values of fairness and equality are challenged by this character and the produces in the production period of the 2000's are clearly expressing a belief towards capitalism and globalisation.
16.
The text Zoolander simularly explores the themes of celebrity and the importance that society seems to place upon physical beauty and material good like fashion. Where Kim appears to support these beliefs, in Zoolander, these are lampooned and mocked through the use of satire. Therefore the text challenges the notion of these beliefs ever present in the production period.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
The production period 2006 has shaped both texts. In Zoolander themes of exploitation of labour forces to produce cheap material good for western societies has been commented on. The "look" BLUE STEAL or MAGNUM could be symbolic and represenative of the importance n the media in particular that society places on celebrity culture particularly targeted at teens. Look at the explosion of tatoos.
17.
A key to this outcome is what in the production period of a particular text influenced / shaped or lead produces of the text to included in themes, storylines or subject matter.
Correct Answer
B. Zoolander was shaped heavily by the fashion industry, ideas of equality in terms of fair wages, the over importance on consumerism as represented by the fashion industry and the importance of family.
Explanation
In the production period the producers and writers of the text Zoolander have see how western society has exploited third world countries through low wages when produce fashionable labels. The value of fairness and honesty has been challenged through the text. Also the importance of image and beauty and the belief that this will make people happy and is to been seen as importance. Another influence has been that society has been preoccupied with body image in the production period. A boom in health and fitness along with society seeing physical beauty as being an important attribute has lead to this being represented through Blue Steel and Magnum. The fact he is a male is in its self a paradox and comments squarely on the production period and the rise of people like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian who are famous for being famous. In K.up with the K.'s the sisters support the belief that images, clothes, beauty are important. This is perhaps not the dominant belief in our culture and yet has immerged as being considered by many as being valued or the aspirational.
18.
What is a male and what is it to be a man? What characteristics means you are a man (masculinity). Is it a deep voice, being strong and ascertive? Perhaps society believes this to be the case but this was not the case in the film which challenged these notions (or was it?)
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Bruce in the Kardashian's is often disregarded in the episode K.UP with the Kardashian's and undermind by the females. The dominant value of respect for the traditional family patriarch has been challenged. In Zoolander Derek's father challenges this notion of equality and respect because of Derek's femminity. Society still for the most part believes men should conform to certain societal standards. The value of equality was questioned by former PM Gilard and how many people are in leadership positions. This can't be denied as the figures support it...