Jean Baudrillard - Post Modernism theory + application of usefulness

Baudrillard's theory:

- The idea that in postmodern culture, the boundaries between the 'real' world and the world of the media have collapsed and that it is no longer possible to distinguish between reality and simulation.
- The idea that in a postmodern age of simulacra, we are immersed in a world of images which no longer refer to anything 'real'.
- The idea that media images have come to seem more 'real' than the reality they supposedly represent (hyper reality).

This theory relates to the fact that in the media, they influence an idea of historical context which they try to apply to modern day society. For example, the portrayal of women in the media may be that they are supposed to be in the kitchen and/or stay at home to look after the kids.

Applications to:

News:


TV Drama:

Stranger Things:
Intertextuality is used when referring to the board game that is shown in the first episode - Dungeons and Dragons. Due to this, it aids in referencing the time period that the drama is set in (the 80's). The use of significant effects in the series aids in creating a supernatural/mysterious outlook which emphasises the hyperreality.

Deutschland '83:
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Usefulness in...

News:
Baudrillard's theory is not as useful when applying it to newspapers as there is not much to talk about in relation to hyperreality. Newspapers tend to give more informative text/factual and objective information (as well as some subjective). therefore, it is a lot harder to link any news stories/topics with the audience finding it hard to determine what is real and what is fantasy.

TV Drama:
Baudrillard's theory is more useful when talking about tv drama's. However, it is not applicable to D83 due to the fact that D83 is very factual and links to the real occurrences in the 1980's in Germany (East and West). On the other hand, the theory can be applied to ST because ST has a more supernatural (and therefore, fantasy/sci-fi) genre. This allows the audience to be able to see things that are real against the things that aren't. For example, Eleven is a normal, young girl in 'care' until you see her powers. Amongst the setting of the 1980's Hawkins (Indiana), it seems like her powers are real.

Paul Gilroy - Post Colonialist theory + application of usefulness

Paul Gilroy's theory:

- The idea that colonial discourses continue to inform contemporary attitudes to race and ethnicity in the postcolonial era.
- The idea that civilisationism constructs racial hierarchies and sets up binary oppositions based on notions of otherness.

This theory relates to the fact that society creates racial hierarchies (e.g. white privilege) and sets up oppositions, which becomes the norm. For example, some people believe that white people are better than those of an African or Asian descent.

Paul Gilroy's theory will be relevant to any representation of race and/or ethnicity (and also of Western culture).


Applications to...

News:


As seen above, the Daily Mail tends to give a stereotypical, negative view of migrants/refugees. They use words like 'swarm' to make the non-British people feel like they don't belong because they haven't originated from Britain. The images used on these front covers reflect the Daily Mail's attitudes towards those who are less fortunate.
This completely contrasts to the below images of The Guardian front covers. The upsetting images on the front covers reflect what The Guardian wants society to see. They show refugees/migrants in a positive way as people who are just trying to protect their families and seek refuge in a safe country - Britain.



Even though each of these newspapers are British newspapers, they do not share a similar view on the same sensitive topic. A racial hierarchy is clearly evident in the mid-market tabloid (Daily Mail), whereas, equality is a theme that is more shown through the broadsheet newspaper (The Guardian).

TV Drama:

Stranger Things:
Lucas is the only black person shown in Stranger Things (one of the main, teenage characters in the group of friends). This clearly shows a lack of ethnic diversity in the tv drama, especially as Lucas' backstory is only begun to be shown in the third season of the tv series.

Deutschland '83:
General Jackson (the American general) is of African-American descent. Even though he is an important character in the series, he is the only black person to be shown in the first episode in West Germany. In showing this lack of ethnic diversity, the tv drama is clearly showing the attitudes towards black people at that time in Germany (the 1980's).

Usefulness in...

News:
Gilroy's theory is very useful when comparing the representations of ethnic minorities in the media. It is clear to see the differences of peoples attitudes in both The Guardian and the Daily Mail. It explains how society has been able to shape each others opinions based on their contemporary views of the continuous topic.

TV Drama:
Gilroy's theory is, again, very useful as it links to the lack of ethnic diversity during the 1980's in America and also in Germany. It explains how there is a clear racial hierarchy between white and black people. this is influenced by the fact that there are many more authoritative white people in charge throughout both ST and D83.

LFTVD essay

In each of the long form tv dramas, Deutschland ’83 (D83) and Stranger Things, there are many stereotypes represented that are being both subverted and conformed to. Some of the representations are based on areas including age, gender and class. Each tv drama is set in different countries (D83 being Germany and Stranger Things being in America) and so this affected the extent as to which the audience reacted to the release of each drama. 

Stranger Things was released as a Netflix original however, it was produced by 21 Laps Entertainment. People all over the world can access Stranger Things if they have a Netflix account. However, even if they don’t, the drama is available online over various illegal websites and streaming services. Netflix gets their funding from their subscribers, so the outcome of the success of Stranger Things was crucial to Netflix. This resulted in many people subscribing to Netflix in the end as the release was so successful.  Netflix roughly has 158.3 million subscribers and this aided in the 40 million US households who watched the show in the first 4 days of the release. On the release, all of the episodes were shown in order to enable the audience to ‘binge watch’ the show. As Stranger Things is a Netflix original, this prevents other large streaming services from showing the tv programme online. Stranger Things was released on 15th July 2016 and it had 14.07 million adults, within the ages of 18-50 years old, watch it within the first 35 days of its season 1 release.

The hybrid, Cold War, spy thriller - Deutschland ’83 - was premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, meaning that it was able to be globally distributed for the viewing of the 16-35 year old, ABC1 audience. It was created by a husband and wife team Joerg and Anna Winger. As D83 is a German original programme which was shown on the German TV channel, RTL Television, it was also premiered in the US and the UK. In the US, it was premiered on Sundance TV and in the UK, it was premiered on Channel 4. Each of these television channels showed slightly different trailers for the programme. This was done in order to draw the attention of the different cultures around the world. Furthermore, D83 was the highest rating foreign language drama in UK history. The programme was released in October 2015, however it was released on Channel 4 in January 2016. Each episode title was taken from actual NATO military exercises. This creates a sense of realism to what is being shown throughout each episode. The titles link greatly to the political aspect of what the show brings. 

ST had a budget of $6 million per episode (there are 8 episodes). Throughout these episodes, they were able to incorporate the clothing and typical neighbourhood of the 80’s through their use of props. By using the choppers (bikes) throughout the first season, they are trying to create a realistic 80’s setting which people will recognise from that time. D83 had the biggest budget series (in 2017). Throughout this tv drama, they were able to incorporate the costumes and props that wold have been evident in the army during the 80’s. Similar to ST, this meant that they were able to closely link the drama to the countries political stance as well as social and cultural in the fact that it was obvious when the programme is set. 

There is a much greater relation to historical context in D83 due to the fact that is is based on the differences between East and West Germany during the 1980’s (real historical events). When D83 was released, there was a negative reaction to it. This was because the German people were ashamed and offended by the fact that the drama portrayed a Stasi member (Martin) as the main character who we should all love and want to see be successful throughout his journey. This contrasts to what the German’s feel about the Stasi members, creating a negative outlook from the German population on the tv drama. 

In both ST and D83, representations of family are shown throughout. In D83, Martin is a very family-orientated man who will do anything to get his mother on the kidney transplant list. In ST, both Joyce and Karen are protective over their children and will try to help them no matter what. 

When Martin comes home at the beginning fo the first episode, it is evident that he misses his mother (Ingrid) as well as his girlfriend (Annette). He embraces both of the women when he sees them and this shows to the audience how he is down to earth when it comes to his family. This subverts the typical man as they are seen to be less affectionate and not show their emotions as much. 

In ST, Karen Wheeler has the whole family around the table together (conforming to the stereotypical image of a family dinner). On the other hand, Karen is subverting the stereotype of a mother in the family as she takes charge throughout the whole scene and is more authoritative than Ted (the father). 

Overall, D83 shows more of a political context than ST due to the fact that it is based on real, historical events. However, due to the fact that they are both set in the 80’s, they both show the setting through the use of props and costumes. 

D83 LIAR

Stranger Things LIAR

D83 Industry

Stranger Things essay

How are different social groups represented in the sequence you have analysed? What role does the use of media language, signs and signifiers have in constructing and presenting these representations as real? 500 words

Throughout the Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 1, many stereotypes are conformed to and subverted through the use of clothing, props and setting. 

In the scenes beginning from Joyce Byers ringing people on her house phone (for help to find will) to Mike’s house at the dinner table, a few stereotypes are evident. The first of which comes from the typical behaviour of Joyce Byers (Will’s mum). Joyce both subverts and conforms to the stereotype of a typical mother. She conforms to it through the use of her emotions when she is frantically going around her house, worrying about her missing son - this is typically an overrepresented view of a mother in the family. On the other hand, she subverts the stereotype of women in the media due to the fact that she begins to take charge of how she is going to find Will. She is showing how the media typically forgets how a mother doesn’t just sit around waiting on her husband to do things for her which was quite similar to what occurred in the 80’s. 

Hopper’s personality and lifestyle subverts the typical police chief as he is quite lazy and unmotivated. although, when he goes round to the Byer’s house to return Will’s bike, he conforms to the typical stereotype of a police chief as he becomes a lot more serious and sceptical of the clues around him. On the other hand, throughout the rest of the episode, he begins to take up more of a detective role in a way that makes him come across as determined to discover where Will went.

In the following scene of Mike’s house, the audience can see the whole family sat around the dinner table - this was very normal in the 80’s. On the other hand, Karen Wheeler (Mike’s mum) completely subverts the stereotypical role of a mother. This is due to the fact that she take more authority over Ted Wheeler (Mike’s dad). This is seen through the tone of her voice in her dialogue and also through her facial expressions. Also, Karen has a lot more screen time in this scene than any of the other characters around the table which implies how she is the head of the family (and therefore, the most authoritative figure). The use of the family table conforms to the stereotypical family, where all of the family sits around the table together conversing over things. On the other hand, the things that the family are conversing over and not the typical conversations of a household (e.g. a missing child). Furthermore, Mike’s character subverts the typical teenage representation as he is quite a geeky and yet determined to go out and look for his missing friend. Whereas, teenagers are normally represented as quite lazy. 

During the first episode, the women in the families are seen to be very independent, in contrast to how women were supposed to be in the time the series is set in (80’s - women usually conformed to the housewife - the husband took charge).