Lecture 3: Film Theory - 'The Gaze' and Phychoanalysis

Video game example

1^st person or 2^nd person perspectives

1^st = Intense feeling that you are the game

3^rd= interactive movie, you are controlling the person

Lecture looks at decisions, power and the way we look at the world

Key Points

Theory’s/Ideas – Power of looking

Terms- Scopophilia, suture, intra, extra-diegetic, narcissist

Film theory _ Feminist phycoanalysis

Authors: Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan, Laura Mulver, Kaja Silverman

Misconceptions of institutional ‘gaze’

Mixture of behavior/mental illness

Way of thinking applied to parts of society

It’s about sex

How we treat and examine objects

Laura Mulvey

Visual Pleasures and Narrative Cinema 1975

Hollywood film – Sexist as it represents the gaze as powerful and male

Hero (normally male) guides the plot.

Women are looked at as sexual objects

Freudian Theories

Scopophilia – Looking at others as objects

Narcissistic Identification – Mulvey – Identify with hero in film

Jacques Lacan

Mirror stage – Child less perfect than reflection

-       Ideal ego reflected

Extension of Mulvey’s theory

-       Viewers see through eyes of actors

-       Follow their gaze without guilt

-       If actor speaks to audience gaze is broken

Gaze point – Structure

Gaze draws viewers to see through eyes of actor

When broken viewers become aware of their gaze

Types of Gaze

Spectators (View looking at image -Most common)

Intra-diegetic gaze (Someone looking at another)

Extra-diegetic – Gaze of person looking back at us

Contradiction

Attach negative suggestions

Contradiction support how Cinema works

Contradiction is challenged to create confutation

Conclusion

-       Type of gaze encourage power

-       Objectify & Identify identification (Scop/Narc)

-       I.e. Cinema thrive on Contradiction

-       Visual culture

Task 3 - Semiotic Analysis

Semiotics is a theory/study used to work out signs and symbols; in particular parts of language, Systems of communication.

The Sun tabloid Newspaper Front page Article ‘Gotcha’

‘The Sun’- white text on red background - is a masthead written in both upper and lower case. The lowercase letters are less formal for a tabloid newspaper aimed at the masses, replicating the style of the Daily Mirror italic on another tabloid newspaper of the day.

The stereotypical audience of this newspaper looks for sensational news

The banner headline using the word ‘Gotcha’ supports this. It misses out unimportant words and captures the reader’s attention by using slang in what some might have seen as a tasteless, coldblooded statement. The thin bold typeface takes up at least one quarter of the space allocated for the article standing out centrally in the top third of the page , to be read first before anything else is seen by the reader. The term ‘GOTCHA’, occupying a quarter of the page’s whitespace, captures the nation’s mood at that time when war with Argentina was about to erupt. It implies that there has been some challenge and someone has been caught. It lures the reader into wanting to read on although their eye is then drawn to two photographs rather than written text. The term could be seen as tasteless when it becomes clear some people may have died.

The word ‘our’ which appears throughout the article, is the only word subconsciously read as the reader’s eye is drawn to the two photographs on the left of the page below the headline. They also aim to evoke patriotic feelings showing these are of a boat like the one that was sunk and the Belgrano that was crippled and put the article in context. They are positioned

Initial words in the captions below each picture are in capitals with italic serif typeface using the words ‘SUNK’ and ‘CRIPPLED’. These have immediate connotations of conflict to underpin the connotations of the headline. The space covered by both photographs, and their captions, is broadly similar to that given to the strapline, which is bold and underlined to the right of the photographs to emphasize the significance of the work of ‘our lads’. By using the term ‘our’ the editor is confident of a positive response from the public. ‘Our’ captures the reader’s attention immediately, so the event is very personal as if we are all in this together. It also celebrates and glorifies the sinking of a gunboat and holing of a cruiser creating a myth that the action is just.

The article uses the word WALLOP twice implies that this has been a ‘jokingly’ easy task at the Argentinians’ expense. However, using the slang word ‘Argies’ evokes prejudice and racism, playing on the editor’s understanding of the mood of the country. THE NAVY is written in capitals emphasizing its significance in what has taken place. The subheading: ‘MAJOR’, Major shares an ideology about the Navy being in total command.

Despite the positive stance for the action taken a sub-article is ‘tucked’ in the bottom left hand corner of the page: UNION BOYCOTTS WAR and written in italics to separate it from the rest of the text. This is a mainly factual article but the layout seems interesting with the word ‘believes’ spread in the final column to work subconsciously again leaving the reader asking the question: Does everyone else believe it is right to withhold support for crews of merchant ships to be unsupported by unions? Even crews themselves have been non-commital at this stage.

Task 2 - 'On Popular Music'

Adorno article ‘On Popular music’ describes Popular music as a drastic difference to serious music. The link between serious music to popular music can be through the characteristic of standardization with the idea that the whole culture of popular music is accepted. According to Adorno all popular music is pregiven and ‘pre-excepted’. Adorno believed that each pop song has a central structure with the same parts and to conceal this they are given pseudo-individualization. On the contrary to this Adorno believed that every detail of classical music belongs to it totally and logically. Adorno believed that popular music brainwashes people into liking it through society and it prevents people from being individuals.

‘Barbie girl’ Aqua is a great example of Popular music that is standardized. The listeners know what to expect from the song before it has started. The listener does not have to think about the lyrics to gain an idea of what it is about. Adorno would consider the song to be ‘Cheap entertainment’. The lyrics are easy to unnderstand. The song uses techniques of pseudo individualization. Lene nystrom flaunts herself posing to the camera and pouting her lips. She is giving herself giving the man I the video “You can look you can play you can say I’m always yours”. The lyrics imply sexual puns and links with the standardized image: that women are to be looked at by men who are the ones with power. Ken has a car. When a song comes out a customer believes they like it because the same underlying beat is recurring in popular music. It is familiar to the listener making them feel comfortable.

Lecture 2: Critical Positions on the Media and Popular Culture

Key Points:

- Ideas of Popular/Mass Culture - Introduction of critical theory to PC&MM - Identify Ideology - Interrogate function of mass media and how it affects us

What is Culture?

Raymond Williams- Cultural philosopher (Keywords)

- Process of intellectual/Spiritual/aesthetic developments in a particular society - A way of life – Daily routine/Hobbies -  Works of intellectual and artistic significance – Our role/Occupation

Marx’s Concept of Base/Superstructure

- All societies originate from the same structure - Developed structure originates from the base structure - Culture appears when people are oppressed - Leaving culture to appear from class interests and leads to protect them - Marx states that a persons culture is determined by the culture of the society they were born into not that that culture is developed an individuals.

According to Marx Culture is Ideological

- System of ideas that is created by the ruling class which aims to benefit society

Raymond Williams Key words - Well liked by many - Inferior kinds of work - Set out to win favor of people - Culture is created by people themselves

Inferior or Ridicule Culture – Popular V Art - Graffiti V Bansky

Defining Culture

Matthew Arnold – Culture and Anarchy

“Diseased spirit of our time” (inferiors desire to have rights) - Popular culture = Absent form of political authority - Arnold believed a person was either culture and civilized or uncultured and barbaric - The uncultured should seek to have the same culture as the upper class and not create their own.

Leavisism – F.R & QD

Extended version of Arnold’s theory

Based on 21^st Century society

Frankfurt school critical theory

- Adorno & Horkheimer Reinterpreted Marx’s theory - Idea that “all mass culture is identical” - “As soon as a film begins it is clear how it will end, and who will be rewarded, punished or forgotten - Popular V affirmative culture

Conclusion

-Popular culture is ideology

Lecture 1: Panopticism - Surveillance & Society

Lecture 1 - 04/11/10 Panopticism - Surveillance & Society

Panopticon: a circular prison with cells displayed around a central surveillance (conscious state that he is always being watched) Aims to make a prisoner more productive.

Theorist: Michel Foucault – Studies how institutions effect us (Madness & civilization)

Key Points:

-       Panopticism - As Punishment

-       Techniques of the Body

-       Ductile Bodies

-       Recognition tat institutions work on us in various ways

House of Correction & Asylums

-       Madness was excepted in society

-       In the 17^th Century new ideas were brought about to combat idleness.

-       The aim was to change peoples attitudes towards work

-       People who were conceded unacceptable were imprisoned (i.e. Criminals, Unmarried mothers, Drunks)

-       The idea of the norm was created on views of the ruling class

-       Inmates were forced to work

-       Society was made to be perfect with no deviants

-       Leading to deviants within the houses to corrupt each other

-       Therefore groups of criminals were separated by the creation of asylums

-       Inmates were treated, rewarded or punished

-       Michel Foucault emphasized that modern society rules us with in a similar way

-       Today humans are responsible as individuals to conform to the rules

The Pillory

-       `Form of public humiliation – judgment of deviants

-       E.g., hanging, disembowelment gives power to the ruling class keeping deviants under control

Contemporary Panopticon

- I.e. Schools, CCTV, paparazzi

- People are constantly being observed/Scrutinized

- Encourages a difference in behavior with the idea of being watched

­­­­­

Relationship between Power/Knowledge/Body

-     Effecting what we do and our experience

-       Panopticism creates a docile body – one that is obedient, Self correcting, Self monitoring

Task 1 - Panopticism

Choose an example of one aspect of contemporary culture that is, in your opinion, panoptic. Write an explanation of this, in approximately 200-300 words, employing key Foucauldian language, such as 'Docile Bodies' or 'self-regulation, and using not less than 5 quotes from the text 'Panopticism' in Thomas, J. (2000) 'Reading Images', NY, Palgrave McMillan.

Panopticism is a social theory developed by French philosopher Michel Foucault in his book ‘Discipline and Punish’ and is base on the idea of the Panopticon - a circular prison with an observation tower in the centre surrounded by an outer wall made up of cells for the incarceration of mental patients or convicts. Panoptic means something that can always be seen, that controls you. In modern day society an example of something that is panoptic is Internet Shopping and the way companies can monitor customer spending. Through a “system of permanent registration” documenting everything you buy websites like Amazon, Tesco and M&S manipulate and control your spending by sending you emails, texts, vouchers relating to the products you have bought or been browsing online. To control your spend you are lured by money off these products which you should purchase before a ‘cut-off’ date if you are to enjoy the benefit of a reduced rate these or use vouchers for other products you may be interested in and have been browsing online. Websites like Facebook also do this by showing adverts 'spam' that you will probably be interested in and which is related to your age, gender, interests or religion for instance through “The penetration of regulation into even the smallest details of everyday life”(Foucault in Thomas, 2000, p12). The shopping websites have “complete control over” what is presented to the customer. Like the panopticon the customer “is totally seen without ever seeing; in the tower, (the manufacturer or company) sees everything without being seen”. I have found it interesting to see how the Internet experiments with advertising relating to what a customer buys. “The panopticon was also a laboratory; it could be used as a machine to carry out experiments, to alter behavior, to train or correct individuals” meaning that by presenting to or conditioning the customer through various subconscious means the customer is unknowingly influence in an effort to be encouraged to ‘give in’ and buy.

Lecture Notes: Modernity/Modernism & Mass Media

The Modernist period was between 1760-1966, which was a time of social and cultural experience. Today it is believed that we are living in a post-modern world.

Modern means ‘to make something new or improved’ and is created from the responses of artists/designers to Modernity.

In the 1900, Paris became the first ‘modern’ City. Formerly Paris had been like other cities in Europe with its over populated streets, fast pace of life and unhygienic conditions. But now a grand development was welcomed to Urbanization, which brought new buildings, swapping farming for factories and creating new transport systems, including wide roads and railways. In 1850’s Paris the ‘Haussmann Plan’ was underway: the city architect, Haussman, redesigned the city, replacing the old with the new. Where previously the poor would live in the city they moved to the outskirts and the upper class moved into the centre of the new ‘Modern’ capital of large boulevards and public parks.

The next City to develop was New York, creating plans for skyscrapers and vast urbanization; it soon became the most advanced city in the world.

In the modernist world form follows function; new materials were used including concrete, new technologies, plastics, aluminium, reinforced glass and more products were mass-produced making them cheaper and more accessible.