MEDIA TEXTS AND SOCIETY’S VALUES

WHAT ARE THE TWO TEXTS YOU ARE STUDYING FOR MT&SV? The Jetsons (Season ) Hanna Barbera Animation Studio District 9 (2009) Neill Blomkamp

DISCOURSE

If media texts are a spider, discourse is the spiders web

DISCOURSE Discourse is a process of producing and organising meaning within a social context. Discourse assumes that language simultaneously reflects and constructs reality.

ISSUES AND VALUES ISSUES -events -topics -arguments -debates VALUES -beliefs -opinions -attitudes

FROM THE STUDY DESIGN… Key Knowledge The nature and form of an idea, a value, an attitude or a discourse evident in selected media texts The construction of representations in media texts and how these reflect values in society Values held in society as represented through media texts The relationship between dominant, oppositional and emerging values represented in media texts The relationship between discourses or social issues and media texts Appropriate media language and Terminology

FROM THE STUDY DESIGN… Key Skills Describe a social issue or discourse that is constructed, represented and distributed through media texts Identify, compare and contrast representations in media texts Analyse the relationships between dominant, oppositional and emerging values in society and media texts Discuss and analyse the relationship between a discourse or issue, society’s values and media texts Apply and use appropriate media language and terminology

SOCIAL VALUES - A Principal, standard or quality considered worthwhile or valuable -Values may be held by individuals, in which case they are termed personal values -Values are the beliefs of a person or social group about which they have an emotional investment Common Synonyms: ethics, goals, morals, standards

SOCIAL VALUES CAN BE: Emerging Oppositional Dominant They can also be (but not assessed) Contemporary Traditional Absolute or relative

PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM

QUESTION 1A) DESCRIBE A VALUE HELD IN SOCIETY THAT YOU STUDIED THIS YEAR A value is different to a discouse or an issue Values often start with the word ‘that’ Refers to a belief or attitude Makes a judgement about an issue

1B) EXPLAIN THE EFFECT OF THIS VALUE ON THE PRODUCTION OF A MEDIA TEXT THAT YOU STUDIED THIS YEAR The value exists in society The producers of the text are effected by this The text is effected by this How is this effect represented in the text.

2. DESCRIBE A SOCIAL ISSUE OR DISCOURSE THAT IS EVIDENT IN MEDIA TEXTS THAT YOU STUDIED THIS YEAR. Social issue is different to value Issues and discourses are different Issue is a single topic How is it evident in the text you studied?

QUESTION 1A) DESCRIBE A VALUE HELD IN SOCIETY THAT YOU STUDIED THIS YEAR That technology is something to be feared because of its misuse in the hands of military and corporations

EXPLAIN THE EFFECT OF THIS VALUE ON THE PRODUCTION OF A MEDIA TEXT THAT YOU STUDIED THIS YEAR This value is reflected in the corporation MNU in District 9. This value is commonly reflected in Science Fiction films and contributes to the narrative by representing the villain in the film. While not a dominant value in contemporary society, it is a common enough oppositional value to be accessible to the audience.

TECHNOLOGY In District 9, technology merges with human beings, it is unclear where humanity ends and technology begins, we can become killing machines if we need to. This is highlighted during the final fight scene when Wikkus climbs into the alien fighting robot – he can control the powerful weapon and he feels pain as it is damaged. It is a synthesis but a terrible and dangerous one. While powerful and fearsome, technology is dirty, brittle and ugly. This film is not concerned with elegant design but gritty functionality.