Edward's James Bond Blog: Lecture 12

James Bond 007 started with the film Dr No in 1962 and celebrates this year its fifty anniversary with ‘Skyfall’. With the first book being published in 1953 called ‘Casino Royal’ by Ian Fleming. The phenomena of the brand of the British secret agent with her majesty secret service fighting countries around the cold war where it was East versus West from the 1960’s to 1990’s like Soviet Union. In the last two decades James Bond 007 fighting corrupt individuals on a power trip that have connections with North Korea or organisation that want global control. The genre of Ian Fleming 007books was spy thriller the success of the book series captures the imagination of the working class and it was a cheap paperback. Ian Fleming vision of the character was an icon of Englishness with upper class attitude with an English background in his first novel. But after seeing Sean Connelly he adapt his writing with a Scottish background to fit Sean Connelly identity within the film Dr No. The trademark of 007 films is gadgets, womanizing, fast cars, theme tunes for action scenes, and gambling. Bond’s books are about the empire crisis with plucky little England against the evil forces from the countries like the Soviet Union with the financial funding of the superpower call the United States of America. The 007 James Bond refers with other 1950’s organisation and music industry groups that started at roughly the same time as ITV channel, Elvis, The Beatles and Disney. The Beatles and Disney are also celebrating fifty years celebrations.

Kandeep Lally: The Culture Industry

The Culture Industry In this popular culture class we looked at the culture industry which meant understanding the concept of the culture industry and the applicability of the idea to the work of Disney, James Bond, Tabloid Newspapers, television and The Beatles. The Culture Industry is one in and of itself that focuses on the media and the mass market. We looked at ‘The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception’ written by theorist Adorno, in which he describes the industry as “ruthless” and “rubbish”. He argues that the culture industry is a mass deception in which we the passive consumers are conceived as ‘absent minded’ we buy the latest products weather if we may not need them; therefore feeding into Capitalism where ‘business is their ideology’. Additionally, by consuming most of these products we actually ‘alienate’ ourselves, for instance, film conflated as a product not art in which ‘the idolization of the cheap involves making the average the heroic’. Most of these ideas and concepts of the culture industry are significant for our popular culture exam.

Week 6- Consumerism in the UK

For week 6, the topic of the lecture was consumption in relation to popular culture dating all the way back to the 1930’s. In the 1930’s, 800,000 people received electricity in their home for first time. Items were now made as part of a line of manufacture, hence the term ‘fordism’; whereas previously things such as cars were made by hand and each will have been unique down to the smallest detail, cars were now being made in factories as part of an assembly line. New pharmaceuticals were being manufactured allowing people to live longer thus contributing to a rising population. In 1939 the first credit card was introduced, allowing people to have what they wanted sooner, rather than waiting for their pay check or saving their money. By the 1950’s more children were being born, couples can afford appliances like televisions therefore exposing them to the outside world. Frozen foods were available by the 50’s and the first fast food restaurants were beginning to open. In 1954 the first Wimpy opened its doors. 15 years later in 1969 there are 460. Rural populations fell and populations of towns and suburbs increased. Consumption can also be linked to the conscription act ending. Young men were no longer required to do national service and it could be argued that that is related to the mods vs Rockers fights at Brighton which received lot of media coverage. Mods, just like the Beatles, were subverting traditional stereotypes by wearing designer fashion labels like Fred Perry, normally reserved for the wealthy; just like the Beatles did by wearing suits that were normally reserved for business men. In doing so the Mods created their own sense of belonging and their own sense community through their consumerism. 

- Michael Butler

All PC200 students. Here is a link to Daniella Dahoui's Fan Fiction

Here's the link to my fan fiction for the blog. It's actually getting really popular, and right now I'm writing the sequel of it, which is ALSO getting really popular. Because of that, I decided to post a chapter every Friday. Jacq Jones is, in my opinion, the best character I've ever written in my life. Sure, Tintin shouldn't have a girlfriend in the comics, but that's what fan fiction is for! Besides, they don't become an item until the sequel. I had a BLAST writing Jacq, as well as writing the whole story in Herge style! I kept the same tone and level of humour of the comics, because it seemed more fitting. Anyway, enough about me. Here are the links: How I met Tintin http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7989620/1/How-I-met-Tintin and, Tintin and me: The Hollywood Affair http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8583289/1/Tintin-and-me-The-Hollywood-Affair Enjoy!

Lecture 6: Consumption. Review by Georgia Clayfield

Georgia Clayfield. During our sixth week of Popular Culture and History, We looked at the idea of consumption with an aim to examine its cultural functions.Focusing on the growth and development of our consumer society we were able to trace the beginnings of consumerism within the U.K back to the 1930’s. During this time Britain was introduced to electricity thus sprouting new industries selling commodities such as televisions, Record players and refrigerators. The term Fordism which refers to industrial mass production on items such as cars, highlights the economic and social structures within society which arguably provide people with a sense of freedom and choice. However Many question if we are actually empowered by the act of consumption or merely manipulated into what Marx called a state of false consciousness. Adorno argued that consumerism is a passive act in which individuals are sold a variety of the same thing and in order for this to work the masses are dumbed down and manipulated. In our Key reading by John storey we were introduced to the idea that consumerism is an act of escapism which we as individuals can control. The steady growth of consumerism after two world wars allowed people to become more aware of the world outside of Britain and after a while Britain was subject to what’s known as ‘Americanisation’. The demand for places such as supermarket’s, fast food restaurants and coffee bars soared during the 1950’s providing consumers with affordable luxuries. It could be argued that consumer society has a direct link to many sub cultures that have arose over the past 6 decades, take for example the ‘Mods’ who thrived on fine suits and sophisticated coffee. The collective act of consumerism arguably produces a sense of community and yet at the same time sells the ideological image of individuality. This can also apply to Influential musicians such as Elvis and the Beatles whose music and image were sold in order to make as much money as possible.

Lecture 5: Rose Traill

Lecture 5 Review – ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ by Rose Traill Lecture 4 was based around ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ directed by Richard Lester in 1964. The film stars The Beatles during the height of their fame also known as ‘Beatlemania’ and features many of their songs, perhaps at the time made to be a frivolous comedy or a ‘mockumentary’ with a loose plot and designed to make money, today it has become a classic which opens a window into 1960s British culture and society at that time. It could also be described as one of the first music videos, a ‘Hard Day’s Night’ being one of their most famous songs; this was a time before the MTV generation but a time when the cinema was an extremely popular pastime for many as televisions at the time were very limited for choice. The concert scene is perhaps the most interesting aspect because it created a viewing platform for all fans who could all get a chance at seeing the band play from the comfort of the cinema. We also discussed how The Beatles have become a part of what Theodore Adorno describes as the culture industry, how popular music such as that of the Beatles has become Standardised, meaning much of the music is really the same, as if it was coming off a production line in a factory. This encourages passivity among listeners and fans that go along with whatever is thrown at them, be it the music or merchandise or films such as a ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. We also analysed how The Beatles were marketed at the beginning of their careers, identical haircuts and suits, most of their early songs based on love and breakups etc and rather repetitive many based around a 12 bar blues set up; making them not only memorable but also appealing and relatable to many young listeners at the time and thus creating the phenomenon that was ‘Beatlemaina’ during the 1960s.

LECTURE 5: "A Hard Day's Night", by The Beatles

This week, we focused on the film "A Hard Day's Night" by The Beatles to examine Popular Music as Cultural Phenomenon.

In the film, London is represented quiet different as in the film ‘Bend it like Beckham’. This time, London looks very ‘British’. We saw too how 'Pop' is mixed with consumerism and politics, and how it influences in them.

In the 60’s, The Beatles are the culture in the streets; they are a hybrid between American Rock ‘n’ Roll and American Blues (Americanization).

The culture in Britain in the 60’s was influenced by America; Hollywood and Disney became very popular at that time. Although there was a constant American influence, Bond’s books and The Beatles had influence too on the British people. We know this as a “commodification”.

We focused on the youth culture at 60's too. In the film we see that it is seen as "structed irresponsability" between the adults and childhood.

We analysed the concert scene in the film. There are three important factors:

1)There is a crazy audience on the scene.   

2)All of them were young girls.

3)The concert was on TV

With these three factors, we can say that the ‘Beatlemania’ has born.

Beatles’ songs were normally about love songs. They were quite repetitive; is in that moment when we noticed that Popular Music is STANDARSIDED = It is always the same (the same rhythm, same lyrics about love…).

At the beginning, The Beatles were a subculture (they were not popular) that went mainstream although normally, subcultures are forms of resistance against the popularity.

What were popular on the Britain’s 60’s? Rock, Drugs, Students Revolution (May of 68, France), Hippies, Love, Vietnam, Music.