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.

Popular Culture and History – Lecture Three Review

The main topic in week three was the study of film as a cultural phenomenon and the application of structuralism as a methodology used to analyse visual texts.

Films are said to have certain structures or conventions which often reflect the social beliefs prevalent in a society during particular points in history. According to Saussure’s linguistic approach to the study of visual texts, structuralism is the idea in which language constructs meaning by being governed by precise rules and organised through grammar.  It is in this way that language of a text can be manipulated to create a prescribed sense of reality. Levi-Strauss argues that beneath the homogeneity of structure is a collection of heterogeneous ‘myths’ which are used to create meaning by structuring the world with binary oppositions such as good/bad, or man/woman, etc.

It was discussed in the lecture how Will Wright elaborates on this use of structuralism to illustrate the way in which the interplays of different structural oppositions within a particular visual text, such as the Hollywood Western, can result in a sense of Americanised social ideas being put forward. Laura Mulvey’s post-structuralist ‘male gaze’ analysis was also discussed bringing forth the feminist notion that films constitute a highly patriarchal purpose in that women are portrayed as ‘desire objects’ or ‘threats’. Both of these examples show that the narratives of films are open to a plurality of readings.

It may be concluded, as evidenced from the task in the seminar, that the most popular films today which dominate British culture and satisfy the escapist interests of much of middle-class society, fuelling the consumerist culture industry, are in fact American.  These ideas, therefore, seemingly convey a sense of American individualism and predominant social beliefs which evolve in films parallel to the views of Western society.     

Alexandra Ncube

Lecture 4, Bend It Like Beckham: Tom O'Dea

'The lecture on the 9th October was focused on the text Bend it Like Beckham. We discussed how from a first viewing the film could be seen simply as a feel good movie but when deconstructed it has a serious subtext full of meaning and issues. These ranged from gender, race, identity, globalisation, consumerism and americanisation. It was decided that gender was one of the main issues running throughout the film at this point Richard brought up Laura Mulvey’s theory on the ‘male gaze’ where the audience see through a male perspective as the camera focuses sexually on the female body. The class discussed and came to the conclusion that the film acknowledged this theory but rejected it. This is clear through three male characters that attended Jess’s football match and only talked about the hot team captain, all three are seen in a negative light as one character Tony tells them to just see the girls as normal footballers. We then spoke about branding where Richard referenced an opening scene where Jess’s wall was full of purchased Manchester United merchandise such as football shirts and pictures. He then mentioned consumerism and stated that the film wants an audience and to make money and be popular that’s why it has such a feel good ending despite the serious issues. Next in the lecture we learnt about hybridity and post-colonialism and linked these terms to the text for example the main character Jess is a hybrid meaning a person of a mixed racial and cultural origin. Richard then explained that she is both British and Asian leading to the term ‘Brasian’. Homi K. Bhabha was highlighted in supporting this idea with his explanation of a ‘third space’ or middle way. We also touched upon Americanisation and how both of the lead characters want to reach America to play soccer. American football is built up as saving the individual and the perfect place on earth for the girls rather than stay in England where they have little opportunities.'

Josh Bovington, Lecture 4 Review: Bend It Like Beckham

On the 9th October, the group discussed the 2002 film Bend it Like Beckham. Richard talked of the importance of the film, and how it brought up various issues in a very accessible way. Issues of identity, gender, race, branding, consumerism and globalisation were all mentioned for their importance in the film. An example used by Richard to show the use of branding was the dream sequence that opened the film. The scene shows Bend It like Beckham’s main character Jess dreaming of being a football player and scoring the winning goal. The scene is filled with images and merchandise of the Manchester United club, which Beckham played for at the time. This can be seen as an example of branding, which relates back to the previous lecture which discussed theming and the Suez crisis. Richard also discussed hybridity and post colonialism, and the idea of a pluralised identity. Bend It Like Beckham shows the idea of a hybrid identity in the characters of Jess and her sister, who are both British and Asian, making a mixed identity. The hybridity idea is also supported by Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of the ‘Third Space.’ Gender was also discussed as an important part of the film, as football is predominantly played by men. This view is challenged in Bend it Like Beckham, as Jess aspires to be a famous footballer, in spite of her parents, who object due to religious beliefs.

Rosie Hickman: Lecture 3

In last week’s lecture, Tuesday 2nd October, Richard introduced the idea of structuralism and film. We began by sharing our thoughts and ideas on structuralist analysis and the ways in which visual texts convey meaning through the use of visual codes and conventions. We also discussed how these visual codes and conventions have become the ‘grammar’ of cinema; a set of structural rules that have to be adhered to in order for meaning to be created and understood. An example of a visual convention that has become fixed within this set of rules, and extremely common within the structure and development of meaning within visual texts, is that of binary oppositions, such as ‘good and bad’, ‘weak and strong’. In particular we made reference to binary oppositions when considering the common issue of gender within film. A female character is often portrayed as a weak, vulnerable individual while the male is strong and often a hero to the female. We also touched upon the work of Laura Mulvey, whom invented the theory of ‘male gaze’ to explain the exploitative way in which women are portrayed within film, a theory that we will consider in more depth next week when studying the ways in which meaning is created in the film ‘Bend it like Beckham. Overall, we learnt to consider the theory of structural analysis when understanding the meanings within visual text. Therefore building the foundations for our discussion on the implications of structuralism in ‘Bend it Like Beckham’.

Lecture 2 Review - Sam

In the second lecture of the module we looked at the ways in which American Popular culture influenced the culture within Britain. We were introduced to the idea/theory of the Postmodern City, and that many aspects of life we experience in Britain stem from the creation of Disneyland in 1955.

The layout of Disneyland is to simulate real life in an entertaining and pleasing way. As well as having rides Disneyland also provides it's guests with streets signs, transport and it's own flood and pest control. It was also discovered that within Disneyland there appears to be an apparent consumer culture with merchandising heavily evident within the park. The bringing of Disney characters to life through performance labour further enticed consumerism. This consumer culture bled itself into real life with shopping malls being created all over the world along with the fun and often liberating experience of shopping and consuming. In Britain, before shopping malls existed, you only bought what you needed, not what you wanted.

After looking at Disneyland we can see how it has influenced real life and see just how much Americanism and Commodification has effected British life. There were no theme parks, themed restaurants or fast food outlets in Britain prior to the creation of Disneyland. Today in Britain we have Legoland, The Hard Rock Cafe and McDonald's as well as performance labour through tour guides of London all of which represent 'consumption', 'play' and 'entertainment'. Some academics would suggest that we live in a Postmodern City where the boundaries of the simulated life of Disneyland and the real life have become blurred due to Disneyland's influence on the world.

Disney and the Postmodern City: Joey Ritonia

Class Review 25/9---The Postmodern City The Postmodern city, a concept which began on the 17th July 1955 due to Disney opening its first of many theme parks in Anaheim, CA, Disneyland. The theme park itself was a fantasy city, it had street signs, food shops, clothing shops, just like a real city except all of it was Disney themed. The reason the ‘Postmodern City’ is given that name is due to theme parks, i.e. Disneyland, started to affect the real world and tourism had spikes after the park opened. Cities changed after the opening of Disneyland, they took things from the theme park and used them in everyday life. Disneyland essentially has a functioning city inside its walls. Within Disneyland they have a city council; they also have teams/people for drilling, floods, pest control, roadways, sewage systems, and social control. The bottom line of this lecture is from Disneyland we have developed a postmodern city and with a postmodern city you get postmodern citizens, we as a society are celebrating the superficiality of theme parks by using there ideas in our cities.

Lecture 1 Review: Daniella Dahoui

Review session Week 1 of Popular Culture and History Daniella Dahoui PC200 Popular Culture and History As an introduction to the module, we were given an idea of the key themes of the course. The teacher went over the different topics covered each week: film, pop music, etc, and how we will explore the main themes and how they connect to the nature of cultural studies. The basis of the module will be exploring the effects of popular culture on our everyday lives, our cultural identity (e.g. gender, ethnicity, race) our cultural and political struggles and power, and social interactions. We will also be examining cultural texts from pop music to film to explore the British culture over the years. The teacher explained that the 50s were the decade when 20th century had changed. These details will be explored further the following week: the Postmodern City, which will introduce globalization and consumerism, and will examine the impact of Disneyland (opened in 1955) as the representation of the postmodern city.

Lecture 2: Disney's Postmodern City

July 17th 1955: Disneyland opens for the first time in Anaheim, California. In the mid-1960s Disney starts buying swamp land in Florida. The Reedy Creek Act, 'clarifies the district's authority to perform work of drainage, flood and pest control; amplifies the district's authority to build and maintain sewer system, police and fire protection, airport and parking facilities and to regulate and administer land use and planning within the district limits' Disney Vice President, Don Tatum. Disneyland, Florida is 27,433 square acres, that is approximately the same size as Manhatten and twice as large as San Francisco. Disneyland had total control over the area: the right ot build a nuclear reactor, an airport and a municipal court along with wide ranging fiscal powers. Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow: EPCOT. Disney techniques that are used outside theme parks in the 'real' world. Shopping malls adopt Disney's approach: 'Fun environments and an unique shopping expereince'. The postmodern city is a centre of 'consumption, play and entertainment saturated with signs and images'(Featherstone: 1991). We also referenced Umberto Eco's 'Travels in Hyppereality' (San Diego: 1983 in today's lecture. Postmodern citizens: 'play with and celebrate the artificiality, randomness and superficaility of the fantastic melange of fictions adn strange values which are to be found in the fashions and popular cultures of cities' (Featherstone: 1991). In the seminar, Jean Baudrillard's 'Simulations' was discussed in relation to today's topic. Baudrillard introduced the idea that Disneyland is 'presented as imaginary in order to make us all believe that the rest of America is real, when in fact all of Los Angles and the America that surrounds it are no longer real, but of the order of simulation'.

Lecture 1: Suez and 'Shiny Barbarism'

Some of you were asking questions about the Suez Crisis in the seminar. Your first stop is to read Dominic Sandbrook's section on the 'war'. If you go to You Tube and enter 'The Other Side of Suez' you will be able to watch a three-part documentary on the crisis. Here is the link:

http://youtu.be/nOSG-mTttzE

As I said in the lecture, Sandbrook's book juxtaposes the mini-narratives of popular culture and the grand narratives of history throughout his text.

Think of the proliferation of American popular culture and commodities, fast food outlets, TV dinners and cop and quiz shows in Britain after the Suez crisis. A coincidence?

Richard There's also been some confusion over the John Storey book. The core reader is 'Culture Studies and the Study of Popular Culture' (Edinburgh University Press. Please check this is the title you buy. It is in LRC, but it is always better to buy a copy.

Popular culture and History Lec 1: Laetitia Kaiser

Review (18-09-2012) In last week's lesson, Richard introduced 'Popular Culture and History', briefly outlining the different topics that will be covered in the course of the next few weeks. Three of this module's key words are “Americanisation”, “globalisation” and “commodification”. Also, the module will serve as a time capsule, enabling the class to travel back in time to the birth of British youth culture. For Great Britain, 1956 plays a quintessential role. In the autumn of '56, Britain faces the Suez Crisis. It marks the decline of its imperial world power. Fearing the rise of Egyptian nationals, Britain, with the support of France and Israel, decide to invade Egypt and prevent their attempt to nationalise the Suez canal, which is an important trade route for Britain. The British government hopes for the Americans' support. However, the United States of America oppose the Brits' actions and urge them to retreat. Being economically unstable at the time, Great Britain gives in after only two weeks. Many see this incident as an embarrassing event for the once 'Great' Britain. Britain's glorious days appear to be clearly over. The views differ, however. Some claim that Britain is on the edge of something new and exciting. Rock'n'Roll takes over. Brits start listening to American musicians like Elvis Presley. It's the birth of a consumer society consisting of TV dinners, quiz shows and washing machines. Although Britain and other countries lose their colonies from 1957 to 1964, it ends Britain's monoculture and gives way to a flourishing multiculturalism evolving and growing to this day. Finally, the debate of 'high culture' versus 'low culture' crops up for the first time. Intellectual critics see the impending consumerism as a threat to society and encourage the maintenance of 'high culture' such as literature, for example.