To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated?

To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated? 

Identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is the dictionary definition yet as Zygmut Bauman says "Identity is almost infinitely negotiable," which explains 

As Zygmut Bauman says "Identity is almost infinitely negotiable," meaning that being a ble to define it for each individual is difficult. To then explore the idea of identity being mediated becomes even more difficult as the term mediated is hard to define as well. According to Bauman mediation is the amount of  negotiation to resolve a dispute between two things meaning that an Identity being mediated is the person deciding between several factors that the media most likely has a strong part to play in.  De Zengotita says mediation is the process of us experiencing the world through the media, so the media must shape our identity.  Where as, Stuart Hall tells us that negotiation in the media - is when we interpret a media text based on ourselves and our own ideas, rather than mindlessly absorbing it.  

On the other hand, Buckingham and Poletta & Jasper say that we normally create this identity using a collective (group). P&J say this identity can be created by an outsider (The Media) but the group must accept it. This means that mediation could be the negotiation, the process of us using the media to create our identity. However, the topic to explore is has this process increased or decreased? 

The media can be both a site of change, but also fundamentally a site that perpetuates ideologies and norms. The media uses representations—images, words, and characters or personae—to convey ideas and values. Media representations, therefore, are not neutral or objective. They are constructed and play an important role in imparting ideology.

One question we might ask, then, is whether media produce ideologies or simply reflect them, mirroring what’s already happening in society. This is another difficult question to answer. The line between mirroring reality and producing reality is difficult to discern.

Regardless of where ideologies originate, the media plays a key role in conveying ideas and giving them weight. With the media, we tend to see the same images and representations over and over again. Media rely heavily on genres, conventions and stereotypes. As certain images and representations are repeated, they become familiar and natural. But are these representations really “natural”? 

Think about what goes on behind the scenes. Screenwriters, directors, casting agents, set and costume designers all make choices that help audiences understand who a character is and what they care about. These behind-the-scenes players use clothing, hair and makeup, the way characters speak, and how they move as shorthand in their storytelling. It’s important to look at these elements of the story, rather than take them for granted. Think about the choices made in creating characters and telling stories (even in non-fiction news, documentary, and advertising). It’s also important to consider whether or not a character is round and whole or more of a caricature and stereotype.

Understanding and critically examining what goes on behind the scenes can help us see that media representations are constructed and not natural. If identities in the media are constructed, should we accept them at face value? Or can we question them? And, even change them?

Read the overviews on gender, race and ethnicity, class, and sexuality to get a better idea of the way values and meanings are specifically tied to each of these individual facets of our identities. The overviews serve as building blocks to frame the media examples on this website. Each media example and the accompanying questions, in turn, prompt you to dig deep and critically think about the way media creates meanings, values, and expectations tied to our identities. Note that most of the media examples and the overviews are written from an American perspective or vision of the world. Once you familiarize yourself with the critical tools to analyze identity in the media, you can apply your knowledge and approach to any number of examples, including media from across the globe.

In a way if one looks at the new media such as you tube, that has recently become increasingly
 popular in the modern day supports the idea that the human identity is mediated as YouTubers are either identified with, or a  collective identity is formed as being a collection of fans starts tho define people.  A popular example is :

YouTube: - Zoella

• http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/survey-youtube-stars-more-popular-than-mainstream-celebs-among-u-s-teens-1201275245/ 
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2846670/What-YouTube-superstar-Zoella-reveals-teenage-girls.html 
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-3280866/I-don-t-feel-like-celebrity-just-feel-like-teenage-girl-wants-Zoella.html

Teenagers have always been a tricky lot, expressing themselves through the counter-culture, be that clothes, hair, sex, music or drugs. But these figures reveal something truly shocking: today's teenagers are square.

That's right: square. They enjoy school, love spending time with their families, live healthy, productive lifestyles. There has been a marked decline in risky behaviour, such as alcohol and cigarette consumption. At the same time, however, more of them report 'mainly spending time by themselves'. Many say they never go out. Nearly half of girls — 47 per cent — and 30 per cent of boys reported using social networking or instant messaging sites 'throughout the day'.

To someone of my vintage — one who couldn't wait to get out there and grab the world by the scruff of its neck — this seems a bit sad at first. What's wrong with them all?

In truth, though, it's just a new kind of rebellion, a kick against the establishment every bit as vicious as that delivered by The Beatles or punk. The only difference is that we don't feel it so keenly because it's happening in a different dimension from the one we inhabit.

This is the first generation to have grown up with the internet as ordinary. For them, it's not just another communication tool, a new way to access or share information with a pre-existing group of friends — it is an extension of their reality.

Today's youngsters have a similar thing: there is no mental barrier between the physical world and the virtual one. To them, there is genuinely no difference between sitting opposite someone on the bus and talking to them via a laptop screen.

So, while to you and I sitting on our beds watching someone curl their hair may seem like the most inane activity on the planet, to someone like my daughter and her friends it's like having a friend over. They all chat about it afterwards via What's App, or whatever the latest platform is — and for them it's as good as being there. They simply don't know any different.

In some ways, this is the biggest teenage rebellion we've ever witnessed: the kids have given up trying to change the old world, and have just gone to live somewhere else altogether. All without leaving the comfort of their own bedrooms. Scary, when you think about it.

On the other hand, some say that subcultures have died which evident in the article:

Newspaper - 

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/mar/20/youth-subcultures-where-have-they-gone

Overall, this challenges wether or not identity is mediated. 

Social media is an example that both supports and opposes identity increasingly being mediated as looking at group forums on Facebook and twitter suggests that youth would play up to the characteristics of this group meaning that the media would be mediating their identity. For example - UniLad 

- Ladbible 

e.g. 

As these groups post stories, videos and stories from the followers sending them in it shows how many youth's aims would be to achieve a post on the group. This shows how they are mediating their identity to be more like the ones they see online. 

• http://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/inside-the-lad-bibles-viral-web-empire#.yx08vblmgR 
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31126002 

Although, Social media's purpose is to enable people to create their identity online 

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-to-tweak-real-name-policy-after-backlash-from-lgbt-groups-and-native-americans-a6717061.html 

On Television, 

Educating Essex /Cardiff/EastEnd / Barely Legal Drivers / Made In Chelsea / Misfits / TheInbetweeners / Fresh Meat / Fandoms: Dr Who, Sherlock Etc. (People who identify because of being a fan rather than with the show, the content defines them)

• http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/aug/29/educating-the-east-end-educating-yorkshire-educating-essex
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8216973/Misfits-a-typically-British-surprise-hit.html

MUSIC: 

One Direction / Justin Bieber / Lady Gaga / Rihanna / Beyonce / Specific Musical Subcultures: - Eg Dance / Grime / Metal / Punk / Dubstep / Rave / Indie etc.

- http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/aug/24/one-direction-fans-boyband-teenage-girls

FILM:

Eden Lake / Shank / Harry Potter / Kings of Summer / The Hunger Games / Twilight /

NEWS: 

Reporting of London Riots / Knife Crime / Gang Violence / 'Out of control Party' stories / Moral Panics surrounding young people and: Alcohol / Sex / Violence etc. / Moral Panics surrounding internet memes and viral trends.


Other points:

David Buckingham says "identity also implies a relationship with a broader collective or social group of some kind."

• Cohen says that if this group is not understood (they are Deviant) by society, they can be Demonised. This can create a moral panic against that group by the outside media. This can in return, strengthen and reinforce that group in a cycle. 
• Lacan says that we like to look at people like ourselves (The mirror stage). 
• So!... 
• Mediation could be.... our relationship with the media, how we use the media to find others like ourselves and to define who we are. (This is often how subcultures exist or are defined) 

The questions says, has this process increased or decreased? 

Instagram: - One Direction / Taylor Swift / Justin Bieber / Essena O'Neill




Web 2.0 Sites:  - Reddit / 4Chan / 9Gag / LadBible

Steve Neale

He argues that "Genres are not systems, They're processes of systematisation"

Genres are instances of repetition and difference"

Steve Neale is saying that a film and it's genre is defined by two things:
How much it conforms with a genre's stereotypes and conventions.
He says that a film must conform to these conventions enough that it can still qualify and be identified as a film of that genre.
How much a film subverts the genre's stereotypes and conventions.
He says that a film must subvert these conventions enough that it is still viewed as a unique film, not just a clone.

survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/create/?sm=Ft1sXbpDkqdWKvg4385aq22W3e5GTFKZHE0Fog281oI_3D

David Buckingham

Genre theory

Make sure you have posted your notes on Altman's Semantic/Syntactic/Pragmatic approach to Genre theory.

Questions

1. Can you personally relate to the idea of creating identity using the media? Are there any characters or media personalities who you feel represent you?                                                                                       
2. 
   
3. Can you think of any examples of Collective Identities being heavily influenced and define themselves by the media? Particularly youth sub-cultures that are often defined by the type of media they consume:

1. Are there identities that are often constructed then perpetuated by the media? Eg. ‘The Chav’ Or are there individuals? Eg. Amy Winehouse
2. How can these media identities influence others? Eg ‘Skins Parties’
3. In an Internet ‘We Media’ world how can we use the media to create identities? Eg. Online Fandoms, YouTube, instagram

Stuart Hall - Robbin Thicke

Applying Audience Theory to Rollingstone cover

The media text, Rollingstone is a famous music and political focused magazine that is biweekly. The main audience to consume this media text would be a well educated male who is interested in politics and music. This is evident by the fact that on the cover of issues the titles refrence politics, such as "Inside the war... Religious Right". This supports the idea that a reader would be educated as they would have to be aware of political issues. As "war" is presented it associates the reader as being male as stereotypically they are interested in war. Rolling stone also cover cultural events that are relevant to Americans. For example, "Brodie Miller" who is a sports star that is well known in America that again supports the stereotype of the reader. Above the masthead, there are a list of artists that suggest the age of the reader being older due to the time period where the artist was most successful, such as "Billy Joel" who was well known in the 70/80s.

 In the Febuary 9th issue, the magazine features Kayne West where a medium close up shot illustrates him as Jesus as he is wearing a crown of thorns with a bloody forehead. Kayne West as an artist contrasts the typical audience of the rolling stone magazine. The fans and followers of Kayne are younger and interested into controversial issues. As this issue has created two audiences for the magazine, one regular reader and the other a fan of Kayne West. This means that it is easy to apply Stuart Hall's audience theory as it indicates that the prefered reading for fans of Kayne is that Kayne is powerful and Godlike. The secondary audinence (a strong supporter of Kayne) would have the knowledge and understanding that Kayne is religious. However the primary audience who most likely would not be aware of his relgious would believe the opposition reading of the cover being offensive and balsasfermous. Another opposition reading of the February issue associates with the race of Kayne being conntoed as a black jesus which many readers would find offensive.  

Fans and followers of the artist idolise him meaning that for this front cover applying the Hypodermic Needle theory as a reader it would support the idea of him being a legend in music as well as in society.  The other audience theory that could be applied is the Cultivation theory that says that an idea is reinforced the more an audience consumes the media where the idea is repeated, applying this to Kayne would support the theory as most of his image demonstrates him being presented as religious and godlike.

The masthead and the colour scheme of being gold and red implies the concept that Rollingstone is an authentic and classic magazine. However, it could be interpreted that Kayne west being a wealthy rapper where some of his songs focus on the issue of money and gold suggests the magazine selling the perception of bling that is not typically highlighted to the primary audience of "bling" and "gold".