essay.

Jordan Jones

Contextual and theoretical studies essay.

An investigation into the decline of Modern Cinema.

In our current era, cinema and television is a cultural hub, providing entertainment to the modern day person, we are faced with some kind of visual interaction almost everyday, thus meaning cinema is a high impact on our lives, but some films blow us away and some films drift from our minds almost instantly, I blame this on the modern standardisation of the film industry, as with Adorno's text on the stadarisation of modern music, cinema is beginning to sink into the same decline, as I dont agree with some of Adorno's texts, I feel cinema has lost much of the sustinance it once used to provide and has become a modern day outing for the sterotypical western family, with huge cinema complexes only really showing the next star studded, Box office smash.

What has happened to cinema?, where did all the heart and soul and body of the film industry go?, once again in the modernist world, the cinema industry has become a huge money-making machine, in Leo Charney's text “ cinema and the invention of modern life” he quotes that “cinema formed a crucible for ideas,techniques and representation strategies” and it was, Cinema was once a hub of activty with established directors using a camera to create pieces of work that didnt need to be crowded with special effects to make the audience happy.

Modernisation is a strong factor, with popular culture defining the way Cinema has progressed and declined, with clear signs of postmodernism emphesising style and special effects. This moves me on to popular culture, what does the modern day society request from the cinema industry? Has it been “dumbed down” for the masses?. The answer is yes, modern cinema has taken a less intelligent approach using visuals over content, a prime example is James Cameron's Avatar, voted on of the best films of all time, is primaraily just a basic love story masked by a cocophony of outstanding special effects which clouds the veiwers acknowledgment to the potentially weak storyline, but Avatar has a strong point, it is not a re-make or adaptation of another franchise, a outcome of popular culture is that filmakers are no longer inclined to create original compelling storylines when there are potenitionally thousands of scripts just waiting to be written using other peoples ideas.

Comic book adaptations are a outstanding example of a box office hit in modern sociecty, using social escapsim to attract the veiwer to a fictional enviroment where the characters are already well established and relateable, however this in no way targeting the writers of the comics, just targeting the directors challenged with the task of remaking well known ideals and turning them into modern icons.

Mass culture wants to believe that the cinema it is being fed by the money making industires is good, We are set up to beileve that what we are being shown is outstanding cinema, with prestigous award ceromonies such as the Oscar's and the Bafta's, where cultural icons parade down red carpets in order to receive awards for films that barely scratch the surface of intellect, but modernism wants us to accept this, accept that a film is good because it has an actor or actress that we can aspire to.

However it is not all bad news, stalwarts of the film industries still attempt to break the boundaries and push on and create good cinema, Britain is still a stalwart for defining motion picture and with directors like Shane Meadow's and Guy Ritchie gaining the masses attention a little light of hoep still shines for cinema, unfortuneatly during the current reccessions British cinema has faced a lot of cuts,primarily due the fact, it is as not as well established as the American Giant across the atlantic.
European cinema also still holds it's head high as not being a victim to the cultural trend of turning every film in to a special effects phonemenon, but these films will get no recognition overseas because of mass standardisation in the American film industry.

Although, a good example of a film which is culturally sound is Disney/Pixars “up”, arguabally one of the best films designed for the masses in the last 10 years, It took children's cinema to new heights, with a surreal yet believable storyline balancing childish humour with more developed cultural drama, it is a carbon copy of today's mass culture, almost in the context that all our problems can be “wished” away. This is culturaly relevent in modern western society, we are faced with problems which we can hide through visual escapism, 120 minutes of uplifting cinema can soon wash our minds of what problems we actually face.

In due respect, cinema might be able to save itself if people stand up to the masses and develp their own film, a highlight to technological advances is the explosion in the home video generation, with advancement in home film making technology, creatives are beginning to harness the power they possess and can make their work open available through the internet, this is promising for the more adventeorus veiwer who maybe wants to steer clear from the box office, and indulge in some more cognitive cinema from the comfort of his own home, in that case we are blessed that amateur film is becoming a growing force in cinema and is a discipline I can see flourishing in future.



The argument raised in this essay, is that we cannot stop the rampage of post modernism, it will only take us further down the path of the money making “fat cat,” and unfortunately in a world dominated by aspirations and role models, cinema will continue to get worse, we live in a cultural soceity safegaurded by the masses, the world of cinema will respond to what the people want, and people who used to enjoy the highlights of intellectually engrossing cinema will begin to suffer, and will have to dig deep to find their own form of escapism, however with the prodominant rise of independent film making, the world of cinema could be entering a battle with intent to bring Film back to, it's once cultural greatness.


Bibliography:

(Charney Leo, 1996. Cinema and the Invention of Modern Life. Edition. University of California)

(D. Strinati, 1995. Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture. 1 Edition. Routledge.)

(John Storey, 2000. Cultural Theory, Popular Culture: An Introduction. 3rd Edition. Prentice Hall.)

portolio task 7. Constructing the other

I have decided to discuss the article in The Sun newspaper regarding the Hillsborough disaster. A truly sickening article in which the author tells the "truth" about Liverpool football supported stealing and acting absurdly during the disaster. A common stereotype of the people of liverpool is "Scousers" and they are sometimes classed as theives. unfortunately this stereotype was pasted all over the cover, insisting that the fans were "stealing" from the dead. This is a disgusting accusation that still sticks with liverpool fans to this days with a huge "Justice for the 96" campaign and a citywide attempt to boycott the sale of the sun newspaper in liverpool.

The language in the article is so derogative and insulting the fact someone could write such hurtful things after a disaster that saw 96 innocent fans lose their lives that day.

The newspaper attempted to cause some kind of social unrest and trying to disband the city of liverpool with the rest of the nation, and to non liverpudlian readers, they probably related to the stereotype and caused readers to believe the outrageous lies they were being fed.

If anyone had any sense they would choose the believe that this is far from the truth and is a massive fabrication of a stereotype,used in a sickening manor.

portfolio task 6. sustainability and capitalism

1. How is sustainability defined in the text?

Sustainability is defined as a way of responding to a current economical crisis, ideally sustainability is to maintain our current resources without harming the environment. Processes which meet the need of the present without damaging future resources.

2.What are the main characteristics or tendencies of Capitalism?

Capitalism is a structure held in place so organisations can gain financially from resources we need, it constantly searches for new things to commodify for the sake of profit.apitalism thrives in creating then subsuming the other.

3. Define a 'crisis of Capitalism'. Offer an example.

A 'crisis of capitalism' occurs when there is no more resource to give to the point where there's nothing else to resource for profit. Organisations then exploit the matter they have created ie. Al gore "an inconvenient truth" brainwashed citezens to resort to bio fuels, highly expensive bio fuels in order to make profit and make the citezen believe they are doing a good deed.

4. What solutions have been offered to the sustainability question? Are these successful or realistic? - If not why are they flawed?

Four solutions are offered for businesses to become sustainable. The first is the reduction of waste from more efficient resourcing and the second requests to use environmentally friendly, non toxic, materials and methods of production. The third suggests commercial restructure for example offering a service instead of a product. The fourth is to reinvest in human and natural capital, sustaining primary ecosystems.

In theory these ideas work. however it would be expensive to overhaul the system and it is apparent that new technologies do more harm than good.

5. Is the concept of sustainability compatible with Capitalism?

The concept of these two running side by side is a bit of a tall story, with one sustainability proving to be a good thing whereas capitalism will tell us different, the perfect ideal of going green is just another attempt for organisations to put our hands in our pockets and spend money on a cause we think is good. the capatilist movement puts there "wallets before the world."
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portfolio task5 : lefebvre and space

Woodhouse Moor or as it is more commonly know as "hyde park" was the first public park in central Leeds. it was designed as a getaway from the city, as it is a surreal environment of large open greenery surrounded by a densely populated environment, similar to central park in New york, just on a smaller scale.
The park it's self is a perfect example of human escapism, it is a highly contrasted are designed to take away the strains created by city life.
however it has turned into a highly social space, mostly occupied by students when the sun is out which can sometimes be a deterrant to the other locals in the area as usually alchohol is consumed and the general peacefulness is disregarded.

From the air it is quite clear that the space is man made, sitting quite oddly in a diamond shape in the middle of high urbanisation.


the space is meant to be a source of escapism in the city but when you go there you still get the feeling you are not truly free, however it is still used in the context it was intended to be used for, a place for residents to walk dogs and just "escape" for a moment.

on the other hand,after hors hyde park is completely avoided, becoming a dark hub of crime and general anti social activites, with no lighting it is the perfect blueprint for such activites.

Portfolio task 4: essay

i propose to write my essay on the decline of modern cinema,

i intend to discuss.

how the quality and structure of cinema is declining.
why special effect isn't always a good a thing.
how films are just money generators.
why directors are scared to make films
what makes a good film.

portfolio task 3 : semiotics.

The article we have been asked to analyse is the front cover of the Sun newspaper during the Falklands War period. The headline is prodominate with the phrase"gotcha!" in bold black text. Not instantly a phrase you associate with war, but this implies that the author finds some kind of patriotic humour about destroying an argentine ship. the headline is followed by the quote ‘our lads sink gun boat and hole cruiser’. using the term "our lads" makes the reader feel patriotic toward the subject and encourages that we winning a war.
The images are of the two boats sunk which in essence is highy un-tasteful in itself, but its cleary a strong use of propaganda to tell the public that we are a higher power because we sunk the boats.
The sub heading is followed by the opening of the article with the words "The Navy had the Argies on their knees’, for me, this does not sound like a documentation of battle more like a description of a football match. maybe this is because the sun is a tabloid and is normally read by people of lower IQ than say readers of the the telegraph.
It also mocks the argentinian people by referring to them as "argies". showing patriotic disrespect and labelling the enemy.

Overall the whole article is definately aimed toward the lower classes, as it uses a lot of lower class slang such as "our lads" and "wallop"
either way the article is highly questionable considering it is meant to be an article about global conflict.

Portfolio task 2: Popular music

Quickly read Adorno's (1941) article 'On Popular Music' (links below). In no more than a few paragraphs, summarise his ideas on pop music, concentrating on highlighting key points such as 'standardisation' etc

Adorno raises the point that all popular music has been standardised, this is agreeable with the introduction of modern electronics and techniques. This has become an easy way for artists to compose music that is redicuously similar in style. Modern pop music and pop music culture is now, a giant engine spewing mediocre songs and relying on the image of the artist. For instance one of pop music's "Greats" Rhianna. A young girl who began her life in the Pop music machine at the age of 17. She is now a Lustrous sex symbol idolised by millions. Unfortunately , i don't believe her musical talent has helped her boom to success, more the development of her body. Rhianna's lyrics are open to matters of Sex, Glamour, Money and relationships. and for an artist who i find myself guessing is aimed at teenage girls, speaks about matters completely irrelevant to her intended audience. obviously throw a catchy beat on there and a singable chorus and the problem is resovled.

This is the case with modern pop music now, it is a modern market designed for making money, would you watch a rhianna video if she was fully dressed most of the time? and for girls this "independant woman" sexiness is so apparent of the time. if your good looking your gonna get money thrown at you and processed via autotune.

However, not all modern music is Standardised. there are cultural revolutuions happening all the time and artits fight the mass and produce great pieces of music. unfortunately you have to process the heaps of incredible dross to access it.