Media studiesMedia studiesandand

Collective Collective identity identity

Identity is complicated. Everyone Identity is complicated. Everyone

thinks they’ve got one-thinks they’ve got one- David Gauntlett David Gauntlett

Learning objectives Learning objectives

L.O- To understand what is meant by the L.O- To understand what is meant by the term Collective identity.term Collective identity.

To understand some ways in which To understand some ways in which identity is created in the modern worldidentity is created in the modern world

To understand the role the media had in To understand the role the media had in creating identitiescreating identities

Starter- What is identity and how do Starter- What is identity and how do you create your own identity? you create your own identity?

The concept of a collective identity refers to a The concept of a collective identity refers to a set of individuals' sense of belonging to the set of individuals' sense of belonging to the group or collective. For the individual, the group or collective. For the individual, the identity derived from the collective shapes a part identity derived from the collective shapes a part of his or her personal identity. It is possible, at of his or her personal identity. It is possible, at times, that this sense of belonging to a particular times, that this sense of belonging to a particular group will be so strong that it will trump other group will be so strong that it will trump other aspects of the person's personal identity. To put aspects of the person's personal identity. To put it another way, Collective Identity is the idea that it another way, Collective Identity is the idea that through participating in social activities, through participating in social activities, individuals can gain a sense of belonging and in individuals can gain a sense of belonging and in essence an "identity" that transcends the essence an "identity" that transcends the individual. Therein are the rewards and risks of individual. Therein are the rewards and risks of Social Networking. One can derive great Social Networking. One can derive great satisfaction and sometimes great risks from satisfaction and sometimes great risks from participating. Within a typical collective, participating. Within a typical collective, agreement is often valued over debate, though agreement is often valued over debate, though even more often fierce battles may erupt.even more often fierce battles may erupt.

How do you create your identity? How do you create your identity?

FamilyFamily

FriendsFriends

FashionFashion

TV /film TV /film

Social networking sites Social networking sites

MagazinesMagazines

How do these videos create a How do these videos create a collective identity of Britain?collective identity of Britain?

Compare these two as representational texts and Compare these two as representational texts and discuss what we can conclude about changes in discuss what we can conclude about changes in Britain. Compare these two as representational Britain. Compare these two as representational texts and discuss what we can conclude about texts and discuss what we can conclude about changes in Britain.changes in Britain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqn5AIdd-9khttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqn5AIdd-9k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltPxz4PinDAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltPxz4PinDA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA04vzf9Pmcv=LA04vzf9Pmc

Examples of collective identityExamples of collective identity

Wikipedia- the power of collective thoughtWikipedia- the power of collective thoughtIdentities in social networking sites and virtual Identities in social networking sites and virtual worldsworldsFace book Face book Second lifeSecond life World of war craftWorld of war craftYou tube You tube fandomfandomWhat else? What else?

The exam The exam

The specification asks for students to The specification asks for students to choose a specific topic area to be studiedchoose a specific topic area to be studied

through specific case studies, texts, through specific case studies, texts, debates, and research.debates, and research.

To cover at least two media and a range of To cover at least two media and a range of texts, industries, audiences and debatestexts, industries, audiences and debates

Candidates must be prepared to answer an exam question Candidates must be prepared to answer an exam question related to one or more of the following prompts:related to one or more of the following prompts:

How do the contemporary media represent How do the contemporary media represent nations, regions and ethnic/ social/collective nations, regions and ethnic/ social/collective groups of people in different ways?groups of people in different ways?

How does contemporary representation How does contemporary representation compare to previous time periods?compare to previous time periods?

What are the social implications of different What are the social implications of different media representations of groups of people?media representations of groups of people?

To what extent is human identity increasingly To what extent is human identity increasingly ‘mediated’? ‘mediated’?

The questions:50 marks 1 hourThe questions:50 marks 1 hour

Discuss the contemporary representation of a nation, Discuss the contemporary representation of a nation, religion or social group in the media using specific religion or social group in the media using specific examples from at least two media to support your examples from at least two media to support your answeranswer

How far does the representation of a particular social How far does the representation of a particular social group change over time? Refer to at least two media in group change over time? Refer to at least two media in your answer? your answer?

Question one will usually discuss: to what extent/ how Question one will usually discuss: to what extent/ how far/ have an opinion or take a viewfar/ have an opinion or take a view

Question two will usually discuss: explain how something Question two will usually discuss: explain how something operates/ explain/respond to a quote or a statement. operates/ explain/respond to a quote or a statement.

Key points to consider: Key points to consider:

How media that are in public circulation now represent How media that are in public circulation now represent groups of people in different ways groups of people in different ways How these representations can be seen as different to How these representations can be seen as different to historical representations of the same groupshistorical representations of the same groupsThe effects in society of different kinds of media The effects in society of different kinds of media representation of collective identities representation of collective identities Ways in which people might use the media actively to Ways in which people might use the media actively to form a collective identityform a collective identityDebates around the idea that our identities are Debates around the idea that our identities are increasingly constructed by, through or in response to increasingly constructed by, through or in response to the media (and arguments against this notion) the media (and arguments against this notion)

Your answer Your answer

Must include:Must include:One historical reference One historical reference Contemporary references (last 5 years counts as Contemporary references (last 5 years counts as contemporary)contemporary)One future speculation in regards to your topicOne future speculation in regards to your topicYou must also mention the second media at least once. You must also mention the second media at least once. You can do the two media 90%/ 10%You can do the two media 90%/ 10%It is best to start your answer with: I am going to be It is best to start your answer with: I am going to be discussing….i will be discussing this in reference to….. discussing….i will be discussing this in reference to….. State why you are using it. State why you are using it. Show awareness of both sides of the argument Show awareness of both sides of the argument

How media that are public circulation now How media that are public circulation now represent groups of people in different waysrepresent groups of people in different ways

How and which media present teenagers in a certain How and which media present teenagers in a certain way? way? How do people who belong to a group on face book How do people who belong to a group on face book represent themselves? represent themselves?

how are different cultures and religions represented? how are different cultures and religions represented? http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yIvxp0kt9I&feature=relatedv=8yIvxp0kt9I&feature=related

Fans using Eastenders to create an identity Fans using Eastenders to create an identity http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ABh7FJeWk&feature=relatedv=U5ABh7FJeWk&feature=related

Ways in which people might use the media actively to form Ways in which people might use the media actively to form a collective identitya collective identity

Second life (see article) Second life (see article) You tube-You tube-Constructed Identity Constructed Identity by the Collective: by the Collective: http://www.youtube.com/user/lonelygirl15?blend=1&ob=4http://www.youtube.com/user/lonelygirl15?blend=1&ob=4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgOtnLmJxno&feature=topvideoshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgOtnLmJxno&feature=topvideos

Through YouTube activities like subscribing, ‘favoriting,’ rating, etc. Through YouTube activities like subscribing, ‘favoriting,’ rating, etc. (marketing and hype)(marketing and hype)

Through YouTube direct feedback (user comments and video Through YouTube direct feedback (user comments and video response)response)

Through rejection of behaviors that do not comply with the identity Through rejection of behaviors that do not comply with the identity as constructed by the collectiveas constructed by the collective

Through YouTube direct feedback (user comments Through YouTube direct feedback (user comments and video response)and video response)

– ““you’re such a classy lady, you’re bringing old you’re such a classy lady, you’re bringing old hollywood glam back!” hollywood glam back!”

– ““I JUST LOVE YOUR VOICE! When you talk... it's like I JUST LOVE YOUR VOICE! When you talk... it's like Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn and Faye Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn and Faye Dunaway all mixed together! You have the intonation Dunaway all mixed together! You have the intonation down and everything. And your choice of words is down and everything. And your choice of words is fabulous!!”fabulous!!”

– ““i friggin' LOVE YOU! I see so much Marilyn Monroe i friggin' LOVE YOU! I see so much Marilyn Monroe in you....you have no idea. And the cabaret thing....oh in you....you have no idea. And the cabaret thing....oh deary lord, Sally Bowles! ha.” --- “Marilyn was a deary lord, Sally Bowles! ha.” --- “Marilyn was a construct...this gal is the real thing...cannot compare construct...this gal is the real thing...cannot compare the two...thank you maryann for being who you are!”the two...thank you maryann for being who you are!”

– ““I wish you were my life coach....or my girlfriend.…”I wish you were my life coach....or my girlfriend.…”

Through YouTube direct feedback (user comments Through YouTube direct feedback (user comments and video response)and video response)

– She started singing -> People start She started singing -> People start subscribing and commenting: response and subscribing and commenting: response and expectations -> She reconstructs herself expectations -> She reconstructs herself

– ysabellabrave - as character only existing in ysabellabrave - as character only existing in expectations of her viewers, the negotiation expectations of her viewers, the negotiation between the individual and the collectivebetween the individual and the collective

– Clips: Clips: Blue HeavenBlue Heaven, A Word or Two 02:36, , A Word or Two 02:36, Everyday BraveryEveryday Bravery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hPpbUCEZzghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hPpbUCEZzg

Constructed Identity Constructed Identity by the Collectiveby the Collective

Through rejection of behaviors that do not Through rejection of behaviors that do not comply with the identity as constructed by the comply with the identity as constructed by the collectivecollective– Art videos - Videos provoked furious debateArt videos - Videos provoked furious debate

““This is no good. I mean you should stick to just singing only. This is no good. I mean you should stick to just singing only. This is way out of there. bizarre to say the least.”This is way out of there. bizarre to say the least.”

““A picture tells a thousand words: Twenty-four(!) pictures of A picture tells a thousand words: Twenty-four(!) pictures of yourself was simply way over the top for me…I am truly a fan yourself was simply way over the top for me…I am truly a fan of yours and watch your videos everyday. Would you please of yours and watch your videos everyday. Would you please explain - so that I will find this less disturbing?”explain - so that I will find this less disturbing?”

Constructed Identity Constructed Identity by the Collectiveby the Collective

The "truthiness" problemThe "truthiness" problem– ““Truthiness is the very definition of truth, Truthiness is the very definition of truth,

2006-style: 2006-style: ‘the quality of preferring ‘the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be rather than concepts or facts known to be true.’”true.’”

– (excerpted from “Commentary: The Year in Pop (excerpted from “Commentary: The Year in Pop Culture: 2006” in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)Culture: 2006” in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Key points to considerKey points to consider

YouTube is a testament to the participatory YouTube is a testament to the participatory value of new media, folk cultures of digital age. value of new media, folk cultures of digital age. Further inquiries:Further inquiries:– What are implications of this fact that there is no authenticity? What are implications of this fact that there is no authenticity?

(peer-to-peer implies friendship and connectivity)(peer-to-peer implies friendship and connectivity)– What do we lose when we acknowledge collectively constructed What do we lose when we acknowledge collectively constructed

identities?identities?– Is celebrating democracy enough?Is celebrating democracy enough?– Are other spaces more appropriate for interactions between Are other spaces more appropriate for interactions between

individuals?individuals?– What happens when “truthiness” prevails over truth?What happens when “truthiness” prevails over truth?

What is the collective identity of the What is the collective identity of the nuts reader?nuts reader?

Breakfast cerealBreakfast cerealCarCar

Holiday destinationHoliday destinationFast food Fast food FurnitureFurnitureTV show TV show Music Music PetPet

Media 2.0, mash-ups and reception theoryMedia 2.0, mash-ups and reception theory

"The Internet is a reflection of our society and that mirror is going to be reflecting what we see. If we do not like what we see in that mirror the problem is not to fix the mirror, we have to fix society."

Vint Cerf, Google, 2004

Second lifeSecond life

Second lifeSecond life

Academic response to SLAcademic response to SL

AnonymityAnonymityIdentityIdentityMasqueradeMasqueradePerformancePerformanceThe networked selfThe networked selfCommunityCommunityRoleRoleMotivation Motivation Complex interplay of ‘virtual’ and ‘real’Complex interplay of ‘virtual’ and ‘real’

Virtual worldsVirtual worlds

Is Virtual Reality a new medium? Is Virtual Reality a new medium? How can we define immersion and simulation? How can we define immersion and simulation?

Is Is immersive immersive experience becoming the experience becoming the

dominant paradigm for media?dominant paradigm for media?Is it the Is it the social distributionsocial distribution of media in VR that of media in VR that

distinguishes it from film, for example?distinguishes it from film, for example?Is a virtual world a ‘distributed network’ of Is a virtual world a ‘distributed network’ of

identities?identities?How can we compare Second Life, World of How can we compare Second Life, World of

Warcraft and GTA4 using these concepts?Warcraft and GTA4 using these concepts?