AS Comms - 1000 word coursework

Single parent families - absence of dads
Same sex parents
Same sex parents - advertising campaign
How has family life changed?
Teenage rebellion
Teenage rebellion 2
Prison and family life
Prison and family life 2
Gypsy weddings
Gypsy weddings 2
Relationships and cultures
1st dates - who pays?
Adoption - advertising children
Family meals
Weddings - the event

A2 Comms & Culture: are consumers suckers or savvy?

A2 COMMS : Objects of Desire - radio programmes

Click here to listen to a series of programmes about Consumerism and the role of advertising in promoting it - great independent work to support Objects of Desire.

A2 Comms / Objects of Desire / Selling Christmas

Click the appropriate link below to access the advert your group is analysing:

John Lewis Christmas 2013

Marks and Spencer Christmas 2013

Harvey Nichols Christmas 2013

Coca Cola Christmas 2013

Sainsbury Christmas 2013

You will need to watch your advert two times before you start discussing and analysing it.

A2 Literature: writing the next scene

AS Comms - Family life and meal times

Watch this Ted Talk where Laurie David argues the case for the family meal. What are the key points she is making and do you agree?

AS Comms - Preparing for the 1000 word coursework with some comedy

How can you apply the theories you have studied on the course so far to this clip?

A2 Literature - A Conversation with Arthur Miller

Click here to watch an extract from an interview with Arthur Miller. Once you have watched the video, answer the questions online (you will be prompted to register with TedEd, which takes just a couple of minutes).

A2 Comms & Culture - Consumerism & Objects of Desire

If you were in last Friday's lesson, click here to complete the activity I'd like you to do.

{If you want a reminder of Bernays, try this:}

After that, read through your notes on Veblen from last Monday & then watch this (and answer the question that follows in your book): click here


If you weren't here last Friday, you need to watch the first 20 minutes of this programme about the birth of Public Relations, and the influence of Edward Bernays:

Click here to watch The Century of the Self. Pick up a sheet

AS Lang & Lit - Chris' experiences in the war

Band of Brothers, episode 2

A2 Comms - Edward Bernays / The Century of the Self

The Century of the Self - Part 1

AS LL - All My Sons: the P40

Objects of Desire: Veblen

Prezi on Veblen

A2 Literature - Happy & Biff

Watch this interpretation of the scene we looked at in class today & come to class ready with your comments next week...

AS Comms - applying the course to comedy

How can you apply the theories we learned so far at AS to this comedy sketch from League of Gentlemen?

A2 Comms - PostColonialism & popular culture

Click here to read an article from The Observer newspaper about the representation of race in pop videos.

And Rihanna provides us with the perfect demonstration of Edward Said's ideas about Orientalism - remember he explored representations of 'other' and concluded that women from 'oriental' cultures are constructed as exotic, primal & highly sexualised. Here's Rihanna creating that representation all by herself:

A2 Literature - Arthur Miller

Click here to read a really good essay about Arthur Miller - this is a must-read!

A2 Comms: the meanings of multiculturalism in Britain today

 

 

 

Click on the images to make them big enough to read.

 

AS Lang Lit: the opening of All My Sons

A2 Literature - Miller's inspiration for writing DOS

Click here to watch Miller explain the inspiration for Death of a Salesman.

A2 Comms: The Niqab debate

You might also enjoy this programme about the 'n' word, which features Ashley from So Solid Crew - click here to watch it.

AS Lang Lit: All My Sons

Click here for the Prezi that Kunal used for his presentation on Tragedy.


Here's the trailer for the original film version of All My Sons (1948):

A2 Comms - Two very different viewpoints about immigration in the news today...

Click here to read a report in The Guardian about the impact of recent immigration on the economy - definitely worth reading. For an alternative attitude towards immigration, click here to read about the Daily Express's 'crusade' (their words, not mine) against continued immigration from the EU.

AS COMMS - 500 word coursework checklist

CHECKLIST: 500 WORD INVESTIGATION

Have you:                                                              Yes/No/Not consistently

Included the topic at the top of the piece (e.g. Stories of my life; Education)?
Included your own title underneath this?
Ensured the font style is consistent throughout?
Blocked your paragraphs?
Spell checked it & ensured it is as accurate as it can be?
Written as clearly and concisely as you can? (it shouldn’t be a battle to understand what you are saying)
Explained clearly right at the start what your investigation is about?
Ensured that every paragraph is focused on what you are investigating? (Don’t wander off topic!)
Used Comms & Culture terminology where there are opportunities to do so? (Use bookmark!)
Applied theory? Which?
Had a go at challenging theory?
Analysed rather than described? (how? why? effect?)
Presented a sense of development in your thinking? (Ideally the investigation should read like a journey)
Included your name and a word count?

A2 Comms - District 9

Click here for the Padlet page on District 9. Please post two comments (2 separate boxes) - one about the film and one in relation to your broader discussion question. Don't forget to start with your name so that I can see that you've all done it! For Friday ...

A2 Comms - Immigration to the UK

Lord Kitchener: London is the place for me

Click here for the link to Socrative (then click 'student log in' at the top of the page).

Padlet Immigration Wall

Extension work: I really recommend that you listen to this radio programme about Multicultural Britain. It lasts about 30 minutes and features Stuart Hall, a leading Postcolonial academic (himself part of the Windrush generation). Click here to play the programme (it can't be downloaded, so do it on wifi).

AS Comms - Applying the course so far to a comedy sketch

Which aspects of the course studied so far can we apply to this sketch?

A2 Comms & Culture: Edward Said

 

Omid Djalili

 

Edward Said & Orientalism

AS Lang Lit: All My Sons - the origins of the story

Click here to watch Arthur Miller explain where he got the idea for All My Sons from.

A2 Comms - Colonial attitudes

Rule Britannia:

Land of Hope and Glory:

AS Lang Lit: Represented Speech

How have the writers of each of these two texts used the conventions of spoken language to present plausible characters and narratives? How has the language been crafted to enable 'deeper' meanings to be conveyed and to ensure the audience don't get lost?

Marion & Jeff

The Wire

 



AS Comms - Language, perception and power

Harris Academy in Upper Norwood made the news this week because they have banned students from using certain words in lessons.

Click here to read the original story (BBC website)


Click here to read a response to the school's decision (The Independent newpaper)

Their decision seems to support Lindsay John's argument that in order to change how society perceives us, we need to use the language of the powerful (or Received Pronunciation). What do you think of the school's decision? Who do you agree with?

A2 Literature - The Bluest Eye article and presentations

Click here to read an interview with Toni Morrison. {Good for secondary reading & interpretations!}.

Click here to watch some audiovisual presentations about The Bluest Eye, produced by previous students.

AS Comms - Twilight work in place of lesson

AS C&C: Twilight

Practice question: Culture and value

Here are three different ideas about what makes a cultural text valuable: 

 

• A cultural text has value because it makes a good profit for its producer

• A cultural text has value because it has stood the test of time

• A cultural text has value because it is enjoyed by a large number of people

Choose one of the above statements and write an argument either defending it or challenging it. Aim for about 500 words.

 

Please email your essay to Clare (clare.dignum@rutc.ac.uk) by the end of this Friday (18^th October).

 

A2 Comms - Introducing Post Colonialism

Post Colonialism Intro Presentation.

 

Kenya: A White Man's Country

AS Comms - NVC

Watch this TED TALK, where Amy Cuddy reflects on the power of our non-verbal communication.

A2 Literature: The Bluest Eye / Articles and Blog entries

Click here to read a blog entry on TBE.
Click here for  a Feminist reading of the text.
Click here for a more challenging read!

A2 Comms - Appplying Marxism to Aston Martin Music

How can apply a Marxist reading of this video?

AS Comms & Culture - NVC



Desmond Morris: The Human Animal

 

NVC clips for analysis: click here.

AS Lang Lit: Suggested Framework for ELLA2/ Section A

Suggested framework to use for ELLA2, Section A

{Click the image to see a larger version you can read!}

AS Comms - Language and power

Perception and accents: click here

Language and power: click here to listen to a 15 minute speech on language and power.

What are the key arguments that Lindsay Johns make?
What is your response? Do you agree?

And - click here to read an article reflecting on people's attitudes to accents.

AS Comms Twilight: Subculture & Banksy

AS Comms Twilight: Semiotics

AS Lang Lit: Analysing Spoken Language

Watch this clip from 'The Apprentice' and identify 5 ways in which power and status (or lack of it) is conveyed through the language used by those featured in the clip. Try to use the terminology we have introduced in class to anchor your comments:

Click here to watch the clip.

A2 Lit: The Bluest Eye

Definitely worth watching!

Please remember also that once you have finished reading the book, there is a study pack on Moodle for you to use to help develop your understanding further.

A2 Comms - Karl Marx

Here is an excellent programme about Marx's ideas and their relevance to society today. Watch this to reinforce and develop your understanding of Marxism:

AS Comms Twilight: The meanings of the hijab

Last week we explored the cultural meanings of the hoodie. Click here to read about the meanings constructed by the hijab. It is important that you start to build your own case-studies about how clothes can be used as a signifier, and this would be a good start...

AS Comms: Poll

Please take part in the poll on Moodle in preparation for next week's lessons:
Do you communicate more with words or with your body language?

AS Comms Twilight: Counterculture

Click here to read an interesting article on the development of counterculture in Britain.

AS Comms - Goffman extension work

Click here to listen to a 30 minute programme on BBC Radio 4 about Goffman. This is a brilliant way to challenge yourself further!

AS Comms - applying the course so far to 3 Non Blondes

Watch the 'Search for the hero inside yourself' clip (from 3.16): what can you apply from what we have studied so far on the course to this clip (for the purposes of this, pretend it is real!)

A2 Literature - The Imitation of Life

In The Bluest Eye, Maureen is interested in Pecola's name and asks whether she has been named after the girl in film The Imitation of Life (1934). Actually, the character she is thinking of in the film is called Peola - but the reference is important because there are some key links between the film's narrative and The Bluest Eye. Most significantly, Peola is a mixed race girl who pretends that she is white, rejecting her black mother in the process. Here is a clip from the film:

AS Comms - Goffman

A2 Comms - Marxist analysis

Group 1: http://padlet.com/wall/isnx1n15t9

Group 2: http://padlet.com/wall/lqyh57dx6a

Group 3: http://padlet.com/wall/9x10hpw7ad

Group 4: http://padlet.com/wall/g1ygo0e1ji

Group 5: http://padlet.com/wall/jmde8zj5yi

Group 6: http://padlet.com/wall/gfpkfjaqm6

Group 7: http://padlet.com/wall/en5i1aq2f4

Group 8: http://padlet.com/wall/sr51y2occa

AS Comms - Hoodies as a cultural signifier

If you are interested in reading more about how the meanings of hoodies have changed over time, click here.

AS Comms - Goffman

The Goffman Prezi is here: http://prezi.com/6mil9xhxcnbu/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

AS Lang Lit: Analysis of Speech

Click here to watch an analysis of a very famous speech. This might be a good thing to watch before you start your homework for me.

A2 Comms - Plato's Cave

Watch this adaptation of Plato's Cave.
Then: imagine that Marx is one of the prisoners in the cave.
Tell his story: what does he discover when released from his chains? What produces the shadows on the wall? What is the reality of bourgeois society that lies behind its appearances?

A2 Comms - link to Prezi on Marxism

Here's the link to the Prezi used in class today (Capitalism v Marxism):
http://prezi.com/_w4h-b2f0yhx/?utm_campaign=share

A2 Comms: Mark Steele lecture on Marx

Once you've watched Part 1, go on and watch Parts 2 & 3.

AS Comms : Johari Window

Here is a link to the Prezi used in class:

http://prezi.com/fmw_u3tvl0nk/?utm_campaign=share&utm

A2 Lit: Shirley Temple

AS Comms - Twilight: Semiotics

Click here for a good online tutorial, which explains semiotics in an accessible way.

AS COMMS / Twilight: Defining Culture

AS LL - The art of rhetoric



 

 

This clip complements the work we are doing on rhetoric in class at the moment.

 

 



AS Comms - Blue eyes/Brown eyes experiment

Watch this clip to see the effects of labelling on behaviour and attitude on children - it's a classic experiment that you could refer to when discussing The Pygmalion Effect in your own work:

A2 Literature - Toni Morrison explains her motivation for writing The Bluest Eye

AS Lang & Lit: The Comma

Click here to watch a useful little film about commas...

A2 Comms - Capitalism & Jurassic Park

• Can you think of any other films - or music videos - where 'capital' provides the 'complication' and the 'motivation' for the plot/characters?
• Do you agree that we all 'silently accept that Capitalism is here to stay'?
• To what extent do you agree that in life 'we are not in charge, the market is'?

A2 Comms - introducing Capitalism

AS Comms - Twilight class

What is culture?

Click here to hear some different viewpoints: which do you agree with most?

For next week, ask 10 people how they would define culture - record their answers either in your books or on your phone (ask their permission first). Make sure you bring this to next Thursday's lesson.

AS Comms - How we see ourselves

Click here to watch 'A Girl Like Me'.
To what extent is our own sense of identity shaped by factors external to us?

AS Lang Lit - how often do you use exclamation marks?

A recent article on the BBC News website (click here to read it) comments on the increasing use of exclamation marks with the development of digital communication. Reflect on your own use of - and attitude towards - exclamation marks. Do you use them more when texting, emailing or on Facebook? Have you noticed any patterns - e.g. that women use them more than men?