Considering representation and ideology in classic American holiday specials

 In this session, you will be exploring the messages and values that are encoded in the following films:

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

• There is a distinct anti-German ideology throughout the film. The comedy German accents, the names and also the distinctive, nazi-esque costumes of the soldiers all confirm their nature. The burning of toys ins a clear reference to Nazi book burning, and constructs a very deliberate ideological perspective that America is the most powerful and moral nation.
• Gift giving is fundamental to Christmas, and we should give as well as receive
• Furthermore, there is the alarming ideology that even in times of extreme poverty and deprivation, children must smile and be happy. This clearly capitalist ideology reinforces the idea that life is terrible and we must endure at all costs. Rather than actively changing our material conditions, we should live through little treats like toys. 
• Jessica is a fully grown woman who is instantly won over by being given a child’s toy. This reinforces a stereotypical ideological perspective that women only carte about material things. Jessica’s job is stereotypically feminine and reflects 1970s gender norms
• Jessica helps to get the team out of prison, but only with the help of Winter
• SCICTT takes the form of an origin story, taking something familiar, and providing explanations 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 

• The film is based upon the ideology of societal approval. Rudolph’s nose seems to cause absolute hatred in everybody around him, until finally it is essential to use him. The red nose could be symbolic of simply being different. His father’s hatred of rudolph is particularly surprising, and the drama in this narrative is depressing and hard hitting
• Stereotypical representations of gender. Clarice is heavily sexualised and is constructed based on stereotypical assumptions of sex and gender, and is constructed from the MES of eyelashes and a high pitched voice. She functions only as a love interest, reinforcing a patriarchal ideology
• Everyone in the narrative is white with no exceptions, which reflects the desires and the ideologies of the time. 
• The stigma that Rudolph faces for having a red nose, is symbolic of racism. He is mocked in the street, is treated with hostility, and is segregated from the rest of the group. He ends travelling with the dentist elf to the Island Of Misfit Toys, and ends up being refused access here as well. 
• The narrative is outdated and mean spirited, with every character being absolutely awful

A Year Without Santa Claus

• The vast majority of characters are white, which reinforces a dominant, hegemonic perspective that white people are privileged, and exert more power. However, later on, all the children of the world unite and combine to bring Santa his presents, which suggests not only that the entire world follows a broadly Christian ideology, but also reflects a post-colonial attitude to the world and it’s different people can simply get along by believing in Santa Claus
• The central narrative is that children are the glue holding together Christmas, yet they have lost their faith in Santa. 
• The vast majority of characters are male, with the only two female characters being stereotypical mothers, which reinforces patriarchal ideological perspectives 
• Stereotypical Christmas iconography that reinforces certain values 
• The character of Snowmeiser is not only completely confusing but also visually terrifying 

While these films are pretty much unknown in the UK, outside of some of the songs featured in them, they are cultural artefacts in America, and children are still forced to watch them for this day. Furthermore, they have been referenced in lots of US media, and reflect lots of dominant US hegemonic ideological positions. So they are perfect for analysis!

We're going to watch them, then we're going to discuss them. Here are some potential talking points:

• Representation of gender
• Themes
• Ideologies
• Dominant hegemonic values
• Genre and narrative
• Shifting normative values and ideologies
• Cultural resonance
• Style and content

P block student newspaper 2024 - The Trumpet

 

Using the pick and mix theory - Gauntlet’s model of identity

 

Football news

• Football coverage is important for certain audiences, as it functions as aspirational escapism. 
• Information: finding out if your favourite team is winning is important, as football fans form an intense emotional bond with their team
• Discussions about football allow fans to form intense friendships with one another, meaning that learning more about football leads to exciting social situations
• Specific lexis that only fans of sport will understand. By understanding this language , it validates the audience as a football fan 
• Information can be used to form friendships ad to exchange information with other football fans
• Provides information to fans in a way that they will understand 

Articles about the weather

• These articles allow audiences social interaction through being able to look after and protect their friends and family 
• Talking about the weather is a stereotypical British pastime, and this reinforces patriotic values 
• The weather is an event which is shared by everybody, gives a sense of collective unity
• It is a stereotype that British people like to talk about the weather. It is a conversation starter, and provides us with a sense of national identity 

Hard news stories about crime and murder

• Negative and depressing news stories are popular, because they are interesting 
• Audiences can be aware of terrible things that happen in the world, giving them an opportunity to prepare 
• These stories are enjoyable. Audiences can take a grim form of escapism, and realise that their lives are so much better
• Finally, we can share these stories with friends, and therefore increase the opportunity for social interaction
• Audiences will doubtless react negatively to stories like this. It is clear that depressing and awful stories hold appeal
• An enjoyment of the narrative. These dramatic stories provide escapism to audiences. It is interesting, and different from their day to day life 
• While not everyone will enjoy reading horrible stories about death, The Mirror online provides many different opportunities to pick and mix instead 

The effects model in context

Researching the TV industry

Before you complete these tasks, think very carefully about the implications of me setting this precise work less than a week before your mock exam.

Also, this is a lot of work. If you do it all to a high standard, it is at least three hours of work. You have your work cut out for you. But it's all useful, and it's all completely doable independently. 

Task one: researching Les Revenants and industry concerns

For this task, you will create and compile a fact file of information related to Les Revenants and how it functions as a TV show. To do this, you will use an official EDUQAS resource to help collate this information.

Yes, this is going to involve a lot of copy and pasting, answering brief questions and so on.

Do this - click here and work through the tasks, watch the videos, and if there's a dead link, just move on

Task two: researching San Junipero and industry concerns

Once more the exam board have some great resources that you may or may not be aware of. One of these are 'blended learning' resources, that are basically extra online lessons to complement and inform your in-class lessons. While you're on the page, you may wish to click around, as this stuff is perfect for your daily revision.

Click here. Then click 'open resource', then click '5.0 - media industries' from the drop down on the left. Work through the tasks. Have fun!