HYHGP? - initial discussion

• Conversational and direct mode of address. Mode of delivery: unprofessional and casual.
• Discussion of serious issues: knife crime, drugs and drug dealing, racism 
• A one to one discussion - however, consistent use of the word ‘we’, his shared experiences, as well as his voice and accent all construct George as a black young man.
• A discussion of the music he listens to, and sharing his passion and enthusiasm for rap music. However, he also explores the issues that the music brings up. Presents a highly complicated representation of rap music. George address this link while also challenging it
• Genre - a combination of different genres, including poetry, politics, news and documentary, storytelling and drama
• Hybrid genre, and highly unconventional 
• A huge range of sound effects are included to create an immersive mode of address. Structured like an informal conversation, while George goes about his day. We hear his car, his sat nav ..
• “It’s nice out here”, a simple comment that is not edited out constructs a sense of flow and reality. As realistic and immersive as possible, and with a high level of verisimilitude. (like the truth)
• A big emphasis on actual music, which George sings along with. Provides the audience with a relatable mode of address and an insight in to George himself. He is part of the narrative and the protagonist. May come across as big headed and narcissistic. 
• A big focus on young people and teenagers, promoting a blank canvass and encouraging a range of audiences to engage with this narrative.
• The episode focusses on the effectiveness of the prison systems, with terrible conditions that lead to institutional drug use. He also considers mental health issues, including suicide and self harm: “while his cell mate is slicing himself up”. Shocking!
• Over the sound of children playing, George says we is considering which of these children will live and which will die. Referring to inner-city children, he makes a shocking statement that sets the scale and impact of his message, considering the impact of crime and violence on a human level. 
• Ends with a message of hope? Asks the audience to reconsider and to take a different stance, to be active!
• “If you are a student, take it to your lecturer, if you are a teacher…” A clear consideration of the educational value of this show
• Unconventional
• Shocking
• Hybrid genre
• Personal mode of address
• We begin with a warning “this programme contains strong language”. This example of regulation is called self regulation, and is included to deter certain people from listening and therefore avoid complaints and scrutiny
• The strong language takes place within the context of the songs played, and includes the F word. 
• Discussion of sensitive topics, including murder, drug dealing in prison, criticisms of the state and the government…
• The podcast begins with George watching children at a playground. This is anchored through the use of a playground sound effect (diegetic sound, in the world of the narrative), creating an immersive mode of address. Yet George speculates how many of them will be dead or in prison. HGe discusses less privileged, working class, inner city youth
• Identity - George uses lexis and delivery to construct himself as a black man living in an inner city area. This form of self representation allows the show to target black people living in British cities, who are young and educated 
• Ambient sound effects used throughout: calming, relaxing… a good example would be used of chilled beats as a binary opposition to the aggressive drill he plays
• The use of UK hip hop allows George to target and to position his intended audience. Yet he also loves it. George is particularly enthusiastic about this music, singing along, turning up the volume, sharing his love and allowing the audience to relate to the music and him. Yet George also criticises this music from the perspective of having a negative effect on audiences…
• George encourages rappers to “speak up, and speak for the people who don’t have voices”, specifically the lost inner city black youth who are lost in this world of crime
• An extremely complex point of view, with descriptions of mental illness that comes from isolation and abandonment of prison, and the idea that prisoners have to take drugs or resort to self harm to deal with this 
• This ideology of respect and rehabilitation goers against the dominant British ideology that prisons should exist to punish people for crimes 
• Telling a story - explicit reference to representation theory, the idea that we can construct the world through media products and so on
• George is a doctor of philosophy, an extremely high level of education, which adds to a complex representation
• George uses a direct address throughout the episode, frequently breaking the fourth wall
• “It’s nice out here” - low production values actually help to immerse the audience
• Poetry - George keeps lapses in to poetry which helps the show flow, and allows him to target audiences in a completely different way