Year 12 Media Studies: Student Questionnaire

GCSE Results:

• Maths – A*
• English Literature – A*
• English Language – A*
• History – A*
• Food Technology – A
• Chemistry – A
• Biology – B
• Physics – B
• French – B
• Philosophy & Ethics – B
• Art – B
• ICT – Pass (C)
• Dance – C

Personally, I don’t read newspapers as I tend to access the news through the Television or by listening to it on the Radio. However, I do read a monthly magazine called ‘Digital SLR Photography Magazine’, which is about Photography techniques, tips and the industry itself. I read this because Photography is great passion of mine, somewhat of a hobby, but as I am now studying it at A-Level I hope to pursue it into a career.

      I don’t listen to the Radio that often, but if I do it tends to be Radio 1. I enjoy the comedy value of the hosts as well as the variety of music played. Mostly, I listen to the ‘Chris Moyles’ Show’ in the mornings before school as it wakes me up, informs me of the news and  makes me laugh.

            My taste is music is very open, as in my music collection you’ll see some quite heavy rock next to some very calm jazz. My favourite genres are probably rock, folk rock, alternative, some electro and certain pop. I like: City and Colour, Biffy Clyro, Lady Gaga, Marina and the Diamonds and A Perfect Circle. I access my music via the internet, as it’s the main place where I can find new bands or hear new music from bands or artists that I already know.

            My opinion on downloading music illegally is that it is a cause of the corruption of the music industry, but I think that it is part of life now we are in the digital age. It is impossible to police or traffic piracy, ergo it cannot be done. On the contrary, artists do still make a lot of money because of the internet. The internet has caused information to be almost instantaneous and revolutionised the way we listen and access our music. It also, surprisingly, brought back the gig and concert side of music, much like in the 80s, but it died out slightly in the 90s. Therefore, the internet has made going to small gigs not only accessible, but also a way for artists to gain popularity and make money.

            The music industry does have some influence over the way that we dress, our attitudes and aspirations; however I think that it does differ in severity and direct messaging from genre to genre. In a heavy genre, such as metal, the messaging is very obvious and direct, also they have a distinct ‘image’ over that genre and per band, thus influencing directly due to the aspiration and messages being so blatant. However, in a softer genre, such a jazz, the image and messaging will be less obvious and more about the music and not the band/artist as an all-round ‘package’, therefore the influence will be less because there is less to be influenced from.

            I don’t play many video games, but when I do, I like adventure games and ‘sandbox’ games. When I was younger I used to play a lot of platform, adventure games, such as Spyro, Crash Bandicoot and Super Mario. Currently, I play a game called Minecraft. It is described, in the industry, as a ‘sandbox’ game, which means it is very creative and free game. It is a world of cube blocks, monsters and dungeons where you can explore huge, endless worlds, build anything and survive. I enjoy the freeness of the game as well as the ability to build and create. At the moment it is still a ‘beta’ indie game, but the full release for it is later this year.

            I do think that video games have a huge influence over attitudes and actions. The game ‘Call of Duty’, mainly referred to as ‘COD’ I think can be a bad influence as it promotes violent tendencies and can cause false interpretations of war. Also, one the main issues in the world of video gaming is the objectification of women, where not only men get a false representation of women, but also women are shown in disgusting and crude manners.

            I think over the last few years, new technology has definitely changed the way we view the world and access information. The technology such as the iPhone or iPad now means we can access information at the touch of button and keep it in our pocket to use wherever and whenever. These new technologies, along with the internet, have increased communications a lot. The use of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter has revolutionised the way we communicate. Also Instant Messaging, IM, such as Skype, has made calls, video calls and communication from around the world much, much simpler.

            The internet and new technologies have increased access and ability to consume film and music by near to unlimited access to the film and media and also a lot of new technology to view and listen to it on.

            The ability to create your own media texts is extremely easy now-a-days, whether it is a social media post or starting your own blog, it is incredibly easy to do. Even buying a URL and hosting your own website isn’t too difficult with the know-how.

            I don’t watch an amazing amount of television, but when I do, I tend to watch Channel 4, BBC Channels, Comedy Central or Cooking Channels. I enjoy lots of different type of television, but my favourites would have to be Drama and Comedy, usually a mixture of the two. My favourite and memorable TV shows being ‘One Tree Hill’, ‘Skins’, ‘Misfits’, ‘Torchwood’, ‘Ugly Betty’, ‘Miranda’, ‘Little Britain’ and ‘Catherine Tate’.

            My favourite genres of film are probably Action Adventure, Comedy and Musicals. I love many films, such as: ‘Pleasantville’, the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, ‘Avatar’, ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, ‘Hairspray’, ‘Grown Ups’, ‘Mean Girls’, ‘White Chicks’, ‘A Bug’s Life’, ‘Monster’s Inc.’ and ‘Toy Story’.

Outstanding films:

            Pleasantville - This is not an extremely well-known film, but it’s brilliant. Released in 1998 and directed by Gary Ross, it is a film about two teenagers who get trapped inside a 1950s black and white TV show. It is a microcosm and metaphor for the racial segregation of 1950s America. The use of colour, pathetic fallacy and the great actors make this a wonderful film. The teenagers end up changing the TV show, turning some people into full colour, creating art, books, music, but the black and white people ban it and refuse to acknowledge it. The great storyline and meaning behind this film is what makes it outstanding.

           Sweeney Todd – Released in 2007, directed by Tim Burton, this film tells an old, Victorian tale of a Barber who comes back to London for revenge on the person who sent him away. Although this is very dark film, it is in fact a musical; however, the use of music doesn’t hinder the film, as it adds much more dept, suspense and drama. As well as great acting and singing, this film draws you into their world, siding with the ‘Demonic’ barber in the end in pity of his loss. So many twists and turns make this film wonderful and keep you on the edge of your seat as you watch it. Directed in a very ‘Tim Burton’, quirky and different, style, the film has a dark sense to it, a sense of mystery, but an underlying knowledge to the audience that murder will be inevitable, very skilled directing. One of my all time favourite films, a must see.

            Avatar – Although some film purists may argue that this film was just more ‘Hollywood rubbish’, but I think that it is wonderful tale of native nation defending its beautiful homeland from destruction, much like a metaphor for the Western world destroying places like the Amazon rainforest. Released in 2009 and directed by James Cameron, this film is a masterpiece. The CGI effects are so realistic and overwhelming that it draws you into the wondrous world of the Na’vi, eventually siding with them and wanting to, yourself, be a part of their world and way of life. A lot of the film is animated, therefore not real, but the overall cinematography is amazing and draws you completely into it, wonderful directing on Cameron’s part.

            I prefer to consume films either at the cinema or on television, sometimes on my laptop. I like the intimacy of consuming film at home, but I also like the feeling of consuming it on the larger scale at the cinema. My favourite cinema is probably the Odeon at Norwich, Riverside, this is because the seats are comfortable, the cinemas are large themselves and the prices are reasonable. I prefer to watch films both on my own and with groups, depending on the film or genre. If it’s a very intimate film, then on my own, however a comedy is best consumed in a group, I feel.

            To conclude, I cannot say that I have ever seen any form of media text that has offended me, nor have I seen anything that has amazed me in the sense that is has shaped or changed my views. However, in contrast to the many films and television I consume, I also enjoy and admire the works of Shakespeare and other great writers. To me, the archaic style is not only pleasing, visually, but it also interesting in that we no longer speak in such a way, thus hearing the ‘thy’ and ‘thou’ of Shakespearian pleases the mind and provokes thought.

            If I was to construct a media text, I would like to either write a fictional novel or some kind of magazine article because I love the genius of great writers, but also I think that great journalists aren’t credited enough, although they do get a bad reputation from the mind-numbing end of journalism, gossip, trash and ‘reality’ TV, which is consumed heavily by today’s society. I think I would write about the current state of the world we live in today if I had to construct a media text because I think there is a lot to say and people need to know the truth about these matters. Also that new technology means that people cannot only access world wide information, but it also affects them.

            I have chosen media studies as an option because I would like to pursue a career in the media industry. I would like be a photographer or a journalist, but preferably a combination of both, perhaps a photojournalist. I also think that media studies is vital in today’s society, because it’s not only interesting, it also gives an insight into what we should be looking at and what Hollywood rubbish we should try to avoid, as films and other media texts are very forcibly consumed in today’s society and we sometimes have to filter through the rubbish to find the hidden gems, and I think the skill of finding magnificent film or wonderful media texts is a skill worth having and studying in today’s society.