Response

How do you, as a Comms student, react to this text? What key concepts are relevant here?  Write a detailed blog post analysing the video.

Some areas / starting points for your analysis:
What does the location of the clip suggest to you?
What is he wearing? What does this suggest about his identity?
What is the importance of cookery shows as a cultural practice?  How has he exploited this?
What are his political views? How might they conflict with the content of this clip?
What does this clip say about the importance of food and group/personal identity?
Who are the audience for this clip?  What message might Nick Griffin want them to receive?

Use these questions as the basis for your response, but feel free to explore other areas also.


The genre of this text is a YouTube video, with an informal register, an audience of older males, a spoken mode, and a purpose to inform and persuade the audience to form a view. The subject being cooking.

The location of the text suggests that Nick is homely, and features within the room seem to give off masculine energy. As there isn't many things within the room that resemble women. It also seems very dark.

He seems to be wearing a rugby top, this suggests that he is proud, and patriotic. And see's being part of a group (supporters) part of his identity. It also suggests he thinks of himself as very masculine, as sports such as rugby have male connotations to it dominantly.

Cookery shows are very much part of British Culture. As people are always seeking to learn new skills such as cooking, and its very much both genders within Britain, as there isn't such a dominant ideology on just female cooks. As in Britain most know chefs are males. This is important as Nick makes a comment about how many women cannot cook, and put food on the table for their family.

This clip puts a huge amount of importance on food, and seems to link it to family ( a group) and being able to keep the family unit close. 

The audience will be predominantly males, with an androcentric view. Around the age of 40/50. And Nick (the sender) wants the audience of males (receiver) to receive the message that males can provide their family, more than financially as women are incapable. [process approach].

Barbie

The image shown in terms of the process approach- the sender being facebook (Cancer and alopechia page), with the message being that all people are beautiful including cancer patients, and the reciever being all who come into contact with it- facebook users.

This image of a bold barbie is the signifier, it signifies beauty amongst all people, and it communicates with us as an audience, the importance of self-esteem, confidence and support in which these ill patients should have. The index of the bow/cancer sign, has meaning to us. It represents unity, and support and ties it all into one, this is now used by many to show their support by displaying it visibly. It also adds to their identity, and makes them feel part of a group.

The acronym used 'Bald And Really Beautiful Is Extraordinary' sentisises us as an audience, and makes us want to see more support for these types of illnesses.

The icon of barbie has many connotations to it such as skinny, beautiful, blonde, perfect. This is the myth and dominant ideology that is accepted. But this text is aimed to shock the reader and show cancer patients can be just as beautiful as a 'normal' barbie.

Popular Culture.

Popular culture activities.

• Football- positive effects on society- brings people together. Negative- fights, outbreaks e.g. Hillsborough
• shopping- positive- builds self esteem.
• Soaps- gratification, 
• Karaoke- builds self esteem

A) One of the great things about popular culture is that it allows people to express their individulality.

B) Popular cultural activities often encourage controversial, potentially damaging behaviour.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7992845.stm

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/exposing-negative-effects-technology-kids-14909.html

C) Popular cultural activities are worthy of study because they give insights into the beliefs and values associated with our culture.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/9685205/Is-the-traditional-Sunday-roast-a-thing-of-the-past.html

http://uk-foods.co.uk/history-of-the-english-sunday-roast/