Bollywood Film Industry

So there’s Hollywood, Nollywood and Bollywood. Three completely different types and style of films. Bollywood I have found is the most unique and interesting type out of the three, allowing the story behind each film to escape from the harsh realities of life, especially in India. Bollywood is the given name to the film industry in India

Bollywood is full of glitz and glamour combined with music, humour and romance. The plots are often melodramatic. They frequently focus on such as star-crossed lovers, corrupt politicians, twins separated at birth, angry parents, courtesans with hearts of gold, dramatic reversals of fortune, and convenient coincidences. We can start to see its influence on other film markets due to its growing popularity.

“As hybridized content spreads… shifting the direction of cultural influence and blurring the boundaries between the modern and the traditional, the high and low culture and the national and the global culture” (Shaefer & Karvan P.309).

One example of a popular Bollywood film that ticks all the boxes of being musical, humorous and romantic is the 2004 film Bride and Prejudice which is a Bollywood style adaption of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Bride and Prejudice is written and produced by Gurinder Chadha with cast members from India, United Stated and England such as Aishwarya Rai, Martin Hendersen and Daniel Gillies, this movie made $24716440 in the box office.

Bride and Prejudice original poster

A Bollywood-style update of Jane Austen’s classic tale, in which Mrs. Bakshi is eager to find suitable husbands for her four unmarried daughters. Some character names from Pride and Prejudice remain the same whilst other names have changed. When the rich single gentlemen Balraj and Darcy come to visit, the Bakshis have high hopes, though circumstance and boorish opinions threaten to get in the way of romance, This movie has drama, music and dance, comedy, angry parents, star-cross lovers and dramatic reversals of fortune which is exactly the type of film describe as, Bollywood.

Bollywood film production uses the key elements from traditional Western cinema, known as Hollywood, and the Eastern cinema, known as Bollywood, to create this sense of culture and developing a new type of film that collides different cultures to be a part of something new.

Globalisation is a part of this world through these films we are a part of this ‘Global Village’, sharing cultural diversity and allowing the viewers to learn, countries are conforming together. From travelling, living away from home and stepping into the workforce, there is a want and need to experience different cultures especially for one’s own interest. These films indicate that cultures are very different but yet almost the same. The film industry is forever changing and with the Bollywood and Nollywood becoming popular and a part of society, it allows for cultures to come together and express how we are all different but have similar traits.

Reference List

Schaefer, D & Karan, K, 2010, ‘Problematizing Chindla: Hybridity and Bollywoodization of popular Indian cinema in global film flows’, Global Media and Communication, Vol. 6, PP 309 -316

New Community Life

Imagine going overseas to study and not being familiar with the culture, the language, the social and academic life. Every year Australians get a vast number of International Students doing exchange. Taking a big step into a new culture means that these students are confronted with academic, cultural and social issues. They need to adjust to the new, and I’m sure, exciting adventure for them as an exchange program would be an experience of a life time.

Peter Kell and Gillian Vogl, from the Faculty of Education at the University of Wollongong, have illustrated an article ” International Students: Negotiating life and study in Australia through Australian Englishes” which researches how international students have adapted to their “new community life” and most importantly, how they have settled into Australian University.

http://https://moodle.uowplatform.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=331684 (Kell and Vogl article)

Through reading this article I noticed that the most difficult part of learning Australian culture is the language as Australians talk fast and often mumble, use colloquialism, create new words, like ‘LOL’ or ‘YOLO’, and shorten words, for example barbecue turns into ‘barbie’. The main problem that International Students are faced with when learning the English language is that International Students were taught and focused on academic writing and grammar, not the colloquialism that is used widely amongst Australians.

The study that was conducted by Peter Kell and Gillian Vogl focused on three groups of students, two of the groups were International students who were studying at the University English College and the third group was of post graduate students. The groups included students from a vast range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds which involved Chinese, Indian, Taiwanese, Japanese and Arabic backgrounds. After interviewing the groups Kell and Vogl discovered that international students were more comfortable approaching other International students or Australians who have been overseas and know exactly how international must be feeling. They noticed that it’s more about personality than culture when communicating and engaging with Australians.

A number of ideas were brought up in the article suggesting of ways in which International students could form relationships with Australians. Ideas such as watching popular television shows or living among Australians and watching how Australians speak. Going out with Australians and seeing them at clubs and pubs to get involved with Australian culture. These ideas I believe could be rewarding for International students and making them feel more comfortable.

The disconnection between International students and Australian students is mainly because of the language and the difficulty to understand and follow exactly what Australians are saying. The willingness to learn from International students is a positive step as it means that they can conform to the community and be apart of Australian culture. The students that were surveyed and interviewed believed there were two types of Australians; Anglo Celtic Australians and ‘real’ Australians but are there really two types of Australians or just a multi-cultural country? I believe Australia is evolving and embracing multiple cultures and religions. I also agree with the article stating that personality plays a big part rather than the culture. Diversity in culture makes society learn and accept others, therefore it is important for International students to feel as if they a apart of the Australian community.

Reference List:

Kell, P and Vogl, G (2007) ‘International Students: Negotiating life and study in Australia through Australian Englishes’,  Everyday Multiculturalism Conference Proceedings, Macquarie University, 28-29 September 2006.

Globalization: Coming together

When you think of Globalisation many words come to mind such as, poverty, culture, trade, capitalism,  environment, growth etc. All those things are Globalisation. Globalisation refers to an international community influenced by technological development and economic, political, and military interests ( O’Shaughnessy 2008 p.458). It is Characterised by a worldwide increase in interdependence, interactivity, interconnections, and the virtually instantaneous exchange of information (O’Shaughnessy 2008, p.458).

(Rolin Corporation 2015)

There are four main processors creating globalization:

1. Localising processors: Where geographically concentrated activities with varying degrees of functional integration occur, playing a key role in the global economy (Clegg 2011, p.577). An example of this is having access to a pacific product like coal, where cities can make steel
2. Internationalising processors:  Where there is a simple spread of economic activities across national borders but with low levels of functional integration (Clegg 2011, p.577).
3. Globalising processors: These are characterised by a both extensive geographical spread and a high degree of functional integration (Clegg 2011, p.577).
4. Regionalising processors: These are characterised by globalizing processors that take place at a regionally supranational scale (Clegg 2011, p.577).

These four processors can impact on global relations between states and countries and the multicultural diversity of organisations and communities.

Globalisation has largely been made possible thanks to technology advances, especially the internet. As Nations grow, so does technology. Technology has achieved a level of interdependence, especially in communication, trade, travel and policies.

The globalisation of communication has been driven by the pursuit of the commercial interests of large US-based transnational corporations, often acting in collaboration with Western political and military interests; and this process has resulted in a new form of dependency in which the traditional cultures are destroyed through the intrusion of Western values also know as ‘cultural Imperialism’ where one culture spreads it’s values and ideas culturally (M O’Shaughnessy, 2008). The globalization of communiction results in the domination of traditional cultures and intrusion of Western culture and values such as consumerism (O’Shaughnessy 2008, p.465).

The advances of communication have both positive and negative aspects of globalisation. In a positive sense, globalisation has connected cultures, allowing individuals and groups to become apart of a larger group sharing values and creating this sense of ‘utopia’. It also allows for people to help the poorer countries, especially if natural disasters occur (O’Shaughnessy 2008, p.465).

On a negative note, globalisation can been seen as social exclusion as many countries do not have access to internet which means a limited amount of communication. Globalisation can also affect the loss of culture and traditions as many countries and becoming alike and losing their values and traditions and they are conforming to the rest of the world; the Western culture.

Focusing the relationship between globalisation, technological and economic changes, globalisation is rapidly changing, significantly on social and cultural impacts.

References:

1. O’Shaughnessy, M and Stadler, J (2008) ‘Globalisation’, Media and Society (fifth edition) Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 458-471.
2. Clegg, S Kornberger, M & Pitsis, T 2011, Managing and Organizations: An Introduction to Theory and Practice, 3^rd Edn, Sage, London.
3. Rolin Corporation 2015, what is Globalization, video, YouTube, 6 March, viewed 13 August 2015, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPD477FuqtY&gt;.

Too sexy too soon?

When I was growing up I was fortunate enough to have two older sisters to look up to. I also have a younger sister, who used to do everything I said. Being two young girls we always wanted to be like our two older sisters. We would sneak into their rooms when they weren’t home and wear their clothes, shoes and use their make-up. We would play dress up for hours and act like adults, but really we were ten years old.

Ten years later and I wander, is this still apart of growing up or does this fall under the tree of moral panic?

Images of children posing too ‘sexual’ has become more of an issue now, compared to when I was a child. Are these images too sexual? or are we as the viewer’s looking at these images in the wrong way?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/KTrE8bkWWFI” target=”_blank”>

On my last blog I talked about the denotations and connotations of images which makes me ask the question, are we as the viewer’s looking at the meaning differently to what is actually depicted?

In my BCM110 lecture this week an image from the cover of Haven Magazine was brought to my attention.

I was torn between the idea of this image being inappropriate or acceptable. The comments of this image shocked me as I thought the image was fine. Yes I agree that the girl in this image was too young but it didn’t cross my mind that it was provocative.

Comments on Facebook about the image

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, Lifestyle, the image was signified as ‘hyper sexualised’ however, The Editor of Haven, Keely O’Connor, intended to create a cover that was “whimsical and creative“. Two completely different meanings depicted by two different types of people. This brings me back to my original question, has sexualisation of children in the media gone too far? Are these images of children morally wrong?

You may have heard of a young girl called Eden Wood, a child brought into the glamour world from a very young age of three. From pageants to acting and now modelling,this little girl has been in the spot light since she was born. Wearing crop tops,makeup and posing in photos she is seen as a star. This is where I believe it is morally wrong. Every child needs to be a child and young Eden has grown up and continues to grow up too fast.

   

I heard an interesting comment in my tutorial today, indicating that children are faced with these issues at a young age. The question was raised that isn’t it better that children can see these images when they’re younger rather then being confronted with this issue and images when they’re older? I agreed with this as we can’t protect and wrap young children up in cotton wool buds forever. It’s up to the parents to show what is morally right as there will always be confronting images in the media, especially about the next generation of children. Yes, there are images out there of children being portrayed older then what they are, too ‘sexy’ and morally wrong but I believe it is how we as the viewers depict the image.

When we see memes they are usually created for humorous reasons. They mock the meaning of the picture and turn it into something we can relate too, usually being humorous. Images can have many different meanings, What is being signified can be the tricky part, however, the range of possible interpretations allows us, as the viewers, to create our own meaning from the images and symbols portrayed.

The ‘One does not simply’ image has become popular for many memes. For all the Lord of the Rings fans, the denotation is obvious. The man in the image is a man from the Lord of the Rings. For all those non Lord of the Ring fans, the image is of a man with his hand positioned into an ‘O’ shape. From the clothes and the hair it looks as if this man is not from the present time but from a period of time when man carried swords and wore armour. The caption ‘One does not Simply’ portrays what this man could possibly be saying and the hand also indicates an action that follows what he has just said.

This meme has been used for many different connotations:

 

The mockery has become very familiar to a vast range of people, especially if you have social media.

Hands up if you are a Lord of the Ring fan? If you’re hand is up then you would know what is being signified. The meme is originally from the phrase “One does not simply Walk into Mordor“. It’s the scene from the Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the ring, where Boromir indicates how difficult a task will be.

A simple scene from a movie has now many meanings depending on the meme created. The phrase after “One does not simply” can be read in many different ways. Even you can add to this meme and create your own phrase.

Photoshop Anxiety

Remember those disposable cameras where you had one chance to take a picture? No editing, no deleting and no second chance. No front camera, no flash and no interruptions by a text a message. There was once a time where photo shopping didn’t exist. Would we still post a ‘selfie’ or even a picture without a filter? Or would the cover of a magazine still be printed if the image on the front wasn’t completely redesigned?

I guess the question we should be asking is ‘has photo shopping gone too far’?

For teenage girls in particular, the image we see on the front cover is the image we envy. Usually the image is a size 6, perfectly tanned and long haired model, but is this the same ‘model’ we really see when the camera’s are not around.

A perfect example of photo shopping going to far is the picture from the Ralph Lauren campaign. The model, Filippa Hamilton-Palmstierna (October 2009) has been heavily photo shopped with extreme adjustments. Her waist line is so small that it looks like her head is bigger than her waist. ‘ Dude, her head is bigger than her pelvis’ was the caption from a republished blog by boingboing. (http://www.boingboing.net/2009/09/29/ralph-lauren-opens-n.html (Jardin, 2009). To me this indicates that the people who are seeing this image can see how out of the ordinary it is. In this case then I answer yes. The media and advertisement has gone too far. The media is putting these images into the minds of children and young adults to depict that they will look like these photo shopped models as they get older.

This has become an issue as what people are seeing on front covers are a lie. Showing teenagers that to be on a front page of an article, you must have the smaller waist and longest hair. However, the Dove Evolution video (2006) showed viewers what really happens before magazine and advertisement become published. The video gave messages and meaning to viewers, giving insight that people aren’t ‘perfect’. It’s here we see the media play a huge role and getting this message out was a priority for the Dove company. 

Is the media to the blame about this issue? Do our smart phones play a part? The popular instagram app allows the users to edit and put filters on the photos before uploading. That is the same as photo shopping but without the fancy software. There are also apps available to download just for editing photos. These apps that are allowing and encouraging editing are just as bad as the media photo shopping models. It’s putting the idea that an original mirror image photo is not acceptable. It also tricks the audience into thinking they’re looking at a ‘natural’ photo but the photo is hidden by filters, cropping and resizing.

We all have this image in our head of what we want to look like, we all envy the naturally ‘pretty’ people. It’s only recently that some company’s are using size 12 models to sell their clothing. Target’s official announcement that they will be launching a plus size line is a positive way for the media to get their audience to see that models aren’t all a size 6.

So is the media the issue for putting these images in front of us or are we to blame because we use these editing apps?

REFERENCES

• Jones, M. (2012 forthcoming) Attwood, F., Campbell, V., Hunter, I.Q, Lockyer, S.Controversial Images, Palgrave,London
• Turnbill, S. 2015 Week 2. Media Mythbusting, powerpoint slide. University of Wollongong, Wollongong

There’s a first for everything

B for Blogger: This is the first time I’ve ever “blogged” or been a “blogger”. Just trying to keep it creative. My goal is keep my blogs short and sweet because let’s face it, reading heaps is just as bad as a two hundred second snap chat story. Depending on the topic I’ll see how go.

C for course. So I’m studying Communication and Media and I am majoring in Marketing and Advertising. My goal is to get an internship so I could study and work at the same time. After working full time for a year (I took a working gap year), I would honestly prefer to work and study. Keeping busy keeps me focused. If I pass and graduate then there is hope that one day I will earn lots of money.

M is for Megan: My name is Megan but everyone calls me Meg,I am a first year student and currently live on Campus East. Just moved from a small town and now taking on the big city. Loving the change and this new life, never would have thought I would be living  close to the water! Don’t mind the surfer boys either.

#bcm110