Super-curricular

Tom Hanks and Idris Elba both recorded short videos and published them in social media to share their covud-19 diagnosis and their experiences as a whole. These stories fit several of Galtung and Ruges news values. Madonna called Covid-19 ‘the great equaliser’. However, her point was undermined with the mise-en-scene since she was naked in a bath with rose petals. Actor Florence Pugh created cooking videos to distract people from the virus while Jack black danced in his underwear on Tik Tok. Large sums of celebrities felt intitled to continue posting on social media in order to keep a positive connection with their fans so that they will be more inclined to buy cinema tickets and magazines etc. This lead to ‘parasocial interactions’. Lots of main stream shows developed the working from home approach and relocated to more domestic settings. The concept of hosts as 'family men' became very important. However some believed that children could be a rather exploitive consequence for the hosts to appeal to their audience. Krasinski used his celebrity status to bring joy to those who have lost out due to covid-19. Chris Hemsworth announced that his health and fitness app would be free for all for six weeks. Lots of musicians streamed their performances. Lady Gaga created a 'one world: together at home concert which raised a large sum of money for global coronavirus relief. Table-reads. These were streamed on Youtube to encourage donations and charities. 

Overall, from this, I learnt how much of an impact celebrities can have on their fans and as stated, how they can create feelings of 'belonging and community' in times of difficulty. Celebrities created a light and enjoyable environment for all and allowed fans to be distracted from their own personal struggles. 

I believe that I could relate this to my studies through understanding how much of an impact celebrities can truly have on their audiences and this will help me to understand why certain adverts and social media platforms choose to use celebrities in their work as it increases audience watching, participation and enjoyment. 

Dixon Summaries 

Overall, through reading the chapter on Henry Jenkins, I've learnt more about Jenkins fan culture. he defined it as 'reflecting both the audience's fascination with programs and the fans frustration over the refusal / inability of producers to tell the kinds of stories viewers want to see.' I learnt about a term fan fiction, this is where fans will re-write/create their own stories about characters in shows sometimes fans make 'erotic fan fiction' this is a bit more controversial. Jenkins argues that it is actually textual poaching and that fans should not be able to do this and re-write stories for their own benefit. Digital technologies have given fans a new range of tools to express their voice. It has enabled an ever-widening diversity of professional media to have fan followings. Fan engagement can be realised in real time. His fandom theory has also enabled 'consumer activism' where audiences can feedback to media producers. Products are 'transmedia' if they are relayed across multiple platforms and fake social media accounts maybe used to give fictional characters a real-life presence. Fans often use participatory culture to effect wider social change. The internet provides personalisation benefits as it enables us to consume information and media that is tailored to our needs and desires. participatory culture today can be found in amateur arts groups and drama clubs. participatory culture is valued as an identity enabler. 

Shelter Research  

I chose this shelter video because it reflects the true struggles of what families all over face. It shows how although they are stuck in a house that's not a home, they still have to keep going with their everyday lives as though this is not a struggle. It represents a true narrative. Families that face homelessness have to all sleep together in the same room and are struggling with a leaking roof over their heads. They fear that one day their house that is not a home could be taken off of them at any point or that the leaking ceilings could worsen or they become unwell. 

It reflects alturism through their emotional depth and empathy that is shown in their adverts/videos. They have also used a narrative that many could potentially relate to or emphasise with. A family of 5 and a young boy going on a date that he doesn't want to become messed up due to his house that is not a home. This encourages viewers to put a 'human face' on these sufferers and to act out of genuine concern for those individuals that are involved and suffering. 

Pro-social behaviour is reflected in this shelter advert as at the end, they leave a website and a way to encourage viewers to donate and help those in shelters or to seek help for themselves and their family.