Article #3

FireChat – the messaging app that’s powering the Hong Kong protests

The offline messaging app FireChat has helped protesters stay in touch in Hong Kong. The articles states that the app has been used in protests in Taiwan, Iran and Iraq, but, never on the scale seen in this past week. When the network is down, FireChat allows you to message nearby people on Bluetooth. One issue discussed is that when many people are in one location, there is less connectivity available, but with FireChat, it's the opposite. The more people connected, the larger the range and strength. The article states that this could be a game-changing technological accompaniment.

I'm glad that there can be positiveness coming from technological advancements. Especially with the protests going on in Hong Kong. I also feel that this may help very much to bring some kind of small resolution to these protests. But we shall wait and see.

Article #2

Amazon launches Kindle Unlimited - a Netflix-for-books - in the UK

Following the US debut in July, Amazon have release a netflix for books with the Kindle Unlimited. Basically, you pay £7.99 a month and you get unlimited books for your Kindle. And it starts with a 30 day free trial. The article also makes you question what's going to happen to the authors.

I think this could be disastrous for the authors as "Amazon is undermining the ability of authors to support their families, pay their mortgages, and provide for their kids’ college educations,” It could also affect bookshops, which are already in decline due to the giants such as Waterstone and WHSmith.

- 650,000 e-books

- More than 2,000 e-books

- Authors will be paid each time someone reads more than 10% of their books

The significance of news question

"The last 20 years have been more significant in terms of media and its role in society than the whole of the previous 200 years"

I agree with this statement to a point as I feel that developments is technology and subsequently media in the last 20 years has made the world smaller in terms of distributing worldwide news. This 'globalisation' has allowed audiences to get breaking news the second it breaks. A major example of this was in 2001 with the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks. Within minutes of the first plane crashing, news outlets in New York had a live feed of what was happening, for the whole world to see and experience together. This created a high-watermark for the coverage of global news for many years to come. However, you could argue, that if the first developments in news didn't happen, then we wouldn't have such a high standard of news today. Inventions such as the printing press in the 17th century and the creation of radio in the 1920's are what caused a chain reaction in developments to create what we know as news today. This is why the previous 200 years can be seen just as significant as the last 20 years in terms of media and its role in society.

NDM Essay Question 1 Feedback

18/48: D grade

WWW:

- You make some great points, bringing in some media theory and key media language

EBI:

- Not nearly enough depth or detail. You also lack any examples from wider media

- You don't explore the other side of the argument. Audiences are not empowered.

Learner Response: Write an in-depth paragraph putting the other side of the argument:

However, an argument can be made that audiences being empowered is an illusion and that all the power still remains within the institutions. An important example of this is Google. To be put simply; Google owns a lot of companies which audiences use day-to-day. This can be seen as still having the power and being able to manipulate audiences through small changes in their products and services. This can be linked to the theory of hegemony as the power is ultimately still with the institutions. Also, the theory of Marxism can be linked in to this as I feel that audiences sometimes may not have a choice in what they are doing online. The thought that everything is chosen for you and that the audience is essentially a mindless puppet.

Article #1

The Independent Article

Are Television Superhero Dramas Just Marketing Tools?

The main point of this article is that the television superhero dramas of recent aren't simply television shows. They're marketing and merchandising opportunities. A total of seven Marvel shows are going to be on T.V. and online by next year. All of which will be set in the same universe as the films. D.C.s television series (three in total), however, won't be set in the D.C. film universe. Although 'Arrow' and 'The Flash' have planned cross-overs. "...an existing world tied into a lucrative movie franchise with almost limitless spin-off opportunities. The TV series can reference the movies and the movies can speak to the TV series." The article also talked about how many films have been released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe already: Ten so far with the first release, Iron Man, in 2008 and the latest, Guardians Of The Galaxy, in the summer of 2014. Marvel have five more films planned for the next couple of years alone, starting with Avenger: Age Of Ultron in May 2015. However, Hughes points out that "...all the synergy in the world can't disguise lazy programming." She feels that just because the audience is lining up at the cinema, they shouldn't put on TV too, only minus the charisma and half the budget. She starts to wrap up the article by telling us that not every superhero drama is doomed to fail, using 'Arrow' as an example. She ends by saying "The trouble with too many television superhero dramas is that they put the cape before the story. It's no good that your heroes can fly if you don't make us care about their conversations." 

I agree with the article, but to a point. This is because I watch (and will watch) most of these programs and enjoy them immensely. However, programs like 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' support the main argument of the article; its marketing and merchandising over clever writing and direction executed in a way that not only pleases the fan-boys, but the general audience. To me, having the programs in the same cinematic universe is just an added bonus. It allows for the narrative to be sculpted into something more complex. A little research shows that 27 feature films are to be released between 2015 and 2020 (a few of which are only rumored); and that's just for D.C. and Marvel.