9/12/10

After finally being able to get hold of my hard copy and seeing what my tutor wanted me to improve on, i shall now work on to reach completion for my deadline. My tutor will not be in next week but is available through e-mail to look over any other edits to my work.

DEADLINE:17th!

Formative Feedback!!!

Due to adverse weather from the snow, this has delayed me meeting with my tutor to gain formative feedback on my hard copy of my draft. Though Chantelle had e-mailed me about points briefly on what to look at on my draft and my grade so far. Which was a great help! Plan to carry on recording my references and sorting my biblio. I plan to edit my actual draft after next weeks session in order to see what exactly i need to improve on.

Draft hand in 18/11/10!

Handed in my first draft of dissertation to tutor and to Tracy for grammar check, just under 7000 words, need to check and reorganize my own draft and try to begin a conclusion to close it all. References and appendix to be completed, while draft is being marked in order to take stress off near to hand in time. While in process of admin organisation, will keep trying to find primary research.

Review of progress

Seen my assigned tutor, and discussed my progress and reviewed what i have written. I am to look in to steven mesiels work in italia vogue, define my chapter titles and structure more , find more up to date statistics, include images to support my research, state in intro why i choose the subject i'm investigation. I Aim to have the majority of my draft complete for hand in for next thursday.

More Primary research!

got some more primary research from Grace Turner Fashion and Beauty Assistant for ‘That’s life!’ it was helpful to have a young insight, aswell as have a response from a background interning in various magazine companies.

Result in primary research!!

Yesterday morning i decided rather than waiting on e-mail replies to start ringing around, i luckily got through to the fashion manager of 'Grazia', who was lovely and helped answer a few questions. It was great to get somewhere, and it was helpful to know i could ring her again if i needed to ask anything else.

I also got my interview questions answered by the marketing and pr assistant of 'Uniqlo'. which was a great result as she answered in a great way.

I feel my progress is on its way and i am now in the process of writing more of my dissertation as well as incorporating my primary research results

Dissertation Progress

Over the weekend i continued writing more of my dissertation and contacted further for primary research.

From last Thursday i contacted the Advertising Standards Authority through e-mail with some questions but unfortunately this was their response

' I realise this will disappoint you but I am afraid that the ASA is unable to answer the questions you have raised. This is because we do not monitor the impact of creative approaches in advertising in terms of their effect on brand performance. The ASA is responsible for ensuring that the content of advertisements adhere to the Advertising Codes and do not contain anything that is likely to be misleading, harmful or offensive."

though on the positive they had given me some advice

"In this instance I would recommend contacting an advertising agency or marketing team behind an ad campaign to ask how they measure the effectiveness of their ad campaigns."

so this morning i had phoned rather than rely on e-mail, my contacts of Pr companies and I am now waiting for them to get back to me.

4th Nov 2010

meeting up with my assigned tutor i had informed her of my progress of primary research, no contacts have replied, or have chosen not to reply due to time commitment. I though have a friend within Pr Uniqlo who is to take time answering a few questions from a younger consumer point of view as well as having a perspective within the brand promotion sector. I have begun writing my dissertation and I am staying positive in the progress of gaining further primary research.

28th oct 2010

Over the summer period i have took time to do my research at the British library in london, and found it a long and hard process. As well as in the process of researching i had sent e-mail questions out to pr and marketing companies, but unfortunately no responses. with being in my 1st week back to Ravensbourne i have met with my assigned tutor Chantelle and discussed different approaches in maintaing primary research. So i have re-emailed my contacts again.

Organisation of research sources

With all the research i have gained through the British library and Internet searches i plan to organise my research in to chapter categories. And now read through my material to help start planning my dissertation layout.

Revisited the British Library again. With the advantage of having my readers pass, i had the opportunity to book in advance some pieces of literature to help with my search.

Though they rob u to print anything...21p a b&w copy per page per book .......

i had gained a various selection of material.... i hope it is relevant enough to support my dissertation

Visited the British Library for the first time.

-gained some vogue articles, but unfortunately to gain any other research from books, it is a long process of waiting to redeem them.

The books i did get out to read over weren't a great help with my search, i may have to rely on internet searches.

Surrealism Impact on Fashion Advertising Between the years 1930 to 1950, the art movement

Between the years 1930 to 1950, the art movement known as surrealism had an important impact on fashion advertising in America. During that period, many fashion ads used elements of fantasy in order to make an emotional appeal to consumers. Prior to that time, fashion advertisements were generally concerned with simply informing the consumer about the products. Usually, the ads just showed the products and described the facts about them. The ads generally did not elaborate on how the products would make the consumer feel better or improve his or her life. An example of this "old style" of fashion advertising can be seen in a Sears Roebuck catalog from the turn of the century.

During the 1920's, styles in fashion advertising began to undergo change. As noted by Margolin, Brichta & Brichta (1979), the 1920's saw a shift in "the focus of advertising from explaining how an article worked to describing the pleasure it could give the user" (pp. 62-63). Along with this shift in emphasis, modern art styles became increasingly predominant in fashion ads. The elements of modern art were used because they helped increase the emotional appeal of the advertisements. Art deco, cubism, futurism,etc

MInd Map -

Progress Map planner

Globalization and Cultural Identity John Tomlinson

http://www.polity.co.uk/global/pdf/gtreader2etomlinson.pdf

Juvenile Delinquency and the media influence

September 2, 2009 by centreforsocialaction

We all want to believe in that rosy picture of healthy, happy children playing with each other, in complete harmony with nature and the world. So where do we go wrong? When does this innocence give way to pent up emotions like anger, guilt and regret? At what point do we turn these children into anti-social elements? All these questions and more came up during this Friday’s Chatting over Coffee, which discussed juvenile delinquency and the media influence.

In a society like ours, where childhood and innocence are invariably linked, what gives rise to crime among children? To identify the root of this issue, it is necessary to probe a little deeper into our concepts of ‘childhood’. This, either by stepping into the shoes of a child who develops his or her sense of self based on societal pressures and expectations, or even just by going back to our childhood days.

To begin with, a child starts forming an identity, a sense of self, by exploring the world around him or her. This child shapes himself or herself based on the very strong influences of family and society. He or she learns that he or she will have to live up to certain expectations. These expectations are set by the society and the family based on popular notions which may or may not be healthy for the child. But being commonly accepted, the child is taught at a very young age, through his or her interactions with people around him or her, that these are the ideas that the child must believe in. For example, a child who wants to be a bus conductor is taught that it is a ‘lowly’ job and does not fit in the kind of role the child is expected or ‘supposed’ to play in the society.

Though this may seem to be a very trivial matter, this hinders the process of the child developing an identity for himself or herself, and forming interests, passions and beliefs which form the basis for the child’s sense of self. When this sense of self is built on such a shaky foundation, is it any wonder that it comes crashing down at some point of time? A minor is always looked down upon as one who cannot take decisions for oneself. This kind of undermining the child’s status also builds up resentment in the child.

So how does this connect to juvenile delinquency? Its pretty simple. These societal influences are the ones that shape a child’s behaviour. So now we can say that if a child indulges in crime of any sort, a major chunk of the responsibility must be borne by the society itself. A few examples might give us a clearer picture.

Take the case of a child who is beaten up every day for no reason, or maybe small mistakes. This child grows up learning and absorbing the wrong idea that violence is the only way to react to any unpleasant situation. Unpleasant situation as in one which does not work out in the way we want it to. So naturally when the child does not like something, violence is going to be the path he or she turns to in an attempt to set things right.

Or say a child who is hungry steals food…

Or a child who is angry kills…

Now to examine where the media comes into this. In today’s context it is not possible to distinguish the society from its media. People in a society are simply blind followers of values, beliefs and ideologies that are propagated by its various media. The same holds true for children. Violent video games, movies, cartoons and the like cater to young, impressionable minds and implant value systems which we would consider quite inappropriate in them. Insensitivity to the value of life, to ethics, to ethical practices is held in high esteem by the media we encounter every single day of our lives. This passes on to children and invariably they end up believing in things that can lead them to get themselves involved in anti social activities. The protagonist in a movie might kill a villain and harp about this as a great achievement. Here the value of life is understated and not given due importance. Minor, everyday things like these build up, starting small but growing into something quit big and sinister.

How do we change? Change can come about only through conscious effort. A better approach by juvenile rehabilitation homes, less stigma, less of blind media propagated beliefs may be a start. Once again, it all comes down to us. The change starts within ourselves, and then moves on to family, community, society and ultimately the nation. Lets try to be a little less judgemental, a little more trusting, and learn to question what we think is wrong. Let us stand on our own feet and decide our own beliefs rather than let someone else do it for us. Then we can hope for a better place, a better world. Where childhood is still beautiful.

http://csablog.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/juvenile-delinquency-and-the-media-influence/

How we define ourselves

In defining our image, we take all the things that appeal to us in the world to create how we want to see ourselves. We set out to make ourselves visible in the world so our images are reflected back to us through the desire of others.

We can try to define our identity according to how we want to be seen — by others and by ourselves — but this is an incomplete view of what true identity really represents because often the things we find appealing reveal what we feel is missing in our own lives.(1)

Image is so important to us because we all want to belong to something meaningful, desirable and important. The precisely fashioned images we show others are supposed proof of our value.

Since image is largely derived from the world around us, it may be helpful to note a few of the most powerful influences that pressure us. Influences shape our beliefs and ultimately what we truly value; what we value is a reflection of what is in our hearts.

Feeling the peer pressure

Peer pressure has a tremendous effect on all of us. Have you ever had a teacher or friend that had a positive and profound influence upon you? They probably influenced your values, which affected the image you portrayed and in turn impacted your lifestyle.

A study in the 1960s reveals the powerful influence of peer pressure cannot be ignored. Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University, conducted experiments attempting to prove the immense power of influence exerted through peer pressure and authority.

"Although controversial by today’s ethical standards, the experiments revealed a dark side of human nature: many subjects were quite willing to obey an authority even if such obedience meant inflicting severe pain on another person.

Even though the experiments were themselves a deception (that is, the electric shocks the subjects ‘administered’ to the victims were not real, and the ‘victims’ were pretending to feel pain as part of the experiment), many of the subjects suffered considerable trauma to discover that they had the capacity within themselves — in obedience to authority and peer pressure — to inflict such torture." (2)

The experiment illustrates that we really are no’t always consciously aware of how much influence those around us actually exert on us. Although another’s influence may not be presented as an authority, they can still have a tremendous effect on us.

In response to the influence of others, we image ourselves in a way that we think is appealing and desirable to our peers; we tend to want to "fall into line" because of our desire for acceptance. A self image created with the objective of pleasing others is unreliable and ultimately a hollow and disappointing endeavor because the opinion of others is always shifting and approval is fleeting.

Bombarded with media messages

Popular media is another influence worth exploring. Countless ideas of what image we should adopt to improve ourselves and bring true happiness are constantly coming at us through television, computers or radio.

Constructing our identity has become a requirement in our modern Western society where we are constantly facing choices of identity and lifestyle.(3) We have seen various ways in which popular ideas about "self" in society have changed, so that identity is seen today as more fluid and transformable than ever before.

Consider how popular media has contributed to the change of our traditional gender roles. One text traces shifting gender ideals like this:

"The traditional view of a woman as a housewife or low-status worker has been kick-boxed out of the picture by the feisty, successful ‘girl power’ icons. Meanwhile the masculine ideals of absolute toughness, stubborn self-reliance and emotional silence have been shaken by a new emphasis on men’s emotions, need for advice, and the problems of masculinity." (4)

Whether you believe the media is a reflection of changing societal values, or a leading force disposing of traditional social roles and values, media disseminates an enormous number of messages suggesting "better" forms of self-expression, gender, sexuality, and lifestyle. Although the public has its own robust and diverse set of feelings on subjects of gender, sexuality and lifestyle, the media uses seductive and proven methods of persuasion and represents a constant bombardment of image advice.

Even if we disagree with the images in our minds, they still can play on our emotions; the frequency of exposure to media suggestion can wear on even the most grounded person.

Peer and media influence are clearly not the only forces which may pressure us, but we are exposed to them every day, whether they be negative, positive, truthful, or fraudulent. These influences can be unreliable and inconsistent at best. As one text reminds us, "As long as you derive your identity from the world around you, you have to be concerned about losing it." (5)

Our attempts to define and image ourselves are a reaction to a deeper need within — the need to satisfy an intense yearning deep inside every human being, a need for purpose and belonging. The problem of defining our identity from exterior influences is they are unreliable; even seeking definition from within ourselves can be unreliable with our fluctuating emotions and confidence.

http://powertochange.com/students/living/image/

MEDIA the Influence

This choice of question I wish to explore is due to the control of the media and how much influence they have on us. In order to gain attention advertising has reached its extremes in relation to how superficial society has become, and how the theory of ‘surface’ has become the main focus. The media has created this manipulative influence among society affecting the loss of the ‘norm’.

Advertising Codes

The Advertising Codes lay down rules for advertisers, agencies and media owners to follow. The Advertising Standards Codes are separated out into codes for TV, radio and all other types of ads (‘non-broadcast advertising’). There are also rules for Teletext ads, interactive ads and the scheduling of television ads.

Who writes the rules?

The ASA is not responsible for writing the rules. The Codes are written by the advertising industry through the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP). The members of these committees comprise the main industry bodies representing advertisers, agencies and media owners (including individual broadcasters).

CAP is responsible for the rulebook for non-broadcast advertisements, sales promotions and direct marketing. Non-broadcast means ads in media such as cinema, press, posters and online.

What do the rules say?

The Codes contain wide-ranging rules designed to ensure that advertising does not mislead, harm or offend. Ads must also be socially responsible and prepared in line with the principles of fair competition. These broad principles apply regardless of the product being advertised.

In addition, the Codes contain specific rules for certain products and marketing techniques. These include rules for alcoholic drinks, health and beauty claims, children, medicines, financial products, environmental claims, gambling, direct marketing and prize promotions. These rules add an extra layer of consumer protection on top of consumer protection law and aim to ensure that UK advertising is responsible.

The ASA administers the rules in the spirit as well as the letter, making it almost impossible for advertisers to find loopholes or ‘get off on a technicality’. This common sense approach takes into account the nature of the product being advertised, the media used, and the audience being targeted.

Direct links to the Advertising Codes

British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP Code)

ASA regulations

Control of ads

HOW IS ADVERTISING IN THE UK CONTROLLED?

Good advertising is good for consumers and good for business.

Research has shown that consumers view advertising as an integral part of everyday culture - a source of information and entertainment. However, the acceptance of advertising by consumers relies not just on its entertainment value, but also on its trustworthiness.

The UK marketing industry recognised the need for trust in advertising when it set up the advertising self-regulatory system for non-broadcast advertising in 1961. Since then, the UK’s system of self-regulation has helped to ensure advertising remains responsible: honest advertising helps to keep customers coming back. Read more about the history of the ASA.

Today, the UK advertising regulatory system is a mixture of

• self-regulation for non-broadcast advertising and
• co-regulation for broadcast advertising.

Broadly this means that the system is paid for by the industry, which also writes the rules, but those rules are independently enforced by the ASA.

The system is a sign of a considerable commitment by the advertising industry to uphold standards in their profession. All parts of the advertising industry – advertisers, agencies and media – have come together to commit to being legal, decent, honest and truthful in their ads.