The Effects Debate
What impact does media have on the audience?
All types of media may impact the audiences, here are some examples:
1)The most common example is when someone plays a ‘controversial’ video game which then causes them to reenact that type of behavior. There are often links between the game ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and violent outbursts. This means that the player has seen a violent scene in the game and the behavior becomes normalized and they recreate it.
2) A media product (e.g – an advertisement for a product) will subliminally lie to the viewer. For example, ‘Lynx’ adverts show men being chased by women because he is wearing their product. Obviously, this isn’t what will happen if you wear their product but it is implying it so this will impact the audience.
3) Often in magazines, the people are photoshopped to look more beautiful/desirable. So this promotes an unrealistic expectation for women and men to look. This is because no one will look like that. This can cause people to try to look as the people do in the magazines, they may eat significantly less and become unwell. This is bad because this is actually affecting people’s lives.
All types of media may impact the audiences, here are some examples:
1)The most common example is when someone plays a ‘controversial’ video game which then causes them to reenact that type of behavior. There are often links between the game ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and violent outbursts. This means that the player has seen a violent scene in the game and the behavior becomes normalized and they recreate it.
2) A media product (e.g – an advertisement for a product) will subliminally lie to the viewer. For example, ‘Lynx’ adverts show men being chased by women because he is wearing their product. Obviously, this isn’t what will happen if you wear their product but it is implying it so this will impact the audience.
3) Often in magazines, the people are photoshopped to look more beautiful/desirable. So this promotes an unrealistic expectation for women and men to look. This is because no one will look like that. This can cause people to try to look as the people do in the magazines, they may eat significantly less and become unwell. This is bad because this is actually affecting people’s lives.
Develop an argument for why Star Wars: The Force Awakens might have a negative influence on society, and then why it might have a positive influence:
Positive
Star Wars: The Force Awakens may have a positive impact on society for the following reasons:
The film is about people who save the world and make the universe a better place to live in. This could make the views wish to be as noble as that, so they may donate to charities which are represented by Star Wars. Star Wars have their own charity called ‘Force for Change’ which is about getting fans with terminal illnesses and let them do something to do with the franchise. Fans may be inspired by the movie and donate to this charity.
The film also constantly reminds you to never give up, there are a lot of times when the Rebel Alliance are beaten down but they pursue their missions. This could influence the viewers to pursue their dreams and never give up.
Positive
Star Wars: The Force Awakens may have a positive impact on society for the following reasons:
The film is about people who save the world and make the universe a better place to live in. This could make the views wish to be as noble as that, so they may donate to charities which are represented by Star Wars. Star Wars have their own charity called ‘Force for Change’ which is about getting fans with terminal illnesses and let them do something to do with the franchise. Fans may be inspired by the movie and donate to this charity.
The film also constantly reminds you to never give up, there are a lot of times when the Rebel Alliance are beaten down but they pursue their missions. This could influence the viewers to pursue their dreams and never give up.
Negative
Star Wars:The Force Awakens might have a negative impact on society for the following reasons:
There is quite a lot of violence in the film. There is a heavy use of guns and melee weapons, this could influence the viewers to commit violent acts. As the film makes violence so repetitive, people may become normalised to this and think it is fine to act violently.
In this film, there is theft of vehicles. This is a crime in both the film and real life, but in Star Wars it is glorified. So people may think this is cool and something fun to do and want to do that.
Star Wars:The Force Awakens might have a negative impact on society for the following reasons:
There is quite a lot of violence in the film. There is a heavy use of guns and melee weapons, this could influence the viewers to commit violent acts. As the film makes violence so repetitive, people may become normalised to this and think it is fine to act violently.
In this film, there is theft of vehicles. This is a crime in both the film and real life, but in Star Wars it is glorified. So people may think this is cool and something fun to do and want to do that.
Film Classification
The BBFC (which stands for British Board of Film Classification), is the company who rate the recommended age for a film which is produced in the UK. This rating will determine who goes to see each film. This Classification is necessary because people of the younger age are unable to know what is appropriate for their age (self-regulate). This means that it is illegal for someone of a younger age to view or purchase a movie which is classified for someone older than their age.
The BBFC has 6 different film classifications, they are:
U, which means Universal. If a movie is rated this, anyone of any age is allowed to view the content. All U are suitable for someone who is four years or younger, this is because some things may upset children of a younger age than that. This is because every child is different. Example of a ‘U’ rated film: Frozen
PG, which stands for Parental Guidance. This means that anyone can see these films, but it is recommended that a parent is either there or has seen it before and knows it is suitable for their child. So, some of the content is upsetting, but the majority of the film is acceptable for children to view. An example of a ‘PG’ rated film: How to train your Dragon.
12A/12 is content which is suitable for people of the age 12 and over. A 12A can be viewed by a child younger than 12 as long as they are accompanied by an adult. This is because the parent can censor the film during the viewing. An example of a ’12A/12′ rated film: Grown Ups 2.
15, is content which is suitable for people of the age 15 and over. A 15 can only be viewed by a someone who is older than 15.This is because some of the content is rude and violent. The content is more realistic and traumatizing than a 12 rated film. An example of a ’15’ rated film: Sausage party.
18, is content which is suitable for people of the age 15 and over. An 18 can only be viewed by a someone who is older than 18.This is because some of the content is extremely violent and rude. The content is more realistic and traumatizing than a 15 rated film. An example of an ’18’ rated film: The inbetweeners movie.
R18 is explicit content. You can’t buy these films in a shop or view them in regular cinemas. They are only available in Licensed shops and specially licensed cinemas. This content is strictly for adults only and should never be shown to someone who is below the age of 18.
U, which means Universal. If a movie is rated this, anyone of any age is allowed to view the content. All U are suitable for someone who is four years or younger, this is because some things may upset children of a younger age than that. This is because every child is different. Example of a ‘U’ rated film: Frozen
PG, which stands for Parental Guidance. This means that anyone can see these films, but it is recommended that a parent is either there or has seen it before and knows it is suitable for their child. So, some of the content is upsetting, but the majority of the film is acceptable for children to view. An example of a ‘PG’ rated film: How to train your Dragon.
12A/12 is content which is suitable for people of the age 12 and over. A 12A can be viewed by a child younger than 12 as long as they are accompanied by an adult. This is because the parent can censor the film during the viewing. An example of a ’12A/12′ rated film: Grown Ups 2.
15, is content which is suitable for people of the age 15 and over. A 15 can only be viewed by a someone who is older than 15.This is because some of the content is rude and violent. The content is more realistic and traumatizing than a 12 rated film. An example of a ’15’ rated film: Sausage party.
18, is content which is suitable for people of the age 15 and over. An 18 can only be viewed by a someone who is older than 18.This is because some of the content is extremely violent and rude. The content is more realistic and traumatizing than a 15 rated film. An example of an ’18’ rated film: The inbetweeners movie.
R18 is explicit content. You can’t buy these films in a shop or view them in regular cinemas. They are only available in Licensed shops and specially licensed cinemas. This content is strictly for adults only and should never be shown to someone who is below the age of 18.
I’ve chosen the film ‘The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies’. This film was rated 12A by the BBFC. It is about a young hobbit who has the task of killing a dragon and returning the Dwarfs their home. This film is a 12 because there are some scenes of violence. This wouldn’t be suitable for people who are younger than 12. This is because it may influence them or it could make them scared. Some of the scenes are also quite scary and there are a few jump scares which will upset the younger audience. There is also Threat in the film, this is in a few sequences but it isn’t a predominant theme throughout the film. |
There aren’t any scenes of Drugs or Nudity, so this won’t affect the age classification given. There also isn’t any Sex, so this won’t affect the age rating.
12 Age rating Infomation Video: