Monday, 23 January 2017

Identities and the Media: Reading the riots

1) The selection of images and language used for the coverage of the 2011 riots had presented the main culprit to be young people. Especially considering that a majority of the newspapers would use the same image of the young hooded teenager in front of fire which had further reinforced the stereotype of teenagers and the rampant intentions that supposedly have. This would be highlighted with the choice of labelling this event as a form of "Anarchy" in which the news would surround this theme. 

2) Owen Jones' Chav was mentioned because it had highlighted the fear and concerns that the public would have against the lower class. in this case he would highlight how the Daily Mail were shocked when they had noticed that some of the perpetrators of the riots would be middle class. And some of the occupational backgrounds such as Estate Agent and Oxford graduate had surprised them. This would mean that the Daily Mail wouldn't have a good opinion or perspective on the lower class. 

3) The survey had found that it would be 40% of newspaper articles featuring young people are associated to crime. And that 71% would feature a negative tone towards the teenagers. 

4) Stanley Cohen's Moral Panic can be linked to the coverage of the riots because of the view on a negative light towards teenagers had presented with the front cover branding teenagers as an irresponsible group of people. This would be because of the reaction that they had against the damage which was heavily blamed on  the teenagers. This would mainly be because of the appearance that the rioters have in the public. This would be because of the rioters that were questioned were mainly young teenagers. 

5) Most of the blame was put on pop culture. With the lyrics of rap music being anti-establishment and violent video games putting players in the perspective of violent characters may have put an influence on teenagers to take action in a violent manner. This would be one of the most recurring factors towards moral panics as teenagers are seen as consuming this sort of media. 

6) Social Media was blamed for orchestrating the attacks in the London Riots. The freedom of communication that social media such as Twitter and Facebook would do. Sharing out where they would be could've triggered some security as surveillance onto Social Media could've prevented some of the attacks if the message wasn't tweeted or shared. if there were any key words that could be highlighted for the authorities so see where and when the riots would take place it would've benefited them. In this case they could've utilised social media to their advantage so that they could prevent further attacks.

7) The two step flow model can be used for the coverage of the 2011 riots had presented how popular people with opinion would tend to be seen as a trust worthy person or someone with influence. With the influential factor in mind, this would therefore show how an audience would flock and support a certain perspective of the riots because of a variation on hegemony. Seeing as to how whatever news reports would say may have an influence on the prejudice towards young teenagers with a negative tone. 

8) I would agree to a certain extent. With the "tsunami of blogs" it may offer various reasoning towards for or against the riots, it is likely that this democratisation may also allow those who are unaware of what is happening weigh in on the topic. This may mean that this may open new perspectives for the riots topic.

9) The right wing had shared the perspective of the negative view of the young teenagers and further reinforce that sense of negativity with labels like "YOB" which shows that this audience would be against youngsters and have a prejudice. 

10) The left wing responses to the riots describe how there would be inequality in the current social structure. Their views tend to sympathise with the rioters in comparison to the right wing that would make the youth appear as criminals of the present day. 

11) My own views on the main cause for riots would be that it would have rooted from the killing of Mark Duggan. Young teenagers and aggressive adults would then use this reasoning to try and protest. Some people may have seen this opportunity with the public outcry against the authorities as a way to try and riot and gain many products that they would desire. the rioters may have rooted from the case but used Mark Duggan as an excuse to try and reason their actions.

12) Capitalism can be blamed because of those people who are rich and powerful could be exposed for their wrong doings. However this reasoning would suggest that the riots are against the government and their corrupt behaviours. This could be argued as a reason towards the riots.

13) Rioters weren't really given a voice as a majority of the interviews that were taken had mainly consisted of experts and older members that would mainly label young teenagers as trouble makers.

14) Those that had stated their opinion already have hatred against the police and this riot would mainly help them reinforce a negative effect against the police by fighting against them in a violent manner. 

15). In my opinion i think that the riots were slightly unjustified. It would make sense for a protest however to escalate their political opinions in a violent manner wasn't necessary. This riot probably would have caused more harm and those involved probably used the chaos as an advantage to try and gain some good equipment or products.  However I would slightly sympathise with them considering that t=what they were causing was an issue that would need to be addressed with the corruption of politics, they may feel betrayed and that would be understandable. However rioting isn't a good way of trying to convince it.

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