Many of the exciting and glamorous jobs that people want to do in the Media, Industry, Fashion and Politics require you to work for free for a certain amount of time. This is called an 'internship' and some people say that it favours the rich who can afford to work for free to secure these highly sought-after jobs.
So, in terms of what we have looked at regarding the way the upper class tries to keep those from the lower classes from joining the upper class, read these articles below and have a think!
1 2 3
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Media Censorship, Power and Control - DOCUMENTARY Germany's records of repression - The Stasi
Watch it here.
On August 13, 1961, 50 years ago this month, the Berlin Wall went up in Germany. This barrier divided a country, segregated families and separated friends, and its existence would cast a pall over the country for the next 20 years.
As a stark symbol of the Cold War, the wall existed in an era of fear, secrecy and heightened political tension, and those that lived in its shadow would know the painful repercussions of its hardliner policies. For what followed in the years of a divided Germany was a surveillance culture brought on by one of the largest and most feared secret service organisations in the world - the Stasi.
Founded in 1950, the Stasi was charged with keeping tabs on all the people living in East Germany, or what was then officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It compiled millions of photos, audio and video tapes, and paper files about its citizens. As a result, thousands of people were subjected to intimidation and torture by the Stasi. Many were imprisoned, while others were prevented from getting jobs or going to university. The aim was not only to thwart professional aspirations, but to destroy the personal lives of those that opposed the regime.
At its height, the Stasi had over 102,000 officers and nearly a quarter of a million of its own citizens spying on family members, neighbours and colleagues. In 1989, while the Berlin Wall crumbled, senior Stasi officials ordered the destruction of the files they had collected for over 40 years. Data gathered by the Stasi was frantically shredded to destroy evidence, but after protesters stormed the headquarters to stop the destruction, nearly 95 per cent was saved.
On August 13, 1961, 50 years ago this month, the Berlin Wall went up in Germany. This barrier divided a country, segregated families and separated friends, and its existence would cast a pall over the country for the next 20 years.
As a stark symbol of the Cold War, the wall existed in an era of fear, secrecy and heightened political tension, and those that lived in its shadow would know the painful repercussions of its hardliner policies. For what followed in the years of a divided Germany was a surveillance culture brought on by one of the largest and most feared secret service organisations in the world - the Stasi.
Founded in 1950, the Stasi was charged with keeping tabs on all the people living in East Germany, or what was then officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It compiled millions of photos, audio and video tapes, and paper files about its citizens. As a result, thousands of people were subjected to intimidation and torture by the Stasi. Many were imprisoned, while others were prevented from getting jobs or going to university. The aim was not only to thwart professional aspirations, but to destroy the personal lives of those that opposed the regime.
At its height, the Stasi had over 102,000 officers and nearly a quarter of a million of its own citizens spying on family members, neighbours and colleagues. In 1989, while the Berlin Wall crumbled, senior Stasi officials ordered the destruction of the files they had collected for over 40 years. Data gathered by the Stasi was frantically shredded to destroy evidence, but after protesters stormed the headquarters to stop the destruction, nearly 95 per cent was saved.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Censorship - Media Control - Assorted articles - A2 OCR Sociology Media
For the A2 class, relating to power and control of the media, a selection of additional reading for your perusal...
The 10 Most Censored Countries
Censorship
this one
and this
and this and this and this this this this
The 10 Most Censored Countries
Censorship
this one
and this
and this and this and this this this this
Monday, 14 November 2011
Social Class Identity - News Articles and more...
Primarily for the AS class, here are a selection of articles relating to class, meritocracy and education.
It took about ten mins on Google to collect all these, most of them were linked to each other on the Guardian website so I just followed those. They are very useful as additional reading to broaden your knowledge for the exam and life in general. The more you read, the more you know and the better you can do in your exams! Of course, you are free to ignore them and remain in your present position, i.e shrouded in a thick fog of ignorance. A really good student would read them and take notes, particularly relating to studies mentioned, statistics, examples, the author and source of the article and a general summary of what the article is about. I know, it's a crazy idea but it just might work!
Read them here...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Bonus Material! Yeah! Here is it...
These good people do a whole lotta research etc on poverty and inequality, they are very useful to know about...
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Full text of study by Mike Savage on:
Changing Social Class Identities in Post-War Britain: Perspectives from Mass-Observation
Workless families: a convenient untruth. A belief in inherited underclass idleness is spreading, but in reality multiple generations who have never worked is very rare
It took about ten mins on Google to collect all these, most of them were linked to each other on the Guardian website so I just followed those. They are very useful as additional reading to broaden your knowledge for the exam and life in general. The more you read, the more you know and the better you can do in your exams! Of course, you are free to ignore them and remain in your present position, i.e shrouded in a thick fog of ignorance. A really good student would read them and take notes, particularly relating to studies mentioned, statistics, examples, the author and source of the article and a general summary of what the article is about. I know, it's a crazy idea but it just might work!
Read them here...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Bonus Material! Yeah! Here is it...
These good people do a whole lotta research etc on poverty and inequality, they are very useful to know about...
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Full text of study by Mike Savage on:
Changing Social Class Identities in Post-War Britain: Perspectives from Mass-Observation
Workless families: a convenient untruth. A belief in inherited underclass idleness is spreading, but in reality multiple generations who have never worked is very rare
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Churnalism in today's Daily Express - John Lewis Xmas Ad
I don't read the Daily Express because I have a functioning brain but I was having breakfast in a cafe this morning and someone, most likely an idiot, had left a copy on the table so I looked at it in order to avoid having to see the other patrons of the cafe who were a bit too plebeian for my taste.
Anyway, the front page featured the usual rubbish, revolving around some decision taken by the EU which the journalist had deliberately blown out of all proportion in order to produce the sort of hysterical headline that appeals to simpletons. Once I'd delved deeper into this semi-literate dung heap masquerading as a newspaper I discovered this word-turd:
Here it is, it stinks.
It's a classic example of a PR press-release being written up as a news article. Read it and weep.
 |
| If you're looking for free biscuits, this is the newspaper for you! If you're looking for quality journalism, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. |
Anyway, the front page featured the usual rubbish, revolving around some decision taken by the EU which the journalist had deliberately blown out of all proportion in order to produce the sort of hysterical headline that appeals to simpletons. Once I'd delved deeper into this semi-literate dung heap masquerading as a newspaper I discovered this word-turd:
Here it is, it stinks.
It's a classic example of a PR press-release being written up as a news article. Read it and weep.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Thinking Allowed - BBC Radio 4 - Sociology
'Thinking Allowed' has lots of relevant stuff for AS and A2, you just need to dig about a bit.
This week - MIDDLE CLASS IDENTITY IN SCHOOLS (ideal for AS students) (CLASS IDENTITY UNIT)
Here's the page
Here's the index of lots of previous shows, have a look whydontcha?
And if you go to the next link you'll find a blog that has a link to a Thinking Allowed podcast about SOFT MASCULINITIES in 6th Form Students, ideal for AS students (GENDER IDENTITY UNIT)
Blog post here, you can read it or listen to it. Or ignore it entirely and face the consequences!
This week - MIDDLE CLASS IDENTITY IN SCHOOLS (ideal for AS students) (CLASS IDENTITY UNIT)
Here's the page
Here's the index of lots of previous shows, have a look whydontcha?
And if you go to the next link you'll find a blog that has a link to a Thinking Allowed podcast about SOFT MASCULINITIES in 6th Form Students, ideal for AS students (GENDER IDENTITY UNIT)
Blog post here, you can read it or listen to it. Or ignore it entirely and face the consequences!
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Glasgow Media Group - Sutton Trust - Media Control/Consensus/Agenda Setting
Mentioned in textbooks, important for the A Level course, this lot study the media and have produced many well-known studies. Links to their website below...
Media Theory and Methods, articles index
Assorted websites of interest
Blog about distortion and general bad behaviour by the tabloid media
Sutton Trust - over 50% of journalists went to public school
Media Theory and Methods, articles index
Assorted websites of interest
Blog about distortion and general bad behaviour by the tabloid media
Sutton Trust - over 50% of journalists went to public school
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