Is theMedia Exploiting People for Entertainment purposes?

1. Is theMedia Exploiting People for Entertainment purposes? S4 Persuasive Essay Writing

2. Definition of Exploitation 1. use or utilization, especially for profit: the exploitation of newly discovered oil fields. 2. selfish utilization: He got ahead through the exploitation of his friends. 3. the combined, often varied, use of public-relations and advertising techniques to promote a person, movie, product, etc.

3. Vulnerable People

4. Ceri Reese • X- Factor 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2011 • Watch the clip below and make notes on: • The music being played as she is introduced. • The tone used by the judges when speaking to her. • The amount of screen time spent on her audition. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsLebW5K3ho • How did you feel watching that clip? Did you find it funny or uncomfortable to watch? • What is it that people are finding so entertaining?

5. Background • In order to get as far as to audition in front of the judges contestants must go through a series of producer auditions. • It was reported that Ceri’s voice coach begged the producers not to allow her on again in 2011. • I was also reported that the producers approached Ceri to appear. • Reportedly, Gary Barlow rifled through her bag in scenes cut from the show. • NB It is important that you know Ceri’s mental health has never been confirmed.

6. Shirlena Johnson • X Factor 2010 • Watch the following video making notes on: • Audience reaction • Judge’s reaction? Genuine? Correct? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff7SkPF8IuQ • Shirlena was later dropped from the show after her mental health issues were brought to light. • What do you think the judge’s intentions were of putting her through?

7. Vanessa Feltz CBB1 • Watch the following short clip. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWRxT7FJBa0 • What is happening to Vanessa here? • What is your reaction? • Should this have been televised? • What is the point of Big Brother now after 11 years? • Is it just a constant parade of exploited young ‘wannabes’ there for the sole purpose of providing entertainment or is it a genuine psychological comment on society and variety of culture within UK today?

8. Susan Boyle BGT • After coming 2nd in the competition Susan was admitted to a clinic to recover from a mental breakdown. • Should her vulnerability have meant that she shouldn’t have been allowed on the show? • Does her success outweigh any negative impact of the breakdown? • Aren’t people with mental health issues entitled to the same rights as those without? • Is the responsibility with the contestants or the producers to monitor this?

9. Social Implications • Do you think reality shows are in danger of affecting societies attitude to mental health? • Is it showing mental health as a source of entertainment, demeaning the work of those who have fought to make the topic more acceptable and less humiliating? • Is it showing equal rights by allowing these people to get the publicity eg Susan Boyle’s success?

10. Children

11. Entertainment vs Education • ‘Supernanny’ • ‘Brat Camp’ • ‘Can Fat Teens Camp?’ • ‘Teenage Tourette’s Camp’ • ‘Dana: The Eight Year Old Anorexic’ • ‘The House of Tiny Tearaways’ • Public humiliation for kids OR educating adults?

12. Reality • Jeremy Kyle – DNA tests. • Does this need to be public? • What are the implications for the child in the future? • Newspapers. • 13 year old father. • Was it in his best interest for this to be publicised? • Is this newsworthy? Did we need to know the identity of the boy?

13. Parental decisions vsProducers’ responsibility • ‘Jon and Kate plus 8’ ‘Kerry Katona’ ‘Katie Price’ ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ • Is it in the child’s best interests to be on these shows? • How are they being portrayed? • What effect will this exposure have on the children as they mature? School, work, social life etc. • ‘Child Star Goes Off The Rails’

14. Celebrities’ Personal Lives

15. Exploitative Newsgathering Methods • Phone hacking scandals. • Paparazzi stalking in packs. • Fake sources? • Implications? • Newsworthy? • Are they being exploited for their fame?

16. Deaths • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbVPdR26Ces • Heath Ledger’s death led to ‘The Dark Knight’ being one of the biggest selling movies of that year. • Amy Winehouse – ‘new’ album out in December. • Michael Jackson – Album, Tour, DVD, Film, Doctor’s Trial coverage.

17. Glossy Magazines • Celebrities’ weight. • Love life. • Breakdowns. • Trauma. • Selling millions of magazines every day. • Magazines report a rise in sales depending on which celebrity is on the front cover.

18. Celebrities exploiting media? • Phone calls to media telling them where they will be and with whom. • Promote a new venture by ‘courting’ the media, leaking scandals, creating rumours etc.

19. Now What?

20. Research • You now need to go and research this topic to inform the points in your essay. • What constitutes valid evidence? • Quotes from professionals/those directly involved eg mental health organisations, media professors, media professionals, Simon Cowell, contestants, etc. • Statistics from studies. • Case studies. • Decide which areas you are going to concentrate on in your essay and which side you agree with.

21. Remember • You are not restricted to the areas mentioned on this powerpoint. These are only here to give you ideas and get you started. • These points are not made to persuade you one way or the other but to get you thinking.