A2 Comms - Objects of Desire

How has Coca Cola used Christmas (and even shaped our meanings of Christmas) as a way of constructing the soft drink as a desirable cultural product?

Haddon Sundblom's early pictures of Santa Claus for Coca Cola in the 1930s were inspired by the 19th century poem Twas the Night before Christmas:

Group 1: 1995 advert
Group 2: 1997 advert
Group 3: 1998 advert
Group 4: 2014 advert

A2 Comms - Objects of Desire

Here are the posters created in class, responding to various statements on the cultural site 'Objects of Desire':

A2 Comms - Ideology

HERE's an excellent link - courtesy of Jon Clay - revealing philosopher Slavoj Žižek 's exploration of ideology (an A2 Comms key concept)

A2 Comms - Killing Us Softly

This is perfect for both the Feminism and Objects of Desire units of this course:

AS Communication and Culture - Goffman

Please click on this link to a prezi which accompanies your learning this week on the theorist Erving Goffman:

http://prezi.com/6mil9xhxcnbu/?utm_campaign=share&

AS Comms - Johari Window

One of our focuses in class this week will be the Johari Window. Here's a prezi explaining this model of communication:

http://prezi.com/fmw_u3tvl0nk/?utm_campaign=share&utm

... and here's a video lecture:

AS Comms - Learn more about your new course

Click HERE to find out more about your new AS Comms course from the AQA website

AS Comms - Coursework Drop-in

Would you like some extra help with your Comms 1000 word project?
Would it help to talk to a teacher about the bits of the course you find difficult to understand?
Need a quiet space to make progress with your project?
... then please come along to the Comms Coursework Drop-in >
every Wednesday @ 4.15 in Room D22

A2 Comms - Coca Cola and Christmas

How has Coca Cola used Christmas (and even shaped our meanings of Christmas) as a way of constructing the soft drink as a desirable cultural product?

Haddon Sundblom's early pictures of Santa Claus for Coca Cola in the 1930s were inspired by the 19th century poem Twas the Night before Christmas:

Group 1: 1995 advert
Group 2: 1997 advert
Group 3: 1998 advert
Group 4: 2012 advert

AS Comms - 1000 word Coursework

Here are some articles to read, which may help with the 1000 word coursework:

single parent families
how has the family unit changed
same sex parents
same sex parents 2
sibling rivalry

A2 Comms - Objects of Desire

The HBO Drama MadMen perfectly encapsulates the role of advertisers for our cultural site 'Objects of Desire'. Here's the famous 'Carousel' clip:

A2 Comms - The Effects of Technology

Here's an interesting article from The Guardian newspaper, which explores the influence of technology on communication: click here to read it.

AS Comms - Useful Coursework Research Sources

As we launch Coursework B this week, please click on the links below for various sources / ideas that are relevant to many of the suggested topics

FAMILY

1) 'Dinner Makes a Difference' (TED Talk by Laurie David) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzB0BDstCI0

2) 'Outnumbered' First part of first episode http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fBBppLsu2s

3) 'The Seven Lives of the Only Child' http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2006/mar/04/familyandrelationships.family3?INTCMP=SRCH

4) 'Being a Single Parent' http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2006/mar/04/familyandrelationships.family3?INTCMP=SRCH

5) 'Facebook has changed adoption forever' http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/19/facebook-adoption-tracing-birth-mother?INTCMP=SRCH

6) 'McDonalds Family' (Family in advertising) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivxP-UujQak

RITES OF PASSAGE

1) 'Inbetweeners' Movie trailer (teenage holidays) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3HzTKbsqsY

2) 'Don't Tell The Bride' (weddings) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P3mIsQw9PY

3) 'Educating Essex' (starting a new school) http://www.channel4.com/programmes/educating-essex/4od

4) 'My Sweet Sixteen' (landmark birthdays) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgc5kQhPza0

… and Charlie Brooker's take on them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b7mwTK564o

5) 'Music to Grow Up By' (Growing Up and Popular Music) http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/nov/27/music-grow-up-by?INTCMP=SRCH

6) 'Second Life' (Growing Up in a virtual world) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/15/leaders-second-life-virtual-world?INTCMP=SRCH

A2 Comms

Postcolonialism: Listen to THIS podcast on 'Cultural Imperialism' and / orTHIS podcast on multiculturalism to revise your understanding of this unit.

Why Should We Study Grammar?

Women and Writing

A2 Communication & Culture

To support your learning on a Marxist approach to culture, click below for an in depth look at Marx's ideas and their relevance in contemporary life:

A2 Comms

Click HERE for a useful online guide to Marxism.

AS Comms

As you start to decide upon the content and style of your own audio-visual coursework piece, you might like to watch some projects from other Comms students around the country. They are easy to find on YouTube, start with this thoughtful piece on life as a female footballer:

A2 Comms

In class, identify at least  one of the sources below which might be relevant to your project. Read / watch it and then provide an evaluation.

Giorgio (Cultural Mix in Football): http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20938573
Ellie (The Power of the Brand): http://www.ted.com/talks/tim_leberecht_3_ways_to_usefully_lose_control_of_your_reputation.html
Rose (Consumerism): http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2004/09/18/ten_commandments_lunchtime_feature.shtml
Kourosh (Commercialism at the Olympics): http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/29/dreams-triumph-commercialism-olympic-park
Lucinda (Consumerism): http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/jun/14/collaborative-consumption?INTCMP=SRCH
Sam (Otherness and Gaming): http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2003/jan/20/heritage.artsfeatures?INTCMP=SRCH
Kristine (Consumerism): http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/aug/25/shopping.features?INTCMP=SRCH
Lina (Consumption): http://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_botsman_the_case_for_collaborative_consumption.html
Chelsi (Football and commercialism): http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/jul/18/letfootballeatitself
Sarah (Otherness - Females in Comedy) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/05/television-panel-shows?INTCMP=SRCH
Amy (Consumerism): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20893400
Nikita (Otherness): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4611682.stm