DECEMBER 2011: THE POLITICS AND POWER ISSUE M M MediaMagazine edia agazine Menglish and media centre issue 38 | decemberM 2011 english and media centre media and english RIOTS PHONE-HACKING SITCOMS | issue 38 | december 2011 december 38 | issue | CUBAN MEDIA HEROES HOLLYWOOD MM MM38 coverFINAL.indd 2 23/11/2011 09:23 MM Seasons greetings from MediaMagazine. The theme of this issue may actually feel a little unseasonal; why have we chosen a heavyweight topic like Politics and Power at a time of year usually associated with sweetness and light, food and drink, giving and receiving? Well, look on this as our seasonal gift to you: a bumper bundle of issues, debates and current media affairs which you’re bound to MediaMagazine is published by find helpful over the coming months. Media teachers often say there’s not enough the English and Media Centre, a politics in Media Studies, because students find politics boring; we hope this issue non-profit making organisation. will prove them wrong. The Centre publishes a wide range of classroom materials and runs Two articles in this issue are particularly unmissable for A2 students: David courses for teachers. If you’re Buckingham’s masterly analysis of the issues arising out of this summer’s civil studying English at A Level, look out disturbances (web-subscribers can actually see his superb keynote speech at the for emagazine, also published by MediaMag Student Conference on the same topic); and Rona Murray’s extensive the Centre. summary of the implications of the phone-hacking scandal and its ramifications for The English and Media Centre the empire of Rupert Murdoch. If these don’t crop up in some shape or form in the 18 Compton Terrace Summer exams, MediaMag will eat its hat. London N1 2UN Telephone: 020 7359 8080 Politics (with a small ‘p’) affects all media forms, platforms, genres and debates. Fax: 020 7354 0133 We have articles on the politics of Hollywood cinema, US sitcoms, gender in slasher movies and the representation of heroes, war films, and the new American Email for subscription enquiries: [email protected] documentary movement. There’s a fascinating piece on the politics behind the TV representation of political figures such as The Kennedys, and Julian McDougall visits Managing Editor: Michael Simons Cuba to explore the complex interplay between politics, old and new media, and Editor: Jenny Grahame the Cuban people. And to add some humour, Pete Fraser has listed his links to his top 30 political YouTube clips, ranging from Alan Partridge to Four Lions, with lots of Editorial assistant/admin: Rebecca Scambler politically incorrect laughs thrown in. So that’s our present to you. But what about you giving MediaMag a present in Design: Sparkloop Print: S&G Group return – in the form of an entry to our Production Competition? Entries are trickling in, but you only have until 1st February to send us your work, so get competing! You Cover: London Riots 2011 can start here: ISSN: 1478-8616 http://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/mm/MMprodcompentryform.pdf Meanwhile, a very Happy New Year to you all. Jenny Grahame and Lucy Webster In our MediaMag online supplement this issue More Murdoch Trust, power and paywalls The Libyan revolution The films of Adam Curtis This magazine is not to The politics of Fight Club be photocopied. Why Representations of women in politics not subscribe to our Farewell to the News of the World, and more web package which New to MediaMagClips includes a downloadable Exclusive clips from the MediaMag Student Conference, including David Buckingham on the and printable PDF of riots, Christine Bell on Dr Who, Steph Hendry on Being Human, Pete Fraser on production work, the current issue or Paul Lewis on reporting the riots, and a taster of Garth Jennings’ inspiring presentation. Remember, MediaMag now has its own Facebook page at encourage your students http://www.Facebook.com/mediamag.emc to take out their own £12 subscription? 2 MediaMagazine | December 2011 | english and media centre MM contents Front Page News The Soldiers’ Story: News, views, reviews, previews. 04 31 the Power of Digital Bang Bang: There’s a Riot Going On Documentary Sean Photography, Politics David Buckingham explores Richardson compares two 53 05 and the Power of Old and the role of the media in this powerful documentaries to summer’s riots. explore how they construct and New Media Maggie Miranda subvert our ideas about war. investigates a powerful film about the final days of apartheid in South Africa. Cartoon By Goom. Online parties Neil Paddison Sex, Lies and Espionage: 13 compares the official websites of 36 the Role of the Media in the UK’s three leading political 56 parties. the Profumo Affair Jade Hunter provides the backdrop to Hacked to Death: How one of Britain’s greatest political 16 Humble Pie Arrived on scandals of the last century. Murdoch’s Menu This Radical Hollywood summer’s revelations of phone- Nick Lacey asks whether the hacking, nepotism and unethical Girl Power: the Politics 60 Hollywood Dream Factory can practices at NewsCorp continue of the Slasher Movie What 38 ever really deliver political to unfold – but what do they can slasher movies tell us about cinema. really mean for the future of the gender politics? Horror expert press? Rona Murray provides the James Rose explores the power overview ... of the Final Girl. Power, Politics and The 41 Kennedys Brenda Hamlet considers the pressures behind the production of a mini-series about America’s most famous Media, Politics and Power political dynasty. 64 in Cuba: a Case Study Julian McDougall investigates the complex relationship between Your Top 30 YouTube socialist politics, media, people 22 Political Clips A personal and technology in the unique selection from Pete Fraser of the environment of Cuba. most enjoyable and entertaining political clips around. Attacking America: a A Serious Business: the 27 Decade of Documentary 46 Politics of Two American Dissent Pete Turner discusses Sitcoms Philip Dyas explores documentary makers’ decade- politics and ideology in 30 Rock long political assault on all and How I Met Your Mother. things American. Heroes Strong, fearless, 49 powerful – and male. Sara Mills explores the politics of heroism. english and media centre | December 2011 | MediaMagazine 3 Front Page News The end of a musical era – Film releases Winter has kicked in and Christmas is around the corner – what better time to go to the cinema? goodbye EMI Here are some highlights of the holiday season. EMI, arguably the most famous, and, after demise of a stand-alone company – a very December 114 years, the oldest name in British music British music company that, at least from the 9th: New Years Eve history, has now been bought out by its two 60s to the 90s, was the biggest in the world. From the people who brought us Valentine’s largest rivals – Universal Music and Sony – in In 1999, Napster the online music store was Day comes a Romantic Comedy which follows the a deal worth £2.5bn. launched, marking a remarkable change lives of several New York couples and singles over EMI was the label behind Coldplay, Tinie in the music industry which proved unable the course of New Year’s Eve. Sarah Jessica Parker Tempah and most notably, The Beatles. But to move quickly enough to adapt to the and Ashton Kutcher lead an all-star cast. did you know its subsidiaries also recorded new pace and accessibility of music shaped Puss in Boots Elvis, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, The by the internet and digital technologies. We loved Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots in Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Blur, The Thereafter, EMI really struggled, particularly Shrek 2, and now our favourite feline stars in Smiths, Fatboy Slim, The White Stripes and in its publishing business. It was the biggest his own movie. In this prequel, we follow Puss’s Snoop Dogg, as well as countless other music publisher in the world until BMG adventures with his gang of fairy-tale sidekicks icons? For a full list of EMI artists, see http:// Music Publishing merged with Universal before his first appearance in Shrek 2 in 2004. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_EMI_artists Music Publishing in 2007. The public was 16th: Dreams of a Life interweaves imagined EMI’s recorded music division will now be no longer buying records, and the company scenes and real interviews in the portrayal of the a part of Universal Music ,while their music had only broken a few acts globally – most true story of Joyce whose body was found in her publishing will be absorbed by Sony/ATV to notably Coldplay. flat in 2003, three years after her death. Starring create a new publishing powerhouse. Sony and Universal now own EMI, which Zawe Ashton of Channel 4’s Fresh Meat. The famous Abbey Road Studios was means that a single company controls 26th: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the iconic symbol of the company where just under half of the market. This marks A new adaptation of Steig Larsson’s bestselling The Beatles recorded, among zillions of a significant change for the whole music novel. Directed by David Fincher (The Social others. Even though the company will no industry. However, EMI was the first Network) and starring Daniel Craig. longer exist, Universal has emphasised its company to sell flat discs – records as we Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol commitment to EMI’s musical heritage, with know them – which are an essential part The IMF is shut down when it’s implicated in the Lucian Grainge, the British Chief executive of of music’s history.