Self Evaluation

Write an evaluation of your progress on the Media course since the first Interim Report.a. Comment on each of the following, giving yourself a grade (1-5) with an explanation:
Attainment- 2- I feel that my knowlegde of the subject is at an all time high and that throughout the course my knowledge is always improving because there's always something to learn.

Effort-2- I always put in the effort, I'm always in class and I always listen. As I want to do a media degree at uni i feel this is my most impotant subject.

Punctuality-1- I make sure I'm in class on time all the time because I'm a dedicated student.

Submission and quality of homework-2- My homework is usually on time however it is sometimes late but always up to standard in quality.

Ability to work independently-1- I'm very independant and can work well by myself.

Quality of writing-3- I't's not terrible but my essay writing style needs to improve.

Organisation of Media folder-1-I've recently organised my folder into good order putting everything where it is suppose to be.

Oral contributions in class-1- I always speak my mind when I have something to say to make sure i get the best out of the teacher.

Introduction to my essay

Little Britain' is a British based comedy sketch show, concentrating on the people of Britain through very diverse characters. Following the conventional structures of comedy sketch shows before them, for example 'The Two Ronnies' (1971) 'Little Britain' aims to "show the people of Britain". Many of the characters created by the show are firmilar and well known stereotypes about certain people and groups in Britain. However, to an extent could some of these characters create a fair and true representation of those being targeted or does the show manage to offend people on every level possible? From the show's current success could it be that society has accepted these representations because it's a comedy and meant to create humour or is the humour taken into consideration when such ideologies are so obvious and 'in your face'?

Blog Evaluation

This is on the real, I think this is one of the best organisation processes thought up for us to use. As a whole, I've been able to upload all my information and keep it in order, I don't have to worry about forgeting to give in a piece of work because it's interactive and I highly recommend it for other departments to use.

Throughout the research part of my coursework the aid of the blog gives us the opportunity to make things easier when researching on the web as it is part of the web and provides the links and imformation we need to be able to get the work done to great standards. I was a bit sceptical of the whole thing to begin with, questionning its use for use and seeing it as a waste of time, but the truth is I don't think I would've had a chance of succeeding in this coursework without it now because we've given something that encourages us so that we don't have to do to much of the hard stuff in a manner of speaking.

it's interactive, fast and accessable anywhere there's a computer really so there's no excuse not to make it better and do the work set. Ok maybe that's a bit of a bother as teachers can check up on us, but when you get to our stage in education we should'nt have to be told if we want to succeed in our education. Personally I want to do well or else I would'nt be doing this evaluation and thankfully this piece of technology is here for me to provide it.

No matter what anyone says i thank Mr.Bush and Ms.Stevens for making us use it and think its bebefitted me greatly asI think its done for everyone else using it.

Essay Plan

"No more lesbian jam. I can't keep it down" How does 'Little Britain' provide humour without offending people and why in this way?

• Introduction- includes a summary of my study about the phonomenon that the show has created but the way its context has been taken on by the public. (by targeting groups of people, individuals may not take it to be offensive!)
• Start with the institution (BBC) and show the representations of them as a PSB etc. Then discuss the affects of the show and its reflections of the institution.
• Audiences of the show can then be analysed considering the channel and who would watch and why. Put an analysis on the viewers and show identifications with the characters i the show e.g. the only gay in the village, Vicky Pollard, Emily Howard and Margery.
• Consider the characters and their appeals but discuss the reasons the show is successful through using obvious stereotypes.
• How do the audience view the show? From what/ hows point of view are they watching these generalisaed stereotypes?
• Discuss the institutions links to the show again and how it supports the shows content even though the BBC's main aims are not to entertain but inform and educate.
• Other examples that can be related to the show that were successful e.g. the 2 Ronnies (sketchshow) but how have times changed in terms of SHEP to provide the public with the content of the show we see today.
• Linking to the point about what the public sees on television today, consider the characters on the show and who plays them. Two middle-class, white men who make stereotypes about disabled people, homosexuals and mostly women. Could the popularity of the show be to do with the misogyny in a patriachal society?
• Development of the comedy genre from Tommy Cooper to 'Little Britain'. The influence of black comedy in the show to represent real life experiences and saying what people really think. Link to black comedy shows like Eddie Murphy: 'Dilerious' and 'Raw' and their links to views of gay people etc.
• Through the aid of a possiblre black comedy genre, do the represneted groups see the represtnations as offensive, especially women.
• The shows possible values and beliefs about people in Britain. Quote something from the creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Do they believe the representations of the characters they mimic?
• The show has rached in millions over the last three years, why?
• Conclusion on whether the show could be deemed offensive or a masterpiece of television genius.

Historical Texts

1. The 2 Ronnies
2. Dick Emrie and Bennie Hill
3. Laural and Hardy
4. Tommy Cooper
5. Morecambe and Wise

The Two Ronnies
UK, BBC, Sketch, colour, 1971
Starring: Ronnie Corbett, Ronnie Barker

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/t/tworonniesthe_7776575.shtml

This is my historical text. The show was broadcast during the 1970s and had a big impact on its viewers due to its ironic and satirical comedy style. Similar to 'Little Britain' 'The Two Ronnies' were a comedy double act, producing sketches where they'd act out other characters. This style is what possibly lead the comedy stylings of Matt Lucas and David Walliams to adopt and form their ideas from this show. Although many things in television today are very different to what it was then some ideas in the genre still remain but with a lot more material able to be shown. Society has had the biggest impact on the show in my opinion as all the characters are based around real people in Britain, hence the name and the representations to social groups. Where censorship would have blocked a lot of material in the show then, now it seems television has almost no boundaries.

'The Two Ronnies' came from a time when real opinionated shows wouldn't be shown because of the possible effects on the audience, so the sketches could only go so far in the jokes they told that were more rhetorical questioning, said in a sort of statement that gave their audiences intelligent jokes that would have to be understood as to what they were trying to get out without actually saying it with the caution of getting it censored. Now, things can be said almost with no underlying connotations to it that a 10 year old would understand. In a way television could be argued that its been getting 'dumbed down' over the decades and practically spoon feeding its audiences more and more to the stage that we're all passive and taking in ideas like oxygen. 'Little Britain' is the perfect example of this as it is very obvious in the character representations and the ideologies of the show even. Even though they probably do this diliberately they still happen to give the ideas to the audience, preventing them from thinking about what they're trying to say for themselves.

This happens in most aspects of the media though now, like in music. Before it would've been very discrete in its lyrics but now, especially in rap music most people would find too explicit and 'out there' to handle, but this is the society we live in today.