April 2016

Political movements on the second article show how Britains NHS is under threat and why junior doctors running out, this links to historical and cultural aspects because the NHS healthcare has been a huge part of our country for ages and it's facing extreme poverty, as reported in the media. The media has shown a variety of headlines which show the protest of junior doctors which are arguing over pay - this links back to when people used to protest in streets when they were disagreeing with the government like the suffragettes but just not extreme. I think that the media is 100% behind the doctor's decision and reports are in their favour, probably to scare the politicians and make them change.

The top one is stereotypical as women are mocked for talking on the phone to their friends for a long period of time and are over all always up for a chat, the article is obviously aimed at women and is quite factual rather than taking the mick. Some reader may genuinely find it interesting to read however it still links back to general stereotyping of women which may not be true but the media portrays it like that.

March 2016

This post is quite brief but it touches on the idea again of celebrity culture and pop culture which everyone is obsessed with, everyone wants to have the most best shoes, clothes and follow the famous faces of Instagram. Where Kendall Jenner received over 1 million likes on one of her instagram photos. This article is a silly article which is just that, showing two girls shopping but people care because of who they are. If it was just two ordinary girls going on a shopping trip together the media is obviously not going to report it however because Kendall and the Hadid girls have been branded as 'it' girls (by the press) they are suddenly a talking point for no reason.  

Feb 2016

These articles are about sex but in two different ways - The first is from fashion week where Rihanna showcased the Puma collection whilst performing in the sports wear brand in thigh high boots and a sweat shirt. This is a form of celebrity endorsement and is likely to drive the brands sales as it has been proved that celebrities are more likely to sell products rather than a model who nobody knows and can't relate to. Pop culture is huge in 2016 and people follow people like Rihanna on instagram and twitter. 

However Adam Johnson is in the papers for sex for a whole different reason and the media created a frenzy over his alleged sex affair with a minor, the media can quickly make or break you and the amount of negative press that Adam got through news paper reports was astonishing. The rape culture in Britain has been shown in the press a lot and we've become a nation who stands against sexual violence, especially since the attacks which happened in Rochdale. 

Jan 2016

Again I picked up on two different types of articles, one which is about the royal family and the other is revolved more around popular culture. In our culture we are obsessed with the royal family, I mean it's what we are brought up to love as British people, it's part of our heritage. The media writes about the royal family a lot and likes to cause tension and create a talking point among people, this article is drama orientated and actually makes the royal family seem like they're in a cheap reality show. It focuses on Kate (who the nation adores) and slams her in the limelight against rumors that she's being pushed out by other royals! Which probably isn't the case, international readers will also be interested in this piece and I think the royal family has become more based around pop culture rather than historical figures. 

The second article is a lot more sexist, which I find annoying. The phrase 'ample cleavage' his misogynistic and objectifies women, rather than the writer saying 'Amber Rose displays womanly curves' they decided to mention her breasts. This is an indication that the culture still sees women as objects and the media portrays them as things rather than beings. 

November 2015

This article is aimed at female readers and has a more cultural aspect to it rather than historical because our culture is orientated around consumerism and the buying of goods. As a nation we are obsessed with the latest trends and worry about the pressures of not fitting in with the right crowd, this article helps those who struggle with fashion and acting as their friend to help them on what the perfect 'it' bag is and how to wear it. 

It's also a form of advertising as the article shows links to stores where the reader can buy from, proving that we care what we look like and the nation has become very vain and find gratification when they receive compliments or looking good.

In regards to the consumer profile I looked at earlier this year, this indicates that people buy clothes so they look good and to receive compliments from others to confirm they have made the right choice.

October 2015

As looking at one particular topic, I then gathered more general information about the news from October to April looking at historical and cultural references.

I picked out two different headlines from Oct 2015 with two different subjects - one was political and the other was fashion. I wanted to see the tone of voice between the two articles based on the subject matter. Feminism in 2015 and 2016 is a huge thing and it continues to grow, I think the boob article is quite mocking and sexist the way it describes the bare back trend more tasteful and timelessly elegant yet when women do show their cleavage the media goes crazy. The Sun newspaper even had it's own cleavage rating in a double page spread. 

The other article is really serious in comparison and the tone is a lot more concerning rather than mocking and has a political agenda behind it as it is in relation to war. Especially since the rise of IS, this article I think is used to create a sense of security to the public and reassure them that this country will not go to war as our troops have been pulled out of Afganistan and people will remember the affects that war has had on this country in previous matters. In a cultural aspect this article is aimed to reassure it's reader and for people to feel better about this situation. 

Conclusion

Over the course of this Critical Journal project I have looked at a variety of images, videos and research regarding the 1960's and why it's still relevant today.

Through my blog I have gathered historical content however I have found it difficult to find specific 'historical' movements from exhibitions as I think that my book is more relevant to the 1960's as this era was all about consumerism, media and popular culture.

There was a lot which was historical that happened but the growth of the economy and popular culture meant that there was a lot to speak about regarding this subject. However, I have learnt when looking at history and context that the political and social changes that was happening during this time affected the way people dressed. Music was also a big influence and access to American music and black musicians which was listened to by the Mod's influenced how people's attitudes were shaped.

I found it helpful looking at the historical events including the end of the World War 2 and the introduction in the contraceptive pill, the baby boom of the 1940's which created the 1960's youth culture, the boost in the economy which all influenced people's attitudes, shopping and the way people dressed. Such as the contraceptive pill was a revolution for women in the UK and they shown this by the invention and push of the mini-skirt which proved their freedom, in comparison to the clothes they wore in the 1940's and 50's which was very restricted and had a certain look. YSL introduced the suit for women which revolutionized fashion and gave women an identity which they never had before.

The music industry was a growing phenomenon and artists like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who had a big influence on how people dressed, the Beatles especially who represented the Mod's, they influenced trends such as the Beatle Boot which was a Chelsea boot with a cuban heel, something I have in my wardrobe from Topshop which proves that 60's trends are still being referenced to. John Lennon also helped push the 'granny glasses' which are the famous round glasses, in the psychedelic 60's the Beatles promoted men to wear sandals on one of their tours, something that had never been seen before. They changed from the face of Mod's to face of the Hippie and showcased bright colours, paisley print and flowing shirts for men's fashion.

Another thing for the music industry was the growth of music magazines such as 'Melody Maker' which posted about fashion and music, The Who also helped brand the Union Jack flag as a representation of British pop culture and the branding of Britishness.

The economy was growing and so was the fashion industry which made department stores grow, improving on the overall shopping experience which was for a consumer indulgence driven industry, people were shopping to enjoy it rather than shopping to get by (not like the war times.) It was the creation of visual merchandising and celebrity endorsement as famous faces were snapped shopping at local boutiques.

Political agenda was promoted through the Hippie trend which is probably one of the most re-visited look from the 1960's era, the hippies promoted peace and the end of violence. It was influenced by the Vietnam war and the hippies were anti-war. This meant that people went for a more natural look and grew their hair and swapped the mini for the maxi.

Over all, the 60's was an era of rebellion, identity and youth culture. Youth's had more money and was the first generation not to be forced to go to war, because there wasn't one. This meant that people had more access to shops, clubs and could enjoy the freedom that their parents couldn't. This was a time of experimentation and identity, to find themselves through fashion and music.