News and Digital Media Stories

Candy Crush Saga players spent £865m on the game in 2014 alone

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/13/candy-crush-saga-players-855m-2014

This article is about the way in which the game Candy Crush, has meant people investing a total of £869 million on the game. 

- Quarterly spending on mobile game Candy Crush Saga fell steadily over the course of 2014, but its players still spent $1.33bn (£865.2m) on in-app purchases for the sweet-swapping hit.

- Analysis by the Guardian of publisher King’s latest financial results, as well as previous filings, reveals that Candy Crush Saga’s “gross bookings” – the term used to cover spending by players – totalled $1.04bn in the second half of 2013.

- That means $2.37bn of Candy Crush spending over the 18-month period. King did not separate out Candy Crush and non-Candy Crush revenues before that point, but with the game having launched in 2012, it’s almost certainly past $3bn of lifetime spending.

- In terms of gross bookings, Candy Crush Saga peaked some time ago. Analysis of King’s financial filings, including presentations breaking out its non-Candy-Crush gross bookings, reveals a high point of $551m for that game alone in the third quarter of 2013.

- It’s been downhill ever since: $493m of player spending in the final quarter of 2013, then $429.5m, $360.5m, $277.4m and $263.8m in the four quarters of 2014. Even so, it remains one of the most lucrative mobile games in the world.

In my opinion, this article is very interesting as it shows how some people aren't using there money wisely and are spending it on useless things. Such as these applications.

1983 to today: a history of mobile apps

http://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2015/feb/13/history-mobile-apps-future-interactive-timeline 

This article shows the way in which developments of applications have occured and where it is going, plus shows an interactive timeline of the history of apps.

- The old photos show a young man, white shirt rolled at the sleeves and wearing a small bow tie, waving his arms excitedly as he gave a conference speech in Aspen in the summer of 1983.

- Through the addictively simple game Snake on the Nokia 6110 phone, to the first 500 apps in the Apple App Store when it made its debut in July 2008.

No more page 3

1. The campaign was started by Lucy - Anne Holmes in 2012 and has received support from Green mp Caroline Lucas along with cross party support from over 140 other MPS.

2 - It’s 2014! Page 3 was first introduced in the sexist 1970s. A lot has changed over the last 30+ years in our society, we think it’s time The Sun caught up… 

- It’s soft porn in the UK’s no.1 selling family newspaper that children are exposed to. Until 2003 the models were only 16 (and made to dress up in school ties and hats – seriously!) It’s never been OK. One day we’ll look back on this and think “oh my goodness, we did what?!”

- What does it teach children? They see page after page of pictures of men in clothes doing stuff (running the country, having opinions, achieving in sport!) and what are the women doing in this society they’re learning about? Not much really, other than standing topless in their pants showing their bare breasts for men. It’s not really fair, is it?

- Women say, do and think so many interesting and incredible things and should be celebrated for their many achievements. They are people, not things! Not ‘that’. The fact that we hear ‘look at the tits on that’ or ‘I’d do that’ is disgusting, disrespectful and objectifying. Page 3 of The Sun is the icon that perpetuates and normalises this horrible sexist ‘banter’. 

- Every single weekday for the last 44 years in The Sun newspaper the largest female image has been of a young woman (usually of a very particular age, race, physicality) showing her breasts for men, sending out a powerful message that whatever else a woman achieves, her primary role is to serve men sexually. Pretty rubbish that really.

- The Sun newspaper could be so much stronger without Page 3. Because currently, any story they run about women’s issues such as rape, sexual abuse, harassment, domestic violence or the dangers of online porn is drowned out and contradicted by the neon flashing sign of Page 3 that says ‘shut up, girls, and get your tits out.’

3. The contrasting debates between Barbara and Boniface are the fact that page three is very outdated and very pointless now. Simply because Ellen Barabara is a model herself and therefore wears clothes as such.

4. This online campaign can be linked to the idea of post feminism as it can be seen as though women are now deciding for themselves if they want to show themselves naked or with short clothes on.

5. I am in full agreement with the campaign as it brings women down and shows the  at in which they are seen as sex objects rather than young respectable women. 

6. In my opinion, I believe there is still a huge requirement of feminism in order to make sure women are made fully equal to men. 

Media Magazine 40

1. The two texts in which the article focuses on are a TV series called Pan Am and Beyoncé.

2. One way in which the male gaze theory can be applied to Beyoncé is when she looks down at the camera and winks. 

3. The texts that are shown, show the way in which feminism needs to be portrayed more. Regardless of the fact that Beyoncé herself uses strong lyrics to convey her feminist side, she needs to begin using her body actively in order to make sure her point gets across clearly. As she uses her body, however attracts the men. 

4. Definitions; Patriarchy - this is the ideology which conveys that men are in more of a dominant position, over women. 

Feminism - this is a movement which is made in order to establish and defend women's rights and make them more equal to men. 

Post - Feminism; This states the way in which culture and society is past needing feminism and that there is no need for them.

Post Colonism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyS0XZTHi-Y

This supports Saids theory as it shows Mr Khan looking at Aaliyah who is caked with makeup, wearing tight fitted clothes, being called a good Muslim. This could create steretypes in the viewers minds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjzg1PC0QjM

This supports Saids theory as it shows the way in which Yasmin is leaving the house looking like a traditional Muslim, however completely takes that away, by changing into english clothes, after having left the house. This shows going against belief, and again could restore stereotypes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xdo79znnHl8

This supports Saids theory as well as it shows the way in which as an Indian family they are all sitting together in a restaurant and are being rude to one another as a family. This could potentially create stereotypes and make one believe that all Indians are the same. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed0QJJL9sYQ

This relates to Fanons theory as they all 

look the same and shows essentialistion.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OM6slD2OnLI

This relates to Alvarados theory as the Ukraine Riots begin, they all seem dangerous. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3WmMhircZOc

This relates to Fanons theory, showing essentialization as they are all categorised into one. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3WmMhircZOc

This relates to Alvarados theory as it makes the audience feel pitty on those in Africa suffering .

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AVbQo3IOC_A

This relates to Alvarados theory as it is humerus, similarly can be related to exotic.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=raCzNJavEss

This links to Fanons theory infantalize.

Post Colonism

Theorists

Alvarado 1987 - Suggested there were 4 key themes in racial representations

- Pitied

- Exotic

- Humorous

- Dangerous 

Franz Fanon - Came up with 4 themes to descirbe black people

- Primitivize - Exotic and virile tribal warriors

- Infantilize - Portrayal of children e.g. charity adverts

- Decivilize - Looking like gangsters

- Essentialize - All categorised into one group / all look the same

Edward Said - His theory is a post colonial theory. He argued that the west, to be specific, colonising Europe constructed a meaning of the East. Conveying that it all showed that it was dangerous and very uncivilized. 

The film Yasmin brings very mixed feelings to the audiences, as it shows British Muslims and the way their are positive and negative things. For example their are scenes in which, children and ladies, including the father and son who are the main characters, wearing traditional clothing and going to the mosque to pray. However it also shows the shutters with the wording 'Go Home Pakis', this therefore shows the way in which Edward Said constructed his theory, as people are quick to stereotype and with whatever is being shown, they are likely to question and follow negative stereotypes created. To make it even worse, Yasmin is shown on the way to work, stopping off at a hillside, and removing her traditional clothes, in order to show her english clothes, that she was wearing underneath. In the viewers head, this creates some sort of stereotype as the audience may begin to believe that all Muslims are like that.

Post Colonism

TV programmes:

Goodness Gracious Me 

Citizen Khan 

Top Boy Luther 

53 Degrees North

Films: 

Kidulthood 

Adulthood

Ill manors 

Bulletboy

Attack the block

Online productions: 
The Ryan Sisters, 
Meet the Adebanjos
Brothers with no game
Venus vs Mars 
All About The McKenzies

There are many ways in which Avlarado and Fanons theories relate to the short films made by Destiny. 'Tight Jeans'. Firstly one of the main ways in which it relates to Alvarados theory is due to the fact that it is funny, with all the racial comments being made and complete nonsense being discussed, this makes the audience laugh throughout the whole clip and shows the humorous side to it. One of the main parts which bring the attention of the audience, is when they begin talking about each others private parts being bigger than other races. This clip also goes against the main stereotype of Black Men, showing them to be dangerous and troublesome, this doesn't show this at all, however shows the three men sitting on a wall, and causing anything but trouble with those that are passing by. The way in which Fanons theory links, is because the three black men have been infantalized, as they are shown to be acting like children, and the topics they discuss are quite childish as well. 

'Gone too Far' is a film trailer which is based wholly upon a Nigerian family. One of the ways in which it relates to Alvarados theory is because the audience begin to feel sorry for the brother who has just come from Nigeria, as he is constantly being taken the mick out of as he is not familiar with the surroundings. However, there is also an aspect of humor, as there is a scene showing the chicken shop man singing about chicken. The opposite to Tight Jeans, the stereotype of black people being dangerous has been re-in-forced, as there is violence shown involving a guy threatening someone when playing basketball. It also relates to Fanons theory as the characters appear to be quite infantalized, and as  person from Nigeria who is new to everything, he is acting quite childish and not very mature.