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VOX POP: Music

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Music is often an expression of identity, it offers a sense of both self and the collective. Historically, music is a crucial part in distinguishing between and defining social groups; however, I feel there is more of a blurring between music preference and genres these days. Instead of subcultures deriving from distinctions in music preference such as Punk, Mods and Skinheads, youth subcultures are now often developed through social media with the recent Eboys/girls and VSCO girls/boys. Therefore, I asked 4 people what their preferred style/genre of music was and why to gain a sense of what peoples intentions are when listening to music and if there are any.

Q) What style/genre of music do you prefer and why?

Nicola Baird: “I listen to a lot of music via youtube, so I prefer dance music, anything that gets me of the computer and up and around.”

Nicola Baird, Journalist, Finsbury Park London, (C) Kimi Gill for Islington Faces

Sofi Natt: “I don’t think that I really have a favourite genre anymore, I like more or less anything, I have a playlist with absolutely everything on for when I can’t chose what I want to listen to, but I do have some playlists with certain genres for when I’m feeling a certain type of way. Even though I’m open to anything, I feel like I do typically go for pop punk or metal when I’m alone because not many of my friends are into it so I can jam without being judged.”

Sofi Natt, Student, Northampton

Charlotte Blunden: “I quite like soft psychedelic stuff because its easy listening and I like the fashion that goes along with it.”

Charlotte Blunden, Film Student, Essex

Neelam Tabassum: “I don’t really have a specific music taste, I listen to everything an anything! It all depends on my mood. If I’m feeling quite chill and just want some background music I’ll listen to something alternative or even R&B but if I’m full of energy then hip-hop or rap is definitely the way to go. I can just never chose.”

Neelam Tabassum, Student, Stratford London

It seems that more people are listening to different music depending on mood and accessibility as opposed to intentionally identifying with a particular style in order to fit in and belong to a certain social group.

Climate Change; issues and solutions within the film industry

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(C) Daisy Blunden, Climate Change protest, London, 2019

A review of environmental action in the film industry.

When consuming entertainment, we don’t really take into consideration the environmental impacts of the process. Whilst getting completely emersed in moving picture and sometimes realistic acting, it’s hard to recognise that what we see isn’t and wasn’t naturally there. The carbon footprint as a result of movie production location choice is huge. It is known that the ‘film and television sector is the number one industry contributor to Los Angeles air pollution’ (university of Southern California, 2006). Yet, it remains an issue. Over the last decade there has been a slow increase in campaigning and action taken against climate change within the industry, helped by industry professionals and actors themselves such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett. However, with the current knowledge of the state of our planet- the issues within the entertainment industry has become more of a looming prospect.

Albert:

Albert is a website based campaign created in 2009 that brings the film and TV industries together to tackle environmental issues to induce action in film production and inspire audiences for a more sustainable future. It ultimately offers information and an education on how to do this. They believe that the creative industries have the greatest opportunity to make change- mostly everyone consumes film and TV, therefore, it provides the platform to inform, reform and educate.

They have two main objectives:

1. To enable every part of the screen industry to eliminate waste and carbon emissions from production

2. To empower industry creatives to make editorial content that supports a vision for a sustainable future

It includes handbooks and guides on how to make “greener productions” and how to create content to gain environmentally aware audiences. It also includes multiple articles and case study’s of how people have decreased carbon emissions and ultimately created a more sustainable climate that can be applied within the filming industries. Some of these case study’s come from known figures such as chef and author Jamie Oliver, and the increasingly popular young climate change activist Greta Thunberg who informs us on “how to cut flights from your production”. Above this, information on climate change events happening around England as well as free training opportunities are present. The website has a signing up option where you can gain access to monthly newsletters allowing you to keep up with the latest news from team Albert.

Review:

The website is highly informative in how to be actively involved in changing the nature of film production altogether. It has the power to influence not only individuals but also whole company’s and productions, which in turn can lead to significant change in the way we make and consume film.

I would rate this website a 4/5. I think its very informative and the overall aesthetics of the website are interesting, however, at first glance the website can seem confusing, especially if you’re not familiar with the subject matter. Therefore, maybe I would make the intention of the website clearer in the home page so that people will feel confident and interested enough to continue to pursue ‘Albert’.

 

 

 

 

 

About Me..

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Hi- I am Daisy Blunden, I decided to create this blog as I want to expand my knowledge and be more aware and connected to people. I am based near London and am a UAL LCC student.

My interests include art, photography, film, fashion, poetry, place/travel, and especially music! Anything music. History of music, new music, discovering artists, attending concerts etc.

I study Contemporary Media Cultures as a Degree largely because it is a broad and enjoyable subject as I have no idea what I want to pursue in the future and have a general interest in the realms around arts and critical analysis.

I also have a slowly growing passion for activism- I have always been consumed by ideas of bettering the world (mainly socially); equality and critique of society through art, film, music have always attracted me. Environmental issues and protesting is also a recent interest of mine.