Precis on media and collective identity document.

I read the document on Media and Collective Identity in class and then re-read it in my free time and wrote a precis on what was shown within the text so i understood clearly what it is about.

Within this document the first section is on 'Identity' it basically explains how media can influence the audiences 'personal identity'. Some could argue that personal identity i highly influenced by the media as it shows what celebrities are wearing and doing which some people may copy, and therefore copying someones 'personal identity'.
Two statements are shown within this text from David Buckingham and David Gauntlett, which are two of the most influential writers in media. They are both concerned with the relationship shown between media and cultural identity. 'Buckingham' says (in my own words)

'Considering the effect of everyday media and technologies, the media influences our individuality by the things we watch or read.'

Gauntlett says (in my own words again)
'We are all influenced to create our own identity. However, because of the media we may be similar in most ways due to the major influence the media has.'

Both are showing identity is complicated and everyone thinks they've got one.

Collective identity refers to an individuals sense of belonging to a certain group, and with this they are able to form parts of their own personal identity. The USA and our country shares the same language so we are a small collective of people by comparison. This can also link into stereotypes as it is putting certain people into groups. An example used in the text is the film 'Bend it Like Beckham' as it questions to which extent does the film balance its stereotyping of Punjabi life with collective identity and social realism.

On page 62 of the document it considers British films which are related in some way to collective identity (about Britishness) and social realism about Britain. Recurring themes in these types of films include drugs, unemployment, money problems etc. These types of stories need to be shown carefully because what is shown in the media can create serious debate about the 'real world' and real current social issues which may affect people. This social realist text can put Britain into groups (collective identity) as most poeople have to cope with these sorts of problems.