Digital technology has been used in various ways to aid sales of all three of my chosen texts. 

'Radiohead' are a unique Indie/Rock band that has established a huge fan base over the years. The album 'King of Limbs' sold between 300-400 thousand copies. The band was previously sighed to the record company E.M.I, where they built strong bonds with their fan base. In addition this allowed them to release their most recent album, independently. The Internet is a form of digital technology the band used to sell the album. Through their own website they were able to give details on the albums release date. The band had the idea to have a range of formats to sell the album e.g. the MP3 format costing £6, the WAV download costing £9 and other forms including a vinyl edition to target the vast audience.  'YouTube' was used efficiently to sell the album by uploading a music video of the single 'Lotus Flower'. Furthermore, this gave preview to a diverse audience, supporting the album sales.

Lady Gaga is a controversial artist who has used the wider social media and digital technology of the 21st century, to aid sales and make herself a product worth millions. Her album 'Fame' under the record label 'Interscope Records' received huge success. The 5 singles that promoted and sold the album include, 'Just Dance', 'Poker Face', 'Eh Eh', 'Love Game' and 'Paparazzi'. These tracks advertised and promoted the album through the use of YouTube. 'Just Dance' has currently 156 million views on YouTube, supporting how Lady Gaga's music reaches a wider audience internationally. One other form of digital technology Lady Gaga uses efficiently is the social network site Twitter. She currently has 33 million followers on the networking site, giving her access to her fan base being able to communicate and constantly promote herself as a brand/product. Facebook is another form of modern day technology allowing Lady Gaga to maintain a strong relationship with her fan base, attracting huge investment regarding brands and other types of business. 

Nirvanas were a grunge band that has been extremely successful although 21st digital technology was not available to use. Nirvana could be described as the older model of a band that has used older forms of the digital media to promote there critically acclaimed album 'Nevermind'. Nirvana promoted independent music into the mainstream along with themselves on various chat shows, e.g. The Jonathan Ross Show.  The main form of digital technology the band used was MTV. This programme would broadcast to a huge mainstream audience. As a result of MTV broadcasts, awareness of the band spread along with promotion, aiding sales. In addition, other forms consisted of word of mouth amongst the bands audience and generally throughout the music industry. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' arguably one of the most successful singles of Nirvana included the ideology of rebellion. This idea was found within a variety of their music and displayed in performances on 'Top of the pops' and other shows. The band began to typically destroy equipment, symbolizing rebellion after their shows, this increased the public’s attention. In the long term, 21st century technology has helped the band with sales, contributing to the albums 30 million copies sold.

Discuss issues of representation of gender and race

In District 9 the issues regarding gender and race vary. Throughout the film there are negative representations of those who have roles of power, become terrible and commit atrocities.

The white people on the whole are represented as the dominant race with the power and money. In addition, with the white people having the higher roles, they are portrayed as injustice carrying out terrible acts. Connotations include them as being money orientated and double crossing.

The Nigerians are perceived very negatively, with a gangster organised crime type image. These Nigerians have traits including cannibalism, with various connotations of crime such as prostitution, arms dealing and breaking of a number of other laws.

The aliens known as ‘Prawns’ are also shown as chaotic and less intellectual compared to human beings.

Women have a representation of weak and dependant on the male figures. Women roles are not vital for the storyline therefore they are not essential, being considered as being underrepresented. A representation of men on the whole refer too them as being killing machines, presenting the idea to the audience that humans are scared when uncertain about outsiders.

Discuss how typical the text is of its genre

The genre of the film is a science fiction with elements of a documentary style. Conventions of the science fiction genre include the aliens, futuristic weapons and the mother ship. Conventions of the documentary style genre are the hand held camera, interviews, with the use of the found footage and stock footage. Furthermore, the acknowledgement of the camera is another convention of a documentary styled genre.

How is the film postmodern?

The film is postmodern as it pays homage to the film fly. The hybrid genre consists of the science fiction genre with a documentary style included, this being a strand of postmodernism.

What is the contextual cultural content in the text?

The Apartheid is a major part of the cultural context. This event was where there was large segregation between white and black people in South Africa. Blacks, for the most part, were kept separate from whites.Moreover, when there was an overlap, there were very clearly delineated hierarchies of where people were allowed to go. Those ideas are presented with the ‘prawns’, being referred to the black community representing how they suffered.

Fish Tank Scene Analysis

As a group, we explored the genre conventions of ‘fish tank’. The genre of this piece is social realism.  This type of genre is portrayed through the use of hand held camera, social issues and non- diegetic issues. Through the use of the hand held camera, the audience becomes more involved in the scene as they see through the eyes of Mia. In addition, the use of non-diegetic sound enhances this effect presenting the audience with the realisation of being within the scene. An example of this is when Mia is asking a man for directions. Whilst walking down the road we see a hand held shot from behind her, the audience view the movement of her head, with camera following as she enters conversation. The use non-diegetic sound supports this statement as the urban scenario is reprsentated with interruption of vehicles passing as conversation continues. Another strong convention through the film, appearing in the scene, is social realism of relationship issues. The issues between Connor and Mia, that include under age sex demonstrated when Connor kisses Mia in the car symbolising isolation around the issue, disagreement as Connor drags Mia always from the house to confront her in a private environment as if he is ashamed and feelings of young love shown my Mia throughout, an example of her body language and facial expressions at the train station reflecting on her actions . The audience can relate to this through personal identification due to the fact they witness this on a personal level. 

To what extent are your chosen typical genres?

‘Sin City’ is a film that features typical conventions regarding its genre, as it is a hybrid text consisting of Film noir, Comic book and horror type genres. Femme fatales are a typical convention in a film noir genre type film. Throughout the whole sequence of the film there are obvious signs of Femme fatales that bring the protagonists to their knee’s resulting negatively in some cases death.  An example of this is in the end sequence, Nancy is portrayed as a femme fatale as she is considered weak as the Yellow bastard injects a substance in her neck, whilst Hartigan is hanging from the ceiling of the motel room, in consequence of he is beaten. The back-story to the scenario regarding the incident relates to Hartigan rescuing Nancy when she was little from Junior who was the paedophile attempting to molester young Nancy. Junior, who then ends up being the yellow bastard due to experiments on growing his male genitals, seeks to gain revenge on Hartigan by using Nancy as bait to draw him to himself. In the end sequence, Nancy starts to kiss and admits her love for Hartigan, supporting the theory around her being a fame fatale as she seduces him, as she is extremely beautiful. As Hartigan does not value his life, he tries to fight the attachment to Nancy, however without her he is alone and has no one, therefore he does what every he can do to protect Nancy.

In consequence to all his actions after brutally murdering the yellow bastard, he has a final kiss with Nancy, but comes to terms with the realisation of that if he remains alive, he shall always endanger Nancy’s life. In result of this he ends his own life, by using Nancy’s own weapon to take away his life, reflecting his honour and loyalty to her. On the whole, it could be argued that the females are arguably the power individuals e.g. Nancy is left alive and because of her in the long run, Hartigan is dead.

This is the album 'Under construction' in which features the single 'Work it'

Analysis of 'Work it'

Lyrics:

DJ, please pick up your phone
I'm on the request line

This is a Missy Elliott one-time exclusive (Come on)
Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [backwards 2X]

If you got a big ***, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [backwards 2X]

I'd like to get to know ya so I could show ya
Put the ***** on ya like I told ya
Gimme all your numbers so I could phone ya
Your girl actin' stank then call me over
Not on the bed, lay me on your sofa
Phone before you come, I need to shave my chocha
You do or you don't or you will or won't ya
Go downtown and eat it like a vulture
See my hips and my tips, don't ya
See my a** and my lips, don't ya
Lost a few pounds and my whips for ya
This the kinda beat that go ra-ta-ta
Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta
Sex me so good I say blah-blah-blah
Work it, I need a glass of water
Boy, oh, boy, it's good to know ya

Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [Repeat: x2]

If you got a big ***, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [Repeat: x2]
(Come on)

If you a fly gal get your nails done
Get a pedicure, get your hair did
Boy, lift it up, let's make a toast-a
Let's get drunk, that's gon' bring us closer
Don't I look like a Halle Berry poster
See the Belvedere playin' tricks on ya
Girlfriend want to be like me, never
You won't find a b**** that's even better
I make you hot as Las Vegas weather
Listen up close while I take it backwards
I'm not a prostitute, but I could give you what you
Want
I love your braids and your mouth full of floss
Love the way my a** go bum-bum-bum-bum
Keep your eyes on my bum-bum-bum-bum-bum
And think you can handle this gadong-a-dong-dong
Take my thong off and my *** go vroom
Cut the lights off so you see what I could do

Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [Repeat: x2]

If you got a big ***, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [Repeat: x2]
(Come on)

Boys, boys, all type of boys
Black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese boys
Why-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai
Rock-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai
Girl, girl, get that cash
If it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your a**
Ain't no shame, ladies do your thang
Just make sure you ahead of the game
Just 'cause I got a lot of fame supa
Prince couldn't get me change my name papa
Kunta Kinte a slave again, no sir
Picture black sayin', "Oh, yes a master"
Picture Lil' Kim dating a pastor
Minnie Me and Big Ren can out last ya
Who is the best, I don't have to ask ya
When I come out you won't even matter
Why you act dumb like "Uh, duh"
So you act dumb like "Uh, duh"
As the drummer boy go ba-rom-pop-pom-pom
Give you some-some-some of this Cinnabun

Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [Repeat: x2]

If you got a big ***, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it [Repeat: x2]
(Come on)

To my fellas
I like the way you work that
To my ladies
You sure know how to work that

This is 'Missy Elliot's' album 'Miss E...So addictive', which the track 'Get your freak on' is featured.

Analysis of 'Get your freak on'

Lyrics:

Headbanger.. hit me, hit me, hit me, hit me 
Yeah.. gimme some new shit 
Yeah.. gimme some new shit 
Yeah.. gimme some new shit 
Yeah.. gimme some new shit 

Missy] 
Missy be puttin it down, I'm the hottest round 
I told y'all mother(*skurt*), y'all can't stop me 
Now 
Listen to me now, I'm lastin twenty rounds 
And if you want me (NIGGA) then come on get me now 
(YES) 
Is you with me now (YES) then biggie biggie bounce 
(YES) 
I know you dig the way I sw-sw-switch my style 
(HOLLA!!) People sing around (YES) 
Now people gather round, now people jump around 

[Chorus - repeat 2X] 
Go, get your freak on (*repeat 6X*) 
Go, getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha freak on 

IS THAT YOUR CHICK??? People you don't know? 
Me and Timbaland been hot since twenty years ago 
What da dilly yo, now what da drilly yo 
If you wanna battle me then (NIGGA) lemme know 
(HOLLA!!) Got to feel it son 
Lemme throw you some.. {Aap to mujko} 
People here I come, now sweat me when I'm done 
We got the radio shook like we got a gun 

[Chorus] 
Chorus - repeat 2X] 
Go, get your freak on (*repeat 6X*) 
Go, getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha freak on 

[Missy] 
QUIET!!!!!!! Sssshhhhhh, hush yo' mouth 
Silence when I, spit it out 
{*hach-PTOO*}.. in yo' face 
Open your mouth, give you a taste 
(HOLLA!!) Ain't no stoppin me 
Copywritten so, don't copy me 
Y'all do it, sloppily 
And y'all can't come, close to me (YES) 
I know you feel me now (YES) I know you hear me 
Loud (YES) 
I scream it loud and proud (YES) Missy gon' blow it 
Down (YES) 
People gon' play me now (YES) in and outta town 
(YES) 
Cause I'm the best around (YES) with this crazy 
Style 

Chorus - repeat 2X] 
Go, get your freak on (*repeat 6X*) 
Go, getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha freak on