Task 1- Textual Analysis

An Investigation into whether the media's seemingly 'heroic' portrayal of sports people during the Olympics or other sports seems to offer a more unified and utopic notion of global cohesion. Or is it just constructed imagery?



The text I chowe to study for my critical investigation is 'Miracle'.When observing this piece of extract, a key element that needs to be considered is mise-en-scene. This is because it helps identify how the media uses techniques to get their portrayals across. Such as costumes, both teams are wearing costumes that represent their nation. This gives the portrayal of the teams being as equals to each other. As it connotes the ideologies of all of them being as one, therefore the idea of unity. Furthermore, unlike the crowd, the players are dressed in brighter colours. The reason for this may be to show the audience that they're the main focus of attention. By having the USA sportsmen in white it allows them to stand out more to illustrate that they're the winners.

The facial expressions and body language also give away of how the characters are feeling at particular moments. This links with camera framing as there are a number of close up shots which help demonstrate this. During the final moments of the match, there is a great amount of yelling and shouting. This represents the anxiety that everyone in the arena is going through which leads on to relief and despair for others. This connotes the similar feelings that opposing fans, managers and players had which hugely contrasts moments later. Furthermore the action of the arms being raised in the air is repeatedly shown to confirm the impact of the victory.

The setting of the scene is taking part in a hockey arena. This is introduced differently to how settings are usually introduced. It is expected for a long shot to show the surroundings of the setting, however instead it goes straight to a close up to show that the audience should already anticipate what is taking place.

The very first thing that is shown in this extract is the timer. This prop plays importance as it is shown from a low angle shot. It shows the audience that it has a sense of power over everyone involved as it controls the end result of the match. This is proven during the last moments when everyone is watching the timer end. Also another prop which enforces the idea of unity is the American flag. A huge crowd of people are seen waving American flags, this promotes the ideologies of everyone coming together. Also after the game, one of the players are shown with a big flag behind them. This presents the 'heroic' portrayal of sports people and the celebration of pride. The final significant prop is the medals which are shown near the end of this scene. By showing this to the audience after the game, the extract shows the rewards of hard work. This links with ideological values and meritocracy. As the film refers to an impossible situation being overcome through determination and effort.

Sound plays and important part in this extract. This is because there is diegetic and non-diegetic sound involved. Diegetic sound included the commentary, the crowd and the sounds of the hockey sticks hitting the ice. The impact of the commentary is to allow it to seem more realistic and believable as if it were a real game. They're also able to build up tension for the audience. Furthermore by hearing crys from the crowd demonstrates the importance of the outcome and what the implications are should their team lose. The extract begins with a soundtrack, which is parallel sound as it is music that would normally be expected to accompany this scene. The reason for this is to let the actual match flow. By the end of the game the soundtrack goes at a quicker tempo to show the sense of achievement. Also there is a voice over near the end of the scene. This maybe done to conclude the events that have just happened or for the audience to gain a better understanding.

The institution of this text is Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Inc. This can be linked to the point of utopia as Disneyworld sets this idea. Therefore the ideologies of Disney are confirmed in this film as it embraces achieving the impossible. Also the scene reiterates having a dream and believing, which is popular in Disney's animated films.

The genre is a biographical sports film. It focuses on the hockey sports, which may target a niche audience. This is because it may not appeal to everyone, although the film has a different side to it about the struggles of the players. Therefore it may appeal to more audiences rather than just sports fans.

Socially this film promotes ideas of trying your hardest to succeed. Therefore it suggests class isn't a barrier to accomplishing. This may go against Marxism as it is suggesting that class doesn't effect what people can achieve. This scene links to historical as it reveals the traditions of the Olympics. This is because the award ceremony at the end, is something that has taken place for years.

Further Research

Target: 5

"+athletes as heroes"

Essays about athletes as heroes: http://www.megaessays.com/essay_search/Athletes_Heroes.html

Essays on media related topics similar to mines. Could help me on the structure and finding valid information to help me on research. Also it shows different perspectives of sports heroes that are seen as heroes. Therefore it provides more then one argument.

The reinvention of athletes as heroes, stars, and celebrities in contemporary Japan: http://www.intcul.tohoku.ac.jp/~holden/Academic_Papers/Media_Made.pdf

Although this study is investigated on Japan. This still points out relevant points that can be considered for my critical investigation. It refers to 'nationalism' and 'globalisation'. It consists of topics such as the 'heroic' portrayal which directly links to my study.

Essay, Research Paper: Athletic Heroes: http://www.customessaymeister.com/customessays/Steroids/11462.htm

This is another essay but is different. It provides a more contemporary arguement with specific examples. This also provides a analysis of athletes such as the use of drugs. Therefore it shows another view of sports people.

intitle:athletes as heroes

Athletes given heroes welcome: http://www.london2012.com/news/2008/10/athletes-given-heroes-welcome.php

An example of sports people portrayed as heroes.

An Analysis of Current Topics and Issues in Sport: http://www.psychologyofsports.com/couch/couch07_1995.htm

Unified Sports Bring People Together: http://www.specialolympics.org/unified_sports.aspx

5 New Useful Links

1. Sports and Television: http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=sportsandte

2. Boys to Men Sports Media: http://www.la84foundation.org/9arr/ResearchReports/boystomen.pdf

3. An Analysis of Current Topics and Issues in Sport: http://www.psychologyofsports.com/couch/couch07_1995.htm

4. Unified Sports Bring People Together: http://www.specialolympics.org/unified_sports.aspx

5. Tiger Woods sage calls into question sports hero worship: http://www.everydaychristian.com/ap/story/5702/

Bibliography: Books

1. Bennett, Peter. Slater, Jerry. Wall, Peter (2006): A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction. Oxon: Routledge.

Pages 10-12

The chapter links to sport and how influential the media is when portraying sporting events. Also reflecting the impact of catchy headlines in newspapers about footballers and what effect it will have on readers. Furthermore it points out that the media was the reason for the increased amount of popularity in sports.

'Television gave extra prominence to top clubs and made celebrities out of their players'.

'Sky attempted to gain control of one of the world's leading sporting brands, Manchester United, a new era had dawned.'

2. Probert, David. Graham, Andrew (2008): Advanced Media Studies. Oxfordshire: Phillip Allan Updates.

Pages 151-155 & 159-160

Refers to media language such as the importance of camera positioning. Furthermore mentions how the media generates excitement and a sense of drama to any particular match. Consequently, it compares how a sporting contest is like a story and what are the typical conventions that come with it.

'Increased money from advertising, sponsorship and media revenues has led to increased player wages/expensive foreign imports.'

'There are heroes and villains, disappointments and triumphs, winners and losers, victory and defeat.'

3. Casey, Bernadette, Casey, Neil. Calvert, Ben. French, Liam. Lewis, Justin (2002): Television Studies The Key Concepts. London: Routledge.

Pages 226-228

Looks at the history of sports and how this has coincided with a number of media forms. It also links this to an extent with globalisation.

'Television corporations are able to influence which sports flourish commercially.'

'Produce sporting narratives that can emphasise drama, spectacle and significance.'

4. Creeber, Glen (2004): Fifty Key Television Programmes. London: Arnold.

Pages 85-90 & 149-153

This title focuses specifically on two sporting events; The Fifa World Cup and The Olympic Games. It mentions the idea of how they bring communities together and creates a unified society, the power of the media to make this happen.

'The Olympic Games is routinely celebrated, not least by its organisers the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as the television event that brings the 'global village' together through shared appreciation of the universal ideals embodied in athletic competition, transcending racial, national and religious differences.'

5. Williams, Kevin (2003): Understanding Media Theory. London: Arnold.

Pages 36-38

This refers to the theory that I will be looking at; Marxism. It mentions how the ruling class own the means of production, such as the media. Links it to the idea of 'false class consciousness.

'Hence the media are instruments of social control whose content is manipulated to mislead people and encourage them to accept their subordination.'

6. Mackinson, Kenneth (2003): Representing Men Maleness and Masculinity in the Media. London: Arnold.

Pages 103-105

Mentions the importance of nations to succeed in sport to enhance their reputations. It will be useful as it talks about the popular beliefs of sport. Such as events strengthening the sense of superior and inferior nations.

'Thus, commentary on the Olympic Games, for example, refers frequently to the way that it is taken to dissolve national boundaries and such formerly competing ideologies as those of communism and capitalism.'

7. Senn, Alfred (1999): Power, Politics, And The Olympic Games. United States: Human Kinetics.

All Pages

A more general overview of the link between The Olympic Games and Politics/Power. It is useful as it talks about the significant role of sports and how this links to wider contexts.

'Drug abuse may occur without the athlete's governement approval'.

'Independent of Nazi propaganda, there was broad opposition to the Olympic Games that crossed ideological boundaries in Germany, ranging from the extreme left.'

8. Andrews, Maggie. Stevenson, Elspeth. Burton, Julia (2009): AQA Media Studies. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.

Pages 50-51

It is useful as it looks at different media theories. These will be used in the essay as theories will be needed when referring to the critical investigation.

'Marx's ideas have been applied to media in contemporary society to suggest that the view of the world constructed in most mainstream media contributes to persuading the proletariat to accept capitalism as natural and inevitable, whilst simultaneously distracting them from complaining about exploitation.'

9. Carmann, Lyan. Mclean, David (2003). Media and Society in the 20th century. Australia; Blackwell

Pages 147-148

It may be useful as it links society with media and shows how one may effect the other. This would have to be brought into with sports. Such as how the media portrays sports athletes to form a unified society.

10. Miller, Toby. Lawrence, Geoffrey. McKay, Jim. Rowe, David (2001). Globalization and Sport: Playing The World, London: Sage.

This book was recommended by one of the previous book that were being researched. Although, I haven't looked at it, I haven't information regarding it that is useful to my investigation. This examines the connections between sport and culture. It argues about if culture is the focal point of understanding sport. And also talks up about globalization.

3)Media Guardian Article: Related to Critical Investigation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2009/sep/09/bbc-sun-olympics-salford

BBC gets early roasting from Sun on Olympics spend

Come any big sporting occasion – say, the football World Cup or the Olympic games – it is a long-standing tradition for national newspapers to highlight exactly how many people and how much money the BBC will spend on covering it. But then it is licence fee payers' money, after all. It usually happens a month or two before the big event, so hats off to today's Sun for blasting the BBC for the amount of money it will spend on the 2012 London Olympics a full three years before it takes place. "The BBC is to land licence-payers with a £3 million bill to send sport staff to cover the London Olympics from Manchester – just a year after it relocates from the capital."

It always did strike Monkey as peculiar timing to move the BBC Sport department out of the capital a year before 2012. The money will go on "flights, train fares, taxis and accommodation", says the Sun. They forgot the bagels! A BBC spokesman said: "Plans for covering the 2012 Olympics are still being developed and we can't speculate on the costs involved." They had better start – it's not the first time they are going to be asked about this.

2)Media Guardian Article: Related to Critical Investigation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/12/brazil-newspapers-circulation

Brazilian newspapers celebrate a rise in circulation

The historic Olympic Games win for Rio de Janeiro, which prompted thousands of revellers to turn Copacabana beach into a giant party, is not the only reason why Brazilian journalists are celebrating.

In contrast to consumers in Europe and the US, the people of Brazil are reading newspapers in bigger numbers than ever. In fact, print media is noisily booming in South America's biggest economy. The total circulation of Brazilian newspapers rose 12% in 2007, according to the Instituto Verificador de Circulacao, the country's equivalent of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, compared to a worldwide average rise of 2.7%. And last year, despite the woes of the credit crunch, sales of Brazilian papers rose a further 5% to 4.35m newspapers per day.

There has been an explosion in the number of colourful tabloids packing in sports, celebrity and crime news, freesheets are a big presence at railway stations and the country's three established national papers – Folha de Sao Paulo, Estado and O Globo – are all growing.

"There's a new, emerging group in Brazil with much more consumption power than in the past and a great deal of pent-up demand," says Marcelo Salomon, the chief Brazilian economist at Barclays Capital in Sao Paulo, who points out that Brazil's brief recession was over by the second quarter of 2009.

Rapid economic growth has swelled the number of middle-class people with disposable incomes and the standing of poorer Brazilians has improved thanks to a popular family stipend program expanded by the president, Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva, and rapid wealth creation in the agribusiness sector: "A very low part of the pyramid has started to crawl up over the last six to eight years."

Newspapers have enjoyed rising advertising revenue every year since 2001. One paper, Super Noticia from the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais, has more than doubled its sales within two years, becoming Brazil's third biggest paper.

So, as redundancies mount on Fleet Street, there's always the possibility of a job near Copacabana beach. And at the next international summit, we all know which country's journalists should be shouting drinks for the downtrodden hacks in the press room.

1)Media Guardian Article: Related to Critical Investigation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/oct/18/netball-campaign-olympics-2020

Netball seeks makeover to wow Olympic chiefs

Netball is hoping to follow the example of rugby sevens by campaigning for the inclusion of a cut-down, speeded-up version of the sport in the Olympics, overhauling its image and attempting to banish forever associations with airtex shirts, bibs and windblown playgrounds.

A new version of the sport trialled earlier this month will be used as the catalyst for a long-term push for international growth that will result in a lobbying campaign for inclusion at the 2020 or 2024 Olympic games. If successful it would become the latest to try to follow Twenty20 cricket by introducing new rules, more spectator participation and new outfits.

The so-called "fastnet" version of the sport was tried for the first time at the MEN arena in Manchester last weekend with the blessing of the international federation in a six-country World Series tournament.

Played in four fast-paced six-minute quarters, the rule changes were designed to speed the game up and encourage attacking play. Shots were allowed from outside the goal circle as well as inside, scoring two points instead of one, and teams were allowed to nominate one quarter as a "power play" during which all goals counted double. Supporters were encouraged to vocally back their team and sit in designated areas, which included the England Enclosure, the Aussie Posse, the Kiwi Corner and the Malawi Mezzanine (by which point organisers were presumably running out of alliterative monikers).

England Netball's chief executive, Paul Clark, said it was a "great success" and would help build on progress in recent years that has enabled it to secure a high-profile sponsorship deal from the Co-operative, launch a super league, and secure regular coverage on Sky Sports.

It is hoped that the fastnet format will also help build participation levels and persuade those who have given up the sport due to time or family pressures to return. There are more than 3,200 registered clubs in England and the sport is played in 81% of schools, despite growing competition from women's football.

Earlier this month, rugby sevens and golf were admitted to the Olympics from 2016 ahead of five other sports following a lengthy process of evaluation and a final vote by the IOC members. President Jacques Rogge said that, now the Olympics was back to its maximum capacity of 28 sports, in future a single sport would be dropped and another added in order to continually refresh the programme.

"Twenty-eight sports was the maximum. To keep the rejuvenation of the sports you need a system of elimination and re-entry," he said. "In the future that is what we will do on a regular basis, at times removing one sport and adding another one."

Some of the sports that missed out this time – squash, karate, baseball, softball and roller sports – are likely to try again, along with others hoping for Olympic representation. Not only does inclusion bring kudos, marketing and growth opportunities, it opens up investment in countries such as China and Russia that tend to focus their budgets on medal-winning opportunities.

Netball would tick some IOC boxes in that it would help open up the prospect of Olympic success to new countries. The sport would also help boost female participation in the games. Yet Clark conceded there was much to do before it could become an Olympic sport, particularly in terms of international expansion. "One thing rugby sevens' inclusion does is act as a precedent," he said.

"It's not the traditional version of the sport they have included, but a hybrid. We've got to capitalise and build the sport in emerging African nations, in the US and elsewhere."
One possible route to a campaign for Olympic inclusion would be to follow the rugby sevens model and build a global tour of fastnet events in various parts of the world, said Clark.

"There is still a perception among some that netball is played only in school playgrounds," he said. "If they witnessed the elite athletes playing Super League netball, they would soon see that is not the case. The fastnet version will really start to push the door open for us – if not in 2020 then in 2024."

Emulating the success of Twenty20 is far from guaranteed. Snooker, water polo, athletics, golf, boxing and even three-day eventing (compressed to one day) are among the sports to have had makeovers, with varying degrees of success.

3)The Independent Article- Related to Critical Investigation

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/olympic-judo-star-convicted-of-gun-charge-1829545.html

Olympic judo star convicted of gun charge

A former Olympic judo contestant was convicted today of possessing firearms in his role as 'enforcer' for a £50m drugs gang.

James Waithe, 47, who represented Barbados at the Olympics and England in the Commonwealth Games, worked as a debt-collector for the gangsters, who turned over around £1m a week from cocaine sales.

He was found guilty yesterday of conspiracy to supply cocaine but the jury decided he was not guilty of conspiracy to possess an explosive substance.

Today, after 20 hours of deliberation at Bristol Crown Court, the jury returned a majority guilty verdict on one count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

But he was found not guilty of five counts of possession of a firearm.

Police were called to a report of a burglary at Waithe's flat in Highridge Green, Bristol, and stumbled on a 10-tonne hydraulic press, white powder and cutting agents.

Officers also found an "arsenal" of weapons, including rifles, handguns, stun grenades and ammunition, which Waithe said he had no knowledge of.

Waithe competed for Barbados in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and taught PE and citizenship at Withywood Community School and Bristol Gateway Special School.

The jury heard that part of Waithe's role is said to have included extreme violence.

The prosecution claimed he once tied a man to a chair, beat him with nunchuks, extinguished lit cigarettes in his ears and put his hands into an electric toaster.

Waithe's co-defendant, Robert Brooks, 63, of no fixed address, was found not guilty of six charges of possession of firearms but guilty of conspiracy to possess explosives, namely stun grenades.

He admitted conspiracy to supply drugs.

Grant Richmond, of Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, and Craig Rodel, 46, of Wexford Road, Bristol, and Luke Downes, 22, of Pevensey Walk, Bristol, have all pleaded guilty to being involved in the conspiracy to supply drugs.

Judge Simon Darwall-Smith remanded Waithe into custody to await pre-sentence reports before adjourning the case for sentencing to a date to be fixed.

He thanked the jury for its work during the 10-week trial.

Waithe's case at Bristol Crown Court concluded a massive police operation to bring the gang to justice.

It can be reported today that 17 gang members are already behind bars for their part in the illegal trade, with a further one man fined.

Meanwhile, five other gang members are awaiting sentencing for conspiracy to supply drugs and firearms offences.

Even after some of the Bristol gang were caught, they continued their business from behind bars by mobile phone, moving the operation to cut the cocaine to Devon.

Over three years and four operations - codenamed Marin, Maltsters, and Maiden - detectives rooted out the remaining members.

The final investigation, operation Malbec, followed Waithe and the gang who had taken over the drug-dealing patch from a father and his two sons after they were jailed.

Philip Pearce, 57, his sons Jamie, 26, and Justin 29, and their team were active in 2007.

Being jailed did not stop Justin Pearce - now serving 20 years - masterminding the scheme from his jail cell by mobile phone.

His girlfriend Leah Murphy - later jailed for seven years when she was eight months pregnant - became involved.

He then moved the operation to Devon with a new crew.

But by 2008 former business associate Craig Rodel, 46, Waithe and the three others had exploited the Pearce family absence and were running the show.

During the entire investigation police seized more than £95,000 in cash, 11.2kg of cocaine, 303.52g of heroin and more than 200kg of cutting agent.

Firearms found included one pistol, two air pistols, four rifles, one small bore shotgun, five handguns and three military issue stun grenades.

Two industrial presses, two tablet making machines, a 15 tonne press and a hydraulic press were also recovered.

2)The Independent Article- Related to Critical Investigation

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/golf-and-rugby-get-olympic-nod-1771479.html

Golf and rugby get Olympic nod

International Olympic leaders selected golf and rugby today for proposed inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games, rejecting bids from baseball, softball and three other sports.

The International Olympic Committee executive board narrowed the field to two from a list of seven, which also included squash, karate and roller sports.

The board will submit golf and rugby sevens — a faster-paced version of the standard 15-a-side game — for ratification by the full 106-member IOC assembly in Copenhagen in October.

The board also gave final approval to the inclusion of women's boxing in the 2012 London Olympics. Boxing had been the only summer Olympic sport without women competitors.

Leaders of the seven sports bidding to be added to the 2016 games made presentations to the IOC board in June in Lausanne, Switzerland, and continued to lobby extensively. The attributes of each sport were contained in a report by the IOC program commission which was reviewed by the board Thursday before the vote.

Golf was played at the 1900 Paris Olympics and 1904 St. Louis Games. The sport's backers say bringing the game back into the Olympics would help it develop worldwide, noting many governments only fund Olympic sports.

Tiger Woods and other top players have indicated they would play in the Olympics if golf gets the nod from the IOC.

"Golf is a truly global sport and it should have been in the Olympics a while ago," Woods said Tuesday. "If it does get in, it would be great for golf and some of the other small countries that are now emerging in golf."

Golf proposes a 72-hole stroke-play competition for men and women, with 60 players in each field. The world's top 15 players would qualify automatically, and all major professional tours would alter tournament schedules to avoid a clash with the Olympics.

Rugby, which was played in four different Olympics between 1900 and 1924 in the full 15-a-side format, proposes the 7-a-side version for both men and women. The International Rugby Board would scrap its Sevens World Cup to ensure the Olympics is the sport's top event.

Final approval of the two sports will require a simple majority vote by the full IOC in October. It's unclear whether they will be voted on individually or together.

Softball and baseball had been seeking a return after being voted off the program four years ago for the 2012 London Games. Attempted reinstatements were rejected by the IOC in 2006.

Softball, a women's event which debuted at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, has focused on spreading the sport among youth and women in the Muslim world and Africa, and staying free of doping scandals. It offered to organize a men's Olympic tournament as well if readmitted by the IOC.

Baseball — which has failed to bring top players to the Olympics due to a scheduling clash with the U.S. major leagues— offered a shortened five-day, eight-team format intended to ensure the participation of big-name stars.

In 2005, after voting to drop baseball and softball, IOC members rejected the five other sports put up for inclusion — rugby, golf, karate, squash and roller sports. At that time, approval required a two-thirds majority.

1)The Independent Article- Related to Critical Investigation

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/de-vos-urges-2012-olympic-athletes-to-aim-high-1809967.html

De Vos urges 2012 Olympic athletes to aim high

British athletes have been set the target of winning 10 medals at the London Olympics in 2012. UK Athletics' chief executive, Niels de Vos, says it is an "optimistic target" but that it was important to aim to do better than Britain has ever done.

"We have to aim for the best we've ever done at our home Games," said De Vos. "I'm perfectly happy to put a target out there that's aspirational. We should be aiming to get a better return that we've had in the past. I've based it on the number of finalists we've been getting in the past four or five years, which has been going up at each major championship. At the last two major finals, the Worlds and the Olympics, we've had 25 finalists. Can we get to 10 medals? We got six at the Worlds, so there is a way to go, but it's possible."

At the Beijing Games in 2008, Team GB's athletes missed the target of five medals set for them by UK Sport, coming home with four – one gold, two silver and one bronze. "Have we got the chance of winning more medals than any other sport? Yes, we have," he added.