Super Curricular

 MM Article summary:

Due to Disney now owning 27% of the film industry, the release of Avengers end-game generated more than one billion in its opening weekend. The release became a huge media event with a variety of marketing to reach fanbases on social media, with directors writing fan letters for their loyalty. After the films success, Marvel struggled to maintain momentum, receiving critical reviews on 'Rotten Tomatoes'. Despite these bumps, Marvel studios still dominates the box office, which shows the struggle that comes with mass amounts of power and success within the media. 

Theorist research:

Van Zoonen's 'feminist' theory points out that notations of femininity and masculinity are constructed and maintained by media texts. She emphasises the patriarchal nature of the media industry that contributes to to the representation of female characters as objects. She also discusses the idea of a 'male gaze' and how mens bodies are represented in the media , however, they still maintain a sense of hierarchy and dominance over the viewers. Van Zoonen also criticises the media for the roles of women in the industry, with most being administrative. 

Media magazine conference write up:

When attending the media conference, I learnt a lot about the media industry thanks to a variety of speakers such as: Chris Hogg on the magic and challenges of using AI in creative processes, Alison Phillips who is the former editor of The Mirror, Hannah Ewan’s and her theory of fandom, Harv frost on his production of music videos, David and Anamik in conversation about cultural products and Nida Manzoor writer and producer. 

I particularly found interest in Hannah Ewan’s fan girl theory where she explores how fans actively engage with media, creating communities and alternative narratives through activities such as camping outside for concert events (the example she used) . She highlights that fans are not passive consumers, but reinterpret and reshape content to fit their own perspectives. Digital platforms allow for direct interaction between fans and creators, amplifying fan influence on media production. She explored how social media has dramatically changed fandom, moving away from purely involving fans to artists to a variety of factors such as trolls etc. Ultimately, Ewan’s theory emphasises the power of fandoms in shaping media culture.