Geography casestudy - Antartica

Geography

English language essay question

How has the language of the text been influenced by technology?

         The language in the texts has been influenced by technology in many different ways, for example, abbreviations have been used; ‘wed’ ‘Tb lv n.’ People use to have to pay for the length of each text, therefore the shorter the text the cheaper it was, consequently people started abbreviating words and missing out vowels. This method of ‘texting’ is still used because it makes it quicker to type out messages, and therefore a group of people can exchange in text messages within seconds, holding conversations fluently without long gaps waiting for replies. This also links to the number, ‘2moz’ and letter homophones used; ‘r u?’ These make it possible to shorten whole words into just a few letters and numbers; are you = r u and 2moz = tomorrow. Consequently resulting in speedier texting.

          Text messages are normally between two people that know each other and are therefore a private matter, however more and more companies, ie banks, are starting to use them as a way of getting information out to their customers. The examples given show a private set of text messages, showing a conversation between some friends. Therefore the messages are all informal, you can tell this due to the use of non-standard English, spelling and grammar, ‘havnt.’ This shows an example of the use of elision without the use of apostrophise, this makes it’s quicker and easier to text without using standard grammar, and also because the majority of people text people whom they know, and therefore text in a conversational tone, just like they would if they were talking in person. As well as this, it also shows how culture has had an effect on text messaging because it has become thought to be ‘cool’ to ‘text’ using a certain style, such as phonetic spelling and non-standard English.

            There is also the use of punctuation to imitate suprasegmental features, ‘xxx’ = kisses. This adds recognition to the reader of the text, as to what context it is meant in. For example ‘x’ on the end of a text shows friendliness. This is influenced by technology because it’s hard to show tone on voice over writing and therefore people add things like this to help add tone to their messages. This is very similar to the use of emoticons in the text; ‘:).’ This shows how ‘texting’ has been adapted to show the emotion that the text is meant to be read with. For example a text with ‘:)’ in it, is said in a happy way, ect. This is also because this ‘tone’ doesn’t come across in text due to the lack of facial expressions from the two people holding the conversation. Therefore you only get the words of the conversation, but you can’t hear the tone of which they were said in or facial expressions, therefore emoticons and punctuation to imitate suprasegmental features helps to show these in the text.

          There has also been the use of youth socialect within some of the texts; ‘wanna.’ and ‘I’m like on already.’ This adds to the informal feel of the texts, allowing each individual to express their own ‘tone’ to a message. ‘Chil @ mine” shows an example of how words can be shortened, making texts shorter and quicker; one of the ‘l’s’ on ‘chill’ has been removed, but still leaves the word recognisable. As well as with, punctuation has been used to replace words such as ‘@’ instead of the word ‘at’. This makes texting quicker amd shorter, therefore saving on time and money.

           All in all, the language in the texts has been influenced by technology in many ways, but the main influence has been that people abbreviate words, trying to write as much as possible in as little time and letters possible. This is because it use to be that the longer the text the more it would cost to send, and the quicker you send a text, the quicker you get a reply, which then keeps up the ‘face to face’ feel to the conversation. The other main influence has been the use of emoticons, these are used to reflect the emotions and face expressions of the ‘texter’ to make up for the fact the conversation isn’t happening face to face.

Photography

I edited this photo, making it black and white, to add mystery to the photo, and then adding lyrics from a song to add emotion.

For this photo, I used a tripod so that the camera stayed still to reduce shake on the image. This also allowed me to be in the photo aswell as my model.

I like the contrast of the two hair colours on this photo, as it adds impact on the viewer.

I decided I wanted to do fashion photo's, basing my photography on a magazine aimed at young adults. I think I achieved this because the photo shows two girls in this age range, doing poses that are typical of fashion magazines.

As I modelled in this photo myself, it meant that I couldn't take the photo as well. Therefore, I had to teach someone else how to use the camera (a cannon digital SLR) and guide them as to how to capture the image.

I like this photo because of the low key lighting. I think this adds a mysterious effect on the photo.

I instructed someone else how to take this photo. I wanted the 'LOVE' to be in focus in the foreground, whereas I wanted myself to be in the background.

I like this photo because I think it looks quite quirky. However to improve it I could have tried to get my models eye in the centre of the 'O' 

I tried to imatate a fashion photo here, by having the 'Love' on the forground. I hoped this would draw attention to the photo, also by having the 'Love' in high key lighting but the background and model in low key lighting, I hoped this would create an interessting photo.



I got the idea for this photo from one of the photos used on the 'Xfactor'. I liked the pose used because I think it looks different and quirkey. Also it draws attention to the eye and makes that the focus of the photo.





Media - Teenage dramas, coursework research

Teenage Dramas

Skins

Creators of the programme: Jamie Brittain, Bryan Elsley and Mike Bailey

Audience: certificate rating, 18+ - boys and girls

Ratings: 833,000 viewers

Production Company: Company Pictures, E4, Stormdog Films

Run time: 60 minutes (including adverts) 

Number of episodes: 9 in a series

Aired on: E4

Inbetweeners

Written by: Damon Beesley and Iain Morris,

Audience: teenagers, 18 – 24, mainly male (but also attracts females)

Ratings: 2.247 million viewers

Production Company: Bwark Productions, Young Films

Run time: 25 minutes

Number of episodes: 12 in a series

Aired on: E4

Release date: 1^st May 2008

The O.C.

Creator: Josh Schwartz

Release Date: 7 March 2004

Audience: Teenagers

Originally aired on: Fox network

Ratings: 9.7 million viewers

Production Co: Wonderland Sound and Vision, Warner Bros. Television, College Hill Pictures Inc.

Run time: 44 minutes

Envision

Envision – Helping the homeless

Homelessness

. Web definition of homelessness: is the condition of people and social category of people who don't have a regular house or dwelling because they cannot afford, pay for, or are otherwise unable to maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing

. Homelessness can affect people in many different ways: Ill health, mental stress, social deprivation and isolation, the ability to find schools and education for children can be made harder, the ability to find jobs can be made harder, and confidence can plummet

.Causes: Loss of job, house repossession, family problems (split parents), natural disasters (flooding), run always (most common in teenagers)

What we aim to do

. We would like to run a work shop with the year 7’s on an ‘Enhance Curriculum Day.’

During this work shop we will raise the awareness of homelessness, hopefully get rid of any questions, misunderstandings and prejudice towards homeless people.

. Run a cake stall at our local town market.

We will work with our school's ‘cookery club’ to produce a range of tasty snacks such as cakes and buns, and then sell these on a stall at the market, we will then give any profits raised to a homeless charity.

.Volunteer with the local charity ‘Canopy’

Canopy volunteers work as a team to renovate an empty and derelict house that have been standing empty for years, and transforms them into homes

English Literature essay - Thomas Hardy poems

Thomas Hardy’s methods in ‘Under the Waterfall’

          Hardy uses many techniques in ‘Under the waterfall’, the most obvious one being the idea of symbolism. For example the whole poem revolves around a waterfall, which in its self is a symbol of love and beauty. He then carries the method of representing his feelings, towards this memory of a past lover, by using other symbolic ideas. Such as ‘And why does plunging your arm in a bowl full of spring water, bring throbs to your soul?’ This suggests a feeling of heartbreak to the reader; also spring water is a very pure source of water, which could link to the idea of his memory to be about ‘pure love.’ He then goes on to talk about how he and his lover drank from the same glass; I think the glass represents love. We then get told of how that glass gets dropped into the pool of water, ‘where it slipped, and sank, and was past recall.’ This could symbol the fact that his relationship with his lover had deteriorated until it was past salvation. ‘There the glass still is’ could also mean one of two things, either: the glass is still there and will last forever, unlike love, which is turning his cherished memory into the harsh reality. Or that somewhere, deep down, that love still exists between him and his lover, but it is no longer on show or used. The symbolism between the glass and his love is continued in the last stanza when he says; ‘There lies intact that chalice of ours’ The fact that Hardy chose to use the word ‘chalice’ here instead of ‘glass’, like he has else where in the poem, shows that there is more to that glass that what the reader may think. A chalice is a religious, special goblet used for drinking, so linking back to the symbolism; this could be suggesting that there was more to his love that what first seemed, and that the love that he once shared was something sacred. Also ‘there lies intact’ reinforces the idea that, deep down, there are still feelings towards this lover.

                   Another method Hardy uses is the fact the poem is written from somebody else’s view and memory, we assume this person is his wife or one of his past lovers. The whole of the poem is written in speech marks, showing the reader that it isn’t Hardy himself speaking, but actually somebody else.

                  Hardy also has a structure to his poem, having rhyming couplets throughout ‘Under the waterfall’. This makes the poem flow when it is being read, and even though it isn’t a sonnet, it gives it the same fixed rhyme scheme that can be found in many sonnets. Lines 5-8 and 25-28 are also indented, which gives the poem the shape of a waterfall, which fits is nicely with the theme of the poem.

            Imagery is also often used throughout the poem: ‘And has spoken since hills were turfless peaks’ ‘smoothness opalized’ ‘Of blue with a leaf-wove awning of green, in the burn of August to paint the scene.’  This draws the reader into what is being said, and helps them to imagine the memory that is being spoken of. Also it shows the reader that it isn’t just a meaningless memory to the speaker, but it is in fact a vivid memory that obviously means so much, it is still remembered, right down to the fine detail.

           A number of writing techniques have also been used, such as oxymoron and personification. ‘The sweet sharp sense of a fugitive day.’ This is an oxymoron, and by having these two words together in this context suggests that it’s a memory that is still favoured by the speaker, but is also a spiteful memory. The word ‘fugitive’ meaning criminal, which could signify the two lovers were being rebellious by being together. This could then mean the speaker still gets thrills from remembering the excitement that was felt by breaking the rules to be with their lover. Also ‘With a hollow boiling voice it speaks.’ Is personification of the waterfall. This shows that the waterfall plays an important part in this memory and therefore has a lot of power and status, so much

English Literature essay

'Small Island' by Andrea Levy

Does the title, ‘Small Island’, suggest more than settings?

    

          The title, ‘Small Island’, is quite ironic it fact that the Jamaicans believe the other West Indies islands are ‘small islands’, and then later on Gilbert says England is a ‘small island.’ However, to the English and Americans, Jamaica is such a ‘small island’, that to many of them it has little significance, with many of them not even knowing about its existence or where it is, “Where is Jamaica?” “Well, dunno. Africa, ain’t it?” (Page 142) and “Jam-where?...Jam –what?” (Page 142). I think this shows that the title, ‘Small Island’, does suggest more than just settings, because it also shows naivety and ignorance, on the part of the British and Americans, suggesting that they have ‘small minds’ and are so self-focused, that they don’t even know where some of the troops, which are fighting for the same country as them, come from.

           However ‘Small Island’ could also be used to describe the Jamaicans disappointment when they get to England, because England is described to them as the ideal place, the ‘Mother country’, but when in fact they get there it is of great disappointment to many of them. “The filthy tramp that eventually greets you is she.” (Page 139). The title ‘Small Island’ could reflect this because what they believe to be a spacious, friendly, welcoming place, turns out to be a cramped, grubby, spiteful place, crushing all their hopes and dreams.

           From the beginning of the book it is made obvious that Hortense has more than just ‘family feelings’ for her cousin, Michael Roberts, and that she does in fact have very strong sexual feelings for him. “From the moment my eyes first beheld his handsome, dapper, newly made man – I knew that I loved him.” (Page 47)  These feelings for Michael Roberts are used through out the novel, showing Hortense’s jealously when she finds out Michael is having a relationship with Mrs Ryder, and by the fact that when she first finds out Gilbert is in the RAF, just like Michael was, the first thing she does is ask if he knows the where-abouts of Michael. So it could be said that Hortense herself wants a relationship with Michael, and wants to start a family with him. The title, ‘Small Island’, can then be linked back to this because, Hortense’s landlady, Queenie, ends up meeting with Michael Roberts and getting pregnant with his baby. Queenie that decides she can’t raise the child herself, so she begs Hortense and Gilbert to take the baby and raise him as their own, “You know I’m begging.” (Page 522) The irony of this is that, without even knowing so, Hortense has for filled one of her dreams; she is now the mother of Michael Roberts’s baby. This links to the title because it shows that England is such a ‘small island’ that these three characters; Hortense, Michael and Queenie, have been linked together in such an immense way, even though they come from different parts of the globe.

            Another issue that can be represented by the title is racism. The fact Queenie doesn’t feel she’d be able to look after her own baby, because he’s black, no because she has a problem with it, but because she knows society would have a problem with it, shows that society in them times, was very closed minded. “And what do we tell him when he asks? That we left him out in the sun too long and he turned black?” (Page 520) This could be because England was mentally a ‘small island’, in the fact they didn’t think about the feelings of others and thought the world ‘revolved around them.’ This isn’t the only sign of racism in the novel, Bernard is racist towards Gilbert and Hortense, when he insists they have to move out of his house, even though they have been living there some time. Hortense encounters racism when she is refused a teaching job in England, because she hasn’t received the ‘right training’, but it is obvious to the reader this is not the real reason, and the real reason is actually to do with the colour of her skin. Then the worst racial encounter is made my Gilbert, when he is told to move to the back of the cinema because the American GI’s don’t want to sit near him. “Our other customers don’t like to sit next to coloureds.” (Page 185) Gilbert then announces that there is no ‘Jim Crow’ in England and, unlike in America (where he also witnessed racism towards him), England should be appreciative that Gilbert is helping fight the war for them. This makes England seem like a small island because its shameful that a country would treat people in this way, and for that reason I think this makes England a small island, not physically, but mentally.

Photography

As it's nearly Halloween, I thought i'd do some theamed photography!
So here's my attempt at doing a vampire!

I desided the model I was photographing, had very piercing eyes, and i wanted to bring that out and make them stand out as a key feature to the audience. Therefore in this photo i have made the majority of the photo black and white, but then left the eyes as coloured. This gives the effect of the eyes looking straight at the audience, which allows them then to conect with the photograph, and with the stern expression on his face, it almost makes the audience feel as though they are in trouble!



Geography

Mine and Georgina's Geography presentation on Urbanisation in MEDC's and LEDC's
We chose to compare Leeds, England, with Lagos, Nigeria.

Media - my photography

In media at the moment, we are currently looking at the different camera shots that can be achieved and the effect they can have on an audience. Below are an example of a couple of photos I have taken, showing two different types of shots.

Extreme long shots are also known as 'Establishing shots'. These are normally used for exterior shots, and are most commonly used to set a scene.

Close up shots show very little background, and draws the audiences attention to a specific thing.