2 down, 2 to go

I've handed in 2 essays in the last couple of days: a 5000 word study on fans of My Chemical Romance for the Fandom module, as well as 3000 words on the way in which magazines create desire for the Consumption module.
I really enjoyed the fandom assignment, writing about the kind of thing that really interests me, plus it might of helped that I quite like the band too!
Consumerism wasn't quite as much fun as the fandom module, but it was really interesting to go through a massive pile of loads of magazines (like the issue of GQ up there) and look at them in a different way than I usually would.

Tomorrow is the Race and Ethnicity seen exam, for which I've chosen to answer one question on how 'Whiteness' takes up the position or ordinariness in Western Media, and another on the Blaxploitation genre of the 70's and issues of trans-coding.


After that, term one of year 2 will be over.

"That's my sister, baby, and she's a whole lotta woman"

I watched the film 'Foxy Brown' today, as research for my 'Race and Ethnicity' assignment, for which I'm looking at Blaxploition films.
This is definately going in my ever increasing list of favourite films, and Pam Grier might just be my new hero.
We're watching 'Coffy' tomorrow, which will probably just push her higher up on my list.

If you ever felt....

For my MSVC 202 (Subcultures) assignment on fandom I've chosen to write about My Chemical Romance, a band I have a bit of a soft spot for, though wouldn't call myself a massive fan of.
I've joined forums and talked to people who do consider themselves huge fans and they've been really helpful in answering my questions and basically giving me a lot of personal information to help me with this.
I'm now at the stage where I'm analysing the bands songs and videos, which has actually reminded me how much I like them.
I've been a bit lazy when it comes to updating here and putting assignments up, but when it's done this one will almost definately be up here.

MSVC 203: Consumerism Presentation

Item: 2 Pack of Gloves
Price: £1
Store: Primark

Usage of gloves:
* Keep hands warm in cold weather
* Can also be worn for fashion (leather, fingerless etc)

Social location - Primark:



* Place to go for clothes/fashion on a budget
* Accused of 'unethical' production menthods ('Sweat shops' etc)
* Cannot see conditions of production just from looking at the gloves (Marx: Commodity fetishism)

Way in which product was advertised:
* Product was in a basket with price displayed on all 4 sides.
* No advertisement for the actual product, just price
* People being drawn to price, not product

Ways in which you were attracted to the product:
* Need - Winter approaching, gloves essential.
* Brand - Chose Primark as I knew the item would be affordable but do its job
* Price - I'm a student so needed something affordable.
* Location - First floor, not too far in to store, near counter (In contrast to 'Men Buy, Women Shop')

Why you chose the object:
* Aesthetics not a major issue.
* 2 pairs - value for money.

Primark gloves vs Designer gloves:



Left: Chanel - $850 (roughly £425)
Right: Christian Dior - $199 (roughly £100)

* Designer gloves have higher Exchange Value, but the same Use Value

Why designer over Primark?
* Vieblen - Amass goods to portray identity or social status
* Bordieu - Goods demonstrate 'capital' in society: 'I shop for things that make me better than you'.
* Baudrillard - Consumerism creates difference - People with Chanel gloves different to those with Primark gloves.

How different CAN noodles be?

MSVC 203: Consumerism



On the left: Batchelors Super Noodles: 47p
On the right: Tesco Value Instant Noodles: 7p

We were asked to purchase two of what are essentially the same product, but to buy one from a budget range and one from the more expensive range, then compare and analyse the two. For this project I chose to compare Tesco Value Chicken Flavoured Instant Noodles, which cost 7p a packet, to Batchelors Super Noodles, which are sold in Tesco at 47pence a packet.

The Tesco Value noodles come in the very recognisable Tesco Value packaging, which has a red, white and blue colour scheme and minimal frills. The description of the product is the main focus of the packaging, with a picture of the product in the background and the Tesco Value logo in the top left-hand corner. The Tesco Value logo is the same on all products, making it easy to notice from item to item. Also on the front of the packaging is an indication of the cooking times (which are mere minutes), which would appeal to people looking for a food product which can be cooked and eaten quickly.

The packaging of the Bachelors Super Noodles is very different to that of the Tesco Value Noodles. The main colour scheme is blue, making it recognisable to those looking for this particular brand, with the brand logo on the front just above the words 'Super Noodles', which are written in white with a shiny gold trim. The flavour of the noodles is written at the bottom on a gold background, and behind a picture of the noodles in the centre of the packaging is a gold star. The packaging for these noodles is much more attractive than that of the Tesco Value noodles. Also written on the front is "No artificial colours or preservatives", which may also help to create social differences between customers who would buy one brand of noodles as opposed to another. The 'Super Noodles' are more expensive and come with no artificial colours or preservatives, suggesting that the people with more money, who can afford to buy the more expensive noodles, are more likely to be concerned about the quality of the product, whereas those who buy Tesco Value are more concerned with price.

We also decided to conduct a taste test on the products, to see if there was any discernable difference in the taste. The noodles were cooked and presented to our (blindfolded) test subject, who was unaware of which noodles were which.



From the taste test we discovered that the noodles in bowl B had a richer flavour, were less slimy and overall the better noodle, whilst the noodles in bowl A were slimy and had a much duller flavour. The subject guessed that the noodles in bowl B were more expensive.
In fact, bowl B were the Tesco Value noodles. Bowl A were the more expensive noodles.