Context in relation to a media text can be broken down into the following: social, historical, cultural, economical and political.
Social and cultural context
Society is a community within which people live and interact with one another.
Social refers to the people who live in a specific place and interact with one another within the social environment. Social contextrefers to these people and the structure and function of institutions that operate within a society such as family, education, religion, communications, government etc... It also helps us to understand social conflicts that may arise as a result of the structure, functions and interactions of the people who live within it. We all live our day to day lives in the same society following the same structures and functions. Social context focuses on the relationship between media products and the society within which they are made in relation to social groups, attitudes, changes, conflicts and inequalities.
Culture is the way the different people who live in that society behave - you can have one society or social structure (American, British, Swedish, German) but many cultures or sub-cultures within that society.
Cultural refers to what creates the identity of the people who live in any given society. Culture refers to the beliefs, meanings and practices that guide the shared behaviour of individuals within a group in any given society. This includes the attitudes, values, habits, customs and traditions of the shared culture. Culture can be seen to include all aspects of ‘life’ including language, the products we make, the things we do and how we do them. There can be lots of different cultures and sub-cultures within a society, which is why we might all behave, think and act a little bit differently even though we are all living our day to day lives in a similar way.
Social refers to the people who live in a specific place and interact with one another within the social environment. Social contextrefers to these people and the structure and function of institutions that operate within a society such as family, education, religion, communications, government etc... It also helps us to understand social conflicts that may arise as a result of the structure, functions and interactions of the people who live within it. We all live our day to day lives in the same society following the same structures and functions. Social context focuses on the relationship between media products and the society within which they are made in relation to social groups, attitudes, changes, conflicts and inequalities.
Culture is the way the different people who live in that society behave - you can have one society or social structure (American, British, Swedish, German) but many cultures or sub-cultures within that society.
Cultural refers to what creates the identity of the people who live in any given society. Culture refers to the beliefs, meanings and practices that guide the shared behaviour of individuals within a group in any given society. This includes the attitudes, values, habits, customs and traditions of the shared culture. Culture can be seen to include all aspects of ‘life’ including language, the products we make, the things we do and how we do them. There can be lots of different cultures and sub-cultures within a society, which is why we might all behave, think and act a little bit differently even though we are all living our day to day lives in a similar way.
Social Contexts
Social Contexts within Stranger Things
The episode intertextually reflects 1980s family and gender relations and is set within a Speilbergian, mostly white, world of suburban family life, representing mothers as figures struggling to hold the family together, fathers as absent or insensitive and distracted, and young boys as establishing a fierce loyalty and masculine camaraderie in the face of a hostile world. Mike’s teenage sister, Nancy, is represented in contradictory ways: she anti-stereotypically excels at science while still fitting stereotypes of the teenage girl (reflecting theories such as Gauntlett). The episode shows the influence of social anxieties about the consequences of scientific experimentation.
In which country is the drama set?
America but set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana
In which country is the drama made?
filmed on location in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding towns and areas. Many of the interior sets were built and filmed on sound stages in EUE Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta.
What is the social identity of the people in the drama?
Suburban white American families in a small town. Mike's family = middle class. Will's = working class.
Who makes the drama?
Produced as a Netflix series but created by the Duffer Brothers and 21 laps.
Are they a small independent organisation or a large multi-national / global conglomerate?
Netflix is a multi-million company founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph on August 29, 1997, in Scotts Valley, California. It specialises in and provides streaming media and video-on-demand online and DVD by mail. In 2013, Netflix expanded into film and television production, as well as online distribution. As of 2017, the company has its headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
The Duffer Brothers also directed the series as they have with other productions of theirs. On August 31, 2016, Netflix renewed the series for a second season of nine episodes, to be released on Halloween of 2017.
How is the social identity of the country of production reflected in the drama?
What aspects of social and day to day life are reflected in the drama (being with families, going to school, legal and political systems, being religious etc.)?
How are these structures reflected in the drama – as usual or to be questioned?
The destruction of the nuclear family and representation of Joyce and her family represents the lack of structure reflected in the drama. Will's disappearance is arguably a factor of Joyce's unavoidable neglect as she struggles to support her family as she works night shifts along with Will's brother working to support the family as the male figure. This social and political factor is questionable as Will is left alone at a young age. Another questionable structure is the close-knit relationship between Mr Clarke and Dustin, Lucas and Mike as they partake in extra-curricular activities with the radio as the teacher acts more as a friend or paternal figure.
How does the drama influence our own participation within the social structure (confirms it as the right thing to do or questions it?)
?
?
Is there any social conflict apparent in the drama?
There is only a slight social conflict presented in the drama through two instances; Will's family and the two bullies at school. The lack of a nuclear family creates social conflict as Will does not appear to have a dad who is around and the family is therefore troubled for money. The school bullies cause social conflict through name calling and possible racism as they refer to Lucas as 'Shadow'.
How does the drama represent social changes?
As reflected in the settings and characters within the drama (1980s):
What do we see people doing in the drama?What attitudes, values, habits, customs and traditions can we see them taking part in that identifies their culture (as American, Germans, Danes etc…)?
What do they wear?
How do they speak?
How do they spend their spare and recreational time?
What do we see them listening to or watching?
What do they eat?
Where do they go out?
How do they interact with one another?
What values or beliefs are they seen to hold?
What intertextual references to other cultural products are there?
How do audiences consume and interact with products (either of the set drama itself or how we see them consuming media within the drama)?
As reflected at the time of the drama’s production (2016):
How does the set product typify cultural trends and preferences of what audiences like to watch?How do audiences consume and interact with the products? How have current cultural trends and uses of technology influenced this?
How does the viewer’s own cultural background or social identity affect the way in which they may respond to and interpret the drama?
How does the drama support or reinforce the cultural background of its target audience?
Historical Contexts:
When was the drama set?
What significant events or issues happened politically, socially, culturally at that time? Write a list.
Does the drama represent or refer to any historical events?
Political Context:
What is the political context at the time in which the product is set or made (e.g. political leadership at the time, significant political events or issues)?
Is there any political conflict evident in the drama?
How does the drama reflect political debates and issues?
Could the drama be seen to influence political debates and the way in which its viewers may think or feel about these political issues?
How is political power seen to be used or achieved in the drama?
Does the drama contribute to shaping ideas about politics and political power?
How could the political climate in which the audience watch the drama affect their own response?
Economic Context:
How is the company that made the drama funded?
What income revenues do they have?
What is the budget for the drama?
How does the owner(s) of the product use or develop processes of production, distribution and circulation?
How successful is the company in comparison to others in the market? What profit have they made?
What technological developments have there been that allows the current processes of production, distribution and circulation?
What developments in technology may there be that could change processes of production, distribution and circulation?
The contexts in which the drama is set:
When and where is the drama set?
What genre is the product?
What is the political, social and cultural climate that the drama is set in?
Are there any intertextual references to other media products, historical eras, and social identities?
How are these represented in the drama?
How accurate are these representations to the real event or issue?
What viewpoint or ideological messages do they offer?
How may the meanings constructed by the product be interpreted by different audiences?
The contexts in which the drama is produced:
When and where was the set product produced?
Who owns and distributes the set product?
What other dramas do they produce?
What was the budget for the set product?
Do the dramas they produce offer similar representations?
Are there any intertextual references in the first episode of the set product?
How is the set product distributed? On what platforms?
Is the product available globally? Which countries isn’t it available in and why is this?
What circulation platforms are there? How is the product viewed and consumed?
Who is the target audience? Which wider audiences might enjoy the product?
How can audiences access and consume the set product?
How was the drama received in different countries?
How might their viewing contexts affect what they view and how they interact with the product?
Which factors might affect the interpretation of meaning for different audiences of the same product?
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