Week one

• Week one of blogs and I don't know what to really what to write about. Saying that I did learn a lot in the class, the main thing that I learnt and that interested me was the theory Raymond Willams came up with Emergent, Appropriation, Historicisation. I always found this interesting and rather simple but very effective, a great example of this is at the minute is Lion King 3D. It's just out and everyone seems to be ranting and raving about it just cause its in 3D; 3D was design that was made in the 80's and just in the past few years movie companies have seen a chance to make loads of money of this old invention. Then when you throw in a Disney classic which nearly everyone has seen young or old, then you have a money maker that will/has probably made a good few million already. A smart and simple idea that can be used over and over time again. Same even goes with bands bringing music out again or old bands getting back together e.g. The Stone Roses are now back together again and by this time tomorrow they are due to sell out both their gigs at Heaton Park. Which brings me to the next point I found interesting in the lecture which was the music and famous speeches and quotes and how the music reflected society at the time, which made me think about my generation and how that we do have bands that speak about important matters however it’s these bands that should be famous and in the mainstream are these man made bands and songs that are just rubbish and are just there to make money. Instead of making people think for themselves and giving them a voice via the artist or bands music. 
  Which brings me to my last but I think the most important point, the structure of society or the triangle as it is known. Economic base, Population and Superstructure. I however believe there is more to this triangle, another level if I say and that would be the people who really call the shots. Politicians and the government are just the puppet in this play of so called reformed society on the mend. It's the people behind them that control and decide what happens with society. Now you may wonder why this big rant about the government and these so called puppet masters that I’ve gone on about. Well not only does it effect major issues such as welfare, health system, schools, etc but they do restrict or even ban certain arts. A huge example is the news that is broadcast to the TV that half the time isn't telling the full story or just backing up what the government wants us to here. Focusing on more art issues like were discussed in class, things like images, music and TV shows have a lot more restrictions about them these days just because everyone is scared incase what they say or do offends anyone. Which does then cut down on the creativity of art does it not? Being scared to express yourself incase some people don't agree with it, or they see a bad word or image, or it is thought of as so bad that the government have to come in and censor it and ban it from being viewed, voiced or aired. Hopefully this makes sense and links together in a thoughtful way that makes you think and connect the dots between the points I'm making.

"Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost." Charlie Chaplin's Final speech in The Great DIctator