Zoella

Language

1) Who is Zoella and why is she famous? How many subscribers does Zoella's YouTube channel have currently?

Zoella is a YouTube sensation who is a vlogger. She has 11.6 million (2019 November.)

2) What is convergence?

When two or more media forms meet in one.

3) What are Zoella's videos about? Find five video titles and write them here:

there are mostly about make up 

•  Huge summer Primark haul
•  Testing weird beauty products with Mark
•  My travel anxiety tips 
•  March favourites 2018
•  My everyday winter make up 

4) What are the codes and conventions of vlogging videos?

•  A question for the Video 
•  writing on the screen
•  Quirky music
•  Lots of cuts ( jump cuts)

5) How does Zoella use media language choices to create her online identity? Write about Zoella's use of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) - particularly costume and make-up.

She uses mise-en-scene in her videos which makes it media style.

•  Costume - she always wears a different costume in her videos. 
•  Lighting - The lighting in her videos are always bright.
•  Actor - She is always in her videos and sometimes has a special guest.
•  Make-up - She always wears make-up as that's what she promotes and what she makes vlogs about.
•  Placement - most of the time she sits at her desk or her bead.
•  Setting - her videos are always set in her bedroom.

Industries

1) How does Zoella make money? (You might want to read this Heatworld feature for more on this.)
She makes £4,000 on adverts.

£20,000 on promoting products.

£455,000 in sales

£100,000 in advance before products hitting shelfs.

2) What is a digital influencer? Why is Zoella considered a digital influencer?
A digital influencer is someone who influences peoples on the social media.

Zoella is one of them as she tells influences people in buying make-up. 

3) Why do companies want to place their products in Zoella's videos?
Companies do this as she is a big make-up Youtuber and so many people view her videos so it is a easier way to promote their prodcuts.

4) Why are YouTube collaborations so important for helping digital influencers like Zoella to grow?
They are important as they can creat a bigger fanbase.

5) How has Zoella moved into a more traditional media landscape in recent years?
She has been doing videos on make-up which reinforces the steryotype of women dressing and looking a certain way.

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Zoella's channel?

Teenagers mainly female audience.

2) How are audiences encouraged to participate in or feel part of Zoella's brand? 

They can buy the products she promotes in her vlogs.

3) What audience pleasures are provided by Zoella's videos and associated products?

Diversion and escapism as it takes the audience out of their world and gives them something to do and relax.
Social interaction because it feels like the audience build a personal relationship the youtubers, etc.

4) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what would a preferred and oppositional reading of Zoella?

Preferred (people who love Zoella):
Oppositional (people who hate Zoella):

The preferred reading would be that Zoella is a modern female doing what she wants to do and entertaining people. 

The oppositional reading would be that Zoella is a bad influence on young females and reinforcing that females have to look and dress a certain way. 

5) Why has Zoella been criticised by some people?

• She was filming whilst driving her car
• She was posting social media posts mocking gay people and chavs.(2009-2012)
• Vloggers have generally been criticised on making £20,000 a month by promoting products which is a bad influence on young people.   

1) What is your opinion on this debate - is Zoella a positive role model for young women?
No, because she reinforces the stereotype of females dressing and looking a certain way which pressurises them. 

2) What representations of women are provided by Zoella?
Looking and dressing a certain way:

• Look pretty by putting make-up on-beauty standards.
• She wears dresses and skirts
• Most of her clothes are bright coloured
• She is 'stylish'

3) What representations of celebrity are provided by Zoella? Is a self-made YouTube celebrity more authentic or positive than a traditional music or TV star?
A self-made YouTube celebrity is more positive as they are more closer to an audience than what a traditional music or TV star would be because e their life's are all about luxury and glamour.

4) How does Zoella represent herself? Is this the real Zoe Suggs or a media construction designed to sell products?

She represents herself as promoting make-up products. This is a media construction designed to make products so she can make money. 

5) What criticisms could be levelled at the representation of Zoella? 

That she is promoting make and that she is a bad influence on young females as she is promoting and reinforcing the stereotype of females looking and dressing a certain way.

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood

Language

1) What is the objective when playing the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game?
To create your own star and customise your looks, become a A-list actor/actress, rule the red carpet and take over  L.A. in a virtual world.

2) What is an A-list celebrity? Why is it important in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?
An A-list celebrity are the most top actors/actresses that star in the top high ranked movies. This is important to the game as it is the objective of the game to become a successful movie star. This links in with the Blumler and Katz idea of diversion- the game is a good way to escape and give someone a luxury and glamourous lifestyle.

3) How do you download the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game?
The game can be downloaded on tablets and phones from the app store.

4) What is the narrative or storyline of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood? Where is it set?
The storyline of the game is to become a A-list star from the lower rankings by gaining fans. This is set in L.A. Hollywood.

5) What characters can you play as? What characters appear in the game?
You can play your own character and meet real stars and celebrities. 

Audience

1) What audience pleasures are provided by the game? Use Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory.Diversion as it is entertaining- meeting famous people and enjoying a luxury lifestyle.

Personal Relationship as you meet and make a relationships with real stars and celebrities.

Personal identity as they can see their own lifestyle and what they might want to be when they grow up.

Surveillance as they can see what life is like a celebrity. 

2) Why is the game so addictive for audiences?

The game is so addictive as you want to go on in the higher ranking and become famous, buy accessories and live a glamourous lifestyle.

3) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what is the preferred reading for Kim Kardashian Hollywood - how do the producers want the audience to react to the game? For the oppositional reading, why might someone dislike Kim Kardashian Hollywood?

The preferred reading of the game is about how wonderful it is to be an A-list celebrity and the things you do to become one and also how cool and glamorous it is.

The oppositional reading is about how unrealistic it is and you just don't get fame by knowing famous people you need to work hard to get to where you are in real life.

4) Why does James Liu think Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is so successful?
Firstly it is a well designed game and caters to a specific age groups or types of gamers.

5) What does James Liu suggest is the reason players keep coming back to the game?
The game is addictive and gives you a sense of control.


Representations

1) What representations of women can be found in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?
The representations of women in the game are of women focusing on their appearance, modelling and dating to become successful.

2) What representations of race, ethnicity or sexuality can be found in the game?
They are controversial-

3) How does the game both reinforce and subvert stereotypes in the media?
The games reinforces stereotypes as they show that women have to act and look a certain ways.
The game also subverts stereotypes as they show anyone of any gender, background and ethnicity can become famous.

4) What does the game suggest regarding modern perceptions of celebrity and how to get famous?

This show that celebrities get famous by dating famous people who can get them fame.

5) How might someone criticise the representation of celebrity in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

Someone might criticise the representations of celebrities in the game as you don't only get fame by dating famous people, you need to work hard.

Industries

1) How much does Kim Kardashian: Hollywood cost?

The game is free to download but has in-app purchases and subscriptions.

2) How does the game make money?

The game makes money from the in-app purchases and subscriptions.

3) What subscriptions are available to Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

• Gold: 49.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Silver: 19.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Bronze: 4.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)

4) How was Kim Kardashian: Hollywood marketed and promoted?
The game was promoted by adverts in a real life perspective

5) How does Kim Kardashian: Hollywood use media convergence to cross-promote the game and the Kardashian brand?
TV shows and social media channels are referenced in the game
The game appears on Kim Kardashian's real social media page.
On the TV show Keeping up with the Kardashians the game appears and the show is also referenced in the game.

Lara Croft Go

Language

1) Who is Lara Croft and when did she first appear in a videogame?
She first appeared in 1996 in Tomb Raider.

2) What classic films influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games?
Lara Croft Tomb Raider was influenced by Indian Jones

3) How has Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame?
There are films about Lara Croft. 

4) What devices can you play Lara Croft Go on?
You can play on a iPad mobile or tablet

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?
Lara Croft Go is a puzzle solving game as there are many things you need to solve.

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline)?
It uses the same part of puzzle, solving and finding different things and a lot of action.

7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the sub-genre of videogame?
There is a lot of acrobatic moves and killing which gives it the sense of violence.
8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game?
Things like snakes and spiders.
9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?
The setting of Lara Croft Go is in a jungle which compares to the first Lara Croft Tomb raider which was also set in jungles.

10) Read this BBC article on the history of Lara Croft and Tomb Raider. How has the character of Lara Croft evolved over the last 20 years?  
Lara croft has changed over 20 years with clothing and her body.


Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go?

An audience might enjoy playing Lara Croft because its a puzzled 

2) Where and when might an audience play a game like Lara Croft Go? Think about the device it is played on and the times of the day someone might want to play the game.

3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience?

They designed her by using classic animations from the older Lara croft games which gives  a feeling of nostalgia.

4) Which of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory might apply to Lara Croft Go?

Diversion as people need to be entertained.

Personal identity as they can learn from these things.

5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience?

The target audience for Lara Croft go are those who are interested in the quality of the innovative gameplay, those in brand loyalty with the hitman go series, those in brand loyalty on the feminine empowerment displayed and those with brand loyalty on nostalgia or even the sexualisation of Lara Craft Go.


Representation

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?

Women are usually represented as a figure of sexual desire.  

  

2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media?

Her body features are exaggerated  and she is designed to be attractive to men. 

3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media?

She is an action hero which is  traditionally a male stereotype and she is a empowered female heroine. 

4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change?

Some people believe that the videogame industry is sexist as usually the man is the main hero and the women is usually the hero's apprentice and usually objectified and sexualised.

5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers?

I think Lara Croft is just another objectified woman as parts of her body are still being shown and exaggerated.

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?
 Pan European Game Information

2) What is PEGI's job?
A rating system to help the consumers make sure they are able to play the game.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?
Square Enix

4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go?

Core design and Square Enix.  

5) What else is part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider franchise?

 The Hitman Go series.