1) Watch this clip from BBC Question Time with Russell Brand and Nigel Farage. The BBC deliberately placed the two against each other and the episode resulted in far more people watching and tweeting than usual.
We see there is a common theme of rich and privileged vs poor and unfortunate in this episode, the binary opposition here shows the viewer that the two people are at the top with money despite coming from different backgrounds and are spreading their values to the poor in different ways, this links to the media theory suggested by Richard Dyer. We also see the opposition of upper class/elite and working class, this binary opposition highlights to the viewer that there is a clear difference in the ideologies of these people within the general public, they seem to be assuming stereotypes are true and that all of these stereotypes are applicable to all, the use of this links in to Medhurst's value judgement theory. Another use of binary opposition is within Russel Brand and Nigel Farage themselves, this contrast shows the audience that there is a clear difference in morals despite both having a lot of money and being part of the elite percentage of the country, this links into Perkins' theory around stereotypes. We see that they are both from this class but Brand seems to be against it and believes that we could all be sharing a similar lifestyle without the others selfishness. They both accentuate the idea that they can help to change peoples lives for the better.
What ideologies are on display in this clip?
What ideologies are on display in this clip?
The ideology of the rich is quite clearly portrayed in this clip, with Farage, the ideology is dominant as we see that he is effectively the embodiment of what the public sees the elite 1% of the UK as; full of themselves and pretentious. He seems to believe that he is superior to everyone and everything he says is right. This is challenged by Brand and his alternative representation as he does have money like farage but doesn't seem to flaunt his position in society compared to Farage. We see that he is from a poor background and has worked his way up and is now trying to help the people with his image that he has gained. He is the epitome of success through hard work and it shows that despite your wealth, you can still help the people that you came from. Which is a very effective alternative representation of the rich and wealthy
Ideology and your own choice of clip
2) What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching your clip?
In the trailer we see a dominant binary opposition of males and females. All representations of them are dominant, allowing for the binary opposition to be more obvious and easier to consume by the audience. This is due to the fact that binary opposition allows for stereotypes to be created and certain ideologies and beliefs to be promoted the use of this links to Perkins' theory about stereotypes in the media. In the trailer, we see that the woman are trying to change the men that they are dating by playing them at there own game this opposition links perfectly with Mulvey's male gaze that woman are made for men to look, but in a sense the film also subverts this theory. As well as this another theory that this opposition links to is Bergers' 'way of seeing' as it suggests that men look at women and women watch themselves being watch themselves being watched. This is highlighted in the trailer with the use of the book which all the women follow to ensure that there other half pays attention.
What ideologies are on display in your clip?
The ideology of men and women in the film is clearly shown that one is the dominant sex. This ideology is dominant in todays society and in the film as we see the characters conform to this in the trailer. However, the ideology is subverted to an alternative idea that two can be dominant in a relationship by the end of the film. But in the trailer we only see the idea that woman can be dominant as well but the man are swayed by this.
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