task one - textual analysis

issues and debates

1. representation and stereotyping
clip represents the terrorist to be uneducated and also lacking common sense. it may highlight the audiences view of the terrorists- one view which shows them to be lead astray by their partners in crime, and dealing with the pressure of being bullied and then being compelled to take the necessary action but stereotypically being unsuccessful.

2. post 9/11 and the media
media portrays the terrorists to be motivated to cause destruction, however the ways they approach the plans are chosen to be comic. this is backed up by the idiotic remark made by the characters-'i used different voices every time i go in'.

theories

1. gender and ethnicity
the men are show to be narrow minded. they wish to become terrorists but ironically, in this clip, are shown to be hopeless as they seem to fail the tasks they are given. the emphasis on the ethnicity is bought upon by the use of the traditional Muslim clothing long with the head piece

2. cultivation theory
media is using the Muslim men, and the one white converted Muslim to be shown as terrorists. in this clip a wide variety of ethnicity's are represented-all to be sinning, but believing that they are doing right.

3. hypodermic needle
this theory is key in this clip. the Muslim men are portrayed to be terrorists working in the UK, and the audience, despite acknowledging the production is of the comedy genre, are passive. a negative portrayal of all Muslims is made and this may cause division in terms of segregation.

migrain

M
connotations of the chemicals reinforce that they are terrorists
zoom on fessels face emphasises his idiotic statements
diegetic sound through the camera that one character is holding

I
non Hollywood production, film4
independent cinema
dumbing down of characters and the terrorists projects
no star studded line up

G
comedy genre
setting is of everyday city life, UK
one off production
well known sound track used to portray the binary opposition between actions and views

R
Muslim men
unfair, does not represent society
racist portrayal
challenges stereotypes- one of the men is not a terrorist

A
men and women, 16-35
wide ethnicity's- some may be offended
entertainment may cause moral panic

I
not multi cultural
focus on one culture- negative
encourage social change
shown to be traditional values of terrorism

N
chronological narrative
equilibrium to disequilibrium
all protagonists are shown to be villains
violent intentions