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Showing posts from March, 2026

Advertising: Sephora Black Beauty Is Beauty CSP

Wider reading on Sephora Black Beauty Is Beauty 1) What was Sephora trying to achieve with the campaign? In th e campaign, Sephora were trying to fix their   brand image and rebuild their reputation. It aimed to address negative perceptions such as Sephora is racist and show that the brand is more inclusive and diverse . They wanted people to feel represented and valued 2) What scenes from the advert are highlighted as particularly significant in the articles? beauty salon   with Black women under dryer,  drag show dressing room with drag queens getting ready,  Black mother and her daughter , showing generational beauty practices,  white person applying makeup contrasted with Black origins, reference to Lyda D. Newman and the invention of the hairbrush 3) As well as YouTube, what TV channels and networks did the advert appear on? BET,  OWN,  Hulu and  HBO Max 4) Why does the Refinery29 article suggest the advert 'doesn't feel performative'?...

Introduction to Postcolonialism

1) Look at the first page. What is colonialism - also known as  cultural imperialism?  how other plaves conquered other countries and implaced their own culture, values, and systems onto indigenous populations.  2) Now look at the second page. What is postcolonialism?  challenges the ideas and power structures created by colonialism. It focuses on how race, identity, and inequality have been shaped by colonial histories. 3) How does Paul Gilroy suggest postcolonialism influences British culture? Britain has not fully come to terms with the loss of its empire, which leads to the continued marginalisation and criminalisation of immigrants, like those from Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds. As a result, British culture still reflects colonial attitudes through suspicion, exclusion, and the desire to maintain racial hierarchies, often reinforced through media and politics. 4) What is 'othering'? the process of defining certain groups as different, alien, or outside ...

Advertising: Score hair cream CSP

Media Factsheet - Score hair cream 1) How did advertising techniques change in the 1960s and how does the Score advert reflect this change? This shifted from traditional adverts towards creative campaigns . Advertisers began prioritising photography, humour and irony , influenced by television and poster culture, rather than relying solely on copy or expert authority. 2) What representations of women were found in post-war British advertising campaigns? It represented women through traditional gender stereotypes , reinforcing a patriarchal ideology . Women were often portrayed as domestic housewives , responsible for cooking, cleaning and supporting their husbands, reflecting the clear division of labour between men and women. 3) Conduct your own semiotic analysis of the Score hair cream advert: What are the connotations of the mise-en-scene in the image ? You may wish to link this to relevant contexts too. The  setting connotes adventure, danger and conquest, positioning the mal...

Advertising: David Gauntlett and masculinity

  Gender, identity and advertising Read the extract. This is another university-level piece of academic writing so it will be challenging - but there are some fascinating ideas here regarding the changing representation of men and women in the media. 1) What examples does Gauntlett provide of the "decline of tradition"? Gauntlett argues that traditional gender roles have declined significantly in modern society . He highlights how the image of women as housewives has been replaced by “girl power” icons who are confident and successful. Similarly, traditional masculinity based on toughness and emotional silence has been challenged by media encouraging men to express emotions and seek advice. He suggests the media now promotes change rather than reinforcing old traditions. 2) How does Gauntlett suggest the media influences the way we construct our own identities? Gauntlett suggests that identity today is a “knowing construction,” meaning individuals are aware they must a...