A “Blockbuster’ Hit

The term ‘blockbuster’ originally comes from a military background, and was originally used to draw attention to large scale bombs, which were employed during WWII (Cucco p 215). However, in the 1950s, this term made its transition in to film, and was used to help define the size and relevance of film productions, in relation to both financial investment, and monetary gains.

The film Jaws saw a new method of advertising introduced to Hollywood. It was the first successful film which was heavily advertised and promoted through television. And was also the first film which was premiered in a large number of theatres on the opening weekend. This film was the catalyst for the major rethink of how Hollywood products were exported.

Blockbuster films were originally born from popular US culture, and their success mainly stems from their ability to connect with the mass public (Cucco p 218). They are films which generally appeal to primary emotions such as fear, love, anger, happiness and sadness, and usually contain universal messages. These films are also packed full of spectacular visuals, often lined with epic battle scenes, war-torn cities & worlds and riveting shorelines. This further increases the viewer’s experience. It could be said that this is part of why these ‘blockbuster’ films are so extraordinarily successful, as society is able to connect with characters on an emotional level.

Top Gun (1986)

Another important element is the importance of image. As blockbuster films cost hundreds of millions to produce, the blockbuster has to appeal to the public audience in a way which they can immediately connect and understand (Cucco p 219). Movies such as Jaws, Top Gun, Independence Day and Titanic, are all examples of films which hold high-concept film characteristics which allowed audiences both domestically and abroad to instantly connect with the films; ultimately making them a success. (Cucco pp. 219-220).

Introductory Blog Post

So the Subject Outline for BCM 112 has forced my hand, and I now feel somewhat obligated to post an introductory post to my blog.

Anyway, I’m Daniel Barrett. I’m 23 and am half way through my first year of a Bachelor of Media Communication studies undergraduate degree at the University of Wollongong, Australia. However, I have also just picked up numerous Public Health: Nutrition subjects as I am hoping to graduate with a minor in this field. Health publication is the field I ‘think’ I am looking to go into, but then again, who knows what it is I really want. I’m an avid traveller, and spent most of 2009 and 2010 as a nomad travelling around the globe. I’m a competitive sprinter, have more musical knowledge than I know what to do with and I love to cook. I’m interested in social media, sociology, nutrition and physiology, and there’s never a dull moment in my life.

But getting right down to it. This blog will primarily focus on my research and subject material for my BCM 110 & 112 subjects!

– Daniel

Looking Beyond The Content: The Media is The Message.

Henry Jenkins believes convergence to be the nature of the flow of content across multiple media platforms, the media industries ability to cooperate with each other, and also the movement patterns of media audiences. The media is a powerful tool that fires out information from many mediums, and mainly consists of a static, single-sided opinion, at least in the global west, it would seem.  However, recent developments in communicative technologies, such as the Internet and smart phones have made it much easier for virtually anyone to voice their opinions via blogs, social media sites and YouTube. These powerful new mediums have also made it possible for those without access to these powerful technologies to have their stories heard, essentially giving a voice to the voiceless.

Federman in his article the “medium” is the “message”, draws attention to the idea that too often the content of the medium blinds us to the actual character of the medium (pp. 1-2). Meaning the device in which we receive content, is also telling us a vital message, which by most is overlooked, because we simply are not aware of it exists.  He also sheds light on the fact that generally people presume when one speaks about mediums, they are referring to mass-media communications, such as radio, television, the press, and the Internet (p1).

Whenever a new innovation comes along, such as Facebook for example, many of its properties and functions are quite obvious – being able to connect with others, all around the globe etc. Society will quickly learn the general advantages and disadvantages of this new creation. However, as interaction with the medium evolves, we look back and are able to identify adverse effects which we were originally unaware of. In Facebook’s case this would be the creation of a whole new social world. A domain where one can communicate from any number of devices with their friends, free from any form of actual physically present form of social interaction. McLuhan believes that it is important that we identify with this change that comes with technology, so we are able to integrate it into our lives, and not the other way around.