Human Traffic

Do you think Human Traffic encourages or glorifies drug use?


Human traffic is comedy/drama/music film that revolves around 5 main characters and their love for music and drugs. Throughout the film the predominant feature is the use of drugs, which ties in with the rave culture of the 1990's. Not only are the main characters taking drugs, but the majority of the people who are at the clubs and house parties in the film. This suggests that drug use in the 1990 era is very popular. Each of the main characters express their love for the weekend and the majority of them hate their jobs and are living for the weekend. During the film this is continuous reference to the effects that the drugs have on the characters mind and body and is quite informative. However the information mainly focuses around the positive effects of ecstasy such as being able to dance for hours and feeling confident when talking to other people. There is reference to the "come down" after taking the drug which puts drug usage in a more negative appeal. The films main scenes were set in the club and house party in which drugs such as ecstasy, cannabis and alcohol are consumed. The way both the camera angles, flashing lights, loud music, intense colours and fast paced editing are used creates a sense of being in the characters shoes and experiencing what they are.
Theories such as the "Effects Model" where mass media affects the way audience think and behave could be active in Human Traffic due to glorifying drug use and perhaps influencing some people. I personally feel that if you were quite an impressionable person, Human Traffic does glorify drug use and could perhaps persuade you to try them. I also think the film focuses on the positive effects of drugs rather than the health issues that come with consumption. For example a particular scene where Nina's brother is nervous about taking drugs and is set in a science laboratory lab where the teacher is outlining all the negative effects and Jip is telling him about the good effects and that in actual fact the risk of using ecstasy is very small. This could come across as a bit of a biased film and could perhaps include aspects of the propaganda theory if you are an easily impressionable person. However I really enjoyed the film and thought it represent the 1990's raver culture fairly.

Magazine front cover analysis

Kerrang! Magazine

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John Butler Trio - Album Cover

There is an essence of smoke that surrounds john butlers face. The smoke could represent a number of things, for example in could represent the consumption of drugs such as cannabis. Cannabis consumption is often is stereotyped as hippies which is a social group/culture that are well known for dreadlocks, colourful clothing,drug use and peace making. This could represent the style of John Butler Trios album.
John butler appears to be wearing a hat that look like those of tribal leaders which gives a historical and spiritual feel to the artwork. This could be reflected by the power and culture of the music. The position of his face also reinforces this representation because it appears like it would do if it was on a totem pole. There are splotches of red on the album cover which could represent violence/war and this again could ironically reflect back to the hippie culture where peace is of great importance. This is reinforced by the guns coming out of John Butlers head at either side, creating a realisation to the viewer his opinion on war and violence. There is a butterfly towards the bottom of the artwork which connotes thoughts again of peace which seem to be a continuing theme throughout the artwork. The butterfly also could represent being close to nature, again reinforcing the idea of hippiness. The text is very simple, but effective in bold font and colours that stand out on the background. The black background is effective because it is neutral and calm, focusing the viewers attention on the artwork.

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My Theory

Discountenance - the awkward situation when watching a comedy sketch

British Film Study

Robin Hood - 2010

Story and plot: Robin Hood is a film based in 13th century Nottingham about a man ( Robin Hood) who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Him and his gang of merry men, including characters such as Little John target the rich, confront them, threatening them with bows, arrows and swords. The film relates to a british matter because it is about the currpotion of the throne during the 13th century and is about the distinct barrier between rich and poor people during that period of time.

Actors: The actor who played Robin Hood is New Zealand born actor called Russell Crowe. He grew up in Austrailer. He also helped produce Robin Hood. Crowe has been in a total of 42 films including American Gangster, Gladiator, and The Insider. C

Actress : One of the leading femal characters Marion is played by Australian born actress Cate Blanchett. She has appeared in The Lord Of The Rings Triology, Hot Fuzz and Babel.

Director: The director was Ridley Scott, who was born in county durham, England. He has director both American Gangster and Gladiator, in which Russell Crowe appears in both. He has also director the film Alien.

Style/Genre: I think that the film characterises the style of the film as Action/Adventure/Drama due to aspects that feature in the film that fall into these particular genres.

Production Company: The production company was Universal Pictures, which is based in California, US, Florida. The film is a co-production from different countries including other companies such as Imagine Entertainment, United States and also Relativity Media, again California.

Distribution : The film was also distributed by Universal Pictures

Exibition: The film was released May the 14th, 2010 and it's box office weekend grossed £75 million out of North America. Its competition was Iron Man 2, which was releasd May the 8th 2010.

Jack Johnson - Inbetween Dreams - Album Cover

Jack Johnson - Inbetween Dreams

Predominantly the first thing that stands out when you look at this album colour is the bright golden/yellow background. Straight away this introduces a lot of symbolism that comes from connotations of the colour. Gold connotes thoughts so of luxury and riches. This could represent the music is quite well made and that the CD process involved a lot of money perhaps. The yellow tinge to the background connotes thoughts of summer. It could represent the sun which is a very powerful and important role in the circle of life. It could also represent the bright and summery colours of the flowers that are fully in bloom in summer. Both of these connotations could relate back to the music in the sense that the music is very summery and cheerful.

Another main feature in the CD cover is the tree on what appears to be a cliff. The tree could again symbolise the summer feel to the album as judging buy the amount of leaves on the tree it is in summer. Trees often symbolise family, faith and life, which again could reflect to the positive feel of the music. Trees are also the only living thing to continue to grow over its lifetime, which again Jack Johnson could be trying to represent his music in continuing to grow after this album. Also an article on Wikipedia about Jack Johnson and his music states that " The album cover depicts a mango tree, referring to the Mango Tree, the studio where In Between Dreams was recorded." The way he is picking a mango from the tree could also relate to being close to nature and this brings in genre guesses such as acoustic, and also perhaps create stereotypes of hippyness. Thecliff could perhaps represent a risk involved in the music in the sense that it might be a change from his previous material and that the risk is winning over a new audience but continue to maintain his older fans. The cliff connotes thoughts of height and heights could represent power. In this sense, this could represent that he is at the top of the world representing the huge amount of success he had.

Jack Johnson himself is making an appearance on the album front cover. He is shown with an acoustic guitar around his back representing the genre of the music and giving the audience a indication of what style of music the CD is without listening to it.

The text font is quite smooth and rounded and this could perhaps represent the calming/easy listening music that it is. His name is in black and the album name is in white. White connotes images of innocence and peace, and along with the name "inbetween dreams" it creates a happy feel about the CD.