Is the media 'dumbing down'?

Discuss this statement in relation to the media products from your case study

-evaluate to what extent the media products in your case study do more than just entertain
-support your answer with reference to examples from three media platforms

Brainstorm:

In order to answer this essay question I will include the following:

Why might the media 'dumb down'?

• To focus on the audiences need for diversion and escapism
• To fufill this through over-dramatised and humorous media
• keep it fairly balanced with light and dark story lines- equilibrium
• easy to work out/follow the story-line

How my case studies relate or don't relate to this:

TakenRaises an important issue in modern society- human trafficking in women.
Reveals a harsh reality to its audience.
Shows in-depth and realistic situations in an emotive way (father, daughter relationship)
Gives the audience a strong sense of personal identity.
Requires a level of thinking when following the protagonists moves, reasoning behind certain decisions.However,
Gives the audience entertainment through murders of antagonists, fight scenes, car chases and explosions.
Has small aspects of humour (example: protagonist being followed, looses follower and sticks finger up)

The Dark Knight
higher level of thinking when understanding hidden phsycological meanings (the character of the joker and his motives)
requires audience to relatively understand previous films in the set-up for this film
allows audience to work things out in their mindsHowever,
advertising and marketing was hugely in favour of the audiences like for a hero
typical protagonist vs antagonist, superhero vs villian story-line
equilibrium
audience watch for diversion, and escapism- belief in good defeats evil, gives audience a fufillment. Website- gives audience escapism, provides a game service (advertising/marketing)
youtube spoof- UGC gives the audience and opportunity to 'dumb down' the media themselves, and produce spoofs or parody's of well-known popular films. (recieved 19,478,697 views)
Harry PotterRequires a level of understanding of previous films to follow the story-line/narrative
Delievers complex development of characters, requires high level of thinking to understand certain characters backgrounds/ reasoning behind given actions (prof Snape and his link between Lily, voldemort, and Dumbledore)
Aimed towards children/young teenagers (DVD cert 12a) gives them the access to the novels, grasps interest in literacy and films at a young age, developing their level of thinking.
gives the audience a mysetery to solve- throughout the films, problems to work out and suspects to uncoverHowever,
does offer aspect of escapism through fantasy ideas (wizards and magic)
plays on childrens imagionation
typical good vs evil, equilibrium, with expected ending (although this is challenged slightly)
heavily branded in advertising and marketing.