My life as a movie

I was pleasantly surprised this week to see  M-Net's new ad campaign to re-position themselves in the market place. It's got all the right suff in. It is a human emotional rollercoaster, that invites viewers to be part of the journey. What I find interesting is that the brand is pointing out the dark and unpleasant sides of life. M-Net has moved on from the Tooth Fairy to real life. It is as if M-Net wants us to believe that magic does not only happens on the screen, but it is part of our everyday life!

M-Net: My Life as a movie 

(produced by Ogilvy & Mather in Joburg) 

M-Net: The Tooth Fairy

Women's Day - where is the 'men's day'?

I was thinking about  Women Day today, why is it that we don't have a 'Men's Day'? Why do we need a day to celebrate women's achievements from economic, political and social to general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women? 

The reality is that constant polarised gender messages in media have fundamentally anti-social effects. 

Skky Vodka: Passion for Perfection
(Source: www.skkyvodka.com)

Media education can play a crucial role in counteracting the impact of these messages. Helping people to understand that media construct - as opposed to reflect - reality; that they communicate implicit and explicit values; and that they can influence the way we feel and think about ourselves and the world, are vitally important lessons towards achieving a society in which women and girls are seen and treated as equal to men and boys.

According to Media Watch, in everything from advertising, television programming, newspaper and magazines, to comic books, popular music, film and video games, women and girls are more likely to be shown: in the home, performing domestic chores such as laundry or cooking; as sex objects who exist primarily to service men; as victims who can't protect themselves and are the natural recipients of beatings, harassment, sexual assault and murder.

Men and boys are also stereotyped by the media. From GI Joe to Rambo, masculinity is often associated with machismo, independence, competition, emotional detachment, aggression and violence. Despite the fact that men have considerably more economic and political power in society than women, these trends - although different from those which affect women and girls - are very damaging to boys. (Read more.)

There is a place for media literacy

Every day should be Women's Day...
(Source: www.picstock.com)

Media education can play a crucial role in counteracting the impact of these messages. Helping people to understand that media construct - as opposed to reflect - reality; that they communicate implicit and explicit values; and that they can influence the way we feel and think about ourselves and the world, are vitally important lessons towards achieving a society in which women and girls are seen and treated as equal to men and boys.

It's Women's Day again; Women's Month again - to all out there let's make every day Women's day!