Stuart Hall applied

Stuart hall believes that producers fill their media texts with meaning and it is the audiences job to decode it. The audience can either accept or reject the meaning.

Michael Jackson Earth song

Preferred view- It shows that humans damaged the world; Michael is trying to get across that we should look after the earth and restore peace. It urges us to get involved and do charity work to help the injustice.

Negotiated view - There are stereotypical representations in this video. Some people may be offended by the view that all of Africa is the same. However, footage may be accepted as it gets recognition for those suffering in the third world continent.

Oppositional view - Michael is the only one that's not struggling in the video. Michael suggests that he's suffering too when he sings 'what about us', which makes him seem petty because there are worst things happening in the world. He has power to raise a message but instead he puts himself center stage and focuses the video on himself rather than other unjust events. He's represented on a cross suggesting he's like God and is superior to other humans.

my reaction - I agree with the negotiated view that it is wrong to stereotype but sometimes it is necessary.
The first thing I noticed when I watched this video was that Michael is suggesting that tribal people are wrong for killing; but how are they meant to survive by not killing animals or cutting down trees for food and shelter? The way they live is similar to other animals, they have to use other creatures in the food change to survive. The video indicates that we could put everything right again but we can't fully restore the Earth, it's not as easy as he makes it look.

Others in the class thought the point was put a cross and it made them feel sad that we are causing all this havoc and chaos.