Age?
21


Sex?
M


What is your degree subject (both if joint)?
BA FILM STUDIES


Does ‘Being Bad’ relate well to the other modules you are taking?
Yes


If so, how? And if not, why not?
It shows us the moral and social side of cinema and how it can affect everyday life.


Have you found ‘Being Bad’ too demanding, too easy, or at an appropriate level?
I found it was demanding at first because we'd change the topic of debate every week rather than developing through a period of time.

Do you think the list of topics covered on the module was appropriate?
Yes, I do think that brcause these are everyday things that happen and take place in our lives.


Are there any topics not included in the module that you would like to see included?
I would've like the module to elaborate a bit on these topics.


Do you think that the format for classes has worked well?
Yes


What did you think of the module team?
They were very helpful and answered my e-mail enquires.


Do you think it would have been better to have had more:

Small group discussions? No

Discussion and debate among the class as a whole?
Yes
Information and talk from lecturers?
They were alright


The approach taken in the module is interdisciplinary (drawing on perspectives from English Literature, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies and Politics): do you think this a useful way of approaching the topics covered in the module? Yes because it merges all these aspects together and gives us abetter understanding of the human psyche.



Do you think that interdisciplinary modules are a good idea?
Yes


Do you think you have benefited from the interdisciplinary approach taken in the module?
Yes because I learnt a lot that I wasn't aware of.


Would you like to see more modules that cover this kind of subject matter?
I think the most important thing is thta we develop the issues slighty further than we have.


Are you planning to take the follow-up module PH2004 ‘Thou Shalt Not’ (note: the name of this module is likely to be changed to ‘It Shouldn’t be Allowed!’) at level 2?No



Would you recommend ‘Being Bad’ to a friend?Yes



Do you think that the blogs (web logs) were a good idea?Yes



What did you think of the other assessments (e.g. would it be better to have one longer assessment rather than two shorter ones?)?
It would have been better to have a longer assessment because 300 words can restrict you.


What have you learned from the module?Learnt that people are a bit wild and that what we discussed actually goes on!



What parts of the module have you found most useful and why?
The lectures and group talks, because we can get feedback and assess each others opinions.


What parts do you think were a waste of time and why?Nothing



Are there any other comments you wish to make regarding ‘Being Bad’?I've said everything that needs to be said.

I think that the state of British telivision leave a lot to be desired. All that's on are repeats, cookery shows, DIY shows and crappy soaps. The fact that we pay the TV licencse rubs salt into the wound. This then drives us on to get digital tv and that could be said is even worse, but at least that's optional, I think that the BBC should make the licencse optional to all.
click here to go to the BBC homepage

Recently I watched the film 'Seven' starring Brad Pitt. I have to say that this film is a big eye opener for me into how far a fanatical devotee of a religion can go to put their message across. The film had alot of meaning and poignantcy considering what happened on September the 11th. It is a frightening insight into an extremist life. click here to go to a review of 'Seven'

Recently I watched the film 'Seven' starring Brad Pitt. I have to say that this film is a big eye opener for me into how far a fanatical devotee of a religion can go to put their message across. The film had alot of meaning and poignantcy considering what happened on September the 11th. It is a frightening insight into an extremist life. click here to go to a site reviewing the film 'Seven'

I have to agree with Stephanie S. Jarman's views that religion can restrict you to things such as going to the cinema, clubbing etc..but she doesn't seem to realise that religion need not be like this, she can go cinema and go church. Going to the cinema is just like exploring the world, it teaches you about people and even other religions, therefore giving you a better understanding of other people's beliefs and traditions.
You do not have to be hardcore to be considered religious. Here is a beautiful image of the different religions

I agree with Shireen Aziz on her views that if you want to quit smoking and have the willpower, then you can! I hat it when people say that "it's too late now" or that "it's too hard", bollocks! these people are the type who can't admit to their addiction and therefore have not the balls to even try, they put others at risk through passive smoking and themselves. When they have children, they will have no excuse to restrict their children from doing the same. Here is an image of a quit smoking logo.

I have read Mandie Duffy's blog entry on the film 'Kids' and I have to agree to her opinion that we should not shield our children too much from the harsh realities of life, because when they slowly and gradually grow up, it can be hard adjusting and fitting in with these principles. Having seen the film myself, I have to agree that it's not far from the truth, things like what happens in 'Kids' go on in Birmingham and everywhere else in the UK, you just need to turn on to the news to see it as well as seeing it firsthand, being bad in cinema is a topic I've discussed in a previous entry. click here to go the 'Kids' movie site

The recent debate over wether we should go to war with Iraq has shown the governments willingness to sort out problems closer to home such as; gun crime, asylum seekers, unemployment, traffic congestion and the firefighter's strike. Instead of concentrating on these issues our prime minister seems sinle minded about his desire to help the United States of America wage war on Iraq, thay say it is for the good of humanity that they destroy Saddam Hussein's weapon's of mass destruction, when everyone knows it's oil they're fighting for. Tony Blair is an intelligent man and he should be his own man and sort out home affairs before even meddling with foreign issues. Here is an image of an asylum seeker

There was controversy about a german doctor who carried out Britain's first public autopsy. The event was shown 'live' on channel four and I noticed that the crowd had gathered edibles to watch the autopsy with; this felt to me like a joke because what began as an interesting foray into the complexities of the human body felt now like a circus act.
I also noticed certain people feeling sick and leaving the room, it had got too much for them. The doctor at the centre of this was ridiculed by the media and society as a sick man who gained pleasure from dead bodies; but they seemed to overlook the fact that the dead man consented to this act and the fact that it could be educational to people who can see the human body first hand. Here is an image of a dead body ready for autopsy

Being bad in cinema is good because it reflect's society and how it is changing around as I've always told my friends that the movies can often be a sort of mirror of society, it reflects the real deal.Most of the time anyway.
I often get upset at censors cutting this and that because of violence and sex, but they seem to forget this sort of thing happens everday in the world. I get angry at the press denouncing violence and blaming films as the root of all crimes in the world, they seem to say the same thing about every other medium there is e.g heavy metal music, rap, computer games etc..click here to go to a site about badcinema

Body modification (BM) cannot be regarded as bad in my opinion, they are acceptable but only if you're doing no harm to others, which they aren't. I think certain BM can be a way to express yourselves, your tattos can often tell others about your character and persona, it can even be described as art.
Piercing is okay if it makes the person having it feel good about themselves, there's no harm in increasing your self-esteem.click here to go to a body art site

I think that people take masturbation is a sin to most people because it represents the state of society at the current moment in time, when more and more people take up hobbies and activities which were considered taboo a couple of yeasr back such as going to strip clubs with your wife, you just have to look at Birmingham's many new stri[p clubs to see this growth and masturbation will become a less of taboo as years go on, as attitudes towards other sins become more acceptable.click here to go to a site about censorship and attitudes changing about freedom of action and speech

I think smoking in the movies sends out a bad message to society, especially children. They think that if their favourite character on screen is seen to be smoking then it is regarded as cool and alright. This also creates trouble with your 'mates' as peer pressure becomes another factor in a child/teenager's decision to start smoking; this due to the fact that movies and film star's are irresponsible and do not realise the influence that they posses on society's attitudes.click here to go to a quit smoking site

Today we discussed lying with integrity. We discussed when lying can be acceptable; how people lie to get ahead, how people lie to get personal gain. We also discussed if lying can be put to good use; when we want to protect others feelings and lie for the greater good.
We watched an extract from the television series 'Red Dwarf' about a robot who is programmed not to lie, a human character tries to teach him the values of lying; he says it is our "Natural instinct".
Every one today had to write about the best lie they ever told, there were not many good replies, but the one about lying about orgasm was probably the pick of the bunch.click here to go to Red Dwarf webpage

click here

Today we discussed Infidelity and how this is interpreted. I think that infidelity can be described as being unfaithful to your partner or your friend, but not if it is consented, because then you are not being unfaithful; you're just having a bit of fun.
We discussed a little about betrayal as well and what forms it can take; if you break ranks with someone because you believe them to be in the wrong, can it be described as a form of betrayal?
We loooked at certain confessions of being unfaithful and while others had the same done to them, we discussed the motives and reasons behind these and was there a voice of reason in them.click here to go to End of the affair webpage