Is it a Goody effect?

{ March 16, 2009 @ 10:33 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , } · { Comments (1) }

goody020309_308ap

 

There is something I must admit that I am quite ashamed about. I have become obsessed with the daily life of the terminally ill reality TV star, Jade Goody

If I see a new story about Goody, 27, I read it straight away. It is like some form of addiction. I chose to read a report about someone standing over Goody’s bed with a hammer over the murders in Northern Ireland last week. I know I’m not the only one with this problem as stories about the former Big Brother contestant are regularly the most read reports on news sites such as BBC News.

jade-goody_0_0_0x0_450x5013

Jade Goody becoming famous on Big Brother 2002

I am not a fan of Jade Goody and never have been. This time last year if someone had asked me to join a Facebook group with a title such as, ‘Jade Goody needs to be painfully removed from the face of the Earth’ I probably would have joined it. She is part of that annoying group of talentless individuals that are continually growing in numbers and will do anything to be famous.

But now I have become fascinated with her story in some almost twisted way. The British public have followed her through the ups and downs of her controversial adult life. We have seen her depicted as a stupid moron, a business woman, a mother, a racist thug and now a brave cancer sufferer. That is a lot of roles to play during seven years in the harsh media spotlight and that glare will stay with her until the very end of her short life.

However, when the country is in such a crisis is it right for the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to regularly comment on woman, who is only famous for being a mouthy idiot, just because she is dying?

Is it also right for the government to relax the probation conditions of her husband, Jack Tweed, 21, despite the fact he was again found guilty of assault just two weeks ago. What must his victims think of Britain’s justice system?

There are thousands of women in the country who are suffering from cancer, but don’t get preferential treatment. So why should Jade Goody when she is famous for basically being famous?

jack1

Is Jack Tweed nothing more than a thug with a famous, sick wife?

But how can I complain about this when it is my fault. If people like me didn’t read the stories about Goody or express an interest in her life the government wouldn’t feel pressure to comment on her situation or give special privileges encase of the a public backlash.

The only good thing that has from the exposure of her life is what the press and some medical professionals are describing as the ‘Goody effect’. The publicity around her battle with cancer has led to thousands of women to getting checked for cervical cancer, which could ultimately save a lot of lives. Perhaps Jade Goody will end her controversial life being a role model to thousands of British women and someone her two children can be proud of.

 

Cascade of Candour

{ March 15, 2009 @ 10:41 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , } · { Comments (1) }

frostnixonmovie

Slumdog Millionaire took the limelight at this year’s Oscars, but one film I thought was sadly overlooked was the brilliant Frost/Nixon.

Compelling, gripping and intriguing, Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon has all these qualities. Michael Sheen and Frank Langella both give captivating and Oscar worthy performances and keep the audience glued to the screen throughout. Credit must also be given to director Howard for marvellously portraying one of the most famous and important interviews to ever be conducted in journalism history.

The film proudly represents the historical significance of the interview and signifies the necessity of the journalist in politics. I gained so much more respect for Sir David Frost and his work after watching this film, as it must be remembered that this interview was the closest thing to a trial that Richard Nixon had over his involvement in Watergate.

Despite watching the interview several times, I was completely ignorant to the fact that Frost was basically a novice in the journalism world before his battle with Nixon. His most hard-hitting interview before then had most probably been with a Bee Gee (I’m guessing it is the one who most resembles a lion). I also had no idea about how much the talk show host put his neck on the line in order to get a confession from the former US president. Frost stood to lose absolutely everything if the interview was not a success.

However, the most surprising discovery I made from watching this film was the fact that Sir David Frost used to be a charming playboy. Frost really? The seventies was obviously a different time.

I thoroughly recommend that you watch Frost/Nixon when it is released on DVD in May. But until then here is the clip from the famous interview that inspired the film and thousands of journalists from around the world.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow …. in London

{ March 14, 2009 @ 3:27 pm } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , } · { Comments (1) }

A report released this month condemned London’s local councils and Mayor Boris Johnson for their response to the severe snow storms that hit the capital earlier this year.

For over a week in February many parts of the country came to a standstill due to the heaviest snowfall in 20 years. In London all transportation was cancelled for a day which prevented many people from getting to work. It was estimated that the disruption cost the British economy over £1 billion.

sdc14741

How can you hate snow when you see this picture?

Bosses comparable to Scrooge refused to pay workers who couldn’t turn up, the government was criticised for not being prepared for extreme weather and the press seemed to be going crazy over country’s the lack of salt. Gordon Brown must have been estatic when the snow finally melted away as the last thing he needs is to be slated over yet another issue.

However, I was not part of the anti-snow mob. In my opinion snowflakes was just what the people who live in the capital needed. London is too much of a serious place and things have got a lot worse since the bite of the credit crunch. Most Londoners are stressed, always in a rush and rude. Eye-contact is never given. There is just a general lack of consideration for other people in the city. The myth that a Londoner would step over you if you were dying seems like the truth when you have been part of the rat race for a tube at 8am on a weekday morning.

But on 2nd February, London became a winter wonderland of childlike innocence. As I left my house that day I felt like I had been transported to another world. My neighbours who had never said a word to me in my life stopped to talk to me and strangers in the street smiled and said hello. The hostile traffic had been replaced by grown men and women chasing each other with snowballs. Nobody seemed worried or stressed out. The snow had covered the hussle and bussle of city life and replaced it with a care-free and friendly atmosphere.

I witnessed genuine acts of kindness that I had never seen in London before. Teenage boys helping an old lady across an icy road. A friend of mine could not make it into work, so him and his colleagues went and helped out at a homeless shelter. The snow also highlighted the important work of indivduals that are overlooked. The emergency services still responded to calls in the extreme and dangerous weather condition.  The BBC followed the Meals on Wheels team who still delivered food in the heavy snow to all the elderly and disabled people who fully depend on their services.

Ok so I know I’m romanticising the day to an extent when the country lost £1 billion because of a bit of snow. But who cares really? Sometimes we all need escapism from our everyday hectic lives don’t we?

Here is one of the reason why I loved snow day. Random strangers all coming together to build a humongous snowman in Clapham Common. Childish maybe, but also magical. Snow needs to visit London more often. It made the city a more beautiful, awe-inspiring and most importantly, a friendlier place.