Mrs Birks Blogs

While Game of Thrones goes from strength to strength (how is this season over already?), what has happened to House of Cards?  The TV drama that changed the way drama is produced and distributed, has gone from gripping, edge of the seat stuff to unbelievable, over-the-top and dissatisfying in one season. Although I didn't always understand the politics, I loved House of Cards from day one and it was one of the reasons we subscribed to Netflix.    As a Media teacher I admired the way it changed the media landscape by putting the control back into the hands of the audience,    allowing them to choose exactly how many episodes (chapters) they watched and when.    It also proved that in a world of short form video, long form drama is still something the audience wants.    With its film star cast and director, it was also responsible for blurring the boundaries between film and television - it's becoming difficult for critics to claim tha...

It took me a long time to warm to Game of Thrones. And I mean a long time...like the first 3 seasons.  I just couldn't see what the fuss was about - too much sex and nudity, naive women with their futures decided by men and an incestuous relationship between brother and sister - I really thought it wasn't for me, in fact I only persevered because my mum had leant me the box set and I knew she'd ask what I thought.  So I sceptically persevered and eventually I was hooked - I can't tell you specifically which moment changed my thinking about the show - there are so many glorious moments in GOT, mostly involving gruesome deaths - but along the way I got caught up in the storylines and now I am completely obsessed. What I like about GOT is that it is like watching lots of little episodes of a great fantasy/action film. I'm thinking Lord of the Rings without the Hobbits.   I know this comparison will make LOTR fans and GOT fans sigh in equal measure but just t...

As my blog has reached its first birthday, I decided it was about time I finished this blog post which I started ageeeeessssssss ago.  What's it about?  Blogging! When I wrote my welcome post a whole year ago, I mentioned that I have taught about blogging for several years and watched as students created their own blogs.  I was always put off creating my own blog because I didn't really think I had anything to say and I couldn't decide what topic to blog about.  I am typically one of those people who put off doing things because I don't think it will be good enough or that it's too difficult so why even start? I listen to what Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way  describes as "creative blockers".  When I finally started blogging I discovered that I have quite a lot to say and quite a lot that I'm interested in - who said a blog had to be about just one topic?  I'm really enjoying reading blogs about my interests (the...

So the time of year is upon us when exams are just about over and the wait for results begins.  Alongside that, is the wait for the inevitable slating of exam results and comments about Media Studies being a Mickey Mouse subject.  We all know it's coming...and most of us know it's pretty unfair.  After years of studying and revision, then weeks of exams, A Level students won't be congratulated on their results but told that exams are getting easier and that subject content is being dumbed down.  You'd think as a nation we'd be pleased when our children do well... I know many of the people reading this blog will be students who have either studied Media at A Level or are currently at University studying a related subject (hello to you!).  These students know it is not easy to get an A grade in any A Level regardless of the subject.   Media Studies is no exception.  If it were easy, everyone would be...

Last week, thanks to the generous babysitting of Nanny, Mr Birks and I went to the cinema. The last time we went was to see Skyfall, which I loved and started writing a big blog post about straight away.  Unfortunately, I never quite finished it and now it seems a bit dated.  But nevermind, I will tell you about Star Trek instead! Now, I wasn't entirely sure what was on at the flicks when we arrived, it seemed to be mostly action films and in the end we decided on action of the sci-fi variety.  It seems unusual to me that two big action films (the other being Iron Man 3) have been released at around the same time but judging by the number of people watching Star Trek, the gap between the release dates has been significant enough. Those who know me, know how much I love to get a bargain. Which is probably why I find parting with nearly £10 to go and sit in a darkened room a bit of a rip off,especially as I'm not convinced you really get what you pay...

Shhh! Don't tell anyone I'm here! I should be marking! What could distract me from my professional commitment and enthusiasm, I guess you're wondering.  Well, I just had to take a moment to lament the loss of Merlin from our TV screens.  Yes, I know the award winning, prime time BBC TV show left our screens at Christmas but, quite frankly, I still haven't got over the loss and am extremely grateful that I received the series 1 box set for my birthday back in March (I hope the others will follow shortly!) Now to some, Merlin was the annoying medieval programme that followed the glitter and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night (that Merlin-yoke as described by Marian Keyes on Twitter).  It's true, you could not get a bigger contrast than these two programmes - one is about fake tan, sequins and posh frocks, whilst the other is all running around in the forest with mud caked clothes.  But I loved them both and I can see why the BBC scheduled these two...

So, I haven't updated my blog for a while and that's mainly because I've been watching TV.  I am working on a post about Skyfall (coming soon!) but mostly it's all about spending time with the box.  After all, if it's good enough for Homer Simpson, it's good enough for me.  I will confess right now that I do have a bit of a thing for trash tv.  I'm still a devoted Eastenders fan (always will be) and I also indulged in a bit of Celebrity Big Brother (sorry!).  However, at the moment, I think the best thing on TV is the so called Scandi-Drama that has been brought to us from Denmark. Now, I'm not an expert on Danish TV drama, I've only watched Borgen and The Killing 1 but I love both and I'm going to explain why... We first started watching Borgen when it appeared on BBC4.  It had great reviews in the TV guide and Saturday night is generally a bit of a wasteland when it comes to TV drama (especially now Merlin is finished) so we thou...

Now, before you read this post, I have to confess it wasn't written specifically for my blog.  It's something I wrote for  Media Magazine  in June 2011 but was never published.  It's a little bit dated - I believe series 8 has already been shown - but it might still prove useful for media students studying TV drama.  For everyone else, it might just be a good way to appreciate this fab show.  Incidentially, I still haven't watched series 7 or 8 - anyone want to lend me the box set??? Back in September, a student, after hearing my confession that I was a House fan, lent me the first six seasons on box set.   Now (the following June) I have almost finished watching the lot.   That’s 34 discs and 133 episodes.   Approximately 5320 minutes of my time or about 3.5 days.   It may not sound much to you ( I remember the days of watching box sets in bed when I was younger) but it’s hard to fit in such committed viewing along with a f...