Representation

 

Create a new blogpost called 'Representation blog tasks'. 

Read the Media Magazine feature 'Representation old and new'. This is in MM51 on page 6 - go to our Media Magazine archive to find the article. Complete the following tasks:

1) Why is representation an important concept in Media Studies?

The word representation itself holds a clue to its importance. When we see a person, place, object or idea being represented in a media text, it has in some way been mediated by the very act of representation. A representation is a re-presentation

2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media?

If its an official image, the royal family and Kate world be aware of the way they dress and be mindful of body language and facial expressions, everything would be constructed. If she wasnt aware shed be photographed, shed be acting more natural and not constructing her image and behaviour to maintain a certain image.

3) Summarise the section 'The how, who and why of media representation' in 50 words.

When analysing representations, it is always essential to question who is creating them, and why. Producers have to consider the audience expectations, genre codes, narrative the institution remit. 

4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation?

Audiences do not necessarily accept the ideology of texts passively, but instead draw on their own cultural and social experiences to create their own interpretations.


5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media?

When we post an image on Instagram or some thoughts on Facebook, we are constructing an idea of ourselves, and we are distributing it to our followers or our friends. The choices we make in terms of which images to upload and which comments to create a construction of an idea about ourselves.


6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this?


During the 2014 World Cup, The Sun sent a free newspaper to 22 million households in England which represented its own concepts of ‘Englishness’ by symbolic references – queuing, the Sunday roast, Churchill and The Queen – to heroes, values and behaviours that the paper defined as appropriate expressions of ‘English identity’.


Watch the clip from Luther that we studied in class(Season 1, Episode 1 - minute 7.40-10.00 - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access the clip). Now answer these final two questions:



7) Write a paragraph analysing the dominant and alternative representations you can find in the clip from Luther.

An alternative representation is that the woman in the clip is Luther's superior as he refers to her as boss and he listens to her. This is dominant as woman are usually portrayed as inferior to men. A dominant representation is that Londoners are rude as we see Luther being blunt and harsh to the Northern man.

8) Write a paragraph applying a selection of our representation theories to the clip from Luther. Our summary of each theory may help you here:

Mulveys male gaze theory is disproved as the female isn’t dressed in revealing clothes or wearing make up for male pleasure. Perkins theory that some stereotypes are true is applicauas the stereotype that black men aren’t good in relationships is proved as luther is separating from his wife, however this theory is not positive.

Levi-Strauss: representation and ideology

Mulvey: the male gaze

Dyer: stereotyping and power
Medhurst: value judgements
Perkins: some stereotypes can be positive or true