representation
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Representation
Introducing Key Media Concepts
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 2
Contents:
Section 1 - Re-presentation (Slides 1-11) Section 2 - Key Questions on
Representations & Stereotyping (Slides 12-23)
Section 3 - TV stills for analysis (Slides 24 - 35)
Section 4 – Recap (Slides 36-39)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 3
Section 1: Re-presenting Realities…By definition, all media texts (whether
print, moving image, audio etc) are always re-presentations of reality, as they have undergone the processes of mediation
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 4
Section 1: Re-presenting Realities…By definition, all media texts (whether
print, moving image, audio etc) are always re-presentations of reality, as they have undergone the processes of mediation
Mediation includes several key elements: selection, narrative sequencing & emphasis, which all serve to anchor meaning
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 5
Mediation…
Selection - a very deliberate decision has been made by the media producers about, for example, choosing one particular image (and rejecting hundreds of others) to accompany a news story and then reinforcing or anchoring their chosen meaning through their choice of headline captions, actor/character voiceover, music, lighting etc. (dependant on the form of media text)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 6
Mediation…
Narrative Sequencing - the elements that make up a text, chosen in the selection process, will be organized into particular sequences in order to tell a particular story
This organising of the components of a media text applies to fiction and non-fiction texts alike
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 7
Mediation…
Emphasis - the selection and narrative sequencing lead to a particular emphasis within the text, meaning that audiences are invited to ‘read’ the meaning in a particular way: This is known as the preferred reading
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 8
Mediation…
Emphasis - the selection and narrative sequencing lead to a particular emphasis within the text, meaning that audiences are invited to ‘read’ the meaning in a particular way: This is known as the preferred reading
Sometimes this is more obvious (as in tabloid journalism), sometimes more difficult to detect (for example, in a documentary that positions itself as ‘balanced’ or ‘truthful’)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 9
What is being represented?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 10
What meaning is being anchored?
Call that subtle? The monstrous yacht Coleen and Wayne have hired looks out of place in elegant Portofino
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 11
Burton & Taylor they ain't - what has Portofino done to deserve the Rooneys' 'wedding of the year'?
Call that subtle? The monstrous yacht Coleen and Wayne have hired looks out of place in elegant Portofino
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 12
Section 2: Key Questions
For the OCR AS course, Representation is one of the major Key Concepts (alongside Textual Analysis, Media Audiences and Media Institutions) underpinning each module. At A/S Level and beyond, the emphasis is on you being able to address the following questions of any media text…
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 13
Key Questions…
Who is being represented?In what way?By whom?Why is the subject being represented
in this way?Is the representation fair and accurate?What opportunities exist for self-
representation by the subject?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 14
Who is being Represented?
What can you say about the subject of a representation?
Do they belong, for example, to a marginalised group in society?
Or are they part of a powerful elite?Why do you think that these
considerations matter?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 15
In What Way?
Is this a sympathetic representation?Is it ‘sensationalist’ or
‘scaremongering’?Does it employ humour?Is it a representation you are familiar
with?Or does it challenge your views in any
way?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 16
Why is the subject being represented in this way?What does the media institution stand
to gain from this representation?What does the subject stand to gain?What does the audience stand to gain?What does the representation tell us
about the values and ideologies of the institutions involved?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 17
Is the representation ‘fair’ and ‘accurate’?
Does this representation confirm or challenge what you already know of the subject?
Why is ‘fairness’ and ‘accuracy’ important?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 18
Self-representation?
Does the subject represented have any means of self-representation?
In other words, is there an opportunity to defend or rebuke the representation?
If not, why not?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 19
Shameless Who is being
represented & in what way?
By whom? Why? Is it fair and
accurate? What ‘right to
reply’ do these subjects have? (self representation)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 20
Section 3: Stereotyping
A stereotype is a representation that takes characteristics of a group of people and uses the processes of mediation to apply them in a generalised and simplistic way
What stereotypes do you and your friends use?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 21
Stereotyping
Recent new stereotypes include ‘the Essex Girl’ - now also defined in the Oxford English Dictionary!
What others can you think of?
Image of Chantelle from: http://www.channel4.com/bigbrother/housemates/housemate_news.jsp?id=41
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 22
Stereotyping - harmless fun? Stereotypes can often be used as a useful
‘shorthand’ for media producers, particularly in comedy texts such as sitcoms and sketch shows but character ‘types’ also often occur in TV dramas
The use of a familiar stereotype means that the audience can be steered more quickly towards the ‘meaning’ of a situation; it makes it ‘easier’ to read the preferred meaning (what the producer wants you to think)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 23
Stereotyping…
Whilst stereotypes can be used in a positive way, the repetition of such representations in other contexts can be very harmful for the groups involved
Stereotypes can also be challenged – GG Me With a partner, brainstorm uses of
stereotyping in media texts that can be seen as perpetuating negative views…(try to use a selection of fiction and non-fiction texts)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 24
TV Drama
Look at the following sequence of images from TV dramas and, in pairs, analyze the representations by applying the questions used previously…
Who is being represented & in what way? By whom? Why? Is it fair and accurate? What ‘right to reply’ does this subject have?
(self representation)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 25
Skins – Chris at party
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 26
Who’s the boss?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 27
What are the stereotypes?
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 28
Kayleigh & Mel
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 29
Steve, Lloyd & Dan
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 30
Claire, Sally & Sophie
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 31
Jane Eyre
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 32
Dr. Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 33
Life On Mars
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 34
Mad Men
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 35
Brideshead Revisited
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 36
Section 4 - Recap…All media Representations result from the
processes of mediation; the image chosen & how it is cropped, anchored etc. to produce the preferred reading
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 37
Section 4 - Recap…All media Representations result from the
processes of mediation; the image chosen & how it is cropped, anchored etc. to produce the preferred reading
The types of representations used by different media institutions can tell us a lot about the ideological belief systems of that institution - and of their audiences (we tend to consume media texts that already ‘fit’ our own values…)
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 38
Recap…We can choose to agree or disagree
with any given Representation, but the processes of Mediation tend to influence our ‘readings’…
Introducing Representation Introducing Representation 39
Recap…We can choose to agree or disagree with
any given Representation, but the processes of Mediation tend to influence our ‘readings’…
The questions about Representation that you have learned to apply here are relevant to any media text and should continue to be addressed throughout the duration of your course. Mediation occurs in reality TV & news, not only in fiction!
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