How is representation created in texts?

How is representation created in texts?1Lets begin by exploring representationThe word represent is made up of the prefix re and the base word present. So we could look at the meaning of the word as being to re-present i.e. present an object, idea, person, race, gender, social group in another way or in numerous ways.

2Teenagers presented as drunken loutsWhile his parents were away, Corey Worthington advertised a house party at his parents house using Myspace and text messages.

500 drunken teenagers turned up and wrecked the house leaving Coreys parents with $20 000 repair bill.

Coreys response was, "I can't remember. I was just off my head. Can't remember,"

3Checking for understanding and questioning representationIf this image and information was all you had to base your assumptions on, what would you think about teenagers?Is this representation true of all teenagers?As a teenager do you accept this representation of teenagers?4Teenagers re-presented as courageous, responsible and braveIn 2010 Jessica Watson became the youngest person to ever sail around the world, solo and unassisted. She was only sixteen years old.

5Checking for understanding and questioning representationIf this image and information was all you had to base your assumptions on, what would you think about teenagers?Out of the two representations, which one are you more comfortable with accepting?

6ContextIm guessing most of you would rather accept the image of Jessica Watson as being representative of all teenagers, rather than Corey Worthington.

Your response highlights how the audience (or reader) will accept or reject (challenge) representations, based on their personal context (context meaning the audiences personal experiences, history, culture etc)

7But how do you identify representations in written texts?8There are clues. These clues are called narrative conventionsI am going to focus on how characters are represented and then extend the representation further. But before we get started: What are narrative conventions?9Read: The TestBy Angela Gibbs10Lets look at the character, Marian, using the narrative conventions as cluesBut first: How do you think Marian is being represented? How do you think the inspector is being represented?11What can the setting tell us?The setting can add to the way the character is represented. Consider: The type of place the location isDescriptionsWhere in the setting the character is locatedWhat role the character plays in that setting And also whether the character changes if he/she is in a new setting.12In The TestMarian is in a car on a drivers test. The car Marian drives to the text is described as arriving to the text via a side street and parks at the rear.The inspectors cars are described as having, official insignia on their doors.At the beginning of the story, Marian is seated in the drivers seat. At the end of the story (after failing her test) Marian slides over to the right hand side of the car (in America, this is the passengers side.)The bulk of the action takes place during a test13What does this tell you?The differences between the two cars represents the inspectors as being important and powerful, because the official insignia indicates these people are seen as important according to the community.Meanwhile Marian arrives at the rear via a side street which puts her in the position of being inferior (less important) than the inspectors because she is physically arriving unseen not at the proper entrance.The change in Marians physical position in the car, indicates she is out of The drivers seat. This is a hint to the idiom, To be in the drivers seat which means being in power. So Marian has lost power since the beginning of the story.A test usually implies someone is being tests or judged. In this text more than Marians driving skills are being tested. Her ability to remain calm while the inspector belittles her is also being tested. And her race (African American) is being tested and found lacking.

14What can the dialogue tell us?When you refer to the use of dialogue you should consider the following:How have the words been spoken (check for descriptions of how they have spoken)?Does the characters dialogue make reference to other events, people, ideas?What words does the character use? Are they colloquial? Formal? French? EtcWhom speaks to whom? And how do they speak to each other?15Dialogue in The TestMarians voice is described as being unaccentedMarian refers to Mrs Ericson as Maam or Mrs Ericson. While Mrs Ericson refers to Marian by her Christian name, Marian.The Inspector calls Marian, Mandy-LouThe inspector adopts a southern accent while he is talking to Marian using words such as Youall and sho and hints that Marian may have children which he calls, piccaninnies

16What does this tell you?Marians unaccented voice actually highlights that Marian would normally have an accent, but she has worked hard to eradicate it.Marian shows respect and defers to Mrs Ericson because she refers to her using formal pronouns. Yet Mrs Ericson calls Marian by her name. This indicates a power imbalance. Mrs Ericson is more important/has more power than Marian, which is confirmed later on when Marian reveals that Mrs Ericson is her employer.The Inspector is showing his prejudice when he uses a Southern accent because he assumes because Marian is African-American she must come from the South. (The South was known for its cruel history of black slavery.)A piccaninny is a derogatory term for a African-American baby

17What do the descriptions tell us?When considering descriptions think about the following:How are the characters physical appearances described?How are the characters actions described?What written devices have been used in the descriptions? (simile, metaphor etc)18Descriptions in The TestMarians hands are described as, dark and competentThe inspector feigned astonishment when he discovers that Marian is not from the South.Marian is asked to complete a difficult parking task and she squeezed in between them without too much manoeuvring.Marian cracks under the pressure and swears, Damn you.The inspector failed Marian by making, four very black crosses at random.

19What does this tell you about Marian and the Inspector?The description of Marians hands reveal she is dark skinned, but also that she is capable.The inspectors, feigned astonishment reveals that he knows that Marian is not Southern, he is just pretending to assume that about her to make her feel inferior.Marians completion of the difficult parking manoeuvre reveals she is a good driver, which shows that the inspectors decision to fail her is not because she is a bad driver, but because the inspector does not like her. We know the inspector chooses to fail her because he marks the crosses at random, so he has not based to fail on any real facts.

20SymbolismWe often think of symbolism in terms of visual texts, but there are symbolic objects, titles or references in written texts. These objects, titles or references can symbolise ideas or add to the representations of the characters.21Symbolism in The TestThe title, The Test is symbolic. Marian is not just being tested on her driving skills shes also being tested in other ways. The reference to Swanee River is symbolic.(As mentioned in an earlier slide) Marians movement from the drivers seat to the passengers side is symbolicThe appearance of the inspectors as wearing uniforms in military briskness is symbolising their power and authority.

22Based on this informationThe inspectorrepresented as :PrejudicedCruelRacistPowerfulAuthoritative

Marian is represented as:IntimidatedPowerlessSubmissiveBut also rebelliousEducated

23Representations of EthnicityWe can extend our understandings of how each character was represented by also looking at representations of ethnicity. Marian represents the African American culture and the Inspector and Mrs Ericson represent Caucasian (white) culture.24Now consider: How have African American people (as a culture) been represented in this text?

25Representations of African AmericansIn this story, Marian represents African Americans. So this ethnic group have been represented as:Oppressed (under the control of white ethnic groups)PowerlessSubmissive in the face of authorityBut also:Educated (Marian has a degree)CapableRebellious (Marian swears indirectly at the Inspector saying, Damn you.)

26How have white (Caucasian) people, as a culture, been represented in this text? Hint: there are two different representations!

27Representations of Caucasian CultureThe InspectorMrs EricsonMore dominant that the inferior African American cultureIn power culturally and governmentally (the white Inspector is representative of the government powers)PrejudicedSuperior (she is known as Mrs Ericson and not by her Christian name) to MarianYet sympathetic to the plight of African Americans28