Question 2: How does your media product represent particular

social groups?

Demographics

Demographic information is used in media marketing to classify an audience.It is the categorisation of different physical characteristics. It refers to the target audience and audiences are often defined through demographic factors. Categorising is important for researchers as it can help them when determining the audience.

The most common demographic groups are: • Gender• Sexuality• Age• Race• Social Class

In our thriller opening there is a representation of gender. A common stereotype is that females

are often at the Centre of being targeted by crimes that may occur in a forest setting such as kidnappings. Females are often stereotyped to only have an interest in things such as their personal image and relationships etc. however our media product challenges this representation as it sees a young female going for a run in sportswear rather rather than being all dressed up and going out with friends. Despite the fact this stereotype has been challenged, it also follows the stereotype as it shows our young female character still wearing make-up.

Our character also shows the stereotype of age. In today’s society young teenagers are often seen to be focused on their body and keeping fit. In our thriller opening, it sees a young girl going for a run representing the idea that she is following this common stereotype. The representation of age is also challenged by our character as young females are often stereotyped to constantly be in the company of friends however our media product sees a young girl independently going for a run.

In our thriller opening there is a representation of gender. The detective in our scene is male. This is a common stereotype as the majority of detectives in today’s society are said to be male. This can relate back to the history of females typically being seen as ‘less able’ to take on particular job roles. Our detective is male therefore this sees our media product representing the social group of gender.

The representation of social class is also shown in our media product. Our male detective is well dressed and smart in a suit which may follow the stereotype that detectives come from a higher social class and receive a higher income due to their occupation.

Another social group that our male detective may be categorized into is race. In today’s society you see a wider range of different races and backgrounds in the employment industry. This means that people of different races are shown more to take on different jobs. Our media product lives up to this representation as it sees a male detective with an Asian background taking on the job role of being a detective.

Overall, I believe that my media product represents particular social groups in many ways. The main social groups that are represented throughout our product is age and gender. This is due to our main character being a young female. The way in which we have portrayed our female character both replicates stereotypes and challenges them however we have presented her in a way that make it effective for the viewer.