Representations of AgeMiss Volcere

Lesson objective: To analyse the representation of age in TV Drama

Gender

Age

Ethnicity

Sexuality

Class & Status

Ability/Disability

Regional Identity

List the stereotypical ways in which the following groups are depicted on TV

Teenagers girls

Women in their 30s

Middle-aged men

Task

In pairs produce two spider diagrams one about stereotypes of the young and one about stereotypes of the old.

Stereotypes about the young

Stereotypes about the Old

Examples

Waterloo Road (school drama)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SLmRxu2Qnc

Scandal (political drama)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjkamnMhUWA

Blackpool (musical comedy drama)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47Jh1851CI4

Downton Abbey (Costume Drama)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvDtszcZAV0&index=6&list=PL5C0B3DE2F008E1E0

Task: 40 mins

In pairs, to research representation of age in a TV Drama of your choice.

Produce a presentation, including images/footage: saved to a USB stick.

Make reference to semiotics (visual codes and audio codes if appropriate).

You will present you work at the end of the lesson.

Things to think about…

What is the media text?

How has the representation been constructed (media language: visual and audio codes)?

What reasons are there for the representation?

How might the representation affect the audience?

Who produced the representation?

Homework

Produce a 400 word textual analysis of a British/ American TV Drama focusing on age.

Due: Next Wed