reps a2 revision theory 2

8/6/2019 Reps A2 Revision Theory 2

1/20

RepresentationRepresentationcase studycase study -- disability, black Hollywood or teensdisability, black Hollywood or teens

which would you choose?which would you choose?


2/20

T

heoryT

heoryWhen you write about Representation you will need:When you write about Representation you will need:

Examples: Texts from all three platforms ideally.Examples: Texts from all three platforms ideally.

Analysis of these texts using Media conceptsAnalysis of these texts using Media concepts

focussed not exclusively on Representationsfocussed not exclusively on Representations

Contextual factors: how the representations fit withContextual factors: how the representations fit with

the society and politics of the time and how this mightthe society and politics of the time and how this might

influence or be influenced by economics and theinfluence or be influenced by economics and the

texts place in history.texts place in history.

To help you do this things you will need theorists.T

o help you do this things you will need theorists.


3/20

WhatWhat

representations?representations?

Write about theWrite about the

denotation firstdenotation firstThen move on toThen move on to

explore theexplore the

connotationsconnotations


4/20

MonacoMonaco

This unusual ability of film to validate reality is itsThis unusual ability of film to validate reality is itsmost important mimetic political function. (2000)most important mimetic political function. (2000)

It is still rare for a casting director to hire an AfricanIt is still rare for a casting director to hire an African--American to play a role that isnt specified as Black.American to play a role that isnt specified as Black.(2000)(2000)

Racism pervades American film because it is a basicRacism pervades American film because it is a basicstain in American history.stain in American history.

How could you apply Monaco to the poster we haveHow could you apply Monaco to the poster we havejust examined? Write a paragraph applying one orjust examined? Write a paragraph applying one ormore of these quotations.more of these quotations.


5/20

Mehki PhiferMehki Phifer

(actor in ER)(actor in ER)

Does thisDoes this

representation providerepresentation providecontrary evidence?contrary evidence?

Can we criticiseCan we criticiseMonaco?Monaco?


6/20

remember this?remember this?Crash (2004)Crash (2004)

Ludacris cast as the philosophisingLudacris cast as the philosophising

carcar--jackerjacker

Does this clip reveal anything aboutDoes this clip reveal anything about

the use of stereotypes by film makers?the use of stereotypes by film makers?

Does the representation reinforce ofDoes the representation reinforce of

challenge the stereotype and how?challenge the stereotype and how?


7/20

How do film makers playHow do film makers play

with stereotypes?with stereotypes?

The Tragic Mulato? Caught between black and white?The Tragic Mulato? Caught between black and white?


8/20

GramsciGramsci

Gramsci used the termGramsci used the term hegemonyhegemony to denote the predominanceto denote the predominanceof one social class over others (e.g.of one social class over others (e.g. bourgeois hegemonybourgeois hegemony).).

This represents not only political and economic control, but alsoThis represents not only political and economic control, but alsothe ability of the dominant class to project its own way of seeingthe ability of the dominant class to project its own way of seeing

the world, so that those who are subordinated by it accept it asthe world, so that those who are subordinated by it accept it as

'common sense' and 'natural'.'common sense' and 'natural'.

How might we apply Hegemony to the representations we haveHow might we apply Hegemony to the representations we have

studied?studied?

Write a few sentences applying Gramscis theory to youWrite a few sentences applying Gramscis theory to you

favoured representation.favoured representation.

5 minutes5 minutes


9/20

BamboozledBamboozled

Consider the role Dayon WayansConsider the role Dayon Wayans

playsplays

How does Spike Lee use WayansHow does Spike Lee use Wayansas a voice for his own outrage atas a voice for his own outrage at

racial stereotyping in TV?racial stereotyping in TV?

Lee wants to confront how blackLee wants to confront how black

people have been stereotyped bypeople have been stereotyped by

Hollywood head on. The languageHollywood head on. The language

including the use of the N wordincluding the use of the N wordprovokes outrage but does heprovokes outrage but does he

ironically further reironically further re--enforceenforce

prejudice through the narrative?prejudice through the narrative?


10/20

FiskeFiske

'Consent must be constantly won and re'Consent must be constantly won and re--won, for people'swon, for people's

material social experience constantly reminds them of thematerial social experience constantly reminds them of the

disadvantages of subordination and thus poses a threat to thedisadvantages of subordination and thus poses a threat to the

dominant class ... Hegemony ... posits a constant contradictiondominant class ... Hegemony ... posits a constant contradiction

between ideology and the social experience of the subordinatebetween ideology and the social experience of the subordinate

that makes this interface into an inevitable site of ideologicalthat makes this interface into an inevitable site of ideological

struggle'struggle'

Fiske application of Hegemony reveals that it isnt a constant butFiske application of Hegemony reveals that it isnt a constant but

something is subject to threat and must be resomething is subject to threat and must be re--imposed.imposed.

Write a further paragraph developing your ideas about GramsciWrite a further paragraph developing your ideas about Gramsci

BUT using a different and contrasting representation.BUT using a different and contrasting representation.

10 minutes10 minutes


11/20

BamboozledBamboozledThe boss claims blackness becauseThe boss claims blackness because

he has a black wife and blackhe has a black wife and black

iconography in his office, his choiceiconography in his office, his choice

to be a wigger further reenforcesto be a wigger further reenforces

his status. He is shown as a fool buthis status. He is shown as a fool but

a fool with power.a fool with power.

Is Lee pointing fun at the whiteIs Lee pointing fun at the white

majority who emulate black culturemajority who emulate black culture

and have done so for centuries. Theand have done so for centuries. The

boss claims blackness but hisboss claims blackness but his

blackness is shown throughblackness is shown through

ownership. The modern day slaveownership. The modern day slave

owner perhaps?owner perhaps?


12/20

Stuart HallStuart Hall

argues that the media appear to reflect reality whilst inargues that the media appear to reflect reality whilst infact they construct it.fact they construct it.

argued that the dominant ideology is typically inscribedargued that the dominant ideology is typically inscribedas the 'as the 'preferred readingpreferred reading' in a media text, but that this is' in a media text, but that this isnot automatically adopted by readers.not automatically adopted by readers.

TheThe social situationssocial situations of readers/viewers/listeners mayof readers/viewers/listeners maylead them to adopt different stances.lead them to adopt different stances.

''DominantDominant' readings are produced by those whose social' readings are produced by those whose socialsituation favours the preferred reading;situation favours the preferred reading;

''negotiatednegotiated' readings are produced by those who inflect' readings are produced by those who inflectthe preferred reading to take account of their socialthe preferred reading to take account of their socialposition;position;

and 'and 'oppositionaloppositional' readings are produced by those whose' readings are produced by those whosesocial position puts them into direct conflict with thesocial position puts them into direct conflict with the

preferred readingpreferred reading


13/20

Crash (2004)Crash (2004)

Terence Howards characterTerence Howards character

Cameron conforms to stereotypeCameron conforms to stereotype

Tom by refusing to stand up to hisTom by refusing to stand up to his

white producer Boss.white producer Boss.

Consider how theConsider how the

black stereotypesblack stereotypes

are used in Crash.are used in Crash.


14/20

TheoryTheoryIntegrate theory into your essay through shortIntegrate theory into your essay through short

quotationsquotations


15/20

Halls codesHalls codes

dominant (or 'hegemonic') readingdominant (or 'hegemonic') reading: the reader fully shares the text's code and: the reader fully shares the text's code and

accepts and reproduces theaccepts and reproduces the preferred readingpreferred reading(a reading which may not have been(a reading which may not have beenthe result of any conscious intention on the part of the author(s))the result of any conscious intention on the part of the author(s)) -- in such ain such a

stance the code seems 'natural' and 'transparent.stance the code seems 'natural' and 'transparent.

negotiated readingnegotiated reading: the reader partly shares the text's code and broadly accepts: the reader partly shares the text's code and broadly accepts

the preferred reading, but sometimes resists and modifies it in a way whichthe preferred reading, but sometimes resists and modifies it in a way which

reflects their own position, experiences and interests (local and personalreflects their own position, experiences and interests (local and personal

conditions may be seen as exceptions to the general rule)conditions may be seen as exceptions to the general rule) -- this position involvesthis position involves

contradictions.contradictions.

oppositional ('counteroppositional ('counter--hegemonic') readinghegemonic') reading: the reader, whose social situation: the reader, whose social situation

places them in a directly oppositional relation to the dominant code, understandsplaces them in a directly oppositional relation to the dominant code, understands

the preferred reading but does not share the text's code and rejects this reading,the preferred reading but does not share the text's code and rejects this reading,

bringing to bear an alternative frame of reference (radical, feminist etc.) (e.g.bringing to bear an alternative frame of reference (radical, feminist etc.) (e.g.

when watching a television broadcast produced on behalf of a political party theywhen watching a television broadcast produced on behalf of a political party they

normally votenormally vote againstagainst).).


16/20

Adorno and HorkheimerAdorno and HorkheimerThe Cultural Industry TheoryThe Cultural Industry Theory

Media texts and produced in the same way as other goods and services in aMedia texts and produced in the same way as other goods and services in a

capitalist economy. Production is marked by standardisation and repetition.capitalist economy. Production is marked by standardisation and repetition.

Media texts, as a consequence, inauthentic, repetitive and communicate at theMedia texts, as a consequence, inauthentic, repetitive and communicate at the

level of the lowest common denominator.level of the lowest common denominator.

Media texts are loaded with a dominant ideology which works to justify andMedia texts are loaded with a dominant ideology which works to justify and

naturalise social differences in the real world.naturalise social differences in the real world.

Media texts produce a mass, passive and obedient audience of consumers whoMedia texts produce a mass, passive and obedient audience of consumers who

are luled into accepting the dreams and hopes offered.are luled into accepting the dreams and hopes offered.


17/20

FreedomFreedom

Freedom is another irony. It is key to Western democracy, an ideal much-vaunted and

often claimed as reality. But freedom here is subjective stuff, in that it is under the thumb

of the overarching ideology. Free time, for example, is defined in opposition to worktime: a worker in work is not free. Further, not only does work decide leisure, but also

the means of pursuing it. The culture industry performs a vital role in this cyclical

manipulation of freedom: work evokes certain desires for escape, and the escape, when it

comes, is underpinned so much by the ideology that it fits the leisuring worker to work

once more. (Brian Grant)

Consider this theory with regards to audience and industry.


18/20

Special PeopleSpecial People

Disability repsDisability repsView the text.View the text.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHT3Tmi_hQghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHT3Tmi_hQg

Who is represented, how are they represented?Who is represented, how are they represented?

What is the context?What is the context?

What are the politics involved?What are the politics involved?

How does it use stereotype and counterHow does it use stereotype and counter--type?type?

Contrast with another text: which one?Contrast with another text: which one?


19/20

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/messagehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/messageboards/boards/

Look at the disability forum website.Look at the disability forum website.

What representation do we get here?What representation do we get here?


20/20

Homework essaysHomework essaysRepresentations in the Media 1 (a) It has been said that media representations often reflect the social and political

concerns of the age in which they are created. Discuss.

(48 marks)

OR

1 (b) Media representations favour those with power at the expense of those without. To

what extent do you think this statement is true?

(48 marks)

research one of these essay titles and prepare ALL the resources you need to write the

essay. Collect the texts you will use, the theory you can apply, critical debates.

Think about how you use secondary texts: from news, magazines, art, history etc.

reps a2 revision theory 2

Documents