Representation

1) Why is representation an important concept in Media Studies?

Everything we see in the media is in fact a representation. Whenever we see a place, person, object or idea being represented in a media text, it has in some way been mediated by the act of representation. 

2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media?

The photograph on the left about Kate Middleton shows her nearly finishing her wine which obviously presents her as if she had a drinking problem which shows how much the media can control to make things completely different than what they actually are as we know Kate Middleton does not have a drinking problem and just goes to show how much representation matters in a single photo. 

3) Summarise the section 'The how, who and why of media representation' in 50 words.

Producers will consider these factors with representation:

-the expectations and needs of the target audience 

-the limitations provided by genre codes 

-the type of narrative they wish to create

-their institutional remit.

All representations are the effect of media language choices. Certain choices are made, others are rejected. The elements that are rejected do not carry the meaning the producer wants to communicate. For example wallpaper can be used to create idealogical meaning, the wallpaper is not idealogical in itself, but combined with the other representational choices it could help to create idealogical meaning as just one element of the overall representation. 

4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation?

Hall argued that audiences do not necessarily accept the idealogy of texts passively, but instead draw on their own culutral and social experiences to create their own interpretations. He believes that 'meanings' and messages are not fixed by the creator of the text, but depend on the relationship between the reader/viewer and the text. 

5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media?

Due to new technology changing it has allowed for audience members to be able to construct and share their own media products and in websites, video-sharing platforms and social media. There are a lot more opportunities for people to represent themselves than ever before in which individuals can engage in self-representation through the creation of social media profiles and content. 

6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this?

National identity is raised during national sports competitions. During the 2014 World Cup, The Sun sent sent a free newspaper to 22 million households in England which represented its own concepts of 'Englishness' by symbolic references- queuing, the Sunday roast, Churchill and The Queen- to heroes, values and behaviours that the paper defined as appropriate expressions of 'English identity'.  

Watch the clip from Luther that we studied in class (Season 1, Episode 1 - minute 7.40-10.00 - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access the clip). Now answer these final two questions:

7) Write a paragraph analysing the dominant and alternative representations you can find in the clip from Luther.

The fact that the protagonist is a male is a dominant representation as usually men are the ones in power and in control and here we see exactly that as he is the main detective on the case however the fact he is a black protagonist may be a alternative representation as usually in these crime dramas we rarely see a black protagonist that's a dectecitve due to the stereotype of black people being seen as criminals. However, the fact the boss of this male protagonist is a female is an alternative representation as it is a female who is in control of these 2 male detectives which subverts the stereotype of women being seen as inferior to men 

8) Write a paragraph applying a selection of our representation theories to the clip from Luther. Our summary of each theory may help you here:

Levi-Strauss: representation and ideology

Mulvey: the male gaze

Dyer: stereotyping and power
Medhurst: value judgements
Perkins: some stereotypes can be positive or true

In this clip of Luther Mulvey's male gaze theory isn't represented here due to the fact that we don't see the boss as a sex object but rather an independent woman who is respected by her colleagues, this also links to Berger's theory of the fact that "Men act and women appear" which as we can tell is not that case in this clip because the boss is a figure with authority and independency. We can also see that this clip of Luther challenges Dyer's theory of stereotyping as men are supposed to be strong,powerful, static but here we see Luther's partner being more nervous and sort of behaving like a fan boy towards Luther which we stereotypically could associate more with women than men. As well as the fact that a female character is in a position of power, giving out orders rather than a man which again challenges stereotypes.