Representation

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 Read the Media Magazine feature 'Representation old and new'. This is in MM51 on page 6 - go to our Media Magazine archive to find the article. Complete the following tasks:


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

When we see something: a person, place, object or idea in a text it has been somehow mediated by the act of representation therefore showing the importance of representation.
2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media?
   Through the same context, setting and selection of people in the frame, multiple captions or stories are able to be attached to the two pictures both negative or positive. For example, in the first image of Kate you could paint a picture that she is an alcoholic, as opposed to the second image.
3) Summarise the section 'The how, who and why of media representation' in 50 words.

Representations are mostly shaped by the producer's choices to meet audience needs and expectations, conform to genre codes and convey narratives. These choices create ideological meanings, which become naturalised through repetition as Barthes argues. This naturalisation hides ideologies making them appear as common sense and left unquestioned, suppressing alternative ideologies.

4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation?
Hall argued that audiences draw on their own cultural and social experiences to create their own readings in texts. Hall states that readings and meanings are not fixed by the creators, but instead depend on the relationship between the audience and the text

5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media?
If we post something on social media we create a representation of ourself for others to see.
6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this?

The example given is the 2014 World Cup, the sun sending out anewspaper which represented English culture in the form of "queueing" and the Queen.

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.
A dominant representation is that Londoners are more crude and abrasive since we see Luther act this way towards his none Londoner subordinate. An alternative representation is that Luther's superior is a woman, which is not represented a lot in modern media. Luther listens to her which is alternative because woman are usually potrayed as submissive. 

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:

Tessa perkins- “Although stereotyping can have negative effects often it is based of some degree of reality but distorted and manipulated for the purpose of entertainment values”.- This theory that some stereotypes are true highlights on the stereotype that a black man like Luther is having problems in his relationship, hinting towards a dysfunctional marriage which is commonly stereotyped in modern society. 
Mulveys theory on the male gaze does not apply here as the female featured is not wearing makeup and is wearing uniform and therefore is not appealing to the male gaze.

Levi-Strauss: representation and ideology
Mulvey: the male gaze
Dyer: stereotyping and power
Medhurst: value judgements
Perkins: some stereotypes can be positive or true

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