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Representation

Representation. Introducing Key Media Concepts. Contents:. Section 1 - Re-presentation (Slides 1-11) Section 2 - Key Questions on Representations & Stereotyping (Slides 12-23) Section 3 - TV stills for analysis (Slides 24 - 35) Section 4 – Recap (Slides 36-39).

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Representation

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  1. Representation Introducing Key Media Concepts

  2. Contents: • Section 1 - Re-presentation (Slides 1-11) • Section 2 - Key Questions on Representations & Stereotyping (Slides 12-23) • Section 3 - TV stills for analysis (Slides 24 - 35) • Section 4 – Recap (Slides 36-39) Introducing Representation

  3. Section 1: Re-presenting Realities… • By definition, all media texts (whether print, moving image, audio etc) are always re-presentations of reality, as they have undergone the processes of mediation Introducing Representation

  4. Section 1: Re-presenting Realities… • By definition, all media texts (whether print, moving image, audio etc) are always re-presentations of reality, as they have undergone the processes of mediation • Mediation includes several key elements: selection, narrative sequencing & emphasis, which all serve to anchor meaning Introducing Representation

  5. Mediation… • Selection - a very deliberate decision has been made by the media producers about, for example, choosing one particular image (and rejecting hundreds of others) to accompany a news story and then reinforcing or anchoring their chosen meaning through their choice of headline captions, actor/character voiceover, music, lighting etc. (dependant on the form of media text) Introducing Representation

  6. Mediation… • Narrative Sequencing - the elements that make up a text, chosen in the selection process, will be organized into particular sequences in order to tell a particular story • This organising of the components of a media text applies to fiction and non-fiction texts alike Introducing Representation

  7. Mediation… • Emphasis - the selection and narrative sequencing lead to a particular emphasis within the text, meaning that audiences are invited to ‘read’ the meaning in a particular way: This is known as the preferred reading Introducing Representation

  8. Mediation… • Emphasis - the selection and narrative sequencing lead to a particular emphasis within the text, meaning that audiences are invited to ‘read’ the meaning in a particular way: This is known as the preferred reading • Sometimes this is more obvious (as in tabloid journalism), sometimes more difficult to detect (for example, in a documentary that positions itself as ‘balanced’ or ‘truthful’) Introducing Representation

  9. What is being represented? Introducing Representation

  10. What meaning is being anchored? Call that subtle? The monstrous yacht Coleen and Wayne have hired looks out of place in elegant Portofino Introducing Representation

  11. Burton & Taylor they ain't - what has Portofino done to deserve the Rooneys' 'wedding of the year'? Call that subtle? The monstrous yacht Coleen and Wayne have hired looks out of place in elegant Portofino Introducing Representation

  12. Section 2: Key Questions • For the OCR AS course, Representation is one of the major Key Concepts (alongside Textual Analysis, Media Audiences and Media Institutions) underpinning each module. At A/S Level and beyond, the emphasis is on you being able to address the following questions of any media text… Introducing Representation

  13. Key Questions… • Who is being represented? • In what way? • By whom? • Why is the subject being represented in this way? • Is the representation fair and accurate? • What opportunities exist for self-representation by the subject? Introducing Representation

  14. Who is being Represented? • What can you say about the subject of a representation? • Do they belong, for example, to a marginalised group in society? • Or are they part of a powerful elite? • Why do you think that these considerations matter? Introducing Representation

  15. In What Way? • Is this a sympathetic representation? • Is it ‘sensationalist’ or ‘scaremongering’? • Does it employ humour? • Is it a representation you are familiar with? • Or does it challenge your views in any way? Introducing Representation

  16. Why is the subject being represented in this way? • What does the media institution stand to gain from this representation? • What does the subject stand to gain? • What does the audience stand to gain? • What does the representation tell us about the values and ideologies of the institutions involved? Introducing Representation

  17. Is the representation ‘fair’ and ‘accurate’? • Does this representation confirm or challenge what you already know of the subject? • Why is ‘fairness’ and ‘accuracy’ important? Introducing Representation

  18. Self-representation? • Does the subject represented have any means of self-representation? • In other words, is there an opportunity to defend or rebuke the representation? • If not, why not? Introducing Representation

  19. Who is being represented & in what way? By whom? Why? Is it fair and accurate? What ‘right to reply’ do these subjects have? (self representation) Shameless Introducing Representation

  20. Section 3: Stereotyping • A stereotype is a representation that takes characteristics of a group of people and uses the processes of mediation to apply them in a generalised and simplistic way • What stereotypes do you and your friends use? Introducing Representation

  21. Stereotyping • Recent new stereotypes include ‘the Essex Girl’ - now also defined in the Oxford English Dictionary! • What others can you think of? Image of Chantelle from: http://www.channel4.com/bigbrother/housemates/housemate_news.jsp?id=41 Introducing Representation

  22. Stereotyping - harmless fun? • Stereotypes can often be used as a useful ‘shorthand’ for media producers, particularly in comedy texts such as sitcoms and sketch shows but character ‘types’ also often occur in TV dramas • The use of a familiar stereotype means that the audience can be steered more quickly towards the ‘meaning’ of a situation; it makes it ‘easier’ to read the preferred meaning (what the producer wants you to think) Introducing Representation

  23. Stereotyping… • Whilst stereotypes can be used in a positive way, the repetition of such representations in other contexts can be very harmful for the groups involved • Stereotypes can also be challenged – GG Me • With a partner, brainstorm uses of stereotyping in media texts that can be seen as perpetuating negative views…(try to use a selection of fiction and non-fiction texts) Introducing Representation

  24. TV Drama • Look at the following sequence of images from TV dramas and, in pairs, analyze the representations by applying the questions used previously… • Who is being represented & in what way? • By whom? • Why? • Is it fair and accurate? • What ‘right to reply’ does this subject have? (self representation) Introducing Representation

  25. Skins – Chris at party Introducing Representation

  26. Who’s the boss? Introducing Representation

  27. What are the stereotypes? Introducing Representation

  28. Kayleigh & Mel Introducing Representation

  29. Steve, Lloyd & Dan Introducing Representation

  30. Claire, Sally & Sophie Introducing Representation

  31. Jane Eyre Introducing Representation

  32. Dr. Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) Introducing Representation

  33. Life On Mars Introducing Representation

  34. Mad Men Introducing Representation

  35. Brideshead Revisited Introducing Representation

  36. Section 4 - Recap… • All media Representations result from the processes of mediation; the image chosen & how it is cropped, anchored etc. to produce the preferred reading Introducing Representation

  37. Section 4 - Recap… • All media Representations result from the processes of mediation; the image chosen & how it is cropped, anchored etc. to produce the preferred reading • The types of representations used by different media institutions can tell us a lot about the ideological belief systems of that institution - and of their audiences (we tend to consume media texts that already ‘fit’ our own values…) Introducing Representation

  38. Recap… • We can choose to agree or disagree with any given Representation, but the processes of Mediation tend to influence our ‘readings’… Introducing Representation

  39. Recap… • We can choose to agree or disagree with any given Representation, but the processes of Mediation tend to influence our ‘readings’… • The questions about Representation that you have learned to apply here are relevant to any media text and should continue to be addressed throughout the duration of your course. Mediation occurs in reality TV & news, not only in fiction! Introducing Representation

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