1 / 31

Media Studies Representation

Media Studies Representation. Aims and Objectives. Define what we mean by Representation Discuss the accuracy of media representations Examine media sterotyping Evaluate how minority groups may be affected by media representations. Representation. What is Representation?

kendis
Download Presentation

Media Studies Representation

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Media Studies Representation

  2. Aims and Objectives • Define what we mean by Representation • Discuss the accuracy of media representations • Examine media sterotyping • Evaluate how minority groups may be affected by media representations

  3. Representation • What is Representation? The process by which the media present to us the ‘real world’ (Rayner et. al p.63)

  4. Representation • The media re-present reality to us • Media texts are constructed using codes – combinations of symbolic, iconic and indexical signs • Representation is therefore a version of reality

  5. Mediation • Before we read a newspaper or watch a film or TV programme mediation occurs • Mediation is a process of intrepretation by producers of media texts involving:- • Selection • Shaping • Editing • Emphasising • De-emphasising

  6. Mediation • Representations in the media are often subjected to • Agendas – a particular newspaper/TV station may adopt a particular ideological slant, e.g. conservative, liberal or left wing • Gatekeeping – ensuring only those items which suit the ideological agenda are used • Why are American TV Stations not showing the bodies of US Soldiers arriving back from Iraq?

  7. Stereotyping • What are stereotypes? Widely circulated ideas or assumptions about particular groups Branston & Stafford, p. 91

  8. Stereotyping • What characteristics would you attribute to the following groups? • Irish • Scottish • English • Americans • Jews • Women • Homosexuals

  9. Stereotyping • What characteristics would you attribute to the following groups? • SA Rugby Supporters • English Football Supporters • Old People • People with Disabilities • Travellers/Gypsies • Blacks

  10. Characteristics of Stereotypes • They categorise and evaluate groups • They place emphasis on a particular aspect of the group • Stereotypes can be positive and negative

  11. Reverse Stereotypes • Reverse Stereotypes seek to question stereotypes sometimes in an ironic fashion, examples • Pregnant Men • Role reversals – men as homemakers • Women as Boss

  12. Activity • How do ‘The Simpsons’ stereotype different groups?

  13. Media Debates on Representation • Media Debates on Representation generally focus on the following:- • Gender • Race and Ethnicity • Age • Socioeconomic Status • Disability

  14. Gender • Discrimination against women is called Sexism • Feminist criticisms of depiction of women focuses on the stereotyping of women, e.g. • Women in subservient roles to men • Housewife, homemaker, mother • Sexual Objects • Idealised version of female beauty

  15. Gender Representations • Recent media texts have shown a growth in gender equality in the media – strong independent females – sometimes referred to as Post-feminism • Girl Power • Absolutely Fabulous • Buffy the Vampire Slayer • Lara Croft • Charlie’s Angels • Kill Bill

  16. Representation of Homosexuality • Discrimination against homosexuals is called Homophobia • Until quite recently, gays and lesbians were Taboo in the Media Gay characters and references to the existence of homosexuality were routinely laundered off the screen for ..half a century (Russo 1981, quoted in Branston & Stafford, p. 99)

  17. Representation of Homosexuality • In what way has representation of homosexuality in the media changed over the past decade?

  18. Queer Theory • What is it? • An examination of the way gender representation are changing and evolving • People are developing more fluid identities • Challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity

  19. Queer Theory - Activity • Think in terms of the following TV Characters and Performers, what characteristics would you attribute to them? • Frasier and Niles - Frasier • Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha – Sex and the City • Ross, Chandler and Joey – Friends • Julian Carey - Comedian • Graham Norton - Comedian

  20. Race and Ethnicity • Discrimination against Racial and Ethnic Minorities is called Racism • Race representation in the media has been criticised on the following grounds • Rigid Stereotyping, e.g. Plantation Blacks, Red Indians, Black Gangstas • Under-representation of racial minorities on prime time TV • Few Racial Role Models depicted

  21. Race Representation in UK Media • UK Media Representation of Race • Stuart Hall (1974) “Black Men, White Media” • Media reflects white middle class attitudes and experience • Most Blacks belong to the working class • Appearance of blacks in media usually connected to immigrant issues or social problems • Children’s television was particularly “whiter than white” • No coverage of black issues as perceived by Blacks

  22. Stuart Hall • Examining media coverage of Blacks in 1981, Hall found that media images of blacks showed them as either: The Native The Entertainer The Social Problem

  23. Race - Activity • Has Race representation become more positive? • Identify a number of TV programmes with positive representation • Identify a number of Black, Asian and Latino Role models

  24. Age • Discrimination against old people is called Ageism • Rigid sterotyping of old people in the media – think of Victor Meldrew • Stereotypes are now being challenged • The Golden Girls was a precursor of Sex and the City

  25. Socioeconomic Status • Lower class, working class and unemployed people are often negatively stereotyped • Lazy layabouts, - think of Les in Coronation Street, Mickey’s family in Eastenders

  26. Disability • Very little representation of people with disabilities in the Media • Usually negative stereotypes, particularly of people with mental health issues • Seen as somehow broken, dependent, pitiable rather than as independent human beings

  27. Useful Web Site • Further discussion and articles on representation can be found at Mediaknowall – a UK Site www.mediaknowall.com/representation.html

  28. Select a media image that represents a stereotype and a media image that represents a reverse stereotype.

  29. Create an ironic caption for your image. • Produce an Indesign page containing your stereotype image with the caption placed below the image.

  30. Representation Mediation Agendas Gatekeeping Stereotypes Reverse Stereotypes Gender Sexism Post-Feminism Homosexuality Homophobia Queer Theory Race Ethnicity Racism Age Ageism Socioeconomic Status Disability Glossary

  31. References: • Branston, G. & Stafford, R. (2003) The Media Student’s Book (3rd ed), Routledge, London • Hartley, J. (2002), Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, The Key Concepts, Routledge, London • Rayner, P. et. al (2001) Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, Routledge, London • Watson, J. & Hill, A. (2000), Dictionary of Media & Communication Studies, (5th ed), arnold, London

More Related