Representation and ideology tv drama

Representation

Why are the Media called the Media?

Because they MEDIATE our view of reality. Reality Producers Texts Audiences

Constructions of Reality
How might the following media construct rather than reflect reality?
TV News programme (by selecting which stories to “run” and which to ignore).
TV crime drama
A website for a charity
A lifestyle magazine

Representation – some definitions
Representation is the ability of texts to draw upon features of the world and present them to the viewer, not simply as reflections, but more so, as constructions (O’Shaughnessy & Stadler 2002). Hence, the images do not portray reality in an unbiased way with 100% accuracy, but rather, present ‘versions of reality’ influenced by culture and people’s habitual thoughts and actions (O’Shaughnessy & Stadler 2002).

Representation of Social Groups
We often analyse representations in the media according to categories such as:
Age
Disability
Gender
Socio-economic grouping
Race
Nationality
sexuality

Ideology
An ideology is a belief system that is constructed and presented by a media text.
Media texts represent the world in order to support a dominant ideology.
For example, newspapers often promote the dominant ideology of patriotism through their representation of race and nationality.

Some Dominant Ideologies
Capitalism. The production of capital and consumption of surplus value as a life goal.
Patriotism. To love, support and protect one’s country and its people.
Marriage and family. The “right way” to live is to marry an opposite-sex partner and have children.
Male superiority. Men are more suited to positions of power, and more suited to decision-making at work and at home.

Dominant Ideologies around the world
Many dominant ideologies are extremely culture-specific. For example:
Christian fundamentalism as a political force in the USA
Shariah law is some Muslim countries
The principle of individual freedom in the Netherlands
Dominant ideologies are central to people’s belief systems. It is often difficult or impossible to challenge them effectively.
What ideologies are being represented in this short film? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XtPOu2IC7c

Hegemony
Hegemony is the way in which those in power maintain their control.
Dominant ideologies are considered hegemonic ; power in society is maintained by constructing ideologies which are usually promoted by the mass media.

Examples of hegemonic values
The police are always right
It is important to be slim
A credit card is a desirable status symbol
Mass immigration is undesirable
The poor are lazy and deserve their hardship
Men are better drivers than women
It is important to wear fashionable clothes

Stereotypes
Stereotypes are characters in a media text who are “types” rather than complex people.
Stereotypes are often defined by their role, such as “bad cop” or “nice old lady”.
Children’s media texts often use stereotypes so a young audience can identify quickly with the characters.
Stereotypes are usually negative representations, considered to be too reductive. Many are considered offensive, such as a “drunken Irishman”, a “fanatical Muslim” or an “over-emotional woman”.

Extension/restriction of our experience of reality
By giving audiences information, media texts extend experience of reality.
Every time you see a media text, you extend your experience of life but in a second-hand way (vicarious).
However, because the producers of the media text have selected and constructed the information we receive, then our experience is restricted.

Write your own definition of:
Hegemony
Ideology
Representation
Stereotype

How would you analyse this image?
Who is represented and how?

The Sophie Dahl “Opium” Ad
Expensive, aspirational accessories
Exposed nipple – a broken taboo
Purple velvet – connotes royalty & luxury
Idealized female form enhanced using Photoshop
Sexually submissive pose

Look at the images from different media texts
Who is being represented and how?
Is it a positive or negative representation?
Does it conform to a stereotype?
Does it demonstrate any dominant ideologies/hegemonic value ?

“ Sony PSP – Now in White”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkTbk-oKcgM
Who is represented in this clip?
Is there any dominant idelogies/hegemonic values present?

Shameless

HW due 14/11
Post your definition of:
Hegemony
Ideology and
Representation
On to your blog. It must be in your own words.
Include examples from TV dramas of your choice

http://sccsmedia-yr12.blogspot.com	603
http://laylabryant.blogspot.com	109
http://laylabryant.blogspot.co.uk	4
http://www.laylabryant.blogspot.com	3
http://sccsmedia-yr12.blogspot.com.au	3
http://sccsmedia-yr12.blogspot.co.uk	2

Representation and ideology tv drama

by Layla Bryant on Nov 07, 2011

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

6 Embeds 724

Statistics

Representation and ideology tv drama — Presentation Transcript