2. Representation
Representation is the way the media reflects the ‘real
world’ back to us.
The media’s presentation is never ‘transparent.’
Every representation is biased, even by what is
included (or represented) and what is left out.
All representations reflect the ideas, biases and
assumptions of the producers.
The audience can also read the representations in a
biased way, or from a particular point of view.
It can be a problem if we see a biased representation
so often that we start to believe it is real or true.
4. Representation of musicians
The Music Press helps to create and maintain the
representation of bands and performers.
The representation sells an image and a lifestyle as
well as the music.
Genres of music tend to be represented differently.
To be successful in a genre, the performer often has
to fit this expected representation.
Can you tell what kind of music someone likes by the
way they look and act?
Discuss if there is a typical representation (look,
image, set of behaviours and beliefs) associated with
the kinds of music shown below.
Goth or emo music Heavy metal music
Rap music Classical music
Dance music Pop music
5. Genre and representation
Look at the three the images below and fill in the table to compare how the performer / group
is represented.
ONE DIRECTION (group shot) http://www.welovepopmag.co.uk/gallery/show/6
BLACK SABBATH http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/features/black-sabbath-respond-to-
bill-wards-statement/
AUTECHRE http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/9229/
Performer Text Costume Props Colour Technical Non- Text, Effect: What impression do we
and (clothes) and codes codes verbal Graphics, get of the performer?
genre location codes etc
One We Love Clean, Studio
direction Pop - smart,
Pop casual
6. Race, gender and stereotypes
The Music Press helps to sell music by using typical
representations and stereotypes.
The audience finds stereotypes (e.g. the aggressive
black rapper, the wistful young white girl singer /
guitarist) easy to recognise and easy to understand.
Using stereotypes makes it easier to market (sell) a
musician / band.
But it also means that people who don’t fit the
stereotype may be ignored or left out by the music
industry (eg the young white female rapper? The old
black male emos?)
It might also mean that people who are not considered
physically appealing (the right age, shape, size, colour
etc) are left out.
Do you think this is true? And if it is true, is it OK?
7. Gender
Compare images of women on an issue of Q, Kerrang! and mixmag
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/feb/24/how-lily-allen-q-cover-was-
shot#zoomed-picture
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://a3.ec-
images.myspacecdn.com/images02/151/d08659159ace474082b4db4fc6ff6964/l.jpg&imgrefurl
=http:/
http://www.dltmagazines.co.uk/shop/create-magazine-pack/mixmag-magazine.aspx
In terms of denotation, the images denote the same thing – a
young woman. But in terms of connotations – the images
suggest very different sets of ideas.
Compare the images, referring to colour codes, technical codes
and non-verbal codes, especially: posture, gesture, facial
expression, cropping of shot, props, background. You could
construct a table, like in slide 5.
8. Watch…
Do women buy music magazines? in Clip 10
The Word (4.18 – 6.01)
9. Women in the Music Press
Many Music Press texts are aimed largely at a male readership
(Kerrang! Metal Hammer, Q, Mojo, The Word, Classic Rock etc).
Does this affect how women are represented? Are women
represented to suit the men who read the magazines?
Is there more pressure on women performers to be attractive and
sexy? Does the Music Press judge women performers on how they
look, not on their music?
Do we need women-focussed music press texts? Look at these
examples. Do they represent women differently to texts aimed at
men?
Wears the Trousers http://wearsthetrousers.com/
The Girls Are http://www.thegirlsare.com/
10. Race
Look at the front covers from Echoes ‘The UK’s essential black music
monthly.’
http://www.newsstand.co.uk/192-Other-Magazines/929-Subscribe-to-ECHOES-MONTHLY-Magazine-
Subscription.aspx
Does Echoes use a stereotyped representation of black performers?
How far do you think the following statements are true?
There is a focus on male performers. They are usually tall and muscular and the
men tend to be darker- skinned, while the women are often lighter-skinned.
Women are often shown as ‘props’ added in to show the man’s success or
wealth.
Emphasis is placed on either rebelliousness or on visible material wealth.
Many of the images portray subtle or overt anger / aggression through posture.
If you think any of these statements are true, how does it help to sell
black music? Who is it selling music to?
11. Discussion: representation and ideology
Representation contributes to the ideology (the values and attitudes) of
the Music Press. Consider the following questions. Try to give specific
examples from texts to support your views.
Does the Music Press and the music industry use stereotypes to
package and sell performers?
Does the Music Press rely on old-fashioned ideas of feminine and
masculine, or black and white to sell music?
Does the Music Press present an impossible body image (‘thin is
beautiful’) to girls, and increasingly to boys (the six-pack)?
Do only good looking, able-bodied, young, usually heterosexual
people feature in the Music Press?
Does this limit what kind of performers can become successful?
Does this give readers a false impression of what is ‘normal’?
Does the Music Press just give the audience what it wants (pretty
girls and buff men)? Is it the audience’s fault?
12. Beyond stereotypes
Has music moved beyond old-fashioned stereotypes?
Do ‘God Forbid’ fit with stereotypes of black performers, and of
metal bands?
http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/god-forbid-equilibrium-video/
Does ‘Kreayshawn’ fit with stereotypes of rap music?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/arts/music/white-female-rappers-challenging-hip-hops-
masculine-ideal.html?pagewanted=all
Does Adele fit with the ‘thin = beautiful’ stereotype?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2098419/Adele-hits-Karl-Lagerfelds-fat-
comment.html
What stereotypes does Beth Ditto challenge?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2145948/Cannes-2012-Beth-Ditto-wife-Kristen-
Ogata-share-kiss-Rust-Bone-premiere.html
