In the document, social class stereotypes are discussed in both TV drama and the general media. Specifically, the TV show Downton Abbey uses different music styles - elegant classical music for upper class characters and inconsistent, less refined music for servant characters - to represent their differing social statuses. Additionally, UK tabloids like the Daily Mail tend to portray working class individuals in a negative light through controversial headlines, giving readers an impression that lower classes are abusing welfare systems.

1. Social Class Stereotypes
Connor and Jack

2. Social Class Stereotypes in TV Drama
• In ITV’s Downton Abbey, music is used to define the
stereotypes of social class. In some clips, with shots of
Lord Grantham and other important, posh characters
is, a classical and elegant soundtrack is picked as non-
diegetic sound, representing their elegancy and
sophistication.
• In another part of the drama, one of the servants was
being mischievous. This was met with mischievous
soundtrack in the background. This was more
inconsistent in nature and less elegant, relating to the
less important status of the character.

3. Social Class Stereotypes in the general
media
UK tabloids such as the Daily Mail tend to represent
working class individuals in a negative light. For
example, they will create headlines that will stir the
audience, such as “The single mother of eight
children planning a lavish Christmas - all funded by
benefits worth £2,200 a MONTH”
This is done to create controversy, and also give
Daily Mail readers a negative impression that all
benefit claimers (i.e. the lower class) are cheating
the system and are good-for-nothing individuals.