2. The Theory
The constructionist theory is a way of understanding how
representations are put together.
This theory is put together in three parts and these three
parts are; the truth, what the producer wants us to see
and the context of time.
A representation often has an element of the truth in it
otherwise people would just dismiss it if it didn't sound
true. In addition as it is the producer who is putting the
image onto the film he will often input his own ideologies
into the product. He will impact on the final outcome of
the product.
3. Theory In Context
If there is very racist a report on how British troops
killed thousands of terrorist Taliban members it would
be reported by saying the troops stopped terrorism
from occurring later on in life. This therefore makes the
British Army look good.
4. There are three parts to the
constructionist theory and
they are as follows:
5. The truth Representations in media products are made up of
aspects of the truth. This means that an element of real
life, which is true, has to be present in the media
product for this theory to be true. There must also be a
sense of reality as if there isn’t it won’t be believable
meaning that it then won’t be true.
6. What the producer wants us to
see As the producer is in charge of exactly what gets put
onto the screen he will make decision which will mean
that what we view off the screen will be exactly what he
wants us to view. So part of this theory is the producer
showing us exactly what he wants us to see.
7. Context of time The time period in which the product was filmed in will
have a major effect on representations of particular
social groups as a particular social group may be viewed
to be extremely bad in one particular time period
therefore they will receive a negative viewing whereas in
another time period they may receive a different type of
opinion. It is all based around different people’s beliefs in
different time periods.
8. Theory Applied ‘Misjudged’
If we use the constructionist ideas of representations we can
clearly see that representations are made up of the truth, opinions
of the producer and the context of time and this has all been
shown throughout the MISJUDGED production. An example of
how we the producers have used our own beliefs and the context
of the time period to show this theory would be through our choice
of a making the white protagonist to become a terrorist. We
wanted to portray the factor that terrorism isn’t just an act
committed by one racial group, it can be committed by white
males. We hoped to make the audience question this racial
stereotype.
We believe that we have shown our representations based on an
understanding of the constructionist theory as we have shown
elements of the truth, our own beliefs and context of the time
period which we live in.
