representation stereotypes

2.  What does denotation mean?
 What does connotation mean?
 Which representation level is denotative?
 Which representation level is connotative?
 Define semiology/semiotics.
 Define sign.
 Define signifier.
 Define signified.
 Define symbol.

3.  What are the two levels of representation?
 Define descriptive level.
 Define symbolic level.
 What does denotation mean?
 What does connotation mean?
 Which representation level is denotative?
 Which representation level is connotative?

4.  Watch this video and answer the following questions:
 Is this an accurate portrayal of Americans?Why? (Explain
your answer)
YouTube: Americans are NOT stupid -WITH SUBTITLES

5.  Is it right to label people?

6.  In pairs, write a description of yourself.
 Include the things that you like, as your
favourite music, food,TV program, film, what
job you would like to do when you become an
adult.

7.  Now write a description of your classmate.
 Follow the same pattern and order that you
used to write your own description.

8.  Now swap your papers and compare your answers.
 This way we can experiment how we represent
ourselves and how others represent us.
 Do you agree with the depiction of you provided by
your classmate?
Write your answer in his/hers paper, and explain the
reasons of your agreement or disagreement.

9.  What is a stereotype?
 What is an archetype?
 What is a countertype?

10.  What is a stereotype? Attempt a definition.
 A stereotype can be defined as a widely held
but fixed and oversimplified image, idea or
portrayal of a particular type of a person,
place, issue or event.
 They are often used as quick ways to
establish identifiable characteristics in
persons, places, issues or events.

11. Stereotype
 a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a
particular type of person, place or thing.
Archetype
 a very typical example of a certain person or thing.
 an original which has been imitated.
 An easily recognised type of character that can be found in many
stories (for example, the hero, the princess, the damsel in distress,
the loyal friend/helper, the villain, etc.)
Countertype (0r positive stereotype)
 a positive image or idea that emphasizes the positive features
about a person, place or thing and challenges the stereotypes
associated to it.
 It can be similar or differ from an archetype.

14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MX4PDsoT48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY84j0uHmAQ
Watch the following videos. Is this an accurate representation of English people?
Explain your answer referring to the use of the national symbol (English flag) in this
context.

15. Female/Male representation: stereotypes
 List as many stereotypes about representation of
femininity/masculinity as you can think of.

16. Males Females
Masculine Feminine
Strong Emotional
Powerful Fragile
Dominant Submissive
Rational/Irrational Emotional
Aggressive Shy
Confrontational Desirable
Controlling/Self sufficient Dependent
Arrogant Timid
Confident Insecure
Muscular Hypersexual

17. Female/Male representation: archetypes
 Provide one example of a feminine/masculine
archetype in current media.

18. Some female stereotypes
 Traditional idea of femininity – often represented through symbolic
elements like dresses, colour pink, traditional “feminine” jobs such as
working in fashion, administrative or secretarial duties, hairdressing,
housewife, etc. Represented in the constant pursue and need for a man
to cope. Represented as weak, scared of things, in need of rescue and
linked to attributes of purity and innocence.
 Sexy woman – Represented as flirty, dressing in a revealing way, more
powerful than “traditional women”, manipulative, uses men to get what
she wants, no loyalty to other women.
 HomosexualWoman (Lesbian) – Often shown as dressing in a masculine
fashion, doing masculine roles, looking masculine and hating men.

19. Think of the varied representations of the female gender in Orange is the new black. Can
you identify examples of archetypes, stereotypes, and counter types in its characters?
Can you find further examples of non-binary gender identity such as lesbian, bisexual,
transgender or intersex?

20. Think about the following popular saying:
“He has the mind of a sportsman and the body of a genius.”
What are the connotations in this sentence?What are the assumptions about
masculinity inferred from this sentence?
Are these assumptions based on stereotypes, archetypes or countertypes?

21. Gender identity it could also include transgender, transvestite, and
androgynous characters.
Male Stereotypes
 Traditional masculine man – often shown as being strong, brave,
heterosexual, working in manual jobs such as building, plumbing etc.
They are often aggressive, tall, and dominant over women, works to
provide for family, does no clean, cook or babysit.
 The New Man– Often shown as being less masculine but still
heterosexual, sensitive, stays at home to look after family, does cleaning
and cooking etc, shown as equal to women.
 Homosexual man (Gay Man) – Often shown as being very feminine,
weak, working in jobs such as fashion or hairdressing. Shares same
stereotypes as women, perhaps over exagerated in certain cases.

22. Female/Male representation: countertypes
 Provide one example of a feminine/masculine
countertype in current media.

23. All you need to do is work out what the technical elements (use of audiovisual
media language) say about them.
You should be thinking about the following things when watching the clip:
 Are people from different genders shown as having different interests,
personalities, attitudes, behaviours? If so, how?
 Is their gender represented as being determinant in their life?
 Are people of different genders portrayed as being more powerful or dominant
than others?
 Are people from different genders portrayed as being abnormal , submissive or
more pathetic than others?
 How do other characters in the clip interact with the opposite gender?
 What is the message the clip is trying to portray about gender?

24.  What is a stereotype?
 Provide one example of a feminine/masculine stereotype
in current media.
 What is an archetype?
 Provide one example of a feminine/masculine archetype in
current media.
 What is a countertype?
 Provide one example of a feminine/masculine countertype
in current media.