The document discusses how the media product represents social groups through the lens of constructionist theory. It analyzes the representations of characters like Ethan and the businessman at the train station setting. Regarding Ethan, it discusses how he is portrayed as isolated and longing for family/friends. For the businessman, it discusses how he establishes a binary opposition of privileged vs unprivileged classes. It also considers if the production can be read as reinforcing dominant ideologies around class and opportunity. While it portrays some traditional stereotypes, it believes challenging more stereotypes could have strengthened the film's message.

1. How does your
media product
represent
particular social
groups?

2. Constructionist theory
 The constructionist theory is made up of three parts; the
opinion of the producer, part of reality, and part social
context. Then the audience decide whether to accept or
reject the representation presented to them.
 We can apply the constructionist theory to the characters
within our production such as; the businessman, Ethan, and
Ethan’s foster parents.
 However it doesn’t just need to be people that we can apply
the theory to, we can also apply it to the train station where
the majority of opening sequence was filmed.

3. Ethan
Our representation is that Ethan is isolated and consistently
is made to feel alone.
 Opinion of the producer: Ethan is always looking at other people
and feeling aspirant that he could have their life, he wishes that
he didn’t have to be alone in all of this travesty and that he had
some sort of friend or family member for moral support.
 Social Context: Ethan is made to feel isolated by the businessman
shouting from across the station as it creates the binary
opposition of poor vs. rich and the upper class vs. the lower
class. As we found out from doing our topic research adoption is
a common theme within our society and many children suffer
from being abandoned as a result of things such as substance
abuse just like Ethan.
 Part Reality: As Ethan is adopted he would clearly feel isolated as
he longs for the protection and guidance that he cannot gain as
he doesn’t live with his parents.

4. Train Station
 Our representation is that train station’s are a metaphor for a
journey, and that Ethan uses this as he is going on a journey for
a new start that he craves.
 Opinion of the producer: We aimed to show to the audience
that the train station is there in order for Ethan to escape the life
that he is living and go and make a new fresh start.
 Social Context: After doing our interview with Dan Rogers, he
told us that a train station offers a great way in order for us to
create the representation that Ethan is trying to get a new life
somewhere for himself, which is really encouraging to hear from
an audience member.
 Part Reality: We can look at the literal side of a train station as it
does take you from once place to another.

5. Can your
production be
read as
hegemonic?

6. Hegemonic ideologies…
 Our production has one main hegemonic ideology which is created by the
businessman. Upon the introduction of the businessman the binary opposition
of Privileged VS. unprivileged is instantly established and we can see the clear
divide in society between the upper and lower class. The businessman wears a
suit and waistcoat and carries around his briefcase with him which contains all of
his work. Whereas Ethan on the other hand simply wears casual clothes with his
backpack which contains a spare set of clothes in. This shows that people who
are within the upper class or A-B income bracket are much more fortunate than
those who are only in the C2-E income bracket, also they have many more
opportunities for more things for example the suit that he wears or the job that
he owns. All of this looks at the ideology which tells us how people from a worse
upbringing with less money and opportunity are supressed and don’t have a lot
of options and just have to take what comes their way. Whereas people who are
within the A-B income bracket have many more options to choose from and can
dictate people like our antagonist does within our opening sequence. This is
hegemonic as it makes people from the working class aspirant for their futures
and then as soon as they get to these aspirations they have longed for it just
puts these people into the ‘system’ of working. However it could be argued that
our production could challenge the idea of hegemony with the businessman
who is very angry during the opening sequence. This is communicating towards
the audience that it is not good to work as it stresses you out too much to the
point where you’re doing what the businessman is doing in our production.

7. Suitable representations?
 I think that the way in which we created the binary
opposition between Ethan and the businessman was
very good, and that most of the representations
surrounding these two characters particularly were
accurate. I do however think that it would have been
better if we had looked at challenging more of the
traditional stereotypes that we have included within
our film this is due to the fact that it is an independent
film with a sophisticated audience and can actively
argue against the stereotype if it has been
challegened.