Intro lesson 1 Media-Representation

1. Look at the picture above-what is your first impression?
Challenge-write down 5 things about this picture and what it says to you.
MISE-EN-SCÈNE
Literally meaning ‘Put
into the Scene’
Depth of Field
Lighting
Camera Angle
Costume
Distance
Facial Expressions
Hand Gestures

2. Representation
Lesson 1
Consider the meaning of
‘representation’ and the ways print
media construct images to represent
certain individuals and groups.

3. What is representation?
Representation is the constructed and mediated
presentation of people, things, ideas, places etc.
and
The process by which the media present the ‘real
world’ (Rayner)
In other words, everything in the media is a
representation – everything we see is being
represented.

6. All media texts are
constructed.
For example, a model on the front of a magazine may
be airbrushed and digitally enhanced; s/he will not
look the same as if we saw them in ‘reel life’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlpIkH3b5I
Men:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_I17cK1ltY

7. This digitally enhanced image of Rachel Weisz was
used to advertise an anti-wrinkle cream however it
was banned as being misleading.

8. The Process of Construction
An image may appear to be presenting us with a factual
image but it has been through a process of construction:
*The photographer has selected his/her position, lens, angle, exposure
and framing before taking the picture.
*The picture editor will decide if the image needs to be cropped,
enhanced or altered before inclusion.
*An editor will choose which, of the many available photos of the
image, will be the one chosen for inclusion and, importantly at this stage,
the images which do not meet the needs of the text will be rejected.
Even then, further mediation takes place:
*Will the photo be large or small?
*Where will the image be placed?
Caption/Headline/Close to another photo?

9. *How did the process of construction change the meaning of this image and
the effect on the reader?
Remember to consider depth of field/lighting/camera angle/composition
etc…

10. Technical codes and editing in audio-visual texts is another way in which
representations are constructed; taking a photo of a group of teenagers using
low key lighting may make them look more dangerous.

11. Stereotypes
• Media texts use stereotypes to give out messages
quickly to audiences.
• Stereotypes work by over-emphasising certain
features of a person, for example the moodiness
and unreasonable behaviour of a teenager.
• The audience will recognise certain stereotypes
and know how they will behave. For example, the
cheeky teenager in a soap opera, or the career
woman in an advertisement.
• Not all stereotypes are negative. ‘Irish people are
friendly’ is an example of a positive stereotype.

12. How are teenagers
represented in these
images?
How have the images
been edited to fuel
the stereotype?
Different audiences will respond to representations in
different ways. How many different people respond
to these?

13. How are young people and women
presented in these two texts?

14. Technical codes and digital enhancing
have been used in this advert.
The model’s skin is perfect, there are no
shadows, lines or blemishes.
It is an unrealistic representation of a
woman
High key lighting has been used to make
her look even more perfect.
The blue of her eyes has been made
brighter and more shiny.
Her eye lashes have been made longer
digitally in order to persuade the
audience that the mascara did this. They
may even buy the product,

15. In this film poster, the aim is to make the young people look dangerous and
intimidating. This has been done through:
• Technical codes-the lighting is low
key and there are shadows on faces
to give clues to characters.
• Visual codes-the colours are muted,
giving the poster a more urban feel
to it. There are also suggestions of an
urban setting.
• Iconography-the clothing is typical
of city teenagers and the use of the
hoodie suggests a stereotype
audiences will recognise. The
baseball bat suggests violence will be
an element of the film.
• Mode of address-the characters are
looking directly at the audience and
their expressions are challenging and
a bit scary.

16. Questions to ask when
analysing representation
• WHO or WHAT is being
represented?
• How is the
representation created?
• WHO has created the
representation?
• WHY is the
representation created
in that way? What Is the
intention?
• WHAT is the effect of the
representation?