Representation refers to how certain groups are portrayed in media texts, with a focus on age, gender, race, financial status, job, and culture. Representation theory examines how identities are constructed in both the production and reception of media. Representation theorists like Gill Branston and Roy Stafford note that representations often emphasize easily recognizable stereotypical features to categorize and evaluate groups for audiences. Laura Mulvey was a feminist representation theorist who believed that in film, audiences view characters from the perspective of heterosexual males.

1. REPRESENTATION
INVESTIGATION

2. WHAT IS REPRESENTATION?
Representation is about understanding the choices that are made
when it comes to portraying something or someone in a mass media
text. Certain features of personality and appearance get highlighted,
and are often enhanced, when it comes to constructing the
representation.
When representing a person, media texts often focus on their:
 Age
 Gender
 Race/Ethnicity
 Financial Status
 Job
 Culture/nationality

3. REPRESENTATION THEORY
The term refers to the processes involved as
well as to its products. For instance, in
relation to the key markers of identity-
Class, Age, Gender and Ethnicity.
Representation involves not only how
identities are represented within the text but
also how they are constructed in the
processes of production and reception

4. REPRESENTATION THEORISTS
Gill Branston and Roy Stafford state that there
are characteristics to representation such
as:
A categorising and evaluation of the group
being stereotyped. Emphasise on specific
features which are easily recognised by the
audience for them to draw the conclusion of
the represented group. The evaluation is
often but not always a negative one.

5. REPRESENTATION THEORISTS
Representation can be linked to horror films such as
the representation of genre. This is because women
are represented as vulnerable and an easy target
within horror films. However the horror genre also
allows this stereotypical view of women to be
challenged, because as the story progresses we can
see how the woman can become stronger and
overcome the villain.
Laura Mulvey, gaze and feminist, is a representation
theorist. Her theory is that she believes that in film,
audiences have to view characters from the
perspective of heterosexual male.

6. REPRESENTATION THEORISTS
Representation can be linked to horror films such as
the representation of genre. This is because women
are represented as vulnerable and an easy target
within horror films. However the horror genre also
allows this stereotypical view of women to be
challenged, because as the story progresses we can
see how the woman can become stronger and
overcome the villain.
Laura Mulvey, gaze and feminist, is a representation
theorist. Her theory is that she believes that in film,
audiences have to view characters from the
perspective of heterosexual male.