This document discusses key media concepts related to representation, including how media portrayals of reality are intentionally composed versions that extend but also restrict our experience. It discusses how representations can reinforce or challenge prejudices and are politically influential. Four questions are provided for analyzing representation: what is represented, how, who is responsible, and how it can be interpreted. Stereotypes are discussed as shorthand assumptions that can be misleading but sometimes contain elements of truth. The mode of address refers to how a media text positions its target audience.

1. G325 Critical Perspectives in
Media
Question 1b
Key Media Concepts
REPRESENTATION

2. Representation – How groups, individuals, institutions
or social changes are portrayed through the media;
how they are re - presented.
By definition, all media texts are re-presentations of
reality. This means that they are intentionally
composed, lit, written, framed, cropped, captioned,
branded, targeted and censored by their producers,
and that they are entirely artificial versions of the
reality we perceive around us.
.

3. We need the media to make sense of reality. Therefore
representation is a fluid, two-way process: producers
position a text somewhere in relation to reality and
audiences assess a text on its relationship to reality.
Extension/Restriction of Experience of Reality
By giving audiences information, media texts extend
experience of reality. However, because the producers
of the media text have selected the information we
receive, then our experience is restricted. The movie
producers telescope events and personalities to fit into
their parameters. i.e. Teaser trailers

4. Media representations - and the extent to which we
accept them - are a very political issue, as the influence
the media exerts has a major impact on the way we view
the world. By viewing media representations our
prejudices can be reinforced or shattered.

5. The study of representation is about decoding the
different layers of truth/fiction/whatever.
Richard Dyer 4 Questions:
1. Re-presentation – how media language is used to
represent the world to the audience.
2. Being representative of – the extent to which types
are used to represent social groups (stereotypes).
3. Who is responsible for the representation, how the
institution creating a media text influences
representation – contentious in representation of
gender as it is often the men doing the
representing.
4. What does the audience think is being represented
to them – different readings.

6. OR an easier way to remember it is:
What is being represented?
How is it being represented?
Who is responsible for the representation?
How can the representation be interpreted?

7. STEREOTYPES
Stereotyping is an important concept in terms of
representation.
Stereotypes act as a short hand by which we can more
easily understand a representation.
Stereotypes are assumptions that have reached some
form of consensus amongst a particular social group or
culture
Stereotypes can be misleading but people often assume
that stereotypes are automatically false. This is not
necessarily the case!!

8. According to Tessa Perkins
That stereotypes are always false (it has been argued that
they sometimes contain an element of ‘truth’ although
‘truth’ is always incredibly difficult to establish)
That they are about other people
That they only concern minority or oppressed groups
That they are simple
That they are rigid and do not change
That people either accept or reject stereotypes

9. MODE OF ADDRESS
The way a media text addresses its target audience.