2. Representation
To represent something is to describe, or depict it, to call it up in the
mind by description or portrayal.
Representation in media terms is concerned with the way that
people, events and ideas are presented to us.
When media focuses on representation it focuses on
.Gender
.Age
.Ethnicity
.Sexuality
.Class and status
.Physical ability/ disability
.Regional identity
3. Representation: Gender
Gender is the range of physical, mental and
behavioral characteristics pertaining to and
differentiating between masculinity and femininity.
Feminine:Would be represented in pink, not a lot of
clothes are worn, they categorize it by making the
feminine people very emotional and beautifulThey
are also often found talking about sex and are always
reliant on men.
Masculinity:Would be represented in blue, evidently
showing of muscles.They tend to be in charge in
films. They are also shown as the hero and
breadwinner in family episodes.
4. Representation: Age
Age is your years of how old you are or what group you are between a
range of groups.
Children: active consumers in toy adverts, innocent or devious, cute.
Brave, playful and modern.
Teenagers: Social problem, followers of anti – authority, badly behaved
(drug takers, binge drinkers), heavily associated in social groups.
Elderly:Grumpy, a burden, engaging in activities they wish to do when
they where younger, dependent and mentally challenged.
5. Representation: Ethnicity
Ethnicity: Belonging to a social group that has a common
national or cultural tradition.
Minorities:Criminals, a threat, need charity, invisible,
unimportant, dependent.
British: Privileged, upper class, posh, out going, rich, drinkers
and more developed.
Irish:Travellers, rude, violent, drinkers, boisterous, patriotic,
heavily cultured and wedding associated.
6. Representation: Sexuality
Homosexuality: Camp, responsible for AIDS, Macho,
deviant, men into feminine things, women into
manly things. (Butch)
Heterosexuality: Into their own genders thing, a man
and women relationship with a family and marriage,
common kissing, shows of affection, sex scenes with
the opposite gender.
7. Stereotypes
Dictionary definition:A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a
particular type of person or thing
Simple meaning:When people are placed in a certain group with expected behavior
and looks.
8. Stereotypical views
Age: Young children – Bubbly, active, happy, always laughing,
throws tantrums, eats lots of sweets
Teenagers - Rebellious, lazy, egocentric, irresponsible,
material things, socializing, etc.
Old people – Slow, fragile, slow drivers, bad hearing,
memory loss, grey / white hair.
Gender: Female – Not good at sports, not good drivers, are not as
smart as men, females always clean, they only care for as a job,
beautiful looking.
Male – Provider for the family, strong, muscular,
independent, competitive, bread winner.
Ethnicity: Chinese – Smart, always have great grades, are doctors
and nurses, have an successful life.
Irish – Always drunk, aggressive, eat a lot of potatoes.
English – Posh accents, smart, wonky and gap filled
teeth, always drink tea.
9. Stereotypical views
Sexuality: Gay - Feminine postures, high pitch voices, very attention
seeking.
Lesbian - Very manly, big in size e.g. butch, have manly
features, wear men's clothing.
Class: High class – Posh, very educated, have a lot of
money, come from private schools, only expect the highest of peoples
ability.
Middle class – Have well payed jobs, live in basic
homes, volunteer in community.
Lower class – School drop outs, dependent on the
governments money schemes, live in rented run down houses.
Physical ability/ disability: People with disabilities are shown to not
have their own identities.They are shown as pathetic, sweet and
innocent.
Regional Identity: Regional identity ranges between classes e.g.
Working class would wear farmer clothes while Upper class people
would wear jewels and expensive dresses.
10. StereotypicalViews
Status: High status – People who have a high status usually have the
power in leadership as they are the person everyone turns too.
Lower status – People who will only turn to someone with more
power for help.They will never be the leader in the small group.
11. Verisimilitude
Verisimilitude means how close the story line is to realistic or truthful events
that happen in day to day life.
An example ofVerisimilitude is: In Eastenders, one episode was based on a
unknown baby swap done by one mum as she chose to swap her own dead baby
for a women's baby that lives on her street that is alive.This story is not at all close
or truthful in everyday life as maternity hospitals are very strictly protected upon
seeing times of babies but also keep an eye on these visits too.
