7. Physical Ability/Disability
Mass media representations of disability have generally
been oppressive and negative. People with disabilities
are rarely presented as people with their own identities.
They are typically shown as:
• Pitiable
• Pathetic
• Sweet
• Innocent
8. Class and Status
Upper Class- Those who benefit from these processes, i.e.
the monarchy, the upper class and the very wealthy,
generally receive a positive press as celebrities who are
somehow deserving of their position.
Middle Class- The middle class are over-represented on
TV dramas and situation comedies.
Working Class- when news organisations focus on the
working class, it is generally to label them as a problem,
e.g. as welfare cheats, drug addicts or criminals.
9. Regional Identity
Regional identity is identifying a person’s identity which is
rooted not only in the setting on the film but also in
speech, costumes ect and in the region they live in.
It is represented trough:
• Setting
• Accents
• Dialogue
• Props
• Make up
• Class of characters
• Costumes
• Ect..
16. Regional Identity
The representation of regional identity commonly
involves stereotypes which are caused by class, status
and ethnicity. A character’s regional identity is often
represented through where they live, their appearance,
job, opinions/ideals and more commonly through their
accent.
Examples of regional identity
stereotypes are:
• Londoners
• Essex
• Geordies
• Scousers
• Northerners
17. Physical Ability/Disability
The media continue to enforce disability stereotypes
portraying disabled individuals in a negative un-
empowering way.
A disabled person is often stereotyped as:
• Pitiable or pathetic
• An object of curiosity or violence
• Sinister or evil
• The super cripple
• As atmosphere
• Laughable
• His/her own worst enemy
• As a burden
• As Non-sexual
• Being unable to participate in daily life
