2. What is representation?
■ Representation is the way that a person or something is portrayed. People are usually
represented in a stereotypical way judging by their:
■ Class/status
■ Gender
■ Regional identity
■ Age
■ Ethnicity,
■ Sexuality
■ Disability/ability.
3. Representations broken down
■ Sexuality: Sexuality includes whether a person is heterosexual, homosexual or
bisexual. Each one of these can be represented in a different way. For example,
homosexual people can be represented as feminine.
■ Ethnicity:This incudes whether a person is Caucasian, Black or Asian etc. for example,
Asian people are represented as nerdy.
■ Disability/ability:Whether someone is able or disabled. For example, disabled people
are represented as needy.
■ Age:This can include infants, children, adolescents, young adults and seniors.They are
all represented differently. For example, teenagers can be represented as rebellious.
■ Regional identity:This includes the different regions in the UK/where someone is
from.This can include Scotland,Wales, Ireland,Yorkshire etc. for example, Irish people
can be represented as alcoholics.
■ Class and status:This includes a persons social class: working class, middle class and
upper class.Or example, working class people are represented as tramps.
4. Representation theories
■ Bell Hooks: - ArguesThat women with lighter skin complexions are seen as more
desirable
■ - Argues that black women and women of darker skin complexions are sexualised and
objectified.
■ Laura Mulvey: - Argues that women are sexualised and are seen as objects for men
■ John Berger: - Argues that women are simply in the media to be objectified
5. Representation in our film
■ The protagonist in our film, Amirah Khan, is a 17 year old girl who is represented as a
stereotypical teenager. She is naïve and is some what sexualised by the antagonist,
Jesse.Amirah is represented as being emotional throughout the film. For example, she
is represented as extremely emotional when she is going to take her life.
■ The antagonist, Jesse, is stereotypically represented as aggressive and string as he is a
black male.This can be demonstrated in the scene where he abuses the character
Amirah.
