Representation Introducing Key Media Concepts

Introducing Representation2 Contents: Section 1 - Re-presentation (Slides 1-11) Section 2 - Key Questions on Representations & Stereotyping (Slides ) Section 3 - TV stills for analysis (Slides ) Section 4 – Recap (Slides 36-39)

Introducing Representation3 Section 1: Re-presenting Realities… By definition, all media texts (whether print, moving image, audio etc) are always re-presentations of reality, as they have undergone the processes of mediation

Introducing Representation4 Section 1: Re-presenting Realities… By definition, all media texts (whether print, moving image, audio etc) are always re-presentations of reality, as they have undergone the processes of mediation Mediation includes several key elements: selection, narrative sequencing & emphasis, which all serve to anchor meaning

Introducing Representation5 Mediation… Selection - a very deliberate decision has been made by the media producers about, for example, choosing one particular image (and rejecting hundreds of others) to accompany a news story and then reinforcing or anchoring their chosen meaning through their choice of headline captions, actor/character voiceover, music, lighting etc. (dependant on the form of media text)

Introducing Representation6 Mediation… Narrative Sequencing - the elements that make up a text, chosen in the selection process, will be organized into particular sequences in order to tell a particular story This organising of the components of a media text applies to fiction and non- fiction texts alike

Introducing Representation7 Mediation… Emphasis - the selection and narrative sequencing lead to a particular emphasis within the text, meaning that audiences are invited to ‘read’ the meaning in a particular way: This is known as the preferred reading

Introducing Representation8 Mediation… Emphasis - the selection and narrative sequencing lead to a particular emphasis within the text, meaning that audiences are invited to ‘read’ the meaning in a particular way: This is known as the preferred reading Sometimes this is more obvious (as in tabloid journalism), sometimes more difficult to detect (for example, in a documentary that positions itself as ‘balanced’ or ‘truthful’)

Introducing Representation9 What is being represented?

Introducing Representation10 What meaning is being anchored? Call that subtle? The monstrous yacht Coleen and Wayne have hired looks out of place in elegant Portofino

Introducing Representation11 Burton & Taylor they ain't - what has Portofino done to deserve the Rooneys' 'wedding of the year'? Call that subtle? The monstrous yacht Coleen and Wayne have hired looks out of place in elegant Portofino

Introducing Representation12 Section 2: Key Questions For the OCR AS course, Representation is one of the major Key Concepts (alongside Textual Analysis, Media Audiences and Media Institutions) underpinning each module. At A/S Level and beyond, the emphasis is on you being able to address the following questions of any media text…

Introducing Representation13 Key Questions… Who is being represented? In what way? By whom? Why is the subject being represented in this way? Is the representation fair and accurate? What opportunities exist for self- representation by the subject?

Introducing Representation14 Who is being Represented? What can you say about the subject of a representation? Do they belong, for example, to a marginalised group in society? Or are they part of a powerful elite? Why do you think that these considerations matter?

Introducing Representation15 In What Way? Is this a sympathetic representation? Is it ‘sensationalist’ or ‘scaremongering’? Does it employ humour? Is it a representation you are familiar with? Or does it challenge your views in any way?

Introducing Representation16 Why is the subject being represented in this way? What does the media institution stand to gain from this representation? What does the subject stand to gain? What does the audience stand to gain? What does the representation tell us about the values and ideologies of the institutions involved?

Introducing Representation17 Is the representation ‘fair’ and ‘accurate’? Does this representation confirm or challenge what you already know of the subject? Why is ‘fairness’ and ‘accuracy’ important?

Introducing Representation18 Self-representation? Does the subject represented have any means of self-representation? In other words, is there an opportunity to defend or rebuke the representation? If not, why not?

Introducing Representation19 Shameless Who is being represented & in what way? By whom? Why? Is it fair and accurate? What ‘right to reply’ do these subjects have? (self representation) Who is being represented & in what way? By whom? Why? Is it fair and accurate? What ‘right to reply’ do these subjects have? (self representation)

Introducing Representation20 Section 3: Stereotyping A stereotype is a representation that takes characteristics of a group of people and uses the processes of mediation to apply them in a generalised and simplistic way What stereotypes do you and your friends use?

Introducing Representation21 Stereotyping Recent new stereotypes include ‘the Essex Girl’ - now also defined in the Oxford English Dictionary! What others can you think of? Recent new stereotypes include ‘the Essex Girl’ - now also defined in the Oxford English Dictionary! What others can you think of? Image of Chantelle from:

Introducing Representation22 Stereotyping - harmless fun? Stereotypes can often be used as a useful ‘shorthand’ for media producers, particularly in comedy texts such as sitcoms and sketch shows but character ‘types’ also often occur in TV dramas The use of a familiar stereotype means that the audience can be steered more quickly towards the ‘meaning’ of a situation; it makes it ‘easier’ to read the preferred meaning (what the producer wants you to think)

Introducing Representation23 Stereotyping… Whilst stereotypes can be used in a positive way, the repetition of such representations in other contexts can be very harmful for the groups involved Stereotypes can also be challenged – GG Me With a partner, brainstorm uses of stereotyping in media texts that can be seen as perpetuating negative views…(try to use a selection of fiction and non-fiction texts)

Introducing Representation24 TV Drama Look at the following sequence of images from TV dramas and, in pairs, analyze the representations by applying the questions used previously… Who is being represented & in what way? By whom? Why? Is it fair and accurate? What ‘right to reply’ does this subject have? (self representation)

Introducing Representation25 Skins – Chris at party

Introducing Representation26 Who’s the boss?

Introducing Representation27 What are the stereotypes?

Introducing Representation28 Kayleigh & Mel

Introducing Representation29 Steve, Lloyd & Dan

Introducing Representation30 Claire, Sally & Sophie

Introducing Representation31 Jane Eyre

Introducing Representation32 Dr. Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman)

Introducing Representation33 Life On Mars

Introducing Representation34 Mad Men

Introducing Representation35 Brideshead Revisited

Introducing Representation36 Section 4 - Recap… All media Representations result from the processes of mediation; the image chosen & how it is cropped, anchored etc. to produce the preferred reading

Introducing Representation37 Section 4 - Recap… All media Representations result from the processes of mediation; the image chosen & how it is cropped, anchored etc. to produce the preferred reading The types of representations used by different media institutions can tell us a lot about the ideological belief systems of that institution - and of their audiences (we tend to consume media texts that already ‘fit’ our own values…)

Introducing Representation38 Recap… We can choose to agree or disagree with any given Representation, but the processes of Mediation tend to influence our ‘readings’…

Introducing Representation39 Recap… We can choose to agree or disagree with any given Representation, but the processes of Mediation tend to influence our ‘readings’… The questions about Representation that you have learned to apply here are relevant to any media text and should continue to be addressed throughout the duration of your course. Mediation occurs in reality TV & news, not only in fiction!