1. Media studies GCSE Representation
L.O- To identify the ways that the media use representation
Outcomes- To create a collage which shows what representation means.

2. In pairs, consider what these pictures reflect

3. Representation Dictionary describes representation as:
To represent something is to describe, or depict it, to call it up in the mind by description or portrayal.
To represent also means to symbolise, stand for, be a substitute for- E.G The cross symbolises suffering and the crucifixion of Christ.

4. What is representation?
Representation is concerned with the way that people, ideas and events are presented to us.
This could be representation in magazines, news, soap operas, films and so on.
It may include representation of people, places, events.

5. The media The media will represent people, places and situations to us
For example, the people in Eastenders are representing certain groups of people.
The media rely on the audience understanding these representations and accepting them

6. For some people, the medias representation of something may be the only contact that person has with the representation.
E.g. Representation of Religion
Teenagers
Police

7. As media students, it is important for us to question:
Who is represented (age, gender, class, region, ethnicity, sexuality)
Identifying a lack of representation
Deconstructing how they are represented (technical and cultural codes) to the audience

8. Representation
Understanding the difference between what is real and what is represented is vital to our understanding of any media text.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE MEDIA TO PRESENT THE WORLD AS IT REALLY IS BECAUSE THE MEDIA CONSTRUCTS MEANINGS ABOUT THE WORLD THEY CHANGE OR MEDIATE WHAT IS REALLY THERE.

9. Re-presentation
Things can be described as a re- presentation of things.
So the media, re present the world to the audience. The ideas are a re- presentation of the original
Event Mediated re-presentation

10. Re- presentation
Describe an event to the person next to you.

11. What you achieved was a re-presentation of events.
You probably left out some details.
Watching the news is a re-presentation of events. The way in which the show has been edited and the points of the story they pick up, means that it is not possible to represent the story, only re- present it.

12. For analysis
Richard Dyer (1983) posed a few questions when analysing media representations in general.
1. What sense of the world is it making?
2. What does it imply? Is it typical of the world or deviant?
3. Who is it speaking to? For whom? To whom?
4. What does it represent to us and why? How do we respond to the representation?

13. Representations of youth
How do you think youth is presented?
Watch the following clip and consider if you feel it is a realistic re- presentation of youth
Waterloo road

14. Eastenders
Watch the following clips of Eastenders, what stereotypes do you think are used by the directors?
Consider the stereotypes used
How the audience is able to recognise them
What pleasure the audience may getting form these stereotypes

16. And this?
Consider Dyers questions in
response to these photos

17. Gender How do you think gender is re-presented in our society?
Difference between men and women
Pepsi max
wkd
Mccoys
Mccoys

18. Age
How is old age re-presented in society?

19. Stereotypes Sometimes representations can turn into stereotypes
A stereotype is a simplified representation of character, appearance and beliefs.
A stereotype is a commonly held public belief about specific social groups or types of individuals

20. The media may use a stereotype because they are easily recognised by the audience and can convey ideas to the audience
In a soap opera, what would we stereotype this character to be like?

21. Blondes

22. How do the following adverts reinforce stereotypes?
(Cooker advert)
(gender stereotyping of women)

23. Why are correct representations so important?
People can think negatively about a group of people
People may use the media representations as the basis for their beliefs
People may feel they are unfairly represented.

24. Task
In a group no bigger than three, create a collage which explains what representation and stereotypes mean
You will need a definition of both and pictures which reinforce the representations and stereotypes that you decide to focus on