Online at http://learning.tippinst.ie/course/view.php?id=18 Media Studies Representation Media Studies Lecture 4.

Online at http://learning.tippinst.ie/course/view.php?id=18
Media Studies Representation Media Studies Lecture 4

Aims and Objectives Define what we mean by Representation Discuss the accuracy of media representations Examine media sterotyping Evaluate how minority groups may be affected by media representations Media Studies Lecture 4

Representation What is Representation? The process by which the media present to us the ‘real world’ (Rayner et. al p.63) Media Studies Lecture 4

Representation The media re-present reality to us Media texts are constructed using codes – combinations of symbolic, iconic and indexical signs Representation is therefore a version of reality Media Studies Lecture 4

Mediation Before we read a newspaper or watch a film or TV programme mediation occurs Mediation is a process of intrepretation by producers of media texts involving:- Selection Shaping Editing Emphasising De-emphasising Media Studies Lecture 4

Mediation Representations in the media are often subjected to Agendas – a particular newspaper/TV station may adopt a particular ideological slant, e.g. conservative, liberal or left wing Gatekeeping – ensuring only those items which suit the ideological agenda are used Why are American TV Stations not showing the bodies of US Soldiers arriving back from Iraq? Media Studies Lecture 4

Stereotyping What are stereotypes? Widely circulated ideas or assumptions about particular groups Branston & Stafford, p. 91 Media Studies Lecture 4

Stereotyping What characteristics would you attribute to the following groups? Irish Scottish English Americans Jews Women Homosexuals Media Studies Lecture 4

Stereotyping What characteristics would you attribute to the following groups? SA Rugby Supporters English Football Supporters Old People People with Disabilities Travellers/Gypsies Blacks Media Studies Lecture 4

Characteristics of Stereotypes
Online at Characteristics of Stereotypes They categorise and evaluate groups They place emphasis on a particular aspect of the group Stereotypes can be positive and negative Media Studies Lecture 4

Reverse Stereotypes Reverse Stereotypes seek to question stereotypes sometimes in an ironic fashion, examples Pregnant Men Role reversals – men as homemakers Women as Boss Media Studies Lecture 4

Activity How do ‘The Simpsons’ stereotype different groups? Media Studies Lecture 4

Media Debates on Representation
Online at Media Debates on Representation Media Debates on Representation generally focus on the following:- Gender Race and Ethnicity Age Socioeconomic Status Disability Media Studies Lecture 4

Gender Discrimination against women is called Sexism Feminist criticisms of depiction of women focuses on the stereotyping of women, e.g. Women in subservient roles to men Housewife, homemaker, mother Sexual Objects Idealised version of female beauty Media Studies Lecture 4

Gender Representations
Online at Gender Representations Recent media texts have shown a growth in gender equality in the media – strong independent females – sometimes referred to as Post-feminism Girl Power Absolutely Fabulous Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lara Croft Charlie’s Angels Kill Bill Media Studies Lecture 4

Representation of Homosexuality
Online at Representation of Homosexuality Discrimination against homosexuals is called Homophobia Until quite recently, gays and lesbians were Taboo in the Media Gay characters and references to the existence of homosexuality were routinely laundered off the screen for ..half a century (Russo 1981, quoted in Branston & Stafford, p. 99) Media Studies Lecture 4

Representation of Homosexuality
Online at Representation of Homosexuality In what way has representation of homosexuality in the media changed over the past decade? Media Studies Lecture 4

Queer Theory What is it? An examination of the way gender representation are changing and evolving People are developing more fluid identities Challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity Media Studies Lecture 4

Queer Theory - Activity
Online at Queer Theory - Activity Think in terms of the following TV Characters and Performers, what characteristics would you attribute to them? Frasier and Niles - Frasier Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha – Sex and the City Ross, Chandler and Joey – Friends Julian Carey - Comedian Graham Norton - Comedian Media Studies Lecture 4

Race and Ethnicity Discrimination against Racial and Ethnic Minorities is called Racism Race representation in the media has been criticised on the following grounds Rigid Stereotyping, e.g. Plantation Blacks, Red Indians, Black Gangstas Under-representation of racial minorities on prime time TV Few Racial Role Models depicted Media Studies Lecture 4

Race Representation in UK Media
Online at Race Representation in UK Media UK Media Representation of Race Stuart Hall (1974) “Black Men, White Media” Media reflects white middle class attitudes and experience Most Blacks belong to the working class Appearance of blacks in media usually connected to immigrant issues or social problems Children’s television was particularly “whiter than white” No coverage of black issues as perceived by Blacks Media Studies Lecture 4

Stuart Hall Examining media coverage of Blacks in 1981, Hall found that media images of blacks showed them as either: The Native The Entertainer The Social Problem Media Studies Lecture 4

Race - Activity Has Race representation become more positive? Identify a number of TV programmes with positive representation Identify a number of Black, Asian and Latino Role models Media Studies Lecture 4

Age Discrimination against old people is called Ageism Rigid sterotyping of old people in the media – think of Victor Meldrew Stereotypes are now being challenged The Golden Girls was a precursor of Sex and the City Media Studies Lecture 4

Socioeconomic Status Lower class, working class and unemployed people are often negatively stereotyped Lazy layabouts, - think of Les in Coronation Street, Mickey’s family in Eastenders Media Studies Lecture 4

Disability Very little representation of people with disabilities in the Media Usually negative stereotypes, particularly of people with mental health issues Seen as somehow broken, dependent, pitiable rather than as independent human beings Media Studies Lecture 4

Useful Web Site Further discussion and articles on representation can be found at Mediaknowall – a UK Site Media Studies Lecture 4

Select a media image that represents a stereotype and a media image that represents a reverse stereotype. Media Studies Lecture 4

Create an ironic caption for your image.
Produce an Indesign page containing your stereotype image with the caption placed below the image.

Glossary Representation Mediation Agendas Gatekeeping Stereotypes Reverse Gender Sexism Post-Feminism Homosexuality Homophobia Queer Theory Race Ethnicity Racism Age Ageism Socioeconomic Status Disability Media Studies Lecture 4

References: Branston, G. & Stafford, R. (2003) The Media Student’s Book (3rd ed), Routledge, London Hartley, J. (2002), Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, The Key Concepts, Routledge, London Rayner, P. et. al (2001) Media Studies: The Essential Introduction, Routledge, London Watson, J. & Hill, A. (2000), Dictionary of Media & Communication Studies, (5th ed), arnold, London Media Studies Lecture 4

Online at http://learning.tippinst.ie/course/view.php?id=18 Media Studies Representation Media Studies Lecture 4.

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