Representation blog task

1) Why is representation an important concept in Media Studies?

When something is being presented to us through a media text it is re-represented and is not interpreted as the original object or subject but changes the meaning through the way that the product is communicated.

2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media?

The pictures taken of Kate are re-presented to make her seem as having a drinking problem through the post production of the unofficial paparazzi pictures while re-presentation can be used to bring support to the royal family but also criticise it.

3) Summarise the section 'The how, who and why of media representation' in 50 words.

who and why is creating the media, needs to consider the needs and expectations of the audience, limitations due to genre codes and the narrative they want to create. Choices are constantly being made and rejected to communicate the producers intentions that could change with the tiniest details if added.

4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and op-positional readings fit with representation?

Readers are not passive audiences and so will often make their own interpretations of a text and its representation by using their own social experiences to shape their opinions and viewpoints on the text.

5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media?

With the rise of new media, audience members can now construct and share their own media products, and in websites, video-sharing platforms and social media there are more opportunities for people to represent themselves than ever before. Individuals can now engage in the act of self-representation, often on a daily basis, through the creation of social media profiles and content.

6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this?

During the 2014 World Cup, The Sun sent a free newspaper to 22 million households in England which represented its own concepts of ‘Englishness’ by symbolic references – queuing, the Sunday roast, Churchill and The Queen – to heroes, values and behaviours that the paper (and its owners, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corps) defined as appropriate expressions of ‘English identity’.

This representation may have helped some audience members to identify with a certain idea of national identity and our politicians seemed keen to represent themselves in relation to it, reinforcing The Sun’s messages about what it means to be British. However, social media forums and comment pages allowed many people to voice their rejection of the messages. Through self representation, they were able to show that they distanced themselves from the values in the tabloid newspaper.

Watch the clip from Luther that we studied in class (Season 1, Episode 1 - minute 7.40-10.00 - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access the clip). Now answer these final two questions:

7) Write a paragraph analysing the dominant and alternative representations you can find in the clip from Luther.

Dominant - stereotypes that are reinforced

Alternative - stereotypes that are challenged 

Police- We are shown and can hear a conversation between Luther and his inspector over a certain incident at the start which threatened to have Luther suspended and he is revealed to have been cleared of suspicion. This can be seen as having an alternative representation of the police as it portrays them as possibly corrupt in the sense that they can let officers/constables get away with crimes just because they are a part of the force while also creating the idea that the police will do anything it needs to achieve their goals such as stopping a crime by any means necessary.

Race- We can see from this segment that Luther is the only black detective as his superior and partner that we see later are both assumedly white British. This is an alternative representation as Luther is a black police officer unlike the stereotype of black men being less likely to join the force as shown through this 3 minute segment.

One dominant representation is the white woman being the superior as it plays into the stereotype of the white person being in a more successful or authoritative position. However the Alternative representation to counter this is the second detective who is clearly shown to be submissive to Luther and agreeable and lack authority, Luther seeming to be his senior in this position.

Gender- We witness the fact that Luther's superior is a woman, this is an alternative representation of women in the workforce where they are usually represented as working under a man and not in a position of power. This is clearly shown through the interaction between Luther and the woman as she is speaking to him with authority and Luther listens. A dominant representation of this is Luther being a man and him being violent. As revealed earlier, Luther had committed a violent act which is a usual stereotype for men as being generally unempathetic. 

 

Location - One dominant representation is the accents as they are stereotypical of a British accent an allows us to understand that this show takes place somewhere in Britain.

8) Write a paragraph applying a selection of our representation theories to the clip from Luther:

Levi-Strauss - Her theory of ideology and representation is applicable in here in that it can be inferred that the producer wanted to portray the police in a ruthless but effective manner and that the police does the things that may not be agreeable or entirely right but that it may be necessary to get the job done. Mulvey's 'male gaze' may not be entirely applicable here as the scene is not set out to sexualise the characters in any way. Dyer's theory of power and stereotypes can be applied to making Luther stand out as a character specifically as violent and uncaring, very non-chalant feeling in his situation. Medhurst's theory of value judgements can be applied to all the characters in the scene as we can use the clothing of the characters to shorthand identify that they are all detectives or undercover police from the way that they speak and interact. Finally, Perkins theory of some stereotypes being good and true can be applied to Luther as we can say that as a man he has a lot of mental resilience to work in the police.