2. Definitions.
TV Drama – A television show that is usually shown weekly. These tend to be set in locations that are re-visited
on a weekly basis. For example a pub. TV Drama’s tend to stretch reality and social events to points that are
sometimes not even believable to the viewer. An example of a TV Drama is Eastenders.
Hegemonic Norm – Where something takes a controlling role in a scene or sequence. For example, a man may
hold a dominant role over a woman or child in a programme set in Victorian times.
Representation – How something is represented. These can lead to stereotypes which can be both positive and
negative. For example, a teenager in a hoodie may be seen as dangerous when in actual fact, they may just be
cold.
Stereotype – A widely fixed idea of someone or something based on common misconceptions or beliefs. For
example, “All Irish people are drunks”.
Signifies – Something that symbolises something or has a “meaning of”. An example could be how the use of
the “Clapper” in filming highlights the start of a take.
Connotation – An idea or feeling that a word has on a person as well as it’s primary meaning. For example, Red
could signify danger and love as well as just being a primary colour.
Binary opposites – The contrast between two opposing concepts which can lead to conflict and can drive the
narrative. An example could be “Good and Evil”
Conventions – A recognised way of doing something. Relating to context, style and form. For example,
conventions of a magazine or an advertisement.
3. Types of signifier.
Iconic – Where the signifier resembles the signified. For example
a picture/painting.
Indexical – Where the signifier is caused by the signified. For
example, war means death.
Symbolic – Where the relation between the signifier and the
signified is conventional. For example, most words used today.
4. Representational issues surrounding
Social Class.
For years, social class has been a way of separating some people from others. Whilst being harsh, it is a way of
determining what sort of a person you are, even though this may not be strictly true. For example, upper class
citizens can be seen as hard working as they have had to earn their money. In turn, they may also be seen as
lazy if they have perhaps been born into a wealthy family.
Dating back a few decades, people of lower classes were frowned upon by people of a higher social class and
even had less rights than those above them!
A person’s social class can even be determined depending on what job they have. For example, a person
working in a small newsagents may be seen as a lower class citizen as they do not hold an overly important job
title or do not work for a large company. In contrast, those who work in financing departments may be seen as
upper class citizens as their job holds significance in the world we live in and are well paid.
Stereotypes can also be made due to a person’s social class. Many people wont agree with them or the logic
behind them, but that’s just how people are. An example could be that “Those of a low social class are
criminals as they do not have a sufficient source of income like upper classed people. This means they can
only get money from stealing”.
These assumptions and thoughts are totally ridiculous, as the social class of a certain person does not totally
determine how he/she lives his/her life.
6. Representational issues surrounding
Regional location.
The social class of a specific person is not the only way that someone can be represented. The
regional location of a person can be used to judge a person before someone even gets to know
them. Once again this sounds harsh, and it is. Locations can lead to stereotypes due to contextual
knowledge of parts of the world, the social classes within that area and the way that people talk
about them in general.
An example of the first point could be that “People who live in the counties of Dorest, Devon
and Cornwall are lower classed, secluded individuals”. Despite not being true, some will agree
with these stereotypes due to their knowledge. These three particular counties are known for
their agricultural ways.
For the second point, and example could be; “Those in the north of England are all of a low
social class and are criminals as the levels of unemployment are higher than down south.” Even
though some of the context is true, it doesn’t mean to say that the stereotypes are. This is a
perfect example of taking context too far and is also an example of judging something by what
you think you know.
7. Representational issues surrounding
Race and ethnicity.
Despite being from the same sort of field as regional location, race and ethnicity digs a little
deeper into what people may already stereotype about a certain place. Race and ethnicity actual
represents people who are from a certain country or culture, which can lead to racial
stereotypes, prejudice, racism and rash judgements. All of which can lead to civil unrest and
social discomfort.
Any of the above can be caused due to a number of things; Disasters, wars and even television
shows.
Examples:
After the 9/11 attacks, people from the Middle East were seen as potential threats because they
held similar looks to those who caused the attacks.
After the actions of Hitler and the Nazi’s in World War II, many German people had unfortunately
been targeted to racial prejudice and over exaggerated judgements. For example, “All Germans
are evil”.
The television series “Misses Brown’s Boys” depicts an elderly Irish woman (Misses Brown) as a
rough, rowdy character who likes to drink and swears a lot. This gives the impression that Irish
people not only like to get drunk, but also like to hurl abuse after every third word of a sentence
and fight people.
8. Representational issues surrounding
Ability/Disability.
When people speak of those who are disabled in any way, whether it be mentally or physically, struggle
is often associated with those who are less fortunate than others. The struggle to complete the simplest
of day to day tasks. It is rather unfortunate and totally unfair, that those who are disabled in any sort of
way portrayed as weak and sometimes insignificant. In addition to this, those who are disabled are
sometimes considered weird and strange. It may be well within human nature to observe something
interesting or “out of the ordinary” as some people put it, but disabled people are often “Observed”
because people are frightened or interested because they find those with in capabilities interesting and
odd.
When thinking contextually, a lot of people in Victorian times actually frowned upon those who were
disabled and had little time for them. This was mainly because they felt that they were not capable
enough of doing things such as learning or other activities.
As already mentioned, those who are disabled can also be used as a form of “Entertainment” – not so
much to laugh at or mock, but to be used to gather crowds and interest others (as explained in my clip).
However, there are some cases within media where those with disabilities actually poses a lot of power.
For example, Professor X from the X-Men films is physically disabled and is in a wheelchair. However, he
is extremely intelligent and actually holds contrasting powers of telekinesis, causing him to be even
more powerful than those who are more physically able than him.
9. Representational issues surrounding
Gender/Sex.
This representational issue is widely debated almost every day and has been for the past 100 (If
not more) years.
The representation of males and females is one which is frowned upon by both members of the
opposite sex. However, females seem to have more of an unfair representation than males. Men
are stereotyped as strong, hard working, demanding, powerful and independent. I say
“Stereotyped”, because every body is different – and in actual fact, everybody has a weakness no
matter what gender they may be. Women on the other hand were stereotyped as loyal, the ones
who stay at home, work in the kitchen, have children, cook meals, obey orders and make good
spouses. Not only is this stereotype wrong, but is totally sexist, which is the main topic that is
surrounded by the representational features of gender. Despite those stereotypes being an older
assumption of women, there are still people today who believe that women should still hold and
stick to their “description” as if we were still living before the suffragette movement.
In media, there are classic examples of these stereotypes. In the popular animated show,
American Dad, the main character and father (Steve Smith) is a strong, independent man who
goes to work every day and holds complete authority over the family. In contrast, his wife
(Francine) stays at home and cooks dinner.
