Representation

1. Media Language,
Representation &
Stereotypes.
AEMPA.
Syllabus Points:
- the process of
constructing
representations
- the effects of using
stereotypes
- construction of theme
in media work

2. Focus
Question:
Which of the following mediums accurately represent reality?
a) A television newscast
b) A documentary
c) A realityTv program
d) ATV or film Drama

3. Focus
Question:
Which of the following mediums accurately represent reality?
a) A television newscast
b) A documentary
c) A realityTv program
d) ATV or film Drama
The truth is that none of these programmes
accurately represent reality.
Reality is mediated in all four of these examples,
and across all media.

4. Representation: How groups, events, places or social changes are
portrayed in the media; how they are re-presented.
Representation offers a version of reality, but
frequently works far outside what we as audiences
know as ‘real’
Representations are subjective rather than
objective and are constructed through codes and
conventions.
The media – press, radio,
television, cinema and so on -
have become the arenas which
most people receive their
entertainment and information
about the world, so they are the
primary sources for how we see
the world. Most of us, for
example, some idea of what the
Himalayas are and what they
look like but this knowledge is
most likely to be gained not from
our actual experience of going
there but rather our readings of
media depictions and
representations.

5. Representation
There are 4 key points to consider when analysing representations:
1) What is being represented?
2) How is it representative of social groups?
3) Who is responsible for the representation?
4) What does the audience make of it?
Representation in texts are established through media languages
(codes and established conventions, narratives etc.) and are often
reliant upon stereotypes which reduce social groups to simplistic
characteristics and traits.
These stereotypes reflect inequalities in power leading to the
subordination of certain social groups
(eg. Ethnic minorities, women, teenagers)

6. Stereotypes
Stereotypes act as a shorthand for delineating character.Though
they may involve some truth about social realities of people’s lives,
they are limiting because:
- They suggest that particular characteristics are shared by many
people
- They suggest these characteristics are part of thee essential
nature of these people (genetic or biological) rather than
connected to any social realities
- In many instances stereotypes are used disapprovingly by
dominant groups to described subordinate groups.
Looking back at films, comics and popular literature of the twentieth
century you will find that the history of white representation of other
cultures and peoples is dominated by stereotyping.

7. Stereotypes
Stereotypes act as a shorthand for delineating character.Though
they may involve some truth about social realities of people’s lives,
they are limiting because:
- They suggest that particular characteristics are shared by many
people
- They suggest these characteristics are part of thee essential
nature of these people (genetic or biological) rather than
connected to any social realities
- In many instances stereotypes are used disapprovingly by
dominant groups to described subordinate groups.
Looking back at films, comics and popular literature of the twentieth
century you will find that the history of white representation of other
cultures and peoples is dominated by stereotyping.
So why do stereotypes
permeate media texts even
to this day, when we know
they are not a realistic
depiction of groups?

8. Two main
reasons why
stereotypes
are/were used
so heavily in
media.
1) They’re fast!
Whether agreeing or disagreeing with stereotypes most can agree
that they are a swift way of identifying key characteristics or
features of people, to gain a contextual understanding. It is easier
for producers to use a stereotype to portray a character and engage
with audiences understanding than to spend dialogue or time
delving into their context.

9. Two main
reasons why
stereotypes
are/were used
so heavily in
media.
1) They’re fast!
Whether agreeing or disagreeing with stereotypes most can agree
that they are a swift way of identifying key characteristics or
features of people, to gain a contextual understanding. It is easier
for producers to use a stereotype to portray a character and engage
with audiences understanding than to spend dialogue or time
delving into their context.
What stereotype do we see here?
What can we instantly assume about the
roles of these characters in the film?

10. Two main
reasons why
stereotypes
are/were used
so heavily in
media.
1) They’re fast!
Whether agreeing or disagreeing with stereotypes most can agree
that they are a swift way of identifying key characteristics or
features of people, to gain a contextual understanding. It is easier
for producers to use a stereotype to portray a character and engage
with audiences understanding than to spend dialogue or time
delving into their context.
2) They’re anchored in traditional cultural
my myths and narratives. (monomyth)
WithJoseph Campbell finding that all cultures share a similar hero’s
narrative, we can see that stereotypes of ‘others’ will be grounded in
negativity. Our hero must ‘cross the threshold’ to a land where there
are others ‘not like him’.Therefore we see a trend in narratives
where those who do not look and act like us must be considered evil,
wrong, or ‘in the way’ of our hero’ and therefore looked down upon.
We see this in entertainment media time and time again with the
depiction of other races and ethnicities as ‘the savage’.

11. AVATAR (2009)
Question 1:
Discuss how media codes and
narrative conventions contribute to
genre.
Question 2:
Analyse how the changing values of
society shape representations in
media work.
Question 3:
Analyse how meaning is encoded
by the producer of the film and
decoded by audiences
A paraplegic Marine dispatched to
the moon Pandora on a unique
mission becomes torn between
following his orders and protecting
the world he feels is his home.
Writer/Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe
Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Awards: OscarWinner
- Best Cinematography
- BestVisual Effects
- Best Art Direction