Approaches to Question 3 on Representation

Approaches
to Question 3 on Representation

A
reminder of the typical question:

3. With
   reference to 2-3 specific and detailed examples, explore the
   different representations of class in the media today. (30)

   
   

Remember
that class could be substituted for
masculinity/ethnicity/age/region/nationality/ or even event.

Starting
Point:

Explain
what Representation is and why it matters!

Representation is one of the key
concepts in the study of media texts. It refers to the way in which
texts portray individuals, groups, places and events. All media
representations are constructions and if we are to understand the
nature of these representations we must address a range of important
questions, such as who is responsible for the representation, who it
has been created for and why. We also need to consider questions
regarding genre and narrative, which can also help explain the nature
of the representations that we meet in the media.

The fact that they are constructions
means that no representation can ever be a definitive reflection of
‘reality’; they are always partial and selective. (Think
about how you were able to choose exactly how you wanted to represent
yourself at the start of the year).

Where
next?

Link
to the specific issue that is highlighted in the question. Aim to
give some kind of overview of the subject. Such as:

The
word gender refers to the social construction of male and female
identity. The media plays a massive role in shaping this construction
through the repetition of certain dominant ideas.

OR

Representations
of ethnicity have undergone dramatic changes in recent years. From a
situation where, when they existed at all, representations of those
from ethnic backgrounds were overwhelmingly negative, we now find
ourselves in a situation were such representations are far more
visible and high-profile, and are more sympathetic in tone.

OR

The
way in which the media represent individual issues and events is
likely to be affected by a wide range of factors. One central factor
is the nature of the audience that the issue is being represented
for.

OR

Representations
of region are often constructed in a way that is heavily reliant on
stereotypes. From Harry Enfield’s mustachioed Scousers
dim-witted Welsh in ‘Gavin and Stacey’, stereotypes and
regional representation are tightly interwoven.

From
there?

Explain
what stereotyping is/stereotypes are. You are definitely going to
need to comment on stereotypes, so make sure that you have a
definition to hand. Such as:

Stereotyping is a process of
categorization in which whole groups of people are assumed to be the
same on the basis of a small number of, often negative, traits. While
stereotypes can be helpful to the audience in giving us an easily
understood picture of a character, they can also have harmful
effects, and often limit the ways in which people are viewed in
society. Stereotypical representations are maintained by constant
repetition and the way in which people who don’t conform to
stereotype are frequently absent from media representations. For
example teenage males tend to be largely seen as knife-wielding thugs
in hoodies; while exceptions to this rule exist in the media, there
aren’t enough of them to challenge the dominant stereotype.

And
then?

This
is where your case studies (your own examples) come into play

As
a general rule of thumb aim to kick things off by outlining the
dominant stereotype for whichever group is under focus in the
question. This will lead you neatly in to examining texts that
construct and reinforce the stereotype as well as setting up the
opportunity to explore those that challenge it.

Here
are some examples of things you could say about each of the areas you
will need to consider:

Ethnicity:

Many
representations of ethnicity in the media focus on the conflict
arising from characters from deeply religious backgrounds living in a
largely secular (i.e. non-religious society). One of the most popular
such portrayals in recent years was the representation of Jesminder
Kaur in the film ‘Bend it Like Beckham’. The fact
that Jesminder is known as Jess highlights the clash of cultures in
the film. The narrative of the film follows a typical structure in
that Jess has to overcome a number of obstacles in order to realize
her goal of becoming a footballer. The climax to the film pivots
around the binary opposition of her sisters wedding and the crucial
football match. Costume in the film is an important signifier of
ethnicity.

The
audience in the film were positioned to be on Jess’ side and to
regard her parents and the religion that they represent as
repressive. The narrative of the film demands that Jess rejects her
religion at the end.

Marriage
is a recurring theme in representations of ethnicity. For example in
the film ‘East is East’…

You
also need to think about whether characters are seen as victims or
not; think about the racial make-up of the text.

Think
of films that challenge the stereotype – how and why do they do
so? Consider ‘Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies’.
And if you haven’t seen it –watch it! This was
particularly unusual as it was a mainstream Hollywood comedy that
featured Asian characters in the main roles and pitted them against
stereotypes such as extreme sports fanatics and typically masculine
workplace bullies. Unusually for a film in this genre, exploring
racism was a key theme of the film.

Some
representations are very hostile and negative – for example the
way in which Muslims are typically presented as extremists in
newspapers such as the Express and the Mail.

Think
about Masood family in Eastenders or Dev in Coronation
Street – what is the ethnic mix in these shows? What kind
of stories involve these characters? What do they do for a living?

Are
such characters totally defined by their ethnic origin and involved
in narratives that are a product of it; or is their ethnicity
incidental?

What
is the relationship between ethnicity and genre?

Region:

Representations
of region take many forms. It is important to remember that the
Manchester or Yorkshire that we meet in the media is as much a
construction as the characters that live in it. For many years the
most dominant representation of Manchester has been provided by
Coronation Street. The credits alone, with their emphasis on
cobbled-streets and terrace-houses have constructed a version of the
city that is insular and working-class.

This
narrow view of the city has been challenged by other representations
such as ‘Cutting it’ or ‘Queer as Folk’.
In such programmes the city is depicted as very modern and
cosmopolitan; loft apartments are typical settings rather than poky
terraced houses, and wine-bars and nightclubs are preferred to the
hot-pot on offer at the Rovers Return.

These
youthful, aspirational views of the city are challenged by texts such
as Shameless or Donal Macintyre’s film ‘A Very
British Gangster’, which focus on the criminal underclass
that populate the less-affluent areas of the city.

Masculinity:

Advertising
is an area of the media in which we meet some of the strongest and
most enduring representations of masculinity. Products such as
aftershave frequently construct an image of masculinity in which the
focus is on power and competitiveness as key components of
masculinity. Sporting icons such as Roger Federer and David Beckham
feature in many Gillette campaigns, promoting a traditional
image of masculinity.

However
the stereotype of men as confident and capable, self-reliant
individuals, is challenged by a number of recent films. Knocked-up
and Juno are two films in which male characters are
represented as weak, ineffectual and juvenile – however in both
cases these qualities don’t prevent the central characters from
getting the girl of their dreams.

This
geeky brand of masculinity can also be seen in TV shows such as the
OC, while male friendships are explored in shows such as Entourage.
Friendship was previously regarded as something of a feminine theme,
and these representations of less overtly masculine men reflect the
rise of metrosexuals in the media.

Think
about key representations of masculinity in the media:

David
Beckham

Russell
Brand

Jeremy
Clarkson

Gordon
Ramsay

Jamie
Oliver

In
what ways do these figures uphold or subvert traditional
representations of masculinity?

Femininity:

A
range of stereotypes exist. As ever the specific representation will
depend on the audience/genre/narrative:

Texts
to consider:

Sex
& the City/Confessions of a Shopaholic/Desperate Housewives

Consider
some of the femme fatales we frequently see e.g Janine in Eastenders,
or think of contestants on the Apprentice – are ‘nasty’
female characters represented in the same way as men? Are the blokes
seen as healthily competitive and the women as bitches betraying
their gender?

Nationality:

National
stereotypes continue to have a massive influence within the media.
Englishness can be constructed in a variety of ways; from the use of
iconic settings to the way characters are constructed in such a way
as to embody aspects of national identity. James Bond for
example is a quintessentially English action hero, and is very
different to the Bruce Willis/Tom Cruise brand of character.
His Englishness is constructed through the use of props – for
example his Aston martin car – and through the aspects of he
behavior and attitude.

Many
representations of nationality are based on a binary opposition
between us and them. This is where groups either within or outside
society are presented as a threat to ‘our’ way of life.

Events:

Key
thing here is to think about how a single event can be viewed from a
range of angles. Use the Karen Matthews case as an example –
on ITV News the story was sensationalized and the whole focus
of the story was based on Karen herself. She was represented as a
folk devil, the centre of a moral panic about single mothers and the
underclass/lower working class. Similar points could be made about
the Baby P story – one example becomes the catalyst for
a witch hunt against the social worker deemed responsible, Sharon
Shoesmith. This was typical of the way stories are organized into
narrative form – someone must be held responsible, the
narrative must be given closure. However this populist approach can
be contrasted with a newspaper like The Guardian which offers a more
considered view and attempts to present the facts in an impartial and
objective way. However, ultimately no story can be represented in a
totally neutral way – there is always an angle depending on the
audience/context.