REPRESENTATIONS

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

- The power to create representations has been in the hands of media producers working within media institutions.

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

- The photograph of the Duchess could be used to help stir up positive support for the Royal Family; alternatively it could impact a critical view of the monarchy.

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

- It is important to question who and why representations is being created when analysing it.  All representations are a collection of media language choices, some choices will be made and some choices will be rejected.

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

- Hall argued that audiences do not necessarily accept the ideology of texts passively but instead draw on their cultural and social experiences to create their own interpretations.

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

- For example when we post an image on Instagram or some thoughts on Facebook, we are constructing an idea of ourselves, and we are distributing it to our followers or our friends. The choices we make in terms of which images to upload and which comments to create a construction of an idea about ourselves. 

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

- The Sun sent a free newspaper to every household in England which represented its own concepts of 'Englishness' by symbolic references-queuing, Sunday Roast, Churchill and the Queen.




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.

- We see a dominant representation of Luther as he is looking down and upset in his seat where his boss comes in. The idea of her being his boss is reinforced when she stands over him. This gives off the idea that she has power and authority over him from where she physically is and literally in her job status.This switches gender roles as it is typically male who have the upper hand in work places not women.

8) Write a paragraph applying a selection of our representation theories to the clip from Luther. Our summary of each theory may help you here:

Levi-Strauss: representation and ideology

Mulvey: the male gaze

Dyer: stereotyping and power
Medhurst: value judgements

Perkins:some stereotypes can be positive or true 

Dyer’s theory of stereotyping and and power is enforced when we see the clip of Luther and his boss. Luther being sat down whilst his boss towers over him enforces the idea that she has power and control over him. Also the fact that she is a woman challenges the stereotypes as it is typically males who are the boss. This stereotype can be seen as positive as it means there is a change in the system.