LO3: Representation Theory

Representation theory

1. Gender representations(stereotypical/challenged)
2. Ethnicities
3. Character type(damsel, antagonist, heroic protagonist, Underdog)
4. Class(rich and poor)
5. Locations
6. spirit of the times(zeitgeist)

Representation theory is about how we are re-presented(over and over time again) of people and places. 

Key representation you can use in anything:

• Ideal self/partner (Carl Rogers 1980 Is how character are mediated as role models or attractive to appeal to an audience)

Exam Questions:

6* Analyse how the production techniques are used to Creates meaning in a media product you have studied. (12)

MICRO-MACRO

6* Analyse the concept of "representation" in media product you have studied (12)

• "6*" Is half way though the paper and u answer 6* second
• Spend 20/25 mins answering 
• Analyse: giving example and explaining meaning using the product-the effect of the audience 
• Production techniques/media language example E.G sound, editing, mise en scene, camerawork talk about all 4 techniques 
• create meaning-keywords: Connotes, Denotes, enigma, verisimilitude, tension, empathy, spectacle.

Key theories of representation:

Tim O'sullivan Et al. (1998)

• The people and place have the have shared recognition, all representation therefore have ideologies behind them.
• Ideologies is refers to a set of ideas which produces a partial and selective view of reality.
• Ideologies in the hunger games:
  • The government looking after themselves and the rich
  • The poor being punished for trying to get the basics
  • Lack of parenting/young person in control 
  • Good over coming evil 
  • Under dog coming out on top 
  • Rebellion against authority 
  • Over coming the odds
   

Richard Dyer (1983)

• Audience  should question the representation they see in the media text. stereotypical or challenging 
• Example of challenged and stereotypical representation in the hunger games:
  • Katniss being the hero and saving peta's life by going to fight for medicine 
  • Katniss having to pretend she's in love and be feminine for the media. 

Laura Mulvey(1975)

• The male gaze, that woman are objectified in media text and passive object. Audience are positional to view the woman from the view of a heterosexual male.
• If there is not a sexualised women the character is challenging/ post feminist 
• Costumes, make up 
• dialogue
• juxtaposing when the is a feminine and non feminine are together 

Stuart Hall (1955), Alvarado (1987)

• Western/white culture continue to misrepresent ethnic minorities as in the media due to underlying racist tendencies.
• E.g. Nono-white as "the other", evil, barbaric, pitied humoured.
• The other/ most white cast with little input from the people of colour 
• pitied: a person of colour that we feel sorry for. 

Earp and Katz (1999)

• Men are often represented as having as having tendencies of pathological control and violence (patriarch: all run by men)we live in a society that is post feminist. W e have strong women 

Mise en Scene in The hunger games

 The Hunger games 

The costumes in “picking tribute scene” denote that life here is hard and the people that live here are poorer. In this scene the whole village is gathered together to pick this year's tributes for the games, everyone is dressed in simple and basic formal attire that has little personality and colour. This is a juxtaposition to Effie from a wealthy area who has an elaborate dress, this shows the audience that society has a massive wealth divide. This portraits Katniss and Peter has underdogs from the start Which forms a closer bonded with the views. Katniss is wearing a pale blue in a classic feminine shape, but it does not sexual her this is show that show is still young and innocent.  

The costumes change for TV interview this suggest that the prosses is changing the young people and forcing them to grow up, in this scene Katniss is wearing a tight-fitting red dress that shows her off and makes people look at her u. This could suggest that she has been sexualized to win hearts of men that will help her though the games, it also links to Laura Mullet (1975) “The male gaze” says that females in media are sexualised so males are more likely to consume a media product. This is shown as peter (Katniss's partner) is in a simple suit, this shows that when Katniss ended the media for her TV interview, she was told to be liked that she needed to change. Is prove that changing to impress or liked by new people does not make u happy as this is one of Katniss lowest point and in the end does not help her win.  

The props in the Hunger games such as the weapons in the game itself are primal. They use weapons like swords, bow and arrows and axes, even though the movie is set in the future they do not use weapons like guns or modern technology this make the fights more dramatic and gorier. Even though the weapons are older they all have futurist styles and Modern twists which added to the familiar but futurist energy of the film. One of the main prop in the Hunger games is Katniss bow and arrow, this is one of the main motifs of the film and reoccurs though out the franchise.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katniss using a bow and arrow in the Games and it being her talent make it her characters symbol with goes against her gender stereotypes of a young woman, Bow and arrows have connotations of knights and Medieval times where traditional the women need to be saved by men. This show a younger audince that it does not allows have to be the man that save the girl but the woman that save the boy this is show by Katniss saving peter and herself. 

 

The other prop in the show such as items inside Katniss's home have a rustic and Victorian style such also fire stoves and wood rocking chairs, this show how the lives of the people who live in district 12 is simple and basic. There is juxtaposing element of the holograph television this remind the audience that this is a futurist society, this also give the impression that the government issues these television, so that everyone knows the power they have over them and want to control the information that the population are exposed too. This also helps the audience sympathise with Katniss's character as it shows the hardship of her life it also emphasizes the wealth dived between district 12 and the capital. This creates meaning by giving the audience a reason to back Katniss and her values, it also give them a common cause which is to hate the government and its beliefs.

LO3: Editing and sounds in The hunger Games

Editing and sound in the hunger games 

 
 

Editing: 

 

Shot reverse shot structure 

• Katniss and Peta heart to heart the night before the games when they count sleep: This shows how close Peta and Katniss have come quickly. This is an emotional moment and make the audience feel empathetic 

• Hamish gives Katniss and Peta advice about how to win the games: This is a deep and tense moment as it is the first time the games are truly talked about, and it shows the audience how high the stakes are.  

 
 

Action match 

• Katniss shooting her arrow at the pill of Supples. The arrow being followed though the air emphasis the skill of Katniss.  

• The training scene girl for 2 knife troughing: this emphasizes the presition and technique this affects the audience as show how deadly the girl is and the threat, she posers.  

 
 

Crosscutting 

• The game arena to the TV studio: this shows how the game is seen as a sport and something to enjoy. It also shows the juxtaposing between the rich and the poor and their acritudes towards the game.  

• The Games arena to the control room shows how the game is rigged and how the game created can control your life. This will affect the audience negatively because it shows how the odds were against Katniss from the start.  
   

Insert shot 

• When Katniss is looking at the Supples pill and then it zooms in on her bow and arrow. The purpose of this is to show Katniss’s aim. This affect the audience by  
   

Eye-line match 

• At the moment when the rules are changed, Peta and Katniss make eye contact. The audience see the two protagonists lock eyes shows their true feeling this allow the audience feel their pain too.  

• when Katniss is showing her skills to the game keepers. This allows to see the speed and agility of Katniss’s shooting ability. It also lets the audience see the shock on the game keeper faces which adds a comedic affect for the audience.  

 
 

Sound: 

 
 

Dialogue 

• when Katniss's volunteers to save her sister's life. This is the most powerful dialogue in the movie and pivots the whole movie it also shows what type of person Katniss is.  

• when Katniss's and Peta try to kill themselves to escape the game alive together. This is a powerful love speech from Katniss and Peta about how they ant live without each other This  

Sound effects 

• The mocking jay whistles the Ru and Katniss use to communicate. This show a bond between the two characters and gives them a common link. 

• The sound of the tracker jackers flying/stinging This is a intimidating and frighting sound that has an impact on the audience as the sound courses stress.  

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Incidental music 
 

• Abraham's Daughter by arcade fire, This song has a low pitch and tone but a high tempo which is a juxtaposition reflects the society in the film  

• farewell/ this music Katniss hunts too in the beginning. The makes the scene high energy and serious it also help Katniss look confident and powerful. 

Sting 
 

• When Ru is impaled by a spear. The quick shard noise alerts the audience to the problem before we see RU with her injury. It also creates spectial for the audience.