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