Representation - Lesson 2

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Representation

- To represent is to show, describe people, places and events. Representation in the result of this. As a producer you have the choice and power to present anything in a positive or negative light. Or you can include both and present a balanced representation. Choose to represent through omission or inclusion. 

Representation: how the media portrays events, issues, individuals and social groups.

 Class

 Age

Gender

Ethnicity

Disability

- Stereotypes play a huge part in representation. Stereotypes are often generalized and inaccurate and just overall an exaggerated idealistic image that has been engraved and normalized into society due to the frequency in which they are used. The ruling, dominant groups in society reinforce these untrue myths, (eg: white, rich male) - this study was suggested by Barthes, the creator of semiotics. He suggested that the primary, powerful groups are middle-class, educated, white men and that they will always be compared to kinder connotations than blonde woman, poor immigrants and homeless refugees, regardless of the truth.

- Stereotypes can be useful for producers. They are not always intentionally harmful or malicious. A good word for a typical example is archetype.

12.09.24

OFFCOM: office of communications is the regulator of TV.

The Daily Mail has a conservative political stance and therefor this impacts the representation they include.

Hyper Reality

Simulacrum: similar image

An example of a simulacrum is Disney's castle, which warps and distorts reality to an idealistic POV.

Many clothes such as trainers or jeans were made for specific purposes (trainers to train, jean pockets for manual labor). The meaning is lost, yet functionality remains.

If your reality is permeated with hyper realistic images, your reality becomes distorted. you live in an unobtainable hyperreality, something that is impossible to achieve. For example: photoshopped images become normal, meaning you are now perceived as abnormal.

Liesbat van Zoonan: Feminist Theory:

In a patriarchal society controlled by men, women's bodies are viewed with a purpose, similar to a tool, to reproduce or use. Whereas men's bodies are viewed as something to admire. Women are essentially objectified and seen as an add on to a man.