Representation: blog tasks

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

A representation is a re-presentation (literally – to present again), and so the images and ideas we see on screen, in print or online are ‘removed’ from the original object. The media intervene and stand between the object and what we see – the act of communicating the image or idea in some way changes it.

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

The photograph of Kate Middleton the newspaper is a re-presentation of what she looks like, with people controlling and manipulating the image at various stages throughout the process. The photograph, then, is a representation of the Duchess. It may look like her but, in addition to her likeness, it will communicate ideas about her that are created during the mediation process. this clearly shows the media can manipulate people into thinking a different view on someone and something by one picture. it also shows how it could be far from what is actually going on

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

representation is the process by which the media presents the real world to an audience. The Media are artificial and constructed versions of reality, meaning that the reality can be twisted into a different meaning. representation is a re-presentation which literally means to present again. The media intervene and stand between the objects and what we see the act of communicating the image or idea in some way changes it.

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

A representation in the media will reinforce or challenged the stereotype. If it’s reinforces the stereotype, it is a dominant representation. If it challenges the stereotype, it is an alternative representation.

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

With the rise of new media, audience members can now construct and share their own media products, and in websites, video-sharing platforms and social media there are more opportunities for people to represent themselves than ever before. Individuals can now engage in the act of self-representation, often on a daily basis, through the creation of social media profiles and content.

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

The carefully constructed social media examples of self- representation by Zoella, aka Zoe Sugg– the celebrity YouTube vlogger recently outed for hiring a ghostwriter for her hugely successful first novel Girl Online.Zoella’s expressions show she is aware of her camera and poses carefully to create the visual image that supports her video persona. Part of her appeal is that she is perceived by her 2.6 million (!) Twitter followers as a ‘normal person’ rather than a celebrity media construction; but this identity is carefully constructed and maintained. Her audience identify wither, and she offers a her n aspirational lifestyle that her fans admire. Indeed the wave of

support from her 6 million YouTube fans when she temporarily ‘took a break’ from vlogging when the ghostwriting was exposed seems to confirm their knowing acceptance of her highly constructed personality.

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.

dominant-that because the detective was suspended and is a mess as he had a divorce from his wife and messed up his job, by the way he is sitting by himself in an abandoned place looking sad it presents him as hes going through a rough faze

alternative- even though he messed up his job the other detective admires him and looks up to him and wants to work with him and listens to the detective this surprising as he is just back on the job after messing up

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:

firstly, the detectives are viewed as a high class, people who dress in suits and formal wear. This gives them a respectable look, which makes the audience believe that they are well at their job. However, the detective that got suspended, seems to have a rough look on him with the top button of his shirt unbutton. This gives him a look that he is going through a rough time from the messy look. The formal wear of the detectives is a stereotype that is shown in movies and TV series a lot. this links to Paul’s work on reception theory as this formalwear reinforces the stereotype of detectives. This means that it is a dominant representation. As the other detective would like to work with the detective that was suspended. This is an alternative representation as a challenge is the stereotype of people that were suspended. This is because usually when someone is suspended, they would have to work their way back up to gain peoples respect as clearly they have messed up their job. However, the detectives excitement to be working with that suspended detective shows how it goes against the stereotype of suspended people which shocks both the suspended detective and the audience. Furthermore, the accents of the detectives fit the stereotype. This is because they speak in a formal way which doesn’t use slang. This is a very common stereotype as in British culture, the detectives are not seen in movies and TV series to be speaking with slang, normally they would speak in a formal or posh accent.