Representations: Nationality HW 8.5

Representations & the Media Studies Exam

As you know, your media studies exam will be made up of three questions.

The first will always be a textual analysis of either an AV (audio visual) clip, or two print based media texts.

Question two will be a stepped question with two or three parts, with each part progressing in the marks available.

Question three will be a longer essay style question.

Two important facts about questions 2 & 3:

One of the questions will always be about Audience theory, the other will always be about Representations.

The last part of question 2 and all of question 3 will require you to provide: ‘Your own specific examples’

Between now and the exam, you should try to keep a kind of media diary on your blogs to help you keep track of all the different media you encounter and to help you revise the theories we had studied in class by applying it to the media you watch and read in your everyday life.

With this kind of application you will be able to answer the representations question as fully and theoretically as possible.

Let’s start with the basics:

What is representation and why do we study it?

The easiest way to describe the word is to break it in two: re-presentation. 

If we were to present something we would show it to the world as it actually is. By re-presenting we can infer that some it has gone through some kind of change or filter or manipulation before it reaches us.

Because we experience people and groups through the media, whether that’s the screens in our living rooms, colleges, bedrooms or pockets, the paper we read in the morning or the magazine we read on the bus, we know that those groups are not being presented to us in person, they are being re-presented to us through the lens of the camera and the words written by others.

The exam will expect you to know and understand various theories and ideas surrounding the subject of representation and be able to apply these ideas to your own experience of the media.

Here are some questions we can always consider about representations in media texts, and which we will attempt to explore:

Key Questions:

• Who or what is being represented?
• Is it a positive or negative representation?
• How is it being established (visually, aurally, juxtaposition against mise-en-scene, use of camera)?
• How does this representation relate to the target audience?
• Is it a stereotypical representation?
• Is it a fair and/or accurate representation?
• Are the representations conventional or subversive?
• Are there representations you expect to see, which you would have expected to see, which are not in the text?

3 theories of representation

1. Reflexive approach – that what we see is a straightforward reflection of the real world

e.g. All teenagers are yobs, as we see in the newspapers. All children are mischievous, as we see in comic books.

2. Intentional approach – where our understanding of reality is created by representations

e.g. We believe teenagers are yobs because of the way newspapers portray them. We believe children are mischievous because of how comic books portray them.

3. Constructionist approach – where representations create, or construct meaning, but this is based on a material reality. This approach states that people construct meaning through concepts and sings- we produce our own meanings to objects through our own language.

A magazine all about British regions and tourist spots.

The person/thing being represented: The cathedral’s size and grandeur signify that Britain is an important place that is steeped with history, tradition and authority. The surrounding spacious grassy area and tress connote that Britain is a rural country, free from pollution, a peaceful haven.

The opinions of those encoding the representation: The photograph is framed as a wide shot to ensure that both the cathedral and it’s surroundings are captured. The use of the rule of thirds draws the audience’s eye to the main coverline: “Heavenly Spires” which acts as anchorage to the main image and reinforces the idea that Britain has important traditions and a long history. The use of the Union Jack as part of the logo for ‘Visit Britain’ sends a patriotic message that Britain is something to be proud of. The other coverlines use phrases which imply that Britain is an environmentally friendly place almost untouched by the threat of growing population and urban sprawl. Both: ‘Enjoy Britain’s glorious gardens’ and; ‘Great bicycle rides’ connote an eco-friendly habitat.

The reaction of the target audience: The magazine’s target audience are ‘would be’ tourists exploring Britain. They may be foreign but are probably British and the main image of the cathedral anchored by the word historic suggests that the audience may fall within the Traditionalist lifestyle category. This group would accept the preferred reading of the text that Britain is a country of heritage, beautiful countryside and charm reinforced by the assertion that there are: “Unique places to stay”.

The context of our society and dominant ideologies: Whilst the dominant ideology in society see heritage as something to be preserved and history something which can be learned from – some of the codes on the front cover may seem a little dated and this represents Britain as a little old fashioned. Religion does not have the same dominance over people’s lives in Britain today as it once did, the prominence of the cathedral and the absence of other elements that may signify more modern living may imply that Britain is a place that is somewhat stuck in the past. With environmental protection issues becoming an increasingly dominant ideology, this text represents Britain as still being a ‘haven’ from the pollution of urban life.

These four elements contribute to the representation of Britain as a country of pride and tradition. A unique and interesting place which is possibly filled with unique and interesting people that value their heritage.

Task 1: Watch the following clip and work through the four parts of the Constructionist Approach to say how Britain is represented...

1. The person/place being represented:

Hint: Analyse one or two of the settings in the clip based on where they are set and when they are set.

2. The opinions of those encoding the representation:

Hint: What have the directors/editors done to represent Britain – what point are the making? 

3. The reaction of the target audience:

Hint: Who are the target audience and what will the preferred reading of this article be?

4. The context of our society & dominant ideologies:

Hint: What is the general consensus about Britain today, and how does this representation relate to it?

Task 2: Find examples where Britain is being represented as; 

old fashioned, traditional and ‘twee’. Look for examples in film, TV, advertising and magazines.