Representation theory

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

The word representation itself holds a clue to its importance. When we see a person, place, object or idea being represented in a media text, it has in some way been mediated by the very act of representation.

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

The photograph of Kate Middleton in 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 Duchess herself, the person, is some distance away from the image that is reproduced. This shows that a presentation of somebody could be manipulated, portraying a person in an inaccurate way in the media, giving a different meaning to the actual picture or person. 

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

Everything shown by the media has been created in a specific way to portray a specific message or presentation of someone or something. When creating a media piece producers will take into consideration the expectations and needs of the target audience ; the limitations provided by genre codes ; the type of narrative they wish to create and their institutional remit. 
4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation?

Hall argued that audiences do not necessarily accept the ideology of texts passively, but instead draw on their own cultural and social experiences to create their own interpretations. In his view ‘meanings’ and messages are not fixed by the creator of the text, but depend on the relationship between the reader/

viewer, and the text.

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

New technology has changed the way representations are created in the media as their are an increase in audience constructed media products which means more ideas are being constructed from different viewpoints. 


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

Old media forms have always attempted to define and construct an identity for their audience, using certain types of representation to prescribe how people think about themselves and others. National identity is invariably raised during national sports competitions. Our politicians seemed keen to represent themselves, reinforcing The Sun’s messages about what it means to be British. However, social media forums and

comment pages allowed many people to voice their rejection of the messages. Through self representation, they were able to show that they distanced themselves from the values in the tabloid newspaper.

 

Dyer - stereotyping and power:
Dyer's stereotyping and power theory can be applied to the portrayal of women and Eastern Europeans in this movie as it is a depiction of those with stereotyping those with less power/minorities in society. It also reduces complex and varied groups to a few simplistic characteristics - these are applied to everyone in that group of people. 

Medhurst - value judgements:
Medhurst's theory of stereotyping for shorthand identification to depict a story applies to the stereotype of women being more vulnerable and weak compared to men and men being the saviour in a bad situation. However, this carries value judgements and therefore is very negative for the representation of minority groups - in this case women and Europeans. 

Perkins - some stereotypes can be positive or true:
Perkins theory doesn't completely apply to this movie however the stereotype that men play a more masculine role than women is true and depicted.

Mulvey - the male gaze:
Mulvey's theory about 'the male gaze' applies to this movie as the plot is based around men seeing women as vulnerable and there to be looked at and taken advantage of. This links to the idea of ‘sex sells’ and women being represented as sex objects which is something that is portrayed in this film. Women are often objectified in this movie making this theory applicable to this movie.

Levi-Strauss - representation and ideology:
Levi-Strauss' representation and ideology theory is somewhat applicable to this movie as there are lots of dominant representations portrayed such as women being vulnerable and weaker than men, men having more powerful than women and being ultimately stronger, Eastern Europeans as playing the villains.