4.5 media representations - social class Flashcards
How are the UC typically represented?
- often seen in nostalgic representations which paint a rosy picture of a time where Britain was “great”
What are some examples of the representation of the UC?
- Pride and Prejudice
- A Room with a View
- The King’s Speech
- Downton Abbey
How are the monarchy and the very wealthy typically represented?
- they receive a positive press - as celebrities who are somehow deserving of their position
What does Nairn argue about the representation of the monarchy?
- the monarchy was reinvented as the ‘Royal Family’ after WW2 and presented as an ongoing soap opera
- it wasn’t until the death of Diana, that the queen started to receive some criticism from the press
How does Reiner and Young argue wealth is represented?
- the media tends to represent the UK as a meritocratic society, in which intelligence, talent and hard-work are rewarded
What does Newman argue about the representation of wealth?
- tabloid media dedicate a great deal of their content to examining the lives of another section of the wealthy elite i.e. celebs and their lavish lifestyles
- the focus on consumer lifestyle means the wealthy are revered as they live glamourous lifestyles
How can the representations of the rich be justified from a pluralist perspective?
- the media view the UK as a meritocracy and the media portrayals of the wealthy are representative of the idea that talented people are deserving of more rewards
- stories may motivate people to work hard in the belief that they can attain these rewards
- the focus on finance and stocks merely reflect the importance of these sectors for the economy
How are the MC typically portrayed in the media?
- as concerned about manners, decency and decorum, social responsibility, etc
What do some sociologists argue about MC representation on TV?
- the MC are over-represented on TV, in dramas and sitcoms
How do some newspapers appeal to the MC?
- newspapers e.g. the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph are aimed at MC interests
- the content of these newspapers are generally anxious about the decline of moral standards in society and can initiate moral panics
What does the typical reporting of the WC suggest about them?
- the reporting of issues such as poverty, unemployment and lone parent families often suggests personal inadequacy, rather than govt policies or poor business practices, is the main cause of these social problems
What are the four main representations of the WC?
- as dumb and stupid buffoons
- as a source of trouble and conflict
- as living in idealised/romanticised WC communities
- as white trash and scum/chavs
What does Butsch argue about the representation of the WC as dumb and stupid buffoons?
- this reinforces the ideological hegemony of the dominant values in popular culture
What does Jones argue about the representation of the WC as living in idealised/romanticised WC communities?
- these images of WC communities are somewhat romanticised and filtered through a MC gaze
What does Tyler(2008) argue about the representation of the WC as white trash?
- the word ‘chav’ has now become a common form of MC abuse of the poor white WC
What do Marxists argue about the representation of the WC?
- some mass media representations of the WC are also part of capitalist ideology
What does Newman argue about the representation of the WC in the media?
- there are very few sitcoms, TV dramas or films that focus on the everyday lives of the WC even though they constitute a significant section of society
- when WC people are features, it is often unflattering or pitying
What does Jones(2011) argue about WC representation?
- media coverage of the WC constitutes a MC assault on WC values, institutions and communities
- many MC journalists suffer from liberal bigotry
What is meant by ‘liberal bigotry’?
- they all assume that all WC people are promiscuous, foul-mouthed racists who hate minority ethic groups, refugees and multiculturalism
What did McKendrik (2008) argue about the representation of the underclass?
- overall, the media reinforced the popular view that the poor were poor because of their own depravity and weakness
What did Cohen (2009) argue about the representation of the underclass?
- UK mass media was so concernes about ‘trumpeting the good fortune’ of British capitalism that it paid less attention to its ‘causalities’
What did Shildrick and MacDonald (2007) argue about the representation of the underclass?
- ‘chav’ is another way of suggesting that the poor are undeserving of public sympathy
