MEDIA LANGUAGE AND EXAMPLES (Jim Hopper, Joyce Byres,

Question 1

How is Jim Hopper represented in Stranger Things ?

Answer 1

• Framing: Close-ups, low angles, static camerawork.
• Mise-en-scene: Cluttered with clothes, beer bottles and food.
• Dialogue:“Morning are for coffee and complentation” dississive, underprepared, casual sexism

Question 2

Why is Jim Hopper represented in this way?

Answer 2

• Trope: Initially represents the jaded, apathetic figure. Common fallen hero trope in 80s media.
• Authority: Reflects typical authority figures in small town America (White-male hetro)
• Facade: His grief and alcoholism reflects the fragility behind the facade of masculine stoicism.

Question 3

How is Joyce Byres represented?

Answer 3

• Framing: Long shots, closed framing when she is on the phone call with Will (growing anxiety, powerlessness). Cluttered mise-en-scene.
• Cross-cutting in the scene between Joyce and Karen (highlights class differences)
• Costume: Work uniform, muted clothes.

Question 4

Why is Joyce represented this way?

Answer 4

• Counter-typical represenatations.
• Orthodox representations tempered with empowered representations.
• Orthodox= Maternal, caring, hysterical.
• Subversive= Persistence in searching for Will represents her as an active agent vs passive. (within narrative_

Orthodox representations in line with dominate representations in 80s vs subversive in line with empowered female rep common in advent of 4thwave feminism.

Question 5

Scene: Joyce Byers in the Hopper’s office reporting Will’s dissaperance. (representation)

Answer 5

• Joyce- Tight-framing, frantic gestures, pacing. Undermined credibility as (working class) women (ironic)
• Hopper- Loose framing, steady camera work- Power, detached, dissmissive.

Question 6

How is Karen Wheeler represented?

Answer 6

Costume: Pastels, feminine, gold jewellry (upper middle class)
Location: Scenes set in traditional settings like the kitchen associating her with domesticity.

Question 7

Why is Karen Wheeler represented this way?

Answer 7

• Embodies archtypal domestic housewife role in post-war era.
• Lifestyle evokes nostalgia for suburban family life (symbolic of American dream)
• Homage to Spielbergian films (also revolve around this traditional families).