Media Representations of Social Groups Flashcards
what are the 4 social groups that are represented in the media?
-underclass
-working class
-middle class
-upper class
how are the underclass labelled in the media?
-aggressive men
-fake designer clothes, ‘chav’
-dirty clothes
-more likely to join subcultures and take part in crime
how are the working class labelled in the media?
-masculine and macho
-foul-mouthed
-manual labour
how are the middle class labelled in the media?
-overrepresented in the media
-mature/sensible
-family-orientated, well-functioning family
-financially stable
how are the upper class represented in the media?
-luxury homes and estates
-posh accent, expensive clothing
-enjoys shooting/hunting
-royal family, etc
what are two examples of the difference in how the media represent social groups?
-Madeleine McCann (middle class)- £1.5 million reward
-Shannon Matthews (working class)- £20,000 reward
what was the quote that newspaper articles used to label Shannon’s working class parents?
‘Monsters- no morals, no compassion, no sense of responsibility, who are incapable of feeling guilt.’
what is middle class solidarity?
the lower the social class, the more negative the portrayal
what are 5 ways in which lower classes are portrayed?
-the dangerous class
-dehumanising, just a number
-undeserving of public sympathy
-most destitute images are shown
-moral panics, real issues rarely explored
what did Cohen say about poverty porn and the underclass?
the media exploit the poor for entertainment and gratification, which provides ‘viewing pleasure.’
=’Freaks to be mocked.’
what is the impact of poverty porn and explain what is meant by this?
SYMBOLIC ANNIHILATION
=working class are destroyed by the media, through negative headlines and aspects about them
what did Nairn say about the upperclass in the media?
-global newsworthiness = profit
=focus on every trivial detail which reinforces a sense of national identity
what did Newman say about the middle class in the media?
-overrepresentation of high income nuclear families
-middle class interests are portrayed as the ‘norm’
-day time TV focus around cultural capital
-political opinions of MC are over-represented on current affairs
what did Newman say about the working class in the media?
-make up a significant section of society but very few media focus on their everyday lives
-identified as ‘social problems.’
-GUMG found unflattering language to describe strike action (lazy, greedy, violent)
-unflattering, ‘well intentioned but dumb.’
what percentage of the top 100 journalists were privately educated, but how much does private education make up of the whole UK population?
-54%
-only makes up 7% of the whole UK population (
=Sutton Trust 2006/12
