Representation - Daily Mirror Textual Analysis Flashcards
Technical code of a mid shot of Johnson’s image
The representation of Partygate and Johnson in the DM is dramatic and negative; they actively criticise him for his actions during lockdown.
Choice of Image - The image of Johnson focuses on his code of expression and the anchor of the caption. He has been criticised previously for his “smirk” and here the newspaper has selected an image with this expression, reinforced by the caption “I’m not going” suggesting his failure to take responsibility for what has happened and connotes his seemingly uncaring attitude.
(Link to Theory of Representation)
Subheading
In the DM, there is a negative representation of the conservative party and the Partygate scandal. The subheading uses numbers to highlight the misdemeanors that Johnson and the conservative government staff were said to be involved in along with the evidence to support this - ‘300 pictures handed over’.
The inclusion of the ellipsis constructs a dramatic pause before ‘and still,’, suggesting the weight of evidence against him should be enough but he does not take responsibility.
Moreover, tabloid newspapers are stereotypically more informal than broadsheet newspapers (like The Guardian) this is shown in the subheading since it has an intertextual pun of the Christmas song “12 days of Christmas”.
This constructs the idea that BoJo and the conservative party are a joke due to the Partygate scandal. Therefore, this is a negative and mocking like representation of the conservative party and the Partygate scandal.
Technical code of medium close up of Keir Starmer image
In the DM, there is a positive representation of the Labour government and its leader Keir Starmer. This selection and combination of images of Starmer and text conveys the attitudes and beliefs of the newspaper whose political allegiance of left wing is suggested by the more active image of Kier Starmer and the caption ‘Crushing’.
Accompanying this image, the anchor refers to the way he dealt with Boris Johnson in the House of Commons, reinforcing the left wing stance of the newspaper. This constructs a negative representation of the event and the prime minister’s role in it. Yet it demonstrates a positive representation of the Labour government and its leader Keir Starmer since it shows Starmer and his party as fighting for the people in the House of Commons.
