Representation Of Age/ Youth In WaterAid

Question 1

What aspects of the WaterAid advert challenges stereotypical representations of Age?

Answer 1

• The kids are young, at this age Western kids would be at school during the day. This therefore challenges stereotypical representations of kids being in education.
• Cultivates the view that kids in Africa are not educated.

Question 2

How does the WaterAid advert challenge particular stereotypes of African kids?

Answer 2

• The bright and colourful clothing along with the happy facial expressions, laughing and singing and shots of kids playing are all indexical signs of happiness and challenges the idea/ view that African kids are unhappy, hopeless, despondent etc.

Question 3

How is the girls maturity, even with their youth, shown in the WaterAid ad?

Answer 3

• Her young age, along with the other girls, who join her at the water pump and are also carrying heavy buckets, similar young age- connotes that she has perhaps had to grow up too quickly and be mature before her time.