Representation Of Nationality In The Daily Mirror (Americans And Britain)

Question 1

How is Britian represented on The Daily Mirror front cover? (UK politics and values)

Answer 1

• The headline on the front cover: ‘What have they done?’ Is proposing by a British newspaper that America has made a huge mistake and and that they have been the cause of this disaster (specifically Trump supporters, but talking to America as a whole) this is representing Britian as being against Trump and his election. This is reiterating The Daily Mirror’s Left Wing views and suggests Britain as having left- wing values.
• The monochrome/ dark and dreary colour palette and the ellipsis in the headline ‘It’s President Trump…’ are used to demonstrate a state of disappointment at Trump’s success, represents Britain as a whole as being quite anti- Trump, Left-wing and not welcoming of Trump, which is not the case.

Question 2

How is America reprepresented on The Daily Mirror front cover? (US Politics/ Trump Voters)

Answer 2

• America is represented on the front cover as being in a state of despair and being quite foolish.
• This is shown by the gestural codes of the Statue of Liberty on the front cover. The Statue of Liberty has been used on the front cover because it is the most recognisable statue/ landmark in regards to America. It acts as a signifier for America and its values of freedom and acceptance.
• However, the gestural codes of the statue with her head in her hands connotes the feelings of upset and sadness, it’s like the statue is weeping. However, the gestural code could also connote to and be read as embarrassment, guilt, shock, fear etc. And that Liberty does not want to see the disaster that is looming. This representation of the statue proposes a future of despair and a place where liberty/ what the statue of Liberty stands for doesn’t exist. This is the intended meaning of this image/ representation of America.

Question 3

Social Context of The Daily Mirror as a Newspaper.

Answer 3

• Its a red top (tabloid) newspaper, uses more exaggerated language and lots of images to put across view.
• It is a Left- Wing Newspaper, favours the Labour Party, tend to be more liberal. Supports social equality (the idea that the Gov should ensure that wealth is distributed more equally amongst members of society). Anti- Trump.

Question 4

Social/ Cultural Context- Representation of Trump Election Result and UK politics (Brexit) in the Mirror

Answer 4

• Trump’s Election Result is described by the Mirror in an article in the same issue as being ‘America’s Brexit’. Although, Britain is presenting America as being quite foolish and setting themselves up for disaster by electing Trump with the front cover, they are also presenting Britain/ themselves as being just as foolish for voting to Leave the EU. Shows yet again their liberal and left-wing views/ ideologies.
• The image of Trump supporters is chosen paradigmatically to portray them celebrating the Trump victory and them being; loud, lairy, brash and foolish, especially when contrasted against the bullet points that are apparently ‘serious’ issues that the Republicans wanted to address, however this image ruins their serious views/ ideologies and shows a lack of regard to the sufferings laid out in the bullet points (eg. ‘Fears over loss of jobs’) thus portraying Trump and his supporters/ win as being disrespectful and inconsiderate. This is all done by the Mirror as their anti- Trump, left- wing views means that they see his win as morally corrupt.

Question 5

How does the Politician’s comment about the Trump victory support the Mirror’s ideologies?

Answer 5

• The comment about Trump’s victory is from Jeremy Corbyn, who is a left- wing politician, so would be very against Trump’s views and opinions. Therefore, Mirror being a left-wing newspaper and getting a left- wing politician to write the comment in the event, is very biased and would give a biased, left-wing view on the event. The comment is also implying (by Jeremy Corbyn) that Trump abuses women and is racist, he is talking down and dissing Trump’s morals/ character as a whole.
• The chosen image of Trump that goes alongside the Comment is an image that is chosen to portray Trump as being aggressive: he is pointing (which is seen as rude and aggressive) and the image looks as if he is shouting/ arguing with someone. The caption that goes alongside the picture ‘Trump sounding off’ suggests that Trump is ranting and raving, shouting at people.