Representation Terminology

Question 1

Representation

Answer 1

The way a media product portrays a particular group, place or individual.

Question 2

Ideology

Answer 2

A set of ideas or beliefs

Question 3

Dominant ideology

Answer 3

A set of ideas that dominate within society.

Question 4

Stereotype

Answer 4

An oversimplified or exaggerated representation of a group of people.

Question 5

Countertype

Answer 5

A positive stereotype, usually created through reversing negative features within a stereotype

Question 6

Beauty ideal

Answer 6

A socially constructed definition of physical beauty, often resulting in audiences feeling a pressure to conform to the narrow standards of beauty suggested.

Question 7

Objectification

Answer 7

A representation that depicts someone as an object of sexual gratification.

Question 8

Subversive representation

Answer 8

A representation that deliberately seeks to deconstruct previous ideas

Question 9

Star power

Answer 9

Depictions that use celebrity status, often producing idealistic representations for an audience.

Question 10

Cultural hybridisation

Answer 10

A term used to describe the representations created by the fusion of two different cultures.

Question 11

Realism

Answer 11

The attempt to represent the real world in a natural way.

Question 12

Otherness

Answer 12

A term used to describe how media products privilege specific groups in society, whilst portraying anyone who doesn’t fit into that group as ‘other’.

Question 13

Racial binary

Answer 13

A term used by Paul Gilroy to describe the way that some media products categorise all ethnicities into two groups - blacks and whites.

Question 14

Colonial discourse

Answer 14

A set of ideas that privilege a white viewpoint, hence suggesting that the white perspective is superior to that of non-whites.

Question 15

Media plurality

Answer 15

A media landscape in which lots of different types of media institutions operate.
This allows audiences to have lost of choice when it comes to products, institutions and producers.

Question 16

Absent representation

Answer 16

The absence of key social groups within media products.

Question 17

Hegemony

Answer 17

The set of ideas, value and ideals that are dominant in society.

Question 18

Feminised masculinity

Answer 18

A representation of masculinity moves away from traditional stereotypes.

Question 19

Gender trouble

Answer 19

A media product that subverts heteronormativity, offering alternative representations of masculinity and femininity to traditional stereotypes.

Question 20

Heteronormativity

Answer 20

The belief that heterosexuality is the norm

Question 21

Socially constructed gender

Answer 21

Our gender based identities aren’t derived (obtained) from our biology/ sex but from social learning.

Question 22

Gender binary

Answer 22

The presentation of gender as either masculine or feminine, male or female.

Question 23

Gender as a performance

Answer 23

(Judith Butler) our gender identities aren’t who we are, but what we do. Our gender identities are therefore a performance rather than fact.

Question 24

Fixed identities

Answer 24

(Gauntlett) the process of fixing an individuals identity through the application of rigid social rules.

Question 25

Fluid identities

Answer 25

(Gauntlett) process of identity construction where individuals use a range of role models and social influences to continuously craft their thoughts, beliefs and attitudes.

Question 26

Post-traditional society

Answer 26

A term used to describe a society that has gone beyond traditional expectations regarding gender roles.