Representations - Media

Question 1

Age

Answer 1

Different ages groups tend to be represented in different ways in the media. Content analysis’ show that children are represented in six reoccurring stereotypes.

Question 2

Ages in the media

Answer 2

3 main stereotypes
- childhood
- youth
- older people

Question 3

children in the media

Answer 3

• represented in a positive ways in the media

Question 4

stereotypes

Answer 4

cute - commonly found in tv adverts selling baby products
little devils - found in comedy and sitcoms
brilliant - very intelligent or heroic
brave little angles - children with illnesses that are long or terminal
accessories - children can humanise celebrities or politicians in the media
modern - children are very different to ‘the good old days’

Question 5

young people

Answer 5

• seen as a problem group because the media portrays them as vandals
• tends not to praise youth for their positive achievements

Question 6

Cohen

Answer 6

youths were blamed for all problems in society and were used as a scapegoat
focusing on negative aspects of young people means that the media ignore the real societal problems facing young people today.

Question 7

Wayne et al

Answer 7

• argues that many of the problems that have been caused by the government are ignored in the media such as youth unemployment, youth homelesness and mental health.

Question 8

Older people

Answer 8

• older people are presented in the media in quite negative ways.
• it is argued that older people are stereotyped more than any other group.
• these stereotypes include being grumpt and a bruden on society.

Question 9

Age concern

Answer 9

• the charity group Age Concern highlight that elderly people are underrepresented in the media, making them appear invisible in modern society.
• in fact the opposite of this is occuring in society due to an ageing population and increased life expectancy

Question 10

social class

Answer 10

The media shows each social class in a different light and rarely focuses on the conflicts between them. ​

Question 11

working class

Answer 11

The media often represent the working class in a stereotypical context such as on soaps like Eastenders and Coronation Street.
British soaps show close knit working class communities but in reality, these communities have collapsed.

Question 12

working class communities

Answer 12

Dodd and Dodd argue that instead, these communities are now threatened by criminal and racist forces.

Question 13

TV news

Answer 13

GUMG found that TV news is biased with regard to social class and reflects the interests of powerful groups. 
The coverage of the miners’ strike in the 1980’s illustrates this. 
GUMG argue that the overall impression by the media was that the workers caused the strikes.
This dominant view shows the working class in a negative way. 

Question 14

Lawler

Answer 14

Lawler argues that the media purposefully stigmatises the working classes as ‘white trash’.
Images show them wearing tracksuits and taking part in anti social behaviour.
Lawler argues that this neutralises public concern about the group.