Social class PARA 1: positive representation in films

Question 1

Item point:

Answer 1

‘Working class people are sometimes represented very positively, especially in some politically-charged films”

Question 2

Sociological theory:

Answer 2

Point: Postmodernists would argue that the media has changed, there are no longer meta-narratives surrounding the working including labelling them as ‘Lazy or Dependent’ Media representations have offered a variety of representations of the poor–> some media sources present the working class sympathetically.

Contemporary Example: The Kitchen sink realism movement caused films such as Saturday night and Sunday morning to portray w/c life and problems in a dignified way and commented upon and challenged social inequality, class exploitation and racial intolerance.

Link: Therefore this suggests that not all representation of the working class are negative instead more positive and construct representations are being built. In order to educate other (the middle class) about the realities of being working class.

Question 3

Evaluation:

Answer 3

NEWMAN: argues that few TV shows/films focus on the working class however over time there has been an increase

Contemporary example: Films directed by Social realist, Ken Loach such as I, Daniel Blake highlights the suffering the working class face due to the uncaring bureaucratic systems. It in fact drew attention from Left Wing politicians (Jeremy Corbyn)

JONES: argues that some mass media representations of the w/c are part of parcel of capitalist ideology. For example Jones argues that media coverage of the working-class constitutes a m/c assault on w/c values.

Explanation: M/c Journalists assume that the working class are racists who hate minority groups. Therefore this causes a bigger separation between classes if the working class are represented as being ‘out of control’ this is not a positive representation.