superhumans

Question 1

Stuart Hall’s representation theory (relation to superhumans)

Answer 1

• there is not a true representation of people/events but there are lots of ways they can be represented
• the media often use stereotypes
• stereotypes result from inequalities of power

Question 2

hegemonic

Answer 2

= dominant groups in society controlling the less dominant groups (white hetero rich men)
- this perpetuates a myth about groups of people which is quite political and deliberate, sometimes representation is not only due to a lack of experience.

Question 3

what is the ideology of channel 4?

Answer 3

• to be different and inclusive of difference
• it is required to be innovative, educational and nurturing of young talent
• not profit driven (alternative to the BBC- which is more mainstream)

Question 4

how does the ideology of channel 4 relate to their representation of the paralympics?

Answer 4

• they show how capable disabled people can be, which fits with their idelogy of speaking for unheard voices
• as well as this, the paralympics is less mainstream

Question 5

beginning with Cadeena Cox:

Answer 5

• close-up shot of her waking up, the hair net represents the everyday experience of caring for black hair, as well as her resilience in getting herself up every day to train

Question 6

beginning with the athletes getting ready:

Answer 6

• they are shown in a way which makes their disability visible (the man having breakfast in his wheelchair, the woman putting on her gear in her wheelchair, the man with no foot putting on his socks) -this is a normal thing, representing them in a way that is the same as ‘us’ (the able-bodied)
• the man with no legs also walks with a weight in his hand across the gym, he struggles, showing his resilience.
• the man eating breakfast resists the distraction of the drums saying ‘play me’- shows discipline
• for non-disabled people, this montage is uncomfortable because it plays on our social fear and conception of them being incapable to do daily tasks due to their difference from us (their bodies are different)

Question 7

Ellie Simmonds by the pool: the black swimsuit

Answer 7

• binary oppositions of black and white have been used
• the black swimsuit ellie looks challengingly towards the white one, she is presented in a low angle long shot, making her look powerful as well as backlighting
• the backlighting is dramatic and makes her seem important
• in this shot of her with the black swimsuit, we cannot see her disability, suggesting that it no longer defines her at this stage
• confident posture and more makeup suggests personal growth and maturing
• the medals around her neck connote success and show off her achievement

Question 8

Ellie Simmonds by the pool: the white swimsuit

Answer 8

• she sees the black swimsuit version and swims towards her, suggesting that the black version represents her dream that she is chasing at this point
• long shot of her alone, she looks vulnerable and isolated, which could suggest that the only person she has to compete with is herself
• her disability is shown, reinforcing the idea of ‘weakness’, as well as her stance being less confident
• the white swimsuit symbolises new beginnings and innocence
• she is presented at eye level, so it feels personal for the audience, they can relate to her determination despite the differences in their bodies (able vs not)

Question 9

black and white video jumping off diving board (after ellie simmonds by the pool)

Question 10

intellectual montage: the ball landing, then the drums, woman lunging forward with resistance band on, throwing the ball again, drums again, soldiers marching, repeat but faster

what is the significance?

Answer 10

• the repeated motions shown before the soldiers marching show the audience that the athletes are resilient and train hard repetitively
• by using an intellectual montage of the soldiers’ feet, channel 4 compares the athletes to an army going to war, who are going to fight and make our country proud
• this creates unity between audience and paralympians despite our differences, which disregards common stereotypes that we cannot relate to one another
• they are also represented as tough and disciplined in this way
• we see shots of them failing and it speeds up, suggesting they never stop working towards their dreams

Question 11

wheelchair basketball scene 1:09
UNFINISHED- got up to here.