Types of representation

Question 1

What is representation?

Answer 1

It’s the construction of aspects of identity and reality in the media. Audiences make assumptions about these aspects based on the representations they see.

Question 2

Types of representation:

Answer 2

• Gender
• Age
• Places
• Social groups
• Ethnicity

Question 3

Representation of gender:

Answer 3

Masculinity and femininity are culturally determined behaviours associated with being male or female. Male are often portrayed as better than females, and women are sexualised, but these assumptions are often challenged.

Question 4

Representations of social groups:

Answer 4

Class depictions focus on power and hierarchy. The media often encourage the audience to aspire to a wealthy, upper- or middle-class lifestyle by working hard, ignoring the causes of poverty and inequality. Social groups may also cover people with a common interest or situation.

Question 5

Representation of age:

Answer 5

Age related stereotypes are common, whether young or old. For example, teenagers are often depicted as thoughtless and antisocial, and elderly people as vulnerable victims. The age of models or actors is advertising and music videos often reflects that of the target audience.

Question 6

Representation of ethnicity:

Answer 6

Our understanding of other ethnicities is often formed by the media. Non-white people remain under-represented and stereotypes and negative portrayals are common.

Question 7

Representations of places:

Answer 7

Locations may be represented as dangerous or welcoming, simplifying the more complicated reality.

Question 8

How people can be represented:

Answer 8

What they look like: ethnicity, dress, age, attractiveness, visible disabilities.
How they sound: accent, choice of words, use of language, volume of speech, speed of dialogue.
How they behave: naturally, predictably, empathetically.
Visual effects: camera angles, length of shots, editing, lighting.

Question 9

Questions to ask myself when analysing media representations:

Answer 9

What is being represented?
How is it represented?
What sense of the world is it making?
What does it imply?
Is it made to seem typical of the world or ‘unnatural’?
Is anything missing or put in the background?
Who produced it?
Who is it speaking to? For whom?
What does it represent to us and why?
How do we respond to the representation?
How is it different from other representations?