Representation: blog tasks

 1) Why is representation an important concept in Media Studies? Representation is an important aspect of Media this is because it impacts how people understand  different Medias and their viewpoint's.

2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media? 

This shows  that media can take  and rip apart a section of an interaction to represent someone in the way they want  regardless of whether it creates a  positive or negative representation  of that person 

3) Summarise the section 'The how, who and why of media representation' in 50 words.

When analyzing representations, it is always essential to question who is creating them, and why. All media products have a specific function which will impact on the representations they construct. Producers will consider: the expectations and needs of the target audience , the limitations in genre codes, narrative they wish to create All representations, then, are the cumulative effect of a collection of media language choices.  The representation itself is the combination of selections and rejections. The elements that are rejected do not carry the meaning the producer wants to communicate.

4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation? 

Halls idea and theory's fit well because it links well to the point of view of the Media  as people who created that  form media want it to be interpreted  one way being the preferred  reading whereas  the audience or viewers could  view it the other way being the oppositional reading so I think Hall theory perfectly explains how representation can be viewed and perceived by different people 

5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media? 

Technology has  allowed people With the rise of new media, audience members can now construct and share their own media products, and in websites, video-sharing platforms and social media there are more opportunities for people to represent themselves than ever before. 
6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this? 

Britain’s identity is often shown as traditional and white, but social media lets people show its diversity 

Watch the clip from Luther that we studied in class (Season 1, Episode 1 - minute 7.40-10.00 - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access the clip). Now answer these final two questions:

7) Write a paragraph analyzing the dominant and alternative representations you can find in the clip from Luther.

The alternative representations is of the main character Luther as he is  black male who is a police officer which subverts the traditionally stereotype of the  police officer being Caucasian  so this show the difference in British culture as the main character is being betrayed in a different role. The dominant  representation  of  Luther is that he is a playing a powerful male.

8) Write a paragraph applying a selection of our representation theories to the clip from Luther. Our summary of each theory may help you here:

Tessa Perkins suggests some stereotypes can be positive and are often true. This links extremely well as their aren't a lot of black character  who are police officer's and play a serious role who are intimating and are willing to go through with certain actions as they are  usually comedic relief and funny such as Chris Tucker in Rush hour or Tyrese in  Fast and  Furious.  Levi-Strauss’s theory fits because the clip focuses on a clash of ideologies: Luther represents order and justice, while Alice embodies  destruction  and chaos that can be caused  by other people  I alao think  Dyer’s idea of stereotyping works  because Alice is different from traditional female role by being assertive, challenging typical expectations.