Post on 22-Jan-2017
Teacher
Teacher…?
What do you see?
Look again…
To begin to understand representation
Learning Objectives
What is representation?
• Representation is the way in which the media constructs aspects of ‘real life’ including people, places, events, culture, ethnicity and issues (WJEC, Exploring the Media)
• The media don’t just present reality they re-present it.
Understanding Representation• To be able to understand representation we need
to be aware that part of it is how we see things and this is affected by our own experiences, culture, gender and preconceived expectations.
• Task- write a 50 word description of yourself and then ask the person next to you or someone on your table to write on of you. How are they different?
• They are different because of the person’s positioning and relationship to the subject matter which in this case is you.
Same person: one year apart. Consider how Miley Cyrus was representing herself last year, compared to her most controversial representation.
Miley Cyrus
This was the image on Miley Cyrus’ homepage of her official website last year. Why has this image been chosen? What does it represent?
Representation…• These are not the actual thing or person
– they are a representation of the thing.
• Representation means to re-present (i.e. show again)
• Remember: Individuals and groups of people are represented in the media as being a certain way. This is a construct of reality and NOT reality itself.
Representations• We’re creating representations all the time – if you’ve got a Facebook page you’ve definitely created a representation of yourself.
• Think about what you choose to put on there, and what you choose not to put on there.
How we are represented• I could represent this class as
diligent and hard working.• Or I could represent you as off-
task and disengaged.
It’s all about HOW I choose to show you, and what I leave OUT.
We can show the police as caring and helpful
OR NOT!
MEDIATION• The media selects (mediates) the
way it shows people to serve its own purposes.
• A media producer (the person who made the media product – advert, film, TV show) will deliberately represent a person or group according to what they want others to believe.
Key term: Mediation
Mediation refers how a representation is put together and what message it gives the audience
EVENT Mediation Representation of the event
Selection process:Type of mediaEditingCamera Angle CostumeLanguageMusic
Key term: MEDIATION
(Reality) The outcome
Message to the Audience
Actor Mediation Representation of character
Selection process:Type of mediaEditingCameraworkMise-en-sceneDialogueMusic
Key term: MEDIATION
Heath Ledger
Every report of an event is a representation of the event, NOT reality.
Versions of reality:
What you hear and see in the media is controlled by the person who is informing you:
IT IS ONE PERSON’S REPRESENTATION AND THEREFORE WILL PRESENT THEIR OPINIONS, BELIEFS AND BIASES .
Media representation can have many interpretations so as to direct the audience towards a desired outcome or message the producer can add captions, music, mise-en-scene, lighting or film from certain camera angles.
Key Term: ANCHORAGE
Look at the picture below and think about what it means to you.
How does the following caption affect the meaning of the same picture:
Corrupt officer arrested
Important Points to Consider!• What kind of world/image is being created by the
text?• Is it positive or negative?• How will audiences interpret this?• This will depend on how the person sees the
particular person or celebrity, what their relationship is to a certain event or issue
• It will also depend on the persons age, gender, ethnicity and situation