Question 2- how does

your media product

represent particular

social groups?

By Aminatta Sylva 12H

Social groups and stereotypes

A social group is when two or more people A social group is when two or more people that share similar likes, goals and ambitions that share similar likes, goals and ambitions and are likely to create a sense of belonging and are likely to create a sense of belonging through the way that they relate to each through the way that they relate to each other.other.

Social groups in film and other media texts such as music videos and magazines help us, the audience get a quick idea of what type of personality a person from a specific social group may have. This is called stereotyping; general statements made about particular social groups that aren’t always true.

Representation of Age in our film

openingIn our film opening we have represented young to be fun, In our film opening we have represented young to be fun, adventurous, outgoing, mature, serious and risky. We have adventurous, outgoing, mature, serious and risky. We have shown these characteristics in various shot types and in the shown these characteristics in various shot types and in the narrative.narrative.

Jessie’s best-friend Dan is also represented as a serious but fun young person, as he is a teaching assistant. We clearly establish that when he calling Jessie whilst in a class room.

For example, Mark is portrayed to the audience as being a mature young man, because he is getting ready to stay with one woman for the rest of his life; which most teenagers would almost find it impossible to stick to as they are Hedonist (they are enjoying life now but aren’t really concerned about the future).

Representation of Age through shot types

Even though the actors are teenagers themselves, we have dressed up as young adults and placed them in location that young adults are likely to be found. For example Jessie is heading to a friend’s apartment, and it just so happens to be that Daisy also lives there. The costumes have also made our actors look a bit older.

Representation of Gender

Traditional stereotype of gender in film would Traditional stereotype of gender in film would be to have a dominant man that is very be to have a dominant man that is very independent and only sees women through the independent and only sees women through the male gaze and likes to have them in his male gaze and likes to have them in his control.control.

Role include; business man, mechanic, builder, Role include; business man, mechanic, builder, doctordoctor

Traditional stereotype of women in films would Traditional stereotype of women in films would be very male dependent, stupid (pretending to be very male dependent, stupid (pretending to be to gain male attention) and seen as a be to gain male attention) and seen as a sexual object through the use of makeup, mise sexual object through the use of makeup, mise en scene, costumes (clothing revealing en scene, costumes (clothing revealing cleavage or legs). They also seem to have no cleavage or legs). They also seem to have no goals or ambitions, a goal that traditional goals or ambitions, a goal that traditional stereotyped women would have is to maybe stereotyped women would have is to maybe get married to a wealthy man. Therefore, one get married to a wealthy man. Therefore, one could say that they are being oppressed by the could say that they are being oppressed by the dominance of men, however it could be dominance of men, however it could be because they allow men to treat them that because they allow men to treat them that way.way.

Roles include; housewife, teacher, nurse, maid, Roles include; housewife, teacher, nurse, maid, factory workerfactory worker

Representation of Gender in our film opening

In our film opening both men and women have equal power In our film opening both men and women have equal power and dominance, because we have challenged the gender and dominance, because we have challenged the gender stereotypical roles. An example of this would be the fact that stereotypical roles. An example of this would be the fact that Dan works a teaching assistant; this is seen to be a job for Dan works a teaching assistant; this is seen to be a job for women, not men. This also applies to the character of Jessie- women, not men. This also applies to the character of Jessie- she is a journalist that travels around UK reporting stories. she is a journalist that travels around UK reporting stories. Journalists are stereotypically known to be men, not women. Journalists are stereotypically known to be men, not women. Daisy follows the traditional stereotype as she works as a Daisy follows the traditional stereotype as she works as a nurse in a local hospital. However, in my film opening both nurse in a local hospital. However, in my film opening both women are independent because they support themselves women are independent because they support themselves financially and do not need men to make them happy. Finally, financially and do not need men to make them happy. Finally, Mark works an accountant which follows the stereotype of Mark works an accountant which follows the stereotype of men having jobs that require further education and brains.men having jobs that require further education and brains.

Representation of Race & Ethnicity

We have presented various racial types in a We have presented various racial types in a non discriminatory way.non discriminatory way.

A way that we have challenged the code and A way that we have challenged the code and conventions of a rom-com is by using actors of conventions of a rom-com is by using actors of African and Asian backgrounds, instead of fully African and Asian backgrounds, instead of fully Caucasian actors. Caucasian actors.