Representation and basic semiotics

A Representation Recap

• What is meant by representation?

• What is meant by demographic?

• What factors determine a demographic?

• What is meant by stereotype?

• Remember: the media is responsible for ‘constructing’ representations.

Stereotypes and Archetypes in film

Archetype: A stock character, which has universal appeal and is frequently copied in literature, television, radio and film. In soap operas these are ‘typical’ roles that can be seen across the genre such as villain, gossip, tart etc.Stereotype: The representation (positive or negative) of a particular group, place or issue which has been reduced to a simplified, generalised perspective.

Name the following archetypes/stereotypes…

Think about your film- are there any obvious archetypal/stereotypical characters?

Gender recap• Gender is a social construct it is not just biological. It is also

an aspect of our demographic.

• Despite what we may think there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ man or woman. There is no ideal femininity or masculinity. There are many different types of masculinity and femininity.

• Recap questions to consider:

• What gender stereotypes are present in your production work?

• How has feminism and post-feminsim had an impact on the representation of your male/female subjects?

Age and ethnicity

• How are various age groups represented in your production work, particularly teenagers?

• Are there any examples of ‘age pretence’ where a subject in your coursework is pretending to be someone of a different age?

• How are various ethnicities represented in your production work?

• Think about cultural appropriation and hybridity. Are any ethnic stereotypes being perpetuated.

Semiotic analysisDenotation: the literal physical description

of what you see.e.g: red is a colour.

Connotation: the interpretation or associations of the meaning.e.g: red means

anger, danger, passion etc.

Symbol/icon: a visual ‘tool’ that can signify a whole genre, culture etc.

Metonym: when one iconic image can represent a whole culture, nation, ethnicity.

Signifier: any iconic symbol that signifies

meaning e.g.,text, a facial expression, an image. Task: analyse the poster

for ‘Casino Royale’.

Name the following archetypes/stereotypes…

Think about your film- are there any obvious archetypal/stereotypical characters?

Music mags and representation.

Task: What representational issues canbe raised from this music magazinefront cover?What stereotypes are in evidence?

Section A, Question 1 (b)

Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to representation.

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• Refer to all 3 parts of your music magazine

• How the main characters represented using technical aspects, in terms of:– Age– Gender– Ethnicity

• Think about:– Mise-en-scene (e.g. costume, positioning, make-up, facial expression)– Cinematography (e.g. CU, MS, High Angle) – Language (e.g. quote dialogue from DPS, sell-lines from front cover)

• What stereotypes (traditional and non-traditional (e.g. post-feminist)) are:– Subverted– Reinforced

• Remember to EVALUATE:– If you were to do it again how would you do things differently?– Did you change direction during the production process? Why (e.g.

questionnaire)?– What were your intended meanings? Were these always communicated?