Representation of Issues and Events

This term:We will look at:The representation of issues and events by the media. Issues• The use of sexualised

images in products aimed at children

• Size zero• Third world poverty

Events• London Riots• Royal

baby/marriage??• Olympics and

Paralympics

Teacher

Teacher…?

What do you see?

Look again…

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.It’s also about WHO is doing the re-presenting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYNYPQBgIUE

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 mediaEditing

Camera Angle

Costume

Language

Music

Key term: MEDIATION

(Reality) The outcome

Message to the Audience

EVENT Mediation Representation of the event

Selection process:

Type of mediaEditing

Camera Angle

Costume

Language

Music

Key term: MEDIATION

Robert Pattinson emerging with his personal trainer

Robert Pattinson in new relation with mystery brunette

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

What do you think?

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

Construction and Focus► So media texts ( and representations)

are all constructions – they are built.

► Focus – mediation also encourages the audience to focus upon a particular aspect of the media texts to push us towards a certain perspective.

► E.g. in a drama the camera may focus upon a particular character or in newspapers and magazines our eyes are drawn to the headlines and coverlines

Homework: Identify an event

►Find an example of mediation and anchorage and analyse it.

►In … magazine/advert/paper, the editor has included (an article/an advert) which is mediated and shows bias. This can be seen from ….. . It is biased because…

►Anchorage is used because…