MS1 Representations Intro Week 1

AS MEDIA:REPRESENT

ATION

Learning Objectives

• Students will explore the definition of representation

• Students will explore the ways in which selection, construction and anchorage are used in media representations

• Students will explore issues of negative and positive stereotypes, in relation to representations – we may get to this point!

LO: Students will explore and define representation

Starter activity…• Is TV news always a true representation of

real life?• The media offers choice and diversity?• Adverts can make us buy things we don't

really need• The story lines in soap operas reflect real

life?• The media makes children more violent in

our society• The media often effects people

subconsciously (i.e. without them realising it) LO: Students will explore and define representation

What do you think? Jot down a definition of RepresentationA basic description of the term Representation can be:

Depict a likeness through description or portrayal before us.orTo symbolise or be a substitute for something.



Media and Representation

• Representation refers to the way in which aspects of society are presented to an audience by media texts.

Recap : Last week…you were asked what is your opinion of the celebrity and actor Russell Brand?



Celebrity and representation…

• Why were you asked to look at Russell Brand. Can you make links to bigger picture?

• The concept of representation rests on HOW we receive information from the media, both through images and text. It rests on two ideas:-

1.We are being shown a re-presentation of reality (a version or a stand in of the real thing).

2.A certain point of view is being represented to us (an opinion or point of view).



Construction

• All representations in media texts, both factual and fictional are constructed.

• They offer versions of reality that have gone through a process of Mediation.

Mediation

Mediation refers to the process that a media text goes through before it is consumed by an audience

Mediation is achieved through:• Selection • Organisation • Focusing

Students will explore the ways in which selection, construction and anchorage are used in media representations

The Media Machine

LO: Students will explore the ways in which selection, construction and

anchorage are used in media representations

An example of an event we can use is the riots of August 2011

Representation– audience will decode in a variety of ways

1) Selection, footage used, interviews, what will be presented, what tone is used

2) Organisation – editing the story together and when to broadcast

3) Focus-what elements to focus on, hooded youths, hero of the hour!

These images RE-PRESENT Chris Brown in very different ways. His official website used the image to the left. The Daily Mail used the one below. Why?

Anchorage…

• Wild eyed: Chris Brown emerged from the Good Morning America studios in New York this morning without his shirt after allegedly flying into a rage backstage

• The anchorage of this text shapes the audience response and ‘closes’ its meaning – making the producers preferred meaning clear!

LO: Students will explore the ways in which selection, construction and anchorage are used in media representations.


Thinking back to the previous starter question

• Is TV news always a true representation of real life?

• Yes or no…give me your reasons!

Representation in magazines

LO: Students will explore the ways in which selection, construction and anchorage are used in media representations.


Advert Analysis-(in group)

• Looking at the image, consider:• Who is being represented?• How are they are being represented?• Who is representing them in this way?• Why are they being represented in this way?

What is the intention?• What is the effect of the representation?

Context and Purpose• The representation in a media text may have a

different purpose. This may change according to the type of text it is, i.e. the context.

• For example in the following clips, young people are represented very differently.

• Inbetweeners – uses comedy to represent youthhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQcNebRkDSs• Kidulthood - is trying to present ‘reality’http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1682454

Students will explore the ways in which selection, construction and anchorage are used in media

representations

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

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

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1682454

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1682454


Last weeks homework

• Students need to find examples of:• Class - Newspaper • Gender (male or female) – TV show • Age (young or old) – Film • Ethnicity – TV show • Sexuality – TV show/film/newspaper• Regional/National Identity (e.g. being from

Essex, Northern etc.) – TV Show


Comment on:

• Whether the representation is negative or positive? How and why have you identified this?

• What are the values of the media producer that underpins the TV show/newspaper/film

News & Politics

MS1 Representations Intro Week 1