Representations

Representations theorists –

Stuart Hall – representation is the production of meaning through language with language defined in its broadest sense as a system of
signs. The relationships between concept and signs is governed by codes . Stereotyping as a form of representations reduces people to a
few simple characteristics or traits, stereotyping tends to occur where there are inequalities of power, as a subordinated or excluded
groups are constructed as different or other. Media language is used to create representations. Stereotyping is often used to assert power.

David Gauntlett – media provides us with tools and resources that we use to construct our identities. Whilst in the past the media tended to
convey singular straightforward messages about ideal types of male and female identities the media today offers us a more divers range of
starts, icons, and characters from whom we may pick and mix different ideas. We use internet and other media texts to help us to create
our identities. We now have more of a variety of representations to identify with. Media doesn’t create but reflects identities.

Liesbet Van Zoonen – gender is constructed though discourse and that its meaning varies according to cultural and historical context. That
the display of women's bodies as objects to be looked at is a core element of western patriarchal culture. That in mainstream culture the
visual and narrative codes that are used to construct the male body as spectacle differ from those used to objectify the female. Men and
women are represented differently in the media. Women are objectified as a result of western culture.
 Representations theorists –

Bell Hooks – feminism is a struggle to end sexist / patriarchal oppression and the ideology of domination. Feminism is political commitment
rather than a lifestyle choice. That the race and class as well as the sex determines the extent to which individuals are exploited discriminated
against or oppressed. Feminism is a political struggle to end patriarchal domination and other factors affects this domination, including race
and class.

Paul Gilroy – colonial discourses continue to inform contemporary attitudes to race and ethnicity in the post conical era. Civilisations
constructs racial hierarchies and sets up binary oppositions based on nations of otherness. Even though we no longer have colonies the
representations of these groups are still effected by that time. Representations support a belief in the inherent superiority of white western
civilisations.

Judith Butler – identity is performatively constructed by other very expressions that are said to be its result. It is manufactured through a set
of acts. There is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender representation and a ritual. Gender is a social construct. Masculine and
feminine are created representations. We learn how to preform gender roles through repetition and ritual so it becomes naturalised
Stereotyping –
Representations are presented through the use of stereotyping in newspapers, magazines and in the overall media. The media sues negative and positive
stereotyping for their specific audiences as well as the use misrepresentation and under representation. This is done in order to reinforce their
audiences world view and the representations communicated by the newspaper and its owners. Therefore a stereotype is a characterisation of an
individuals or social group that has a certain characteristic or feature. These stereotypes can be seen in the media through signs and codes, they attach
specific values and ideas to what ever group they are aiming to stereotype and this then gets recognised by the society due to how often the stereotype is
used and on who. These stereotypes can be both positive or negative however how they are viewed depends on how the media will present them to their
audience. Anti-stereotype would be something that goes against a general way of thinking about a group of people. For example The Daily Mail stereotypes
migrants as just coming to the UK for the NHS and benefits, an anti stereotype would show migrants as hardworking contributors to the economy .Anti-
stereotypes are the exact opposite of a stereotypes, they are mostly the things that you don’t see or here about that the media tries to cover.
Key Points • Stereotypes can be positive and present an image that is preferred for
• Stereotypes are built up through audience recognition of codes of certain groups of people
behaviour • Stereotypes can be negative so that one primary image is ever offered and it
• Stereotypes, codes and conventions do change over time and becomes code for a whole series of assumptions about a character. A
different audiences can ‘read’ them in unexpected or different physical or cultural attribute is a code for a whole series of critical
ways. assumptions
https://women-s.net/gender-stereotypes-in-the-media/
Advertising, a widespread means of media, perpetuates images of genders that are unrealistic, stereotypical and restrictive. Statistics tell us there are 3 main
themes in gender stereotypes in the media:
•The underrepresentation of women, which hints that women are second-class citizens, and men are alphas.
•The portrayal of men and women according to socially endorsed views of gender.
•The portrayal of relationships between men and women that highlights traditional roles and standardizes violence against women.
Stereotyping Example -

The British military is the oldest military in the world that is still active and has been around since the early 1500’s. Naturally with such a long history
stereotypes have formed from within the forces and from within the civilian world.
The Army is often portrayed to be full of uneducated people that cannot think for themselves and just follow orders and act as “bullet sponges” (a common
nickname within the military for an infantryman).This stereotype has only begun to exist since the Second World War when the main tactic of the Army was
to overwhelm the enemy with mediocrely trained infantryman which resulted in unimaginable casualties. This stereotype has risen in popularity again after
the war against insurgency began in Afghanistan when the primary tactic of the Army was to draw fire and distract insurgents so that more skilled soldiers
(Royal Marines, SBS or SAS) could move on targets or bombs that were could then be dropped .The media commonly portrays members of the Army as
brave and courageous.

Navy - Sailors in the Navy are often stereotyped for partaking in homosexual activities while at sea, this is because in the early days of the Navy it was
common for sexually frustrated sailors to relieve this frustration with other male sailors.

The RAF - is stereotyped to be full of lazy members that refuse to put up with any hardships and enjoy a luxury lifestyle. This exists for a few reasons - The
RAF is the newest branch of the forces and therefore had the ability to learn from the other branches mistakes before it was even created and has been
able to create a more efficient branch. Members of the RAF receive a higher pay on average compared to the other branches because the majority of RAF
work requires mental ability over physical ability, unlike other branches all members of the RAF are specialised and only need to fulfil one specific and
difficult job where as army infantry men are trained to be average at a few tasks. The RAF rarely need to be deployed directly into a war zone and usually
can be in an airbase in a different country without putting themselves in danger. A majority of RAF jobs are seated such as at a desk or in an aircraft, this
has earned the RAF the popular nickname of “The Chair Force”. These stereotypes only really exist within the branches of the military as within the media
life in the Air Force is seen as fast paced and exciting whereas the few jet pilots that this stereotype is based on spend more time on the ground than in the
air.

“Reporting on racial or ethnic groups other than one’s own is
a delicate endeavour. Journalists help shape the way that
people understand cultures, societies and the world. Word
choices can cause serious offense, especially to communities
with a history of being misrepresented in the media.”
https://signalhfx.ca/misrepresentation-in-the-media/
Misrepresentation -
Whilst doing research on
representations in the media I came
across an interesting website that
showed me a different way of how I
should view mis-representation in the
media and how the media shapes their
audience by their use of language and a
limited amount of truth and detail in
their articles about a certain subject.
This website has really shown me a
different point of view on how the media
represents certain topics and I will be
mentioning some of the points made in
this website in my coursework as I want
my audience to have a clear mindset on
how the media works.
Under Representation -
“Media representations are the
ways in which the media portrays
particular groups, communities,
experiences, ideas, or topics from a
particular ideological or value
perspective. Rather than examining
media representations as simply
reflecting or mirroring "reality," we
examine how media representations
serve to "re-present" or to actually
create a new reality.”
An under represented person
or group of people could be
anyone that is outside of the
white male group (they are the
owners and controllers of the
media so they are represented
the most