The Media and Representation

What will you be studying?

• What is meant by representation?

• What kind of world is being constructed by the media text?

• Who is in control of the text? Whose ideas and values are expressed through representations?

• How will audiences interpret/decode the representations in the text? Who is the text aimed at?

• The ‘Effects debate’ how representations in the media effect the audience – our opinions and attitudes of people/groups/issues.

What is Representation?• When you switch on your TV the images on the screen look like the ones

you see when you look through your window.

• TV is often described as a ‘window on the world’

• However TV ( and the media) is not a window on the world or could ever be.

• Every televised image is a product of many decisions about how reality should be transformed.

• TV/ the media can only ever offer versions of reality …

• …influenced by the decision making processes of media producers and the technical constraints of the media/ medium.

• “The media, therefore, is not a window on the world.” (Stuart Hall)

• It is a “distorting mirror.”

(John Pilger)

What is Representation?

• Representation is how the media re-presents reality.

• It is not simply an accurate reflection of reality.

• People, places, events and issues are all things that can be given a specific representation.

Moving Image Examples

• TOWIE/ Made in Chelsea

• Triumph of the Will

• The X- Factor

Key points to remember:

• A representation is never the whole truth about what is represented – it is only one version or perception of the truth

• A media representation is a construction – an image made by a team of people, each of whom has some influence in shaping the final product/text.

• This shaping process is known as MEDIATION

Mediation• MEDIATION = The way the media represents/

recreates reality.

( it selects, constructs and focuses upon particular elements. Choices are made about what to leave out and what is drawn to our attention.)

• Simply it is the idea that when the medium (TV. Film, newspapers) carries a message it is mediating it.

• Mediation is the act of ‘going between’ - in this case between the ‘real world’ and the ‘audience’.

Mediation

• When you think about it you may come to the conclusion that much of what you know and most of your experiences are merely mediated.

• Task: Think of as many words/things/ideas that you would associate with the country Egypt.

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 chaarcter or in newspapers and magazines our eyes are drawn to the headlines and coverlines

Representation is a Controversial Concept

• Our beliefs, views and values (and prejudices) are shaped by representations in the media…