RepresentationHow reality is re-presented in the media and how this affects audience’s views of certain people, places or attitudes.

• Consider and deconstruct your work by using the areas set in the TV drama exam. How does your media production work represent any of the following areas of society?

• Age• Disability• Gender• Sexuality• Ethnicity• Regional Identity• Social Class

•Thinking back to AS Level…

Decide which areas of society your product represents (it won’t be all of them!) and analyse how it does so (consider mise en scene, camera work, editing & sound). Do you conform or subvert the stereotypes?

• Marxism is a view which basically sees the rich as a minority who will be eventually (and inevitably) overthrown by the working classes to create a society where everyone is equal.

• Marxist perspectives draw our attention to the issue of political and economic interests in the mass media and highlight social inequalities in media representations.

• Answer the following:• Do you represent the ideology of the powerful characters as

beneficial to the masses/less powerful?• Do you show that being part of the mass/less powerful/working

class is a good or a bad thing?• Do you represent the elite/more powerful controlling forces as right

or wrong?

•A Marxist Analysis

• Binary oppositions: rich vs. poor• The rich are shown as having the power. They inhabit the upper decks and live in luxury.

When the ship starts to sink, they are the ones who get on the lifeboats first. This could represent our society which celebrates wealth – the rich are rewarded. The poor (masses) are shown as being unfavourably treated – they inhabit the lower decks and are cramped together, they are overlooked in the evacuation process and many perish. Despite the film being set in 1912, this could reflect how society functions today – the rich are rewarded and the poor suffer.

• A Marxist might interpret the film within their ideology when Jack (a character from the masses) challenges the ‘powerful’ figures. His character shuns materialistic needs and is more content with artistic endeavours and the pursuit of happiness. Jack is seen as likable and morally sound whereas Cal (antagonist) is seen as selfish, greedy and proud. Jack earns Rose’s love through the inherent goodness of his character whereas Cal tries to buy Rose’s love with the ‘Heart of the Ocean’.

• A Marxist could view elements of the story as representation of their ideology but the uprising of the masses never comes to fruition. However, the character Rose embodied Marxist ideology – she is educated by the masses and leaves her capitalistic lifestyle for a culturally ‘richer’ one.

Titanic – from a Marxist viewpoint!

Take a look at the following clips. What do they have in common?Tomb RaiderMummy ReturnsScream