Representation theory MM51
1) Why is representation an important concept in Media Studies?
the representation of a figure, city, idea etc, can have a positive or negative effect on the represented to the public. This is important because if a large media outlet decides to inaccurately represent a group, figure etc, it can hurt the image of the represented that can have adverse effects, and in the extreme cases can severely affect the lives of the represented. Understanding the effects of representation, both negative and positive helps media students understand the power of the media that much more.
2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media?
There are two photos of Kate Middleton that with an addition of a caption, one with a negative meaning and one with a positive meaning, can completely change the meaning of the photos and how they are represented to the audience.
3) Summarise the section 'The how who and why of media representation' in 50 words.
When looking at representations you must who is making them and why. Representation itself is an accumulation of media language choices, its a combination of selections and rejections. Sometimes even an item that has no ideological value can have an ideological representation.
4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation?
Stuart Hall's reception theory suggests that the audience read a media text in three different ways, one is preferred where the audience read the text the way the creator wants it to read, the negotiated reading where the audience reads the media text between the creator's intentions and the audiences individual views. And lastly, there is the oppositional reading of the media text where the audience's perception is completely different to what the media text creator had intended. When a media outlet tries to represent something to the public, the reception of that representation can be varied since each person's view can be subjective e.g. If fox news presents a news story about a minority group and gives off a negative representation of said minority group, their audience could have a prefered reading by thinking that the minority group is bad, while other members of the audience could have an oppositional reading of the news story thinking that the minority is being misrepresented and or that Fox news is racist.
5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media?
New technology has become more accessible to the public giving the average person the opportunity to voice their opinion to a large and sometimes international audience. Previously when this new technology did not exist the only voice was that of the established media outlets; these media outlets had the ability to push their own biases to the public, but now new technology has given the misrepresented the opportunity to push their views to the public giving them the chance to educate the previously relatively ignorant.
6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this?
An example given is that of politicians being proud to associate themselves with British culture and how the SUN views what it means to be British. But often the public challenge these representations with the help of new media e.g. Social Media, video sharing websites etc.
the representation of a figure, city, idea etc, can have a positive or negative effect on the represented to the public. This is important because if a large media outlet decides to inaccurately represent a group, figure etc, it can hurt the image of the represented that can have adverse effects, and in the extreme cases can severely affect the lives of the represented. Understanding the effects of representation, both negative and positive helps media students understand the power of the media that much more.
2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media?
There are two photos of Kate Middleton that with an addition of a caption, one with a negative meaning and one with a positive meaning, can completely change the meaning of the photos and how they are represented to the audience.
3) Summarise the section 'The how who and why of media representation' in 50 words.
When looking at representations you must who is making them and why. Representation itself is an accumulation of media language choices, its a combination of selections and rejections. Sometimes even an item that has no ideological value can have an ideological representation.
4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation?
Stuart Hall's reception theory suggests that the audience read a media text in three different ways, one is preferred where the audience read the text the way the creator wants it to read, the negotiated reading where the audience reads the media text between the creator's intentions and the audiences individual views. And lastly, there is the oppositional reading of the media text where the audience's perception is completely different to what the media text creator had intended. When a media outlet tries to represent something to the public, the reception of that representation can be varied since each person's view can be subjective e.g. If fox news presents a news story about a minority group and gives off a negative representation of said minority group, their audience could have a prefered reading by thinking that the minority group is bad, while other members of the audience could have an oppositional reading of the news story thinking that the minority is being misrepresented and or that Fox news is racist.
5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media?
New technology has become more accessible to the public giving the average person the opportunity to voice their opinion to a large and sometimes international audience. Previously when this new technology did not exist the only voice was that of the established media outlets; these media outlets had the ability to push their own biases to the public, but now new technology has given the misrepresented the opportunity to push their views to the public giving them the chance to educate the previously relatively ignorant.
6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this?
An example given is that of politicians being proud to associate themselves with British culture and how the SUN views what it means to be British. But often the public challenge these representations with the help of new media e.g. Social Media, video sharing websites etc.
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