Representation: blog tasks

Read the Media Magazine feature 'Representation old and new'. This is in MM51 on page 6 - go to our Media Magazine archive to find the article. Complete the following tasks:

1) Why is representation an important concept in Media Studies?

The media can have a significant impact on how we see and understand each other. 

2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media?

Kate Middleton shows how media can create different meanings through the way she is presented. Editors have the power to control the narrative by choosing what images to show, the headlines to use, and the context to emphasize. For example, a photo of her at an event can make her look elegant if paired with positive words, or it can focus on criticism if framed negatively. At the same time, audiences play a role in interpreting these images. People bring their own views and experiences, so one person might see her as a caring mother in a family photo, while another might see it as a staged PR move. This shows how both editors and audiences shape the meaning of what they see.

3) Summarise the section 'The how, who and why of media representation' in 50 words.

Media representations are shaped by creators’ choices, audience needs, and genre rules. Repeated elements feel “natural,” hiding ideologies and making them seem like common sense. Roland Barthes argues this “naturalization” silences alternative views, as people stop questioning familiar ideas, accepting them as the way things are.

4) How does Stuart Hall's theory of preferred and oppositional readings fit with representation?

Stuart Hall’s theory of preferred and oppositional readings suggests that audiences interpret media representations based on their own experiences. Audiences may fully accept (preferred), partially accept (negotiated), or reject (oppositional) the meanings intended by the creators, highlighting the fluid nature of media representation and ideology.

5) How has new technology changed the way representations are created in the media?

New technology, particularly social media, has given people more control over how they present themselves by allowing them to share curated images and content.

6) What example is provided of how national identity is represented in Britain - and how some audiences use social media to challenge this?

During the 2014 World Cup, The Sun newspaper used symbols like queuing, the Sunday roast, Churchill, and The Queen to represent a certain view of “Englishness.” While some people identified with this portrayal, others used social media to reject it, offering alternative views of national identity through self-representation.

Watch the clip from Luther that we studied in class (Season 1, Episode 1 - minute 7.40-10.00 - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access the clip). Now answer these final two questions:

7) Write a paragraph analysing the dominant and alternative representations you can find in the clip from Luther.

Luther is dominantly represented as an anti-hero, breaking police rules yet admired by colleagues and seen as a role model by subordinates. This appeals to younger audiences who value morally complex characters. Alternatively, he can be viewed as a disruptive nuisance, complicating his superiors’ work and frustrating the audience.

8) Write a paragraph applying a selection of our representation theories to the clip from Luther. Our summary of each theory may help you here:

Dyer’s theory highlights how Luther’s anti-hero traits are amplified, helping the audience identify his role and stay engaged with his unpredictability. The character combines anti-hero and good cop stereotypes, portrayed credibly by Idris Elba. Perkins’ theory suggests some stereotypes, like Luther’s vigilante role, can be accurate and nuanced, offering a realistic and balanced depiction.

Levi-Strauss: representation and ideology

Mulvey: the male gaze

Dyer: stereotyping and power

Medhurst: value judgements

Perkins: some stereotypes can be positive or true