Representation The media represent social groups such as

Representation The media re-present social groups such as gender, race, class groups and occupational groups. No media representation can be “neutral”. Because the media is so pervasive in today’s society, it is important to unpick how these representations are constructed.

Why is representation important? Limited and negative representations can create or reinforce prejudice towards certain groups Without critical awareness, we might accept these representations as natural or “common sense”

Sound move THE Tories have had a good idea. All immigrants and asylum seekers should have compulsory medical tests. It would help check the spread of diseases like Aids and TB. London is the TB capital of the world, with a rate of infection 25 times higher than Australia. Already the anti-brigade are threatening “human rights” cases. Habib Rahman, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, attacks the “shameful” Tories and says it’s “another attack on vulnerable immigrants and asylum seekers”. What rubbish he spouts. Everyone has the right to live as free from disease as possible. Health checks would benefit the newcomers just as much as those here.

Textual Analysis AS Media Studies introduces the idea of textual analysis. This means looking in detail at how different texts ( television, film, newspapers, magazines etc) use particular technical codes and conventions to construct meaning. Through this analysis, we can question these meanings critically.

What affects representation? However, media texts don’t exist in isolation. We must also consider the conditions of their production and reception: Institutional context Genre Target audience Dominant ideologies

Budget $14 m Opening Weekend $11. 28 m (USA) (1, 325 screens) Gross $285 m (Non-USA) $178. 406 m (USA) $463. 4 m (worldwide) Budget $2. 5 m Gross $6. 401 m (USA)

In soaps, women are powerful at home and at work In horror films, women are often victims of male killers

Situation Comedy Series of 30 minute episodes Focus on relationships within the home or at work Impossible or insoluble situations reveal new comic possibilities each week Cyclical narrative- at the end of each episode the basic situation remains the same

Sitcom and representation Lack of narrative progression means that sitcoms can be seen as a conservative genre where nothing changes. Humour comes through familiarity. Representations in sitcom are often stereotypical. Humour comes through exaggeration. Comedy allows sitcoms to be transgressive. Humour comes through characters breaking the rules.

Gender stereotypes in sitcom Many classic UK sitcoms have centered on men Men are often associated with misbehaviour and are sometimes infantilised. Women in sitcoms are often domineering and powerful Some recent sitcoms have women in the central role The “unruly” woman is a common character in sitcom

Absolutely Fabulous Written by Jennifer Saunders, an “alternative” comedian Initially broadcast on BBC 2 then moved to BBC 1 Broadcast after 9 o’clock watershed June Whitfield and Joanna Lumley cast against type

Sitcom and audiences Which characters do you identify with? Which characters are you encouraged to laugh at? Do you feel critical of any of the characters? Do you aspire to the behaviour of any of the characters?

[ WILDCAT Corrie beauty Tracy Shaw mercilessly beat, kicked and spat at her cowering husband in a drunken, foulmouthed onslaught. Drinking "She's got a problem with drink, " said Clare. "I like a drink myself, but Tracy can't draw the line. I'd watch telly with her at her home in Manchester and she'd drink two bottles of champagne on her own, easy. I'd be drinking tea and she'd be knocking back the booze fine style. "She might hate me for this but hopefully she'll get some help because she'll be dead if she carries on like this. She isn't eating healthily either. You just have to look at the pictures of her. ” DO you have a story about a star? Call us any day on 0207 782 4444 or e-mail features@news-of-the-world. co. uk

SEXBOMB: Tracy was a wildcat ONCE SO CLOSE: Clare and Tracy ONCE HAPPY: Tracy and Robert

Conclusion Representations change over time and from genre to genre Negative or limited representations can affect the way we make sense of the world Textual analysis can help is become aware of how these representations are constructed and help us make informed judgements about what we see or hear.