1. Representation in TV Dramas
Kieran Shah

2. Class
 This is Francis and Claire Underwood from House of
Cards. (US)
 They’re represented as stereotypically upper-class and
wealthy.
 This is seen in the symbolic sense with their clothes and
accessories; suits, an expensive watch, and diamond
earrings all signifying power and wealth,
 The Marxist Theory is apparent by the producers portraying
the ideology of the dominant man, his body language (arms
crossed), height, and position of being in front of Claire, his
subordinate, all signify this.

3. Class
 This is Spooge’s Lady from Breaking Bad. (US)
 She is of the stereotypical extreme lower class, much
below the poverty line.
 The low-key lighting represents an unsettling
mood, one that the audience isn’t meant to feel
comfortable with.
 There is the theme of drugs that runs throughout the
show but she represents who it effects and
how, another sign of Marxism that the producers want
to portray who the ideal person isn’t and cementing
the zeitgeist view that they have built.

4. Sexuality
 This is Maxxie from Skins. (UK)
 He is the archetypal homosexual man. He is
flamboyant, has a feminine voice, and partakes in
activities usually associated with women such as
dancing.
 The high-key lighting stays in line with his
flamboyance and shows that he isn’t to be seen
as something low.

5. Sexuality
 This is Emily and Naomi, also from Skins. (UK)
 They are the countertype of the lesbians that are
seen in the media as they are feminine in their
looks, have positive and fun personalities, and
remain friends with heterosexual men.
 They aren’t to be demeaned as the high-key
lighting connotes to the positivity in the act.

6. Disability
 This is Will from The Inbetweeners. (UK)
 He’s just unknowingly insulted a group of mentally disabled
people, and from this is where the joke derives.
 They have been represented as objects we should be pitiful
and sympathetic toward, Will’s insults would have been just
if they were not disabled yet they were and we’re made to
laugh at him due to the awkwardness he’s created.
 This is an instance of Levis Strauss’ binary opposites
theory as we understand the joke through the opposites of
what we believe the able and disable are capable of.

7. Disability
 This is Derek from Derek. (UK)
 There isn’t a unanimity in Derek’s representation
as a disabled man as opposites are shown. His
unclean hair, unkempt facial hair, and simple
expression signify a slow man that is unable to
look after himself, which is a common
representation. However, his personality denotes
kindness and caring which is something
overlooked by the mainstream media as a trait

8. Regional Identity
 This clip (to view, click on the image) is from Our Friends in the
North, featuring characters from the North and South of
England. (UK)
 They are stereotypically presented, those from the North are
colloquial and fun, and the woman from the South is career
driven and stiff.
 There are cultural differences seen in the ‘sweetheart’ section
where communication was misinterpreted due to the rarity that
one might call another sweetheart in the South.
 The colour of the dresses signify differences, too. The Northern
woman was wearing red; seductive and feminine. The Southern
lady, however, was in black; masculine and powerful.

9. Age
 This is Barry Barry from Waterloo Road. (UK)
 He is portrayed stereotypically as a dominant
male teenager. He shows little care for rules as he
is the only one who keeps his jacket on in class
and his unkempt appearance in how he has not
shaven shows the rebellious attitude commonly
used in depicting teenagers.

10. Age
 This is Alfred Pennyworth from Batman: The
Animated Series. (US)
 Here he is depicted as a common old man, seen in
his formality by his smart attire, good posture, and
use of well spoken Standard English.

11. Ethnicity
 This is the Stanfield Crew from The Wire. (US)
 They are the archetype of blacks. Hoods and hats
which connote that they conduct mischievous
behaviour one wouldn’t like to expose themselves
doing. The cheap clothing and tight spaces the
house are fitted into connote a low
income, further signifying low intelligence.

12. Ethnicity
 This is Abu Nazir of Homeland. (US)
 He has been conjured from the stereotypical view
of terrorism being only for the Asian origin.
 He is covered in black clothing, connoting danger
and evil, all negative associations pinned to the
conventions of this stereotype.

13. Gender
 This is Dawn Tinsley from The Office. (UK)
 She is stereotypically represented as the
receptionist, not advancing the conventions of her
character at all.
 The difference in formality can be seen between
Tim and Dawn’s clothes. Tim is wearing a suit and
Dawn is wearing a fairly informal shirt, highlighting
the separation of importance between the male
and female characters.

14. Gender
 This is Olivia Dunham from Fringe. (US)
 There are two versions of this character, one
from each parallel universe and in both she
represents the countertype of women.
 She is either in a suit, signifying
formality, professionalism, and intelligence, or
she is in a leather jacket, connoting action.
 This goes against Hegemony as this isn’t a
popular ideology, even today.