4. Constructions of Reality
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How might the following media construct
rather than reflect reality?
TV News programme (by selecting which
stories to ârunâ and which to ignore).
TV crime drama
A website for a charity
A lifestyle magazine
5. Representation â some definitions
⢠Representation is the ability of texts to draw
upon features of the world and present them
to the viewer, not simply as reflections, but
more so, as constructions (OâShaughnessy &
Stadler 2002). Hence, the images do not
portray reality in an unbiased way with 100%
accuracy, but rather, present âversions of
realityâ influenced by culture and peopleâs
habitual thoughts and actions
(OâShaughnessy & Stadler 2002).
6. Representation of Social Groups
⢠We often analyse representations in the media
according to categories such as:
⢠Age
⢠Disability
⢠Gender
⢠Socio-economic grouping
⢠Race
⢠Nationality
⢠sexuality
7.
8. Ideology
⢠An ideology is a belief system that is
constructed and presented by a media
text.
⢠Media texts represent the world in order to
support a dominant ideology.
⢠For example, newspapers often promote
the dominant ideology of patriotism
through their representation of race and
nationality.
9. Some Dominant Ideologies
⢠Capitalism. The production of capital and
consumption of surplus value as a life goal.
⢠Patriotism. To love, support and protect
oneâs country and its people.
⢠Marriage and family. The âright wayâ to live
is to marry an opposite-sex partner and
have children.
⢠Male superiority. Men are more suited to
positions of power, and more suited to
decision-making at work and at home.
10. Dominant Ideologies around the
world
⢠Many dominant ideologies are extremely culturespecific. For example:
⢠Christian fundamentalism as a political force in
the USA
⢠Shariah law is some Muslim countries
⢠The principle of individual freedom in the
Netherlands
⢠Dominant ideologies are central to peopleâs
belief systems. It is often difficult or
impossible to challenge them effectively.
11. Hegemony
⢠Hegemony is the way in
which those in power
maintain their control.
⢠Dominant ideologies are
considered hegemonic;
power in society is
maintained by
constructing ideologies
which are usually
promoted by the mass
media.
12. Examples of hegemonic values
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The police are always right
It is important to be slim
A credit card is a desirable status symbol
Mass immigration is undesirable
The poor are lazy and deserve their
hardship
⢠Men are better drivers than women
⢠It is important to wear fashionable clothes
13. Stereotypes
⢠Stereotypes are characters in a media text who are
âtypesâ rather than complex people.
⢠Stereotypes are often defined by their role, such as
âbad copâ or ânice old ladyâ.
⢠Childrenâs media texts often use stereotypes so a
young audience can identify quickly with the
characters.
⢠Stereotypes are usually negative representations,
considered to be too reductive. Many are
considered offensive, such as a âdrunken Irishmanâ,
a âfanatical Muslimâ or an âover-emotional womanâ.
14. Extension/restriction of our
experience of reality
⢠By giving audiences information, media
texts extend experience of reality.
⢠Every time you see a media text, you
extend your experience of life but in a
second-hand way (vicarious).
⢠However, because the producers of the
media text have selected and constructed
the information we receive, then our
experience is restricted.
15. Add your own definition of:
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Hegemony
Ideology
Representation
Stereotype
to your technical glossary
17. The Sophie Dahl âOpiumâ Ad
Expensive, aspirational accessories
Exposed nipple â a broken taboo
Purple velvet â connotes royalty & luxury
Idealized female form enhanced using Photoshop
Sexually submissive pose
18. Get used to looking at the
images from different media
texts
Who is being represented and how?
Is it a positive or negative representation?
Does it conform to a stereotype?
Does it demonstrate any dominant
ideologies/hegemonic value?
23. Make sure you know
Your definition of:
â˘Hegemony
â˘Ideology and
â˘Representation
And thatâs its on your blog. It needs to be in
your own words.