4. Stereotypes and Archetypes in film
Archetype: A stock character, which has
universal appeal and is frequently copied in
literature, television, radio and film. In soap
operas these are ‘typical’ roles that can be
seen across the genre such as villain, gossip,
tart etc.
Stereotype: The representation (positive or
negative) of a particular group, place or issue
which has been reduced to a simplified,
generalised perspective.
5. Name the following archetypes/stereotypes…
Think about your film- are there any
obvious archetypal/stereotypical
characters?
6. Gender recap
• Gender is a social construct it is not just biological. It is
also an aspect of our demographic.
• Despite what we may think there is no such thing as a
‘typical’ man or woman. There is no ideal femininity or
masculinity. There are many different types of masculinity
and femininity.
• Recap questions to consider:
• What gender stereotypes are present in your production
work?
• How has feminism and post-feminsim had an impact on
the representation of your male/female subjects?
7. Age
• Brainstorm stereotypes associated with:
• Teenagers
• People in their 20s.
• How are age groups represented in your
production work, particularly teenagers?
• Are there any examples of ‘age pretence’ where a
subject in your coursework is pretending to be
someone of a different age?
8. Ethnicity
• Brainstorm stereotypes associated with:
• Afro- Caribbean
• Indo-Asians and Filipinos.
• How are various ethnicities represented in your
production work?
• Are any ethnic stereotypes being perpetuated?
• Are the ethnicities you have used, conventionally seen in
your music mag genre and film genre?
• Think about cultural appropriation and hybridity.
9. • Are there any other representational areas
you can analyse with regard to your film
our magazine?
• Sexuality
• Region
• Religion
• Class?
10. Semiotic analysis
Denotation: the literal physical description
of what you see.e.g: red is a colour.
Connotation: the interpretation or
associations of the meaning.e.g: red means
anger, danger, passion etc.
Task: analyse the poster
for ‘Casino Royale’.
11. Analysis
• What gender stereotypes are present in your production work?
• How are various ethnicities represented in your production work?
• Are any ethnic stereotypes being perpetuated?
• Think about cultural appropriation and hybridity.
• How are age groups represented in your production work,
particularly teenagers?
• Are there any examples of ‘age pretence’ where a subject in your
coursework is pretending to be someone of a different age?
• Are there any other representational areas you can analyse with
regard to sexuality, region, class or physical ability?
12. • Analyse issues of representation in your
film poster.
• 15 mins.