Task 3 - 'Readings...'

Website 1:
The Guardian

The Guardian is a daily british national newspaper founded in 1821. On the newspapers website, they try to appeal to a lot of different types of consumer by listing different topics of discussion in various associated colours at the top of the page. These include, for example, 'life and style', 'Tv' and 'Tech' etc. I think that this is a good example of how the producers of the website for the guardian want the majority of those who visit the site to have a preferred reading.

Website 2

Website 3

Note: Write about what the preferred readings of the sites are (the producers hopes)

'The X Factor UK 2014 - Raign sings 'Dont Let Me Go'' - Mediation Process

In this first clip from 2014 The X Factor UK, a 31 year old singer songwriter named Raign auditions for chance in winning the singing competition. She is negatively portrayed by the producers of the show as someone who lacks manners and is quite self-absorbed, negative qualities in which she also portrays herself. For example, when asked a series of general background questions by judge Mel B, Raign interrupts the former Spice Gils singer before she is finished.

Once Raign interrupts Mel for the second time, a reaction shot of all for judges is shown, with Cheryl (another one of the four judges) turning her head sideways towards Mel to view her initial response to this and suggest her own distaste for Raign's  lack of manners towards someone who is supposed to be judging her, someone who holds the partially vote on her progress in the competition. After this, numerous reaction shots of Mel B and head judge and producer Simon also expressing their negative views of Raign are quickly shown.
   After this, a montage of fake "celebrity being taken photos of by the paparazzi" shots (created by the producers of the show) are shown to the audience of Raign being questioned prior to her audition. During this montage Madonna's 'Hung Up' (which features lyrics of slowly passing time) is heard playing non-diegitically in the background, evoking the idea that Raign keeps talking about herself and her so-called 'journey' for too long, suggesting that she is self-obsessed.

Task 1 - Examples of "Representation"

Different examples of "Representation" 
Class - Newspaper 

(http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/12/oscar-pistorius-guilty-culpable-homicide-reeva-steenkamp)
In this article from The Guardian, Oscar Pistorius is portrayed as a wealthy well known working class member of society, of which I think is a fair representation of Mr Pistorius' social class.

Gender - Television 

According to this piece by Time, Lena Dunham's HBO series 'GIRLS' is not sending the right message to its audience. Despite Bill Persky's congratulations on the young stars impressive accomplishments; being the writer, director and star of her own network television show, in the piece, he is also very quick to criticise the content of the show itself. For example he states how the four main characters of the show often settle for less instead of aspiring for more and also accept the same of those around them, the journalist is essentially calling the characters, as Brando would say; Bum's. Whilst I understand his viewpoint and agree that these four women do not represent the average mid-twenties woman, I do not that that Dunham should have to do so. As previously stated to the press, Girls is loosely based off of Dunham's own experiences and relationships. The show still manages, now going into its fourth season, to achieve great ratings, suggesting its viewers, of whom are mostly female, find connections to themselves after all.
   I also do not view the characters of the show to be something in which its viewers aspire to being, as Persky suggests. Instead, its characters are often subject to the consequences of their actions, an aspect of the show in which is most true to life.

Age - Film
In the 2009 film Harry Brown, the main character of the same name (played by Michael Caine) is the victim of discrimination from the rebellious youth of the film due to his age and unwillingness to bow down to their desires. All of the youth on Harry's estate are shown in a negative light, something which is not representative of the majority of teenagers. All of these young adults are viewed as bad influences on society.
Race - Television Show
Family Guy is a very popular animated television show which does not ever shy away from making fun of racial stereotypes as well as discriminatory characters. Often criticised for its portrayal of these people, Family Guy. in my opinion, uses these opportunities to raise issues regarding the subject. The Simpsons is another show that has been criticised for its very stereotypical portrayal of characters of minorities. One instance in particular is when Peter Griffin of Family Guy is shown as ignorant by assuming that black people would be offended by the use of Black by white individuals to describe them. This attempt to not hurt the feelings of your "typical angry black person" comes off as racist despite his intentions to not be.
Gender - Film
In Director Quentin Tarantino's 2003 revenge film, 'Kill Bill' (staring Uma Thurman), the main assassin character in which she plays as well as the other female characters in the film are seen as equal to the male assassins and even become triumphant over them in the end. This is something in which was previously not a conventional aspect of cinema. It was common in noir films for the females to be portrayed in progressive anti-conventional ways also. However, in 'Kill Bill' Beatrix does not use her sexual attractiveness to manipulate men in order to gain power, independence and dominance instead she receives her well deserved vengeance in the same way men do so: War.
Sexuality - Film
In the 2005 American epic romantic drama 'Brokeback Mountain', Ang Lee



Comment on:

• Negative or positive representation?
• What are the values of the producer of the media that underpin the television show/newspaper/film.

Remember to embed the videos/other form of media to the blog.