Representation &Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall says that when it comes to representation, there is no way something can be 'misrepresented' unless we have a template of the true representation in the first place. He believes we must first have a stereotype set in our minds that we would work from if we were to differentiate between what is a true representation of that certain stereotype and a false representation of a stereotype. He also says that we must be influenced by something to have an image of a stereotype in the first place; the media usually influences are mind set of a stereotype by showing us a stereotypical view of something or someone by the media (television, magazines, newspapers, etc). We base our thoughts by from what we see or have seen. 

Signifiers - images/actions/objects

Signified - implies meaning of the signifier.

For example;

• Signifier - person wearing jeans
• Signified - that person is in casual dress

Codes - the links in our minds between the signifiers & the signified
Denotation - shared thoughts 
Connotations - implied meaning or thought from signifiers


For example;

• Signifier - Mac Computer
• Denotations - We all know that it is a computer
• Connotations - Macs are difficult to use and crash a lot

The meaning of Traffic lights
- this theory tells us that the red and green is culturally determined.
- the difference between red and green is what signifies the meaning.
- for example: someone wearing overalls inside a hospital - assumed to be a doctor because of where they are. if they were wearing overalls outside of a hospital we would not instantly presume that they were a doctor.
- the codes (links between the signifiers and the signified) fix the meaning of something, not the colour of it.


Images and Intertextuality
- this theory shows us that the representation in language/images/text depends on the knowledge of previous texts. 
- our knowledge of the energiser bunny is based on prior TV adverts.
- the use of celebrity endorsements requires the public to have knowledge of these celebrities for the endorsement to work.
- the meaning of intertextual links are constructed by viewers based on the media knowledge.
- viewers enjoy the fact that they are 'in the know'.
- for example: if a celebrity chef has a catch phrase or had done something memorable, and they were then used to endorse a product on TV, if they used the catch phrase or did the same thing they had done before, everyone would feel good because they understand ‘the joke’ and they know what is going on, and if someone did not know about the ‘inside joke’ they would be outcast or laughed at.

Stereotyping - fixes and meanings
- Stereotyping limits the way in which we think about the groups of people, especially those who are assigned to groups. Stereotyping shapes our perceptions of that certain categorised group so we assume ALL are literally the exact same.
- for example; Scientists are shown and thought to be nerds whereas Native Americans are portrayed as alcoholics.

- The media can contest stereotypes by increasing the amount of diverse images they send out, and they make us think:

• Where did it come from?
•  How is the meaning changed/closed down in representation?
• Who produces the images?
• Why have they produced this image?  

ANY representations are a mix of:
- the thing itself
- the opinions of the people closing the representation
- the reaction of the individual
- the context of the society in which it is taking place 

Representation: 90210

    Notes:

      clothing

• two male characters wearing dark clothing; black/navy hoody, dark shade of jeans. this portrays a scary and mysterious character? maybe even dominant, nasty characters walking towards another character and then beaten up  - character beaten up is also in dark clothing.
• man in a suit/formal wear, well presented, clean cut - suggests business, importance - manager of a solo artist.
• female characters made up in expensive jewellery, 'perfect' looking make-up, expensive/fancy clothing, designer brands - rich - in the music industry.
• make-up on male character - sweat - character is hot - creates a tense atmosphere and an understanding.
• make-up on same male character - blood, cuts, bruises - pain & injury - creates atmosphere and understanding again.
  
  camera angles & shots
• close ups - focus on facial expressions, face can describe a person well - characters in deep, serious conversation.
• over the shoulder - once again, focus on facial expressions in characters conversations.
• crane - view from above character, whilst dealing drugs outside - as if spying on characters - also focused on bag of drugs (props represent the characters).
• long shot/extreme shot - drawn the audience into emotions of the characters - body language (actions) help contribute too.
  
  Editing
• shot reverse shots - at least one in each scene - to reveal where the characters' are standing - also can sometimes describe the characters.
• eyeline watch - male character looked at high school - by facial expressions can see he does not want to be there - he is the 'bad boy' in high school and can feel the tension as he walks towards it.
  
  Actions
• male character stroking female character's hair, hugging from behind and grinning - suggests some sort of relationship; married, together, affair etc.
• female character's voice soft, fragile and quite quiet - automatically see that there is something wrong.
• male character acting suspicious and following another character - sense danger ahead.
• male character constantly looking over at another male character whilst in conversation with a different character, thinking about the male character and chasing after him. then putting his arm around him and looking into his eyes throughout their conversation - suggests some sort of close relationship; together or an affair - not marriage due to their age and how main male character has been acting.

Representation in the TV Drama Shameless

I have chosen the Channel 4 TV Drama, Shameless, to analyse the representation that is included every episode. Shameless is a television series set in the fictional Chatsworth council estate, in Manchester. Written by Paul Abbott, Shameless indulges in portraying the typical stereotypes of today by how the characters and scenes are represented.

The realism of the programme is represented as the present. It has portrayed the present well as it has the characters dressed in the latest fashions, the characters speak the latest slang, they've produced every day situations as well as including episodes of almost every new year, new elections etc. It has even included world situations like the recession, poverty, weather disasters etc. It was first aired in 2004 and has continued, it is now on it's 8th series and even continuing with a 9th series, it will continue to represent the current year/s.

The TV Drama series portrays the typical stereotypes that we have every day. The main characters are your typical benefit claiming, council house owned, violent, drug fueled, large family. An example of one of the main characters is Vernon Francis "Frank" Gallagher is the father and head of the Gallagher household who is an unemployed alcoholic chain smoker that tends to have drunken rants on a wide variety of literary, historical and philosophical subjects and how decent, hard-working people, which he also counts himself as, are discriminated against. Frank has seven children (Ian, Debbie, Fiona, Phillip, Carl, Liam, Stella) to his first wife, Monica, is the father of twins (Nigel and Delia) with Sheila Jackson and has fathered Monica's half sister. He has also said, in one of his drunken rants, that he got several girls pregnant when he was in high school, so we do not actually know how many children he has fathered. They have given this character long, greasy hair, yellow teeth that look as if they haven't been looked after, constant red-ish eyes from his continuous drinking and he pretty much wears a similar outfit of worn out trainers, jeans and shirts every day, especially his green parka coat. This portrays an assumed stereotyped alcoholic and a man that is unemployed and on benefits, meaning we automatically notice stereotypical representations.

More or less, this character is in most scenes and tends to be the main character out of all of them. Frank's ex-wives are no longer in the series, as well some of his children like Ian, Debbie, Fiona, Phillip, Nigel and Delia but the rest of his children are still present. Fortunately, they aren't like their father and do their best to work and earn money or are at school still as well as wearing the latest fashions or whatever they can afford. Although they still get into trouble with police, gangs etc and are still stereotyped. With the help of Frank's new fiance Libby Croker, a narcoleptic librarian, they have managed to work around social services, keep their council house and earn just enough money.

Another family that are your typical stereotypes is the Maguire household. The Maguire family, the most feared and respected of the criminal families in Stretford, consists of father Patrick "Paddy" Donal Maguire, an irish criminal who is 'head of the family business'. He treasures his wife, Katherine "Mimi" Maguire, a drug-dealing, loud-mouthed scouser, and they have seven children; Mandy, Mickey, Jamie, Fergal, Joey, Donny, and Shane, all of which are or have been criminals too. Their 'family business' is illegally lending money to people, they own the local pub and drug deal. They squeeze money out of people and if they can't/refuse to pay back, they tend to go on a murderous rampage or threaten with all their might. This family is another example of stereotypical representations judging by their actions, their appearances, money and even their accents. On the other hand, any stereotype of 'an intelligent or hard-working average person' is either only in one episode or is absent throughout each series.

Throughout the series, every present character has an episode of their own as to which shows their current problem/situation and have a voice over at the start and end of the episode. This is a representation of all different views and not just a constant dominant view of the world. We see the inner side to the stereotypes as well as the typical side to each situation.

The reason as to why this category of people are hardly ever in the episodes or are absent is because it is to reinforce the use of stereotypes. Intelligence, hard-working or normal-like people would have no place in the series and the show wouldn't be consistent with the stereotypical image that it gives, as well as losing the audience as they would eventually get bored of the show but not having this type of community could also cause offense to several people just because they are classed under that certain stereotypical category. Despite the fact it is humourous and enjoyed by many of each category class, some people could also feel offended due to the absence of similar people to themselves. It could also work the other way and offend people who are on benefits, who are recovering drug addicts, alcoholics or people with medical conditions that are mentioned, people who own council houses, in similar situations etc because it portrays people too stereotypically despite it being the whole point of the show.

Editing

Chuck

• Slow motions - when the victim is murdered and fallen on to the floor
• Reserve shots
• Eyeline matchs
• Action matchs
• Parallel editing - 2 scenes going on at the same time in the house
• Cutaway
• Montage - lots, especially when characters have a serious conversation
• Wipe - several as it is a comedy drama
• Crosscutting - Chuck has a government computer installed into his head which gives him data, information and a photographic memory so he has many flashbacks
• Jump cut - when a character is locked in his own work

Eastenders

• Parallel editing - several as it is a soap drama and there are many characters that have their own dramas occurring
•  Long take
• Action match - when character catches out others by slowing opening the front door and to them it slamming.
• Cutaway - several
• Shot-reverse shot - characters having serious conversation outside the Queen Vic pub 

TV Drama and Sounds

Hollyoaks

Directed at teenage+ audience, mainly female. (ages 14+)

• Voiceover - used in flashbacks and a narrative
• Sting - lots of background music used
• Ambient sounds - used a lot during the episode; birds' tweeting, dog barking, children playing, traffic, crowds, fire etc.
• Sound Bridge - most scenes due to the episode being mostly of flashbacks
• Melodies, atonal, rhythmic and dissonant.
• Sound Effects - flames, cars, sirens, school bells etc.
• Synchronous sounds - texting on mobiles, doors, flames, explosions etc.

Eastenders

Also directed at teenage+, particularly women. (age 14+)

• Ambient sounds - used several times during the episode; birds' tweeting, dogs barking, mechanical noises, train station, traffic, people talking, children playing, the park,
• Synchronous sounds - doors, trains, mobile ringtones etc.
• Sound Bridge - whenever in the Queen Vic pub and cafe because of the jukeboxes

Camera angles & Camera Movement

Coronation Street

Directed at a large range audience of all ages, particularly women. Ages 14+

• eye level shot of characters' face to sense facial expressions
• high angle shot above the street
• low angle shot of a letter a character has received
• tracking shot used to create a dramatic suspense when a character receives a blackmailing letter and it goes into the character and out again
• crane shot above the street to see a select few characters
• panning shot of 'the joinery' club to portray how it's new and already packed with people 
• mid shot of characters to outline body language movement

Eastenders 

Also directed at a large audience of all ages that are mainly women. Ages 14+

• zoom was used instead of tracking shot at one point, created to cause tension as a character was spying on another
• tilt shot of a character
• crane shot of the street and some of the characters
• high angle shot above the square
• tracking shot to follow a character
• panning shot of an object
• eye level shot of characters' face to feel their emotions
• low angle shot of an mp3 as it holds a recording of vital information 
• mid shot of characters to highlight body language movement 

TV Drama Camera Shots

Hollyoaks:-

Directed at a teenage audience and largely a female audience.

Camera shots and angles used:

• bird's eye view
• close ups
• tracking
• shot views
• mise en scene
• full view of building a blaze 
• full view of hospital
• bird's eye view above ambulances
• pov view

Eastenders:-

Directed at late teens - mid 40s and largely a female audience.

Camera shots and angles used:

• close ups
• bird's eye view
• shot views
• mise en scene
• full view of the Queen Vic
• full view of the street
• bird's eye view of the whole of London