Representation & Audiences

Representation and TV

All television is constructed and mediated and considering how and why certain elements of a TV text have been mediated to appear a certain way is vital.

Mediation

People, places and events are all re-presented to audiences and not simply shown (David Buckingham’s theory).
Often representations we are provided with reflect the ideological perspectives of the media producers who constructed them and may reflect dominant viewpoints on an issue or group of people, even if it is inaccurate.
- For example tabloid newspapers representing all muslims as ‘dangerous’.

Gender Representation

Feminist theory should be considered when analysing a TV text.
Many forms of media reinforce the idea that women are less equal to men and add to the discrimination of women.

Discrimination of women

This can be achieved in two main ways:
- Women are underrepresented in the media, or given lesser or less active roles.
- Women are overly sexualised in the media with the emphasis being on how they look rather than what they do.

Discrimination theories

Gender discrimination in the media links with:
- Laura Mulvey’s theory of the 'male gaze'.
- John Berger's theory that men 'act' and women 'appear' in the media.

Contextual factors

When discussing representation you must consider any contextual factors which may have influenced how and why the representations are as they are.
Historical, social and cultural, economic and political factors should all be taken into account.

We now live in a multichannel environment. This has led to an increase in narrowcasting rather than broadcasting. Digital technology and convergence has changed the way audiences experience and consume TV.

Digital TV and audiences

Due to digital technologies audiences can now choose when and how they watch TV.
Convergence means that we can now access TV via a range of platforms such as computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and Smart TV's.

Convergence

This means audiences have more control and freedom over what they watch and when and how they watch it.
One trend that has become popular is ‘binge watching’ where audiences consume whole series of TV shows at once.

Investment

There has also been a lot more financial investment in TV, with companies like HBO and Netflix spending lots of money trying to create shows that will attract mainstream audiences.
- E.g. Game of Thrones.

Categorising and Targeting TV Audiences

Some of the ways TV producers may categorise and target TV audiences are as follows.

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Adverts

In commercial TV, the adverts shown in between TV shows also give a clearer indication of who the target audience is for a programme.
The characters or presenters within a text will also often be reflective of the target audience.

Mode of address

The mode of address is the tone of voice a media text adopts.
Certain types of TV programme will have different modes of address.
- For example the news will be direct and serious but sitcom is likely to be indirect and humorous.

Audience positioning

Often through the mode of address the audience is positioned to take the preferred reading.
Consider the range of techniques used in TV to encourage the audience to decode it in the desired way.

1Overview

1.1Media Language

1.1.1Media Language

1.1.2Media Language 2

1.2Audience

1.2.1Audiences

1.2.2Audiences 2

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience

1.3Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes

1.3.2Gender

1.3.3Audiences

1.4The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries

1.4.2Ownership

1.4.3Funding & Regulation

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry

2Component 1: Section A

2.1Magazines

2.1.1Magazines

2.1.2Pride

2.1.3Pride 2

2.2GQ

2.2.1Context

2.2.2Narrative

2.2.3Representation

2.3Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing

2.3.2Analysing Adverts

2.3.3Analysing Adverts 2

2.3.4Theories & Principles

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising

2.4Print Advertisements

2.4.1Quality Street

2.4.2This Girl Can

2.5Film Posters (Marketing)

2.5.1Spectre

2.5.2The Man with The Golden Gun

2.5.3The Man with The Golden Gun 2

2.6Newspapers

2.6.1Ownership & Regulation

2.6.2News Selection

2.6.3Media Language

2.6.4Genres

2.6.5Newspaper Conventions

2.6.6Representation

2.6.7Audience

2.6.8Theories

2.6.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers

2.7The Sun

2.7.1Context

2.7.2Narrative

2.7.3Language & Images

2.8The Guardian

2.8.1The Guardian

2.8.2Narrative

2.8.3Language & Images

3Component 1: Section B

3.1Video Games

3.1.1Video Games

3.2Film

3.2.1The Big Six

3.2.2Technology

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films

3.3Radio

3.3.1The Radio Industry

3.3.2Categories of Radio Station

3.3.3Technology & Radio Audiences

3.3.4Theories

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Radio

3.4No Time To Die

3.4.1Context

3.4.2Narrative

3.4.3Representation

4Component 2: Section A

5Component 2: Section B

5.1Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos

5.1.2The Music Industry

5.2Michael Jackson

5.2.1‘Black or White’

5.3Taylor Swift

5.3.1Bad Blood

5.3.2Intertextual References

5.3.3Media Theories

5.3.4Representation

5.3.5Social Media

5.4Bruno Mars

5.4.1Uptown Funk

5.4.2Analysis

5.4.3End of Topic Test - Music Videos

5.5Lizzo

5.5.1Context

5.5.2'Good as Hell'

5.5.3Media Language

5.5.4Representation

5.5.5Audience

5.5.6Industry

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