Representation
Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 5.6.3
Waterfalls - Representation
Waterfalls presents a mix of realistic and symbolic representations. Age, gender, ethnicity and social issues are portrayed using both stereotypes and more subversive elements.
Representation of age
- Young people are shown as well-meaning but impulsive.
- The young man ignores his mother’s worries, suggesting a stereotypical generational divide.
- The mother is represented as wiser, protective and loving, reinforcing typical maternal stereotypes.
- The adult couple is shown as wealthy and sexually active, but also careless, linking maturity with responsibility (or lack of it).
Representation of TLC
- TLC appear as supernatural figures, emerging from lakes, oceans and waterfalls.
- This portrays them as guiding forces or emotional guardians, not ordinary performers.
- Their human-form styling creates a complex gender representation:
- Feminine elements: highlighted eyes and lips, bright colours, cropped tops showing midriffs
- Masculine elements: loose combat-style trousers, less focus on traditionally sexualised body parts
Gender representation
- TLC challenge typical gender expectations in R&B/hip-hop videos.
- They balance femininity with more androgynous, street-style fashion.
- Their representation avoids objectification, giving them authority and confidence rather than sexualisation.
Representation of crime
- The young Black man is not portrayed as a stereotypical gangster.
- He is shown as caring and trying to support his family (e.g. “call me” gesture to his mother).
- The violent gang members do use stereotypical codes (baggy clothes, gestures, weapons), showing how crime is external pressure rather than an identity.
- TLC shows empathy rather than judgment, stating they wanted to send a message “without preaching.”
Representation of illness & sexuality
- The couple’s sexuality is first represented as romantic, intimate, and glamorous.
- As the man becomes ill, the close-ups highlight his fear and vulnerability.
- The illness (HIV/AIDS) is represented sympathetically, encouraging viewer empathy instead of moral judgment.
Ethnicity & stereotypes
- The video depicts some stereotypical elements of Black urban life (gangs, street crime).
- However, it also softens or subverts stereotypes by showing:
- A caring mother
- A young man motivated by family
- A tragic rather than villainous narrative
- This shifts representation from condemnation to understanding.
Test yourself on Representation
How is the young man in the drug narrative primarily represented?