QUESTION 3: REPRESENTATION

Analyse how individuals and social groups are represented through processes of selection and combination of text and image in Source D.

In your answer you must:

• analyse how media representations are constructed in Source D through the selection and combination of text and image

• make judgements and draw conclusions on the effectiveness of the representation of gender and identity through the media form. [15]

WRITING YOUR RESPONSE 

INTRODUCTION: Nail the question. This means that you make it clear to the examiner what you will be covering in your answer.

e.g.

In this front cover, the Big Issue have constructed representations of gender that encodes a preferred reading of female empowerment (1). They use intertextuality to construct a binary opposition between the patriarchal figure of Donald Trump and the four strong female personalities (2). This effectively targets the predominantly left wing ABC1 readership of the magazine and reinforces value alignment (3).

So, if you are the examiner, you should expect me to discuss:

1.  Representations of gender that encode female empowerment.
2.  Use of intertextuality to construct a binary opposition with Trump as the villain.
3.  The effectiveness of this at targeting the left-wing readership.

PARAGRAPHS: Each paragraph needs to show that you can

• Answer the question
• Use examples from the text
• Analyse your examples
• Evaluate the effectiveness for the magazine
• Use terminology 
• Maybe include critical theory

Example paragraphs

Mise en scene is used to construct a negative representation of Donald Trump, superimposing his head onto the body of the iconic villain from Ghostbusters. This encodes the binary opposition between him as antagonist and the women as heroic protagonists (1). The candid image selected is ridiculous, encoding the viewpoint that Trump is unfit for the office of President. Intertextuality allows the magazine to address a contentious political opinion in a light-hearted way, which avoids offending potential purchasers (2). However, the readership is largely (73%) ABC1, with a left wing bias, so this political opinion will promote value alignment between the magazine and its audience (3). In the deep background the Houses of Parliament and The White House, iconic political buildings, are green washed in the same colour as Trump. The connotation of the colour encodes the idea that people like Trump (representing bells hook’s idea of “white supremacist capitalist patriarchy”) corrupt the political world.

In the midground, the mise en scene constructs a representation of four influential women from politics and popular culture. Their selected candid images are flattering, and the body language of the Ghostbusters is active and heroic. The proxemics shows them to be physically close which connotes the idea that they are united against the patriarchy. This effectively reinforces the preferred reading of female empowerment and the binary opposition between the patriarchal Trump and the female heroes (1). This countertypical representation contradicts Van Zoonen’s idea that women are objectified and passive, because they are shown in strong stances. Hall may argue that it reinforces the stereotype of women as passive. bell hooks may criticise the way that the one black woman is presented at the back of the group, reinforcing the viewpoint that they are less important.

The main coverline uses direct mode of address, engaging the reader with a rhetorical question. The size of the typography is eye-catching and, in all caps, which connotes its importance. It continues the intertextual reference to Ghostbusters, but changes the expected response with the subheadline, “the new female frontline.” The alliteration emphasises the importance of the word ‘female’, reinforcing the encoded message of female empowerment (1) and ‘frontline’, which connotes the ideas of bravery and battle. This anchoring text also helps to construct a representation that fixes the preferred reading of female empowerment (1) and the binary opposition between Trump’s patriarchal archetype and the “new” female figures from politics, music and sport (2). This effectively constructs representations of gender that will appeal to the educated and socially conscious target audience (3).