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 Q1

• Need to revise the theorists
• Revisit structure
• Need to look for a way that the theory doesn't apply or is limited

Q2

• Ignoring Macro comments
• Use more specific media language terminology
• Try to make connections between media language and representation
• Don't ignore the second bullet point on the question, reaching conclusions on how far you agree

Q1- Applying representation to theorists

Hall- representations are constructed and contested. They are not fixed. This might particularly apply to representations which might go against dominant ideologies

Gilroy- Looks at the creation of a transatlantic black identity. Post colonial Also focuses on the way media "others" non-white representation

Van Zoonen- Gender is contextual and performative and women are seen as object and men as spectacles

Butler- Gender is not natural, it is culturally determined and performative

hooks- bell hooks believes that white, wealthy men upper class people control the media industries and their values and beliefs are the ones that are enforced in the media

Gauntlett- identity is not fixed, online media offers a route to self expression

Analyse the social representations portrayed in source a and source b

Use van zoonen in your response

the guardian do not support this theory as they do not report on the story in the same way

Van zoonens theory states that women are objectified in the media and men are viewed as spectacles, this is supported in the daily mails story on Angela Rayner where they accuses her of being seductive in parliament, likening her to Sharon stone in basic maneuver and choosing suggestive imagery 

 news 15 mark question

normally a comparison of two unseen images where you are asked to give an analyse of the two in relation to the stories and the papers they come from

the question will ask you to look at the political, economic and cultural context of the stories being told and will be placed into a structure which goes as follows

intro

• Introduce The Sun/The Guardian and how they differ/ are similar. Consider genre (popular/quality), ownership, politics/ world view/ ideology of the paper, audience
• Unpick use of headlines, subheading , stand first, lack of and mode of address eg in the sun and guardian and sun how do they reflect their ideologies
• Analyse the sun and guardians choice, framing and placement of images and how do they contrast connotations of the papers ideologies
• Look at the use of language and the mode of address which differ from formal/informal
• Compare the page layout and use of space including proportion of image/ text, use of quotations, captions and other elements
• Draw conclusion about the differing representations to create meanings of the story: if you only saw one of these stories, how would your perception be swayed
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• this question will often take around 20 minutes to finish 

Big Issue Practice question

 

In the edition of the big issue we see their take on the 2016 UK referendum where the country was voting wether to leave the European union. The magazine had chosen to have a quite comedic take on the event by representing the key British figures as members of the 80s pop group ABBA. in the image we see Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Prime Minister David Cameron, UKIP Leader Nigel Farage and London Major Boris Johnson. Sturgeon and Cameron being retainers and Farage and Johnson being leavers.

There are a number of reasons for why the big issue have chosen to reference, one of them being the how well the use of this group will resinate and get the hidden meanings across too their demographic. Being that the audiences of the big issue are members of the ABC1 demographic they tend to understand references to social event especially those taken place in previous pop culture like ABBA and the history of the band. As a result the will understand the line such as 'take a chance' and 'breaking up is never easy I know' being not only references to the EU refereed but to the bands infamous songs. Furthermore many will understand the correlation with the UKs departure from the EU and see the relation with the bands eventual collapse. Another reason for this is they will be able to make references as seen with the song lines being turned in to statements about the referendum as this will allow them to attract readers who are aware of ABBA and will intis them to read more and buy the magazine.

In conclusion, the big issue use intertextuality on their covers in order to encourage their readers to buy as they know their demographic are likely to understand the references they will produce ce for their magazines, furthermore they do it as a way to give indications one what stories will be about and use pop culture references as these indications, increasing viewership and readership of the magazine and benefiting their vendors.