Notes

MS1 Exam Print Media

Magazine front covers Print Advertisements Film Posters Web pages Newspapers CD Covers Computers Games Covers

Representation Q2c.
"ender #$%og& Et'nicit( #$%og& Age #$%og& )ss*es Events Regional and National Identities

r Q!

AIM Provide overview and explore 3 contrasting examples from a range of media forms.

Ric' texts
+exts t'at (o* can *se for more t'an one area of t'e specification E.g Slumdog Millionaire , Nationa% identit( , age , gender , )ss*e of povert( London Riots age- et'nicit(- gender- events ..As well as audience responses and targeting

Regiona% and Nationa% )dentit(

Starter
What area do you belong to /a%es0 $ritain0 E*rope0 +own0 1i%%age0 Region0 r do (o* define (o*rse%f #(o*r identit(& 2( age- sex- gender- race- fami%(- friends or re%igion0

National and Regional Identity

Nationa% identit( is a comp%ex iss*e peop%e ma( disagree a2o*t w'at ma3es a nationa% identit( or t'at it exists at a%%4 t'er factors ma( a%so 2e re%ated to identit( RaceEt'nicit(- "ender- Re%igion- 5%ass and Sex*a%it(. +'ese ma3e t'e concept of a nationa% identit( even more comp%icated.

+'is is a%so comp%icated 2( t'e idea of Regiona% )dentit( as we%%.

/'at is $ritis'ness0

 6o $ritons s'are. One language? One region? One religion? One race? /'ite Eng%is' is t'e dominant %ang*age- peop%e in $ritain a%so spea3 /e%s'7indi- P*n8a2i- Ara2ic- "ae%ic- etc. )n addition to t'e 5'*rc'es of Eng%and- Scot%and and /a%es and t'e 5at'o%ic 5'*rc'- $*ddism- 7ind*- M*s%im- 9ewis'- Si3' are a%so represented in $ritain. Man( peop%e 'ave no 2e%iefs At'eists $ritain is a m*%tic*%t*ra% and m*%tiracia% societ( 5an sti%% 2e *ndermined 2( regiona% identities- gender- sex*a%it(- race etc

National Identity is !onstru!ted " a representation based on a parti!ular vie# o$ #hat is means to be %ritish

:An ;imagined comm*nit(< :5arr(ing distinctive c'aracteristics of t'eir nation :S'ared nationa% va%*es can 2e s'own in t'e media t'o*g' sporting events &rugby #orld !up' or nationa% events &royal #edding' etc :5an a%so 2e s'own in newspapers.

 'ttp=>> www.(o*t*2e.com>watc'0v?$@,SAnA,BRCDt?

Cnderstanding regiona% identit(

Pic3 ! of t'e fo%%owing regions and stereot(pe t'eir regiona% identit(=
Nort'erners So*t'erners Essex Scottis' /e%s' Sco*sers "eordies For3s'ire Mancs $r*mmies Gondoners

Nort'erners
Stereot(pe? ;Nort'ern Mon3e(s<- Go*d r*de- drin3 a %ot and of a %ower stat*s 5ost*me? +rac3 s*it or c'eap>cas*a% c%ot'es 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? 1owe% so*nds over,prono*nced Ma3e *p? minima% ver t'e top or

5%ass>Stat*s? Gow

So*t'erners
Stereot(pe? ;Ponc( So*t'erners< arrogant and pos' , 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? /e%% spo3en ; t'e rain in Spain fa%%s main%( on t'e p%ain< ,5ost*me? S*it and tie- tai%ored c%ot'ing and dresses ,Props? $rief case ,Ma3e *p? 5%ass( and to a minim*m ,5%ass>Stat*s? Midd%e>Cpper

Essex
Stereot(pe? )mage conscio*s*ninte%%igent- %ove to s'op and part( Stereot(pe coined 2( + /)E #+'e n%( /a( is Essex& 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? HS'*t *pH H ' m( "odH ? common p'rases 5ost*me= "ir%s? Revea%ing> ++ $o(s= Ias'iona2%e Gocation? 5%*2s and 2o*tiJ*es Props= " Expensive- f%as'(- tac3( 'and2ags- *p to date mo2i%e p'one Ma3e *p? Ia3e tan- fa3e e(e%as'es and 'air extensions 5%ass>Stat*s? Gower Midd%e
'ttp=>>www.(o*t*2e.com>watc'0v?Kv+z*L31 7A

Scottis'
Stereot(pe? 7*mo*r%ess- 'ate ot'er nations-a%co'o%ic and vio%ent 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? Strong accent Hoc'H HweeH 5ost*me? Mi%t- tartan- +am oH S'anter Gocation? 7ig'%ands- co%d and vast open spaces Props? $agpipes- 'aggis- w'is3( Ma3e *p? "inger 'air and frec3%es 5%ass>Stat*s? Gower c%ass #farmers&

'ttp=>>www.(o*t*2e.com>watc'0v?fp,81w$"Cs)

/e%s'
Stereot(pe? Sma%% -dar3 'aired peop%e w'o p%a( a%% r*g2(- sing in c'oirs- 'erd s'eep or mine coa% 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? 1er( ;song,%i3e< and me%odic- s%ow and exaggerated pron*nciation 5ost*me? R*g2( s'irts Gocation? R*g2( pitc'- c'*rc'p*2- fie%ds wit' s'eep Props? S'eep Ma3e *p? Minima% 5%ass>Stat*s? Midd%e>Gower

Sco*sers
Stereot(pe? 6angero*s N ;/'( does t'e river Merse( r*n t'ro*g' Giverpoo%0 )f it wa%3ed it wo*%d get m*gged< , 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? I%emm(diffic*%t to *nderstandN H%i3eH prominent 3Hs ,5ost*me? +rac3s*its- ver( cas*a% c'eap %oo3ing c%ot'ing ,Gocation? P*2>'ome ,Props? 5'eap %oo3ing 8ewe%%er( ,Ma3e *p? Minima%- or ,5%ass>Stat*s? Gow ++

'ttp=>>www.(o*t*2e.com>watc'0v?S+)v

For3s'ire
, 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? HE( *p<- ;AnH A'H%% te%% t'i t'at fer nowt<- don<t prono*nce ;t<s< 5ost*me? I%at caps- tweed 8ac3ets Gocation? pen fie%ds- co*ntr( p*2sGoca% s'ops Props? /'ippets>For3sire terrier and For3s'ire p*ddings Ma3e *p? Minima%>pa%e 5%ass>Stat*s? Gow #farmers&

'ttp=>>www.(o*t*2e.com>watc'0v?8zA62"G

"eordies
Stereot(pe? Go*d- swear a %ot- part( anima%s and 2inge drin3ers #'e%p coined 2( "eordie S'ore& 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? ;wa( e(e man<diffic*%t to *nderstand 5ost*me? Revea%ing- tig't c%ot'ing Gocation? $*s( town centres- c%*2s*r2an areas Ma3e *p? 'air ver t'e top- fa3e tan- dar3

'ttp=>>www.(o*t*2e.com>watc'0v?OP1

5%ass>Stat*s? Gower midd%e> midd%e

Mancs
Stereot(pe? Go*d- r*de- f*nn( and fond of fig'ting #7e%ped coined 2( asis& 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? ; '- a(e< ;Nowt< 5ost*me? Manc'ester Cnited S'irt Gocation? $*s( town centres 5%ass>Stat*s? Gow>%ower midd%e

$r*mmies
Stereot(pe? Cninte%%igent and *nfriend%( 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? HFowH 'eavi%( pron*nciation t'e HowH of HFo*H 5ost*me? 5as*a%> 5'eao Gocation? $*s(- ind*stria%ised centres Ma3e *p? "reas( 'air 5%ass>Stat*s? Gow

Gondoners #Nort'ern> more pos' 2oro*g's&

, 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? /e%% spo3en- range of voca2*%ar( ,5ost*me? 5as'mere 8*mpers>sweaters and s*its ,Gocation? S3(scrapers- swan3( 2ars- pos' 'omes ,Props? $riefcase ,5%ass>Stat*s? Midd%e>*pper

Gondoners #5oc3ne(> So*t' Gondon&

, 6ia%og*e>dia%ect? ;"or2%ime(<- R'(ming s%ang ;app%es and pairs ? stairs<-dropping ;t<s< ,5ost*me? I%at caps ,Gocation? $*s( streets- mar3et sta%%s ,Ma3e *p? Minima% ,5%ass>Stat*s? Gow

Identity !an ho#ever be un!lear()

Fo* co*%d 'ave s*c' a strong regiona% identit( t'at (o* do not see (o*rse%f as 'aving a nationa% one.

*+r it !ould be that the sub,!ulture you belong to does not !arry the same values as your nation

 Are (o* $ritis' if (o* don<t care a2o*t t'e J*een0 5onsidering t'e nationa% ant'em is dedicated to 'er0 :Are (o* /e%s' if (o* don<t %i3e R*g2(0 r if (o* prefer anot'er nations nationa% sport0 S*c' as foot2a%%0 :+'e anon(mo*s gro*p are seen as a terrorist organisation 2( t'e $ritis' "overnment. So are t'e( $ritis' sti%%0 6espite 2eing an enem( of t'e state0 :6o t'e( identif( wit' a different $ritain0 /it' different va%*es0

Now t'in3 a2o*t programs>fi%ms set in t'e fo%%owing %ocationsdo t'e( reinforce t'ese stereot(pes t'ro*g' mise,en,scene #%ocation- setting- actors- props- cost*mes etc&- camera wor3so*nd #inc%*de dia%ect t'at co*%d 2e co%%oJ*ia%& and editing0 EastEnders S'ame%ess +rainSpotting>$rave'eart>Monarc' of t'e "%en 6oc Martin Emmerda%e

+'e sate%%ite map s'ows *s a cit( spraw% so we 3now t'at t'e programme is set in an *r2an area. 7owever it is t'e River +'ames t'an revea%s t'e specific %ocation as 2eing Gondon.

Regiona% )dentit( can 2e seen 2( t'e views we see in t'e pict*re. /e can see t'e co*ntr(side in t'e distance and we can a%so see an o%d ve'ic%e of w'ic' is on%( *sed in t'e co*ntr(side.

Fo* can te%% t'at t'is is set in t'e co*ntr( a%so 2eca*se t'e 2ac3gro*nd of t'e first pict*re is t'e co*ntr( and in t'e second pict*re t'e 'o*se is st(%ed as a co*ntr( 'o*se. A%sow'at t'e c'aracters are wearing s(m2o%ises ;t'e co*ntr(<

Fo* can te%% t'at t'is is set in an estate as t'ere are f%ats in t'e 2ac3gro*nd and t'e peop%e %oo3 %i3e t'e( arenHt of a 'ig' c%ass 2eca*se of t'e c%ot'es t'e( are wearing t'erefore we wo*%d expect t'em to %ive t'ere and if t'ere is a s'ow a2o*t t'em t'en it wo*%d 2e set 'ere.

Manc'ester , Manc*nians- or Mancs

Giverpoo% Sco*sers

-as./ 0s you #at!h1 #rite notes and then #rite one P)2)2 $or ea!h o$ the $ollo#ing !lips

As (o* watc'- consider= Setting Accents 6ia%og*e Props Ma3e *p 5%ass of c'aracters 5ost*mes

 As (o* watc'- consider= Setting Accents 6ia%og*e Props Ma3e *p 5ost*mes

5%ass of c'aracters

Ior Regiona% )dentit( in Emmer da%e we s'a%% %oo3 at t'is c%ip for examp%es= 'ttp=>>www.(o*t*2e.com>watc'0v?Q1QQ$Knr tC 1iews at Q.!Q s'ow t'at t'e setting is in t'e co*ntr( and we see straig't awa( t'at a%% t'e views we see are a%% of t'is manor a%so> /e see t'at t'e c%ot'es and possessions #van& s'ow %ow c%ass as t'e c%ot'es %oo3 o%d and *sed as t'e van t'at t'e women is driving does too. /e 3now t'at t'e( eit'er r*n or %ive on a 2arn as w'en t'e( open t'e 2arn we see a %ot of s'eep - w'ic' can on%( rea%%( 2e in t'e co*ntr( w'ic' 2ac3s *p o*r ot'er 2e%iefs. /e t'en see peop%e decorating a 'o*se w'ic' we can see was ver( o%d 2( t'e dRcor for examp%e t'e c*rtains are ver( co*ntrified w'ic' means t'at if t'e 'o*se was oringina%%( decorated as if it was in t'e co*ntr( it is pro2a2%( in t'e co*ntr(. /e t'en see t'e s'eep again and t'e farm s*rro*ndings w'ic' is repeated t'ro*g'o*t w'ic' on%( dr*ms in t'e fact t'at t'e( are in t'e co*ntr( and t'at t'at is t'eir regiona% identit(.

 "ood examp%e c%ips to %oo3 at d*ring revision if (o* want to practice note ta3ing inc%*deN 3i!ar o$ Dibley or Do! Martin #midd%e c%ass>*pper c%ass c'aracters do not 'ave regiona% accents and are presented ;as inte%%igent< w'i%e t'e %oca%s are ridic*%ed t'is o2vio*s%( %in3s to Marxism&.

7omewor3 #$%og&
4sing your o#n detailed e5amples e5plore the representations o$()in the media today

How does Essex Boys represent Essex residents? How does Essex Life represent Essex residents? Add anot er Medium ! "O#IE? Educating Essex? #rite at least $%% words &tart wit Intro ' concept of representation Overview of regional and national identities P.E.E Purpose and Effect (Print ! )a*out and design+ )anguage and mode of address+ ,amera & ots and angles' Moving image ,+ Ed+ Audio Include t eories (.log- and /e0ates1perpetuate stereot*pes? ,onclusion

Me( +'eorists
+'eorist 0ndre# 6igson 7899:& writesN S)dentit( is genera%%( *nderstood to 2e t'e s'ared identit( of nat*ra%ized in'a2itants of a partic*%ar po%itica%,geograp'ic space t'is can 2e a partic*%ar nation or region.T

%enedi!t 0nderson 789:;< maintains t'at t'e media p%a( a vita% ro%e in constr*cting a nationa%>regiona% identit( as in rea%it( t'e nation is too big $or everyone to .no# ea!h other yet they o$ten have shared values = >-he uni$i!ation o$ people in the modern #orld is a!hieved not by military but by !ultural means1 in parti!ular the media system enables people 7o$ a nation or region< to $eel part o$ a !oherent1 meaning$ul and homogenous !ommunity)T

7igson #1BBA& c%aims t'at man( +1 dramas #s*c' as Eastenders5orrie etc& demonstrate t'e importance of comm*nit( and patriarc'a% va%*esN >So!ial and !ultural di$$eren!es seem less signi$i!ant #hen shared) -he !ommon purpose pulls the individual !hara!ters o$ the drama together1 $orges them into an organi!1 sel$,$un!tioning !ommunity and ensures that ea!h person has a !lear role in the !ommunity) -his small1 sel$,!ontained $un!tional !ommunity !an then be read as standing $or the nation1 #hi!h is thereby imagined as a !onsensual gathering together o$ the diverse interests o$ individuals #ho ma.e up that !ommunity)?

7igson #1BBA& and 5orrigan #1BB2& arg*es t'at +1 drama does not a%wa(s present comm*nities %i3e t'is- >Identity is $luid1 unstable and !ontingent on !ir!umstan!es? #5orrigan 1BB2& >0llegian!es are $orever being made1 unmade and remade= !ommunity !annot be ta.en $or granted= they are inse!ure and o$ten sel$,destru!tive(-ension o$ ra!e1 gender1 se5uality1 the $amily and generations represent not simply as multi!ultural but in disarray?#7igson 1BBA&.

 )n s'ort- as 7igson s*mmarisedN >Images o$ so!ial and !ultural disturban!e and $ragmentation are more prominent than images o$ !onsensual !ommunity? t'is o2vio*s%( paints a s%ig't%( negative image of m*%tic*%t*ra% $ritain. 7igson goes onto arg*e t'at +1 drama 'as to find wa(s of representing '(2rid identities in m*%tic*%t*ra% $ritainN S0s %ritain be!omes visibly multi!ultural1 so the ma.ers o$ media te5ts have attempted to deal #ith plurality1 to $ind spa!e in representation $or !ultural minorities1 ethni! or other#ise) In doing so1 the !ultural boundaries o$ the nation have been rede$ined1 and a #ider1 more e5tended and hybrid national &!ommunity' imagined)?

5onstr*cting images of regiona%>nationa% identit(=

According to 7igson #1BAB& t'ere are two wa(s in w'ic' t'e process of !onstru!ting images of nationa%>regiona% identit( s'o*%d 2e *nderstoodN >-he $irst involves an in#ard loo.ing pro!ess1 de$ining the nation in terms o$ its o#n !ultural history) -he se!ond is a more out#ard,loo.ing pro!ess1 de$ining the nation in terms o$ its di$$eren!e $rom others)T

)n ot'er words- stereot(pes p%a( a %arge ro%e in constr*cting images of identit( and t'ese can eit'er reaffirm notions of a nation #'istoric>c*%t*re& or contradict t'em. Ior examp%e- as 7igson #1BBA& statesN >Film li.e -rainspotting 7899@< deal #ith Auite spe!i$i! !ultural traditions1 in!luding #or.ing !lass traditions1 youth traditions1 all o$ #hi!h !an be subsumed under the umbrella term %ritishness)? )n ot'er words1 -rainspotting taps into traditional stereotypes o$ S!otland #hile illustrating #hat these stereotypes mean to #or.ing !lass youths 7so!ial,realist interpretation<) )nteresting%(- t'is fi%m c'anged t'e wa( t'is fi%m represented Scot%and c'anged out#ard per!eptions of t'e nations #negatively&.

7igson a%so arg*es t'atN >Representations o$ nationalBregional identity are !onstru!ted as the narrative o$ the te5t un$olds1 as !hara!ters are pitted against one another1 so a sense o$ identity emerges(but at the same time produ!ers o$ten resort to stereotyping as a means o$ establishing !hara!ter and identity)?

 7igson goes on to sa(N SStereot(ping is a form of s'ort'and- a wa( of esta2%is'ing c'aracter 2( adopting recognisa2%e and we%% esta2%is'ed conventions of representation.the stereotype redu!es !hara!ters to the most basi! $orm and attempts to naturalise them and the more #idely re!ognisable they be!ome the more readily they are a!!epted. Except t'at if a stereot(pe 2ecomes more wide%( recognisa2%e it 2ecomes comicT. 7igson addsN SNo wonder t'en t'at a partic*%ar c'aracterization ma( 2e critised for 2eing stereot(pica%- meaning it %ac3s a rea%istic dimension- it fai%s to matc' *p to t'e rea%it( of identit(.T

 As 7igson points o*t- it is a%wa(s important to ana%(se/ >Identities and allian!es1 in parti!ular relating to !lass1 ethni!ity1 religion1 !lass and gender)? )n ot'er words- 'ow does a certain region seem to view t'ese t'ings and w'at does it imp%( t'e prod*cer wants (o* to t'in3 a2o*t t'is region and its views.

)n terms of regiona% identit(- it is again important to remem2er #ho the dominant produ!ers are be!ause it is o$ten the !ase they stereotype those &not li.e them' 7#or.ing !lass &Cornish Carrot Crun!hers' et!<. A%so- it is wort' noting t'at i$ middle !lass #hite men appear in regional -3 dramas 7e)g) Dr MartinB3i!ar o$ Dibley< they are usually made out to be edu!ated and reasonable unli.e the lo!als)