Representation
A representation is a constructed media text. Some media texts – like television news and documentary films – may seem realistic, we have to remember that this is not the same as experiencing it ourselves. At best, the media can only represent reality. What we see on our television screens and on the front page of our daily newspapers is someone else’s interpretation of events, ideas and people. All media texts are constructed through a process of selection & omission.
- 1.Representation is a term used in media to describe
- A.
A complex series of codes and conventions. The media build and create their own representations through selection and omission, often be criticised for misrepresentation.
- B.
How music syncs to vision in the making of video clips.
- C.
The job of a media representative.
- 2.What software is attributed to severly altering the real appearance of models, better known as "airbrushing"?
- A.
Photobooth
- B.
Illusionist
- C.
Facemaker
- D.
Photoshop
- 3.Which answer below are examples of codes and conventions?
- A.
Gangnam style
- B.
The Ellen Degeneres Show
- C.
Lighting, camera, makeup, positioning of character, glance, props
- 4.Jean Kilbourne claims that there are many techniques and concepts advertisers use that severely diminish and objectify the representation of women. Two of these techniques are
- A.
Using the woman's original photo portrait & the absence of photoshop work
- B.
The woman in the ad "becomes" the object through morphing/photoshop application & women are dismembered, "hacked apart" (only one part of the body is focused on.
- C.
Photoshop application and positioning of the woman from a low camera angle
- 5.What are ads selling, other than the product itself?
- A.
Shares in the product
- B.
The store that sells the product
- C.
Concepts of love, success, friendship, belonging & what is considered (by the advertiser as "normal" (i.e. body image)
- 6.Kilbourne discusses the issue of body image and the teenager, she shows us images where the teens are
- A.
Happy and confident
- B.
Shot from high angles and appear to be so insignificant, lacking confidence, almost "disappearing" or with their mouth covered over suggesting also this young person is unimportant and valued more for their appearance than their voice
- C.
Talking and laughing with friends
- 7.In Media, what is meant by the term "selection"?
- A.
Selection of media as a subject to study
- B.
Selection of codes, such as hair & makeup, shot type etc. These codes build or construct a representation.
- C.
Selection of a marketing company who will develop an advertising campaign
- 8.In Media, what is meant by the term "omission"?
- A.
Omission as in to omit (or leave out) aspects that are not a part of the representation. Leaving out certain parts of the body in advertisements of women, quite often for example, the head is cut off.
- B.
Omission is a type of transmission
- C.
Omission is when an advertiser doesn't have permission to Photoshop
- 9.What is the best example below of "omission" in media terms?
- A.
When Harry met Sally
- B.
Viewers choose to watch what they want to watch
- C.
The tv series Neighbours is often criticised by media analysts for only representing white Australia, rather than having actors of many different races to show Australia's true multicultural nation. This is an example of a whole race of people being left out or "omitted" (Chinese, Lebanese, Israeli, Greek etc).
- 10.What did Cindy Crawford famously say regarding the representation of herself in print media?
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