'The media do not construct reality, they merely offer a window on the world'. Discuss this statement with reference to the representation of collective identities.

This statement has been given by Gauntlett who believes that the media do not show reality but actually show a small part of what it is and then dramatise this by adding a lot of extra influences which can come from society or anyone involved with the creation of the media being presented. In order to look at this, I have studied the representation of gender, this will allow analysis of the similarities and differences between reality and what is shown for entertainment through media. I focused my research on one specific group which is women representation, this is because society has various views on women, however majority of this are based on stereotypes and not actual the true lifestyle of a women. They are shown as either a housewife or as a sex object, this limits the achievement of women by empowering this idea through the use of media.

Looking at historical media that represent women, the Lindor Lindt chocolate advert in 2013 really emphasises the point of women seen sexual and almost unintelligent. The women is shown as focusing her attention on the chocolate, that she is willing to sit in a random guy's car by using her beauty to get a "free ride". The use of very feminine clothing, dramatic make-up that focuses on a certain area such as the eyes or lips and the elegant up do hairstyle really empowers the idea of sexuality. However, this view can be linked to reality due to women being very cautious about their appearance, yet a lot of this has been influenced by the media. But the idea of sexuality can be questioned as not all females will interact with a random guy but are much more knowledgable about the results of that action. Yet it can also be argued that this is for promotion purposes only and that it is an exaggeration of reality in order to gain views and potentially receive customer interest.

On the other hand, the TV drama Dr Foster shows a more real, natural side of women representation, this is because a lot of dramas base their storyline on society, enhancing the reality. This is because the audience are likely to watch the series due to having a connection to the story, being able to give their opinion while waiting for the next episode to be shown. This further increases their interest by them relating to the TV drama and not just watching it for entertainment but almost giving a message to the public. Gemma, a doctor, wife and mother is shown as a very diverse character, being presented as an intelligent, strong, independent women to a very emotional, aggressive and almost psycho-like personality, giving the audience to relate a wide aspect of the drama.

Furthermore, she is shown as subverting as well as opposing to the stereotype of women. The idea of women having a possessive and emotional personality when in a relationship is clearly shown throughout the story. Her change of behaviour once she found a blonde piece of hair on her husband's scarf, grew suspicion within her. Yet, her intelligence is shown by her not falling weak and giving up, but by actually using her mind in order to seek revenge. This shows her opposing to the stereotype of women seen as "dumb" and almost being pushed around. The use of her profession and manipulative skills to bring out the truth, really emphasises her strong character.

However, through various scenes she is shown as very devastated and almost lost the will to live, by linking her professional and personal life, questions her ability as a doctor and for some aspects as a mother. This will then maybe show a form of reality, that maybe women are not that "smart" and powerful but men are the dominant gender who need to be present in order to have a stable society.

The character of Gemma really links to the character Barbara from the film August Osage County, their personalities are very similar as she is a strong independent women who is too having a problem within her marriage life and that too of the same reason, because of her husband having an affair with a younger women. Majority of society view would be that the women will become depressed and very emotional, yet these two characters are shown as becoming more powerful and almost being the dominant one within the relationship.

Barbara, hides the reality of her life from her family as she is the oldest sibling and just found out about a very devastating news about her father's demise, shows how strong this character is. Not once is she shown as broken down, however the physical appearance really does symbolise this depressed time. The lack of attention towards her clothing, hair and make-up really emphases how women give up on how they look once they lose this attention from their husband. This links a lot to reality, as married women tend to take care of themselves even if they have children, by dressing elegantly but once a problem occurs within their marriage life, they do not bother about their appearance.

Although, Barbara's mother will completely ignore this view and believes that women need to wear make-up in order to look pretty, this is clearly emphasised when she is shown as still wearing lipstick and make-up after her husband's death. This shows how she still cares about her appearance regardless of the situation, yet it can be argued that this does still show a form of reality, society empowering the idea of women needing to wear make-up or revealing clothes etc.

Media and collective identity: how does one affect the other?

Media and collective identity has been argued about whether or not the two link, many would agree that the media represents many identities of society, creating movies and dramas with a diverse range of characters can be inspired by other identities within society or created spontaneously. However, it has been argued that media merely reflect identities and not make a new collective identity but look widely into given ones within the public. A reason for this being, is that many can relate to the personalities and characteristics shown within the media, nothing seems extraordinary and unique but just shown through a very complex way. Studying gender representations within the media, really aided many into analysing the different identities shown. 

Within the TV drama Dr Foster, Gemma who is a GP, a wife and a mother is shown as a very diverse and complex character. This can question the idea of this person being created and not represented as her identity is seen as a norm within society. Yet the story carried out within this series, has made a lot to believe that she is representing many other women within society. Gemma was shown to be an ordinary women who fulfils her duties as a mother as well as being the breadwinner within her household. This shows her as a strong, independent and intelligent women who is capable to manage both her roles within the household and outside too. However, as soon as she starts to become insecure about her relationship with her husband due to a piece of blonde hair found on her husband's clothing, she is portrayed as a very complicated character who will go to any limits in order to seek her revenge.

This can be linked to many other women who are very committed to their relationship especially when they are married and have children. They have this possessiveness towards their husband and could potentially purse revenge, therefore the character shown through Gemma can relate to other females. Using her manipulative skills by acting up to the stereotype of women using their sexuality for their own benefit, to showing signs of depression and stress at work, lacking some of her role as a mother towards her son, to using others that too from her profession for personal problems and joining both her professional and personal life shows how complex this character is. This representation clearly shows how women can become due to an issue within their relationship, that they are shown almost like a psychotic character, yet also a very intelligent, manipulative personality.

Though, there are some characters within the drama who are shown to be very weak and subordinate, this is shown by Kate, a young female who is having an affair with Gemma's husband, Simon. She is shown as a "dumb blonde" who will believe anything Simon says to her and almost be his puppet as she will do whatever he says. But this can also be argued due to the age gap between the two, she is shown less dominant and less intelligent compared to Gemma. This again could also aid into the stereotype of showing how some especially younger less experienced females can potentially fall into a trap due to blindingly loving an older men that too a married one. Within the last scene, a camera shot of over the shoulder of Kate has shown how she puts her hand on Simon's shoulder gently after seeing what has happened to Gemma. This adds up to her calm and quiet nature who still does not go against Simon yet almost supporting him by placing her hand on him.

On the other hand, analysing the film August Osage County, representations of women within this has been shown differently but also links a lot of characteristics within Dr Foster. Barbara, the oldest sister who is going through a very difficult time of planning divorce with her husband due to his affair with a younger women, but also taking care/control of her ill mother. However, covers up her personal issues in front of her family, this can be due to not wanting to put stress on her family members during a tough time with their father's demise. Or because of shame, not wanting to reveal something that would make her seem "small" and embarrassed about. Especially when her mother has such strong opinions on women ageing and that men go after younger women. This has led to her feeling more insecure as she feels her family will not support her but also she is seen as an aggressive character who uses a loud tone when finding about her mother using drugs. This adds into her expressing her stress by tolerating so much for so long, but now letting it all out.

Through various camera shots, Barbara is shown as a dominant strong character who is in control of the situations that arise. During the scene of visiting the doctors and questioning about the pills, she is seen as a patronising and taunting personality who is in charge. Over the shoulder shot of the doctor is shown as a low angle of Barbara, this shows her being powerful and the doctor as well as the audience looking up to her.

How to include this in the essay:

- women are 're' presented on screen - they are constructed
- given role of sister, mother, tart, mentally unwell, submissive - representations of women are constructs, through; costume, camera work, editing and sound etc.
- encoding meaning - producer - text - viewer - decoding meaning
- media - producer - text
- collective identity - decoded meaning
- creation - stereotypes - adhere/subvert in order to give new representations
- contextual influence - historical/cultural

Females Representation (August Osage County) - editing

Sisters and mother visitng the doctor:
- close up of Violet
- over the shoulder shot - Violet
- two shot - Barbara in blur and Violet in focus
- two shot - Violet in blur and Barbara in focus
  - Barbara is represented as a maternal authoritative
  - voice - sound editing gives her this God-like voice
  - she is seen as more authoritative than the Doctor
- over the shoulder shot - Karen
- Barbara in foreground of the shot with the rest of the females in the family at the back
  - Doctor does not need to be in the shot
  - Barbara more size - position of power
- Barbara is seen from an over the should shot - lower than her eye level
  - she is seen as more dominant - low angle
  - not a point of view shot - there is no gaze here
  - we are not seeing her through the doctor's eyes
- all women are shown through mid shots and long shots which cut off parts of their bodies
  - these shots as the viewer, to focus on what is being said rather than the physicality of the women - but do signify a fragmented women

'These perspectives in turn are products of distinct moments in time and are specific to the social realities of these times.' Samantha Lay How far do you agree with this statement.

Representations have been shown greatly through the use of media, this is either exaggerated and elaborated or shown very realistically that a lot of people within society can relate to. As Lay has mentioned about "distinct moments in time", this shows how representations change and alter according to different phases and places. This has been increasingly occurring within women representation within the media, looking at the TV drama Dr Foster, this is a very modern view of how women are. It destabilises the stereotype of women needing to be a housewife and childcare but is shown as a strong, independent women who can stand up for herself and actually be the dominant one within her relationship. This shows the increase of modernity within society, as her representation is not taken with a shock but seems very natural and normal. 

Working outside and that too at a high position with her income covering the household finances, just displays to us about her authority and importance of her role. Despite being the breadwinner, she too fulfils her duty as a mother towards her son by collecting him from school, making breakfast and tucking him into bed. This just shows how versatile she is as a women who is capable enough to take the responsibility of many things within her life. Yet, as soon as an issue comes up within her marriage life, she becomes completely devastated and at times shown as defeated. 




John Lewis 2010 ad

“Media representations are complex, not simple and straightforward”. How far do you agree with this statement in relation to the collective group that you have studied? [50]

Stuart Hall puts out his view of media representation by saying that they are "not simple and straightforward", this shows exactly how complex and elaborate representations can be, especially on the view of gender. Analysing representation of women, there is far too many influences that revolve around their portrayal such as family, politics and society in general. However, some may argue that representation can be straightforward such as the various TV adverts that portray women as housewives, when promoting house products such as cleaning items. This shows the view of what majority of people believe women are, yet it can also be argued that this is just the stereotypes given by society. Women are not intelligent enough to work out and have a career but to stay home and please their husband by taking care of the home, cooking and childcare.

However this view has been strongly opposed by the TV drama Dr Foster, Gemma, a wife, mother and doctor has been shown as a very diverse character, using both her intelligence as well as conforming to the stereotype of using her sexuality as a tactic to carry out her revenge. From being a hard working professional, to using her role as a contrivance, a loving mother for her son, to a deranged, unbalanced mother who was willing to let her husband believe that she has killed her son in order for him to confess.The complexity shown through this one character, really shows how difficult it is to represent the multitude of personalities and characteristics that a women can have. On the other hand the antagonist character Kate, a young women who is having an affair with a married man, executes the stereotype of men going after younger women. 

Her portrayal of being sexualised with fitted clothing, occasionally revealing clothes, accomplishes the message needing to be given. However, shown as a "ditzy blonde" as Lippmann would call this "a short cut" of knowing the simplistic forms of representation that carry a lot of information. This is shown by her having faith in Simon, by completely relying on him and believing every promise he makes. But then this can also be argued that the age gap between the two, makes her seem less dominate, less intelligent and less experienced or it could also mean her having fear of the truth being spilled.

The two leading women in the drama have contrasting roles, yet have some similar characteristic such as wanting attention, love and affection from a heterosexual relationship. Being concerned about their appearance by being slim, wearing minimal yet elegant make-up and wearing fashionable clothing according to their age ranges. Yet, they both are presented differently with Gemma being a very strong and dominate character whereas Kate is calm and gentle almost being pushed around to wherever benefiting others.

Looking at the film August Osage County, Barbara is shown to have similar characteristics as Gemma, a strong willed women who is having difficulties within her marriage life yet covers this up due to the concern of people around her. Although the two characters are shown within different areas and community, there is always a similar stereotype of women within all societies. This has led them into opposing the general view and showing their intelligence in potentially making a change and maybe even giving out a message to women going through such oppression in reality.

Being the oldest within her family and having two younger sisters as well as a daughter, adds to the pressure of her being a role model for the other females in her life. Therefore, hides the negative side of her life from her family due to difficult time already the family is going through of their fathers demise. Yet, her depression can be clearly seen by her appearance, the lack of make-up and carelessness towards her hair and clothing shows how she either does not have the time to take care of her self as she is a mother but also because her husband is now having an affair with a "younger woman" therefore, she does not need to bother about how she looks, as she has lost the attention from her husband.

Nonetheless, this could also mean her being a very natural character who does not need to subvert to the stereotype of wearing make-up to look pretty or revealing her figure in order to gain attraction. Society immediately get the idea that women without make-up means they are depressed or are not beautiful enough without it, this view has been strongly supported by Barbara's mother Violet who says "women need to wear make-up, else they look like a lesbian" or that "women get uglier and fatter with age." This shows how the stereotypes have taken over her, as she blindly believes this view even though she is a women herself.

As a result, Barbara is shown to be a very complex character who is trying to oppose the general stereotype of women needing to do certain things in order to be attractive, whereas Violet is subverting herself to societies view of representation of not being complicated but actually enrolling the convention.

Females Representation (Dr Foster) - editing

Gemma (episode 5)

- represented as a psychopath

- unable to control emotions

- she is confessing to Simon but manipulating

- key moment of showing reader, the audience of how complex the situation is

- playing as an anguished female but behind it is manipulating

- dressed very calmly but taking revenge very morally

- minimal make-up and jewellery not overtly sexualised in any way

- three shot or Gemma mid shot in blur focus - she is over seen - in complete control, pre-range, she was playing as the victim - emotionally controlled women

- long shot: audience are omniscient viewers

- over the shoulder - Kate - story being carried out

- Gemma shown as weak - lost to Simon - but completed her revenge by getting to accomplish what she wanted

- Neil's wife called first - shown as caring towards Gemma - dislikes Gemma for being so moral, not letting her issues to just be - but does not want to harm her, just to damage her profession not physically

- Kate shown as vulnerable - nurturing and caring for Simon - more concerned about him, Whereas Neil's wife is very shocked and surprised

- Gemma - mother/madonna

- Neil's wife - madonna

- Kate - whore - simplistic character - judging as stereotypical - weak, unintelligent - different to Gemma and Neil's wife characters

- extreme close up to show his physical dominance to her - also shows their expressions - strangling Gemma - silencing her

- But she is manipulating this violence - the shatter and punch is acting as a double ended sword - shows the representation of stopping Simon from seeing his son - enforcing the portrayal of him being a 'monster-like' character

- domestic abuse - violence in household - straightaway have the stereotype of women being the victim - men being violent but Gemma is manipulating this to happen

- cracking of representation and boundaries that women can uphold

- Carly: stood outside smoking - aided Gemma in order to accomplish revenge - her character os being quite collective and calm - not disturbed by inside issue but knows Gemma is strong and in control of the situation.

Theories mentioned in past paper questions:

”The media do not construct collective identity; they merely reflect it”. Michel Foucault

Who has the power in the relationship of collective identity construction? is it the audience or is it the producer of the text? Do the changing representations reflect changes in the audience?

"Media representations are complex, not simple and straightforward”. Stuart Hall  

How far do you agree with this? Do you think that their are some representations that are simple? Why is this?

Quotes: "The media do not construct reality, they merely offer a window on the world." David Buckingham

"It is unsatisfactory to assume that people somehow copy or borrow their identities from the media." David Gauntlett

"This (referring to the impact of the Media) could hardly fail to affect our own way of conducting ourselves, and our expectations of other people's behaviour."  David Gauntlett

"Identities are complex constructions." David Gauntlett

"Each individual has a set of multiple identities which operate at different times and under different circumstances. People define themselves by gender, family, religion, ethnic group, class, city, region, nation." Jeffrey Richards

"Of all the collective identities which human beings share today, national identity is perhaps the most fundamental and inclusive." Anthony Smith

"For the nation is, above all else, … 'an imagined community', a focus of loyalty and a source of identity, providing a sense of belonging to something bigger than oneself." Jeffrey Richards

"Every nation has a set of national values, desirable qualities that derive from the national identity and the national character." Jeffrey Richards

"The practitioners of both elite and popular culture, an later the mass media, … play a central role in defining and disseminating national identity, values and character." Jeffrey Richards

"How we are seen determines how we are treated, how we treat others is based on how we see them; such seeing comes from representation." Richard Dyer

"Does the audience ultimately have more power than the media?" David Gauntlett

"The power of the audience to interpret media texts, and determine their popularity, far outweighs the ability of media institutions to send a particular message or ideology to audience within their texts." David Gauntlett 

'These perspectives in turn are products of distinct moments in time and are specific to the social realities of these times." Samantha lay