Represenation

What is representation?

Representation is how someone is displayed or perceived by an audience in mass media. They are usually shown to be conveying typical characteristics of a certain type of person, such as their dress code or their personality. Representations are not fixed and can be interpreted in many different ways, based on who the consumer is. Although producers possibly expect all consumers to view stereotypical characters the same way, individual differences have and effect and allow different perceptions of the same character to be seen. Age, Gender, Race, even regular media consumption and location can all have and effect on how we view certain representations in media.

Examples of the sort of stereotypical characters that are expected to be found in teen films:

1. The Mean Girl (also known as 'The Queen Bee')

Regina George from 'Mean Girls'

Regina George is easily identifiable by her tight clothing, short skirts, heels, small handbags and the recurring theme on pink. Typical locations for her to be found is either school, her home or the mall. She has her clique, who are known as the plastics and she's always the main one easily visible when with them. She has members of her school wrapped around her finger as you can see in the image above how she in being lifted by a couple of guys. She also dates the popular jock in the film. 

2. The Rebel/Criminal

John Bender from 'The Breakfast Club'

John is known as the criminal in 'The Breakfast Club' due to his juvenile behaviour. He is constantly in trouble and being bad. His appearance is quite scruffy, with a long coat and ripped clothing, which fits his appearance as a bad boy. He is also identified as the Criminal as his smokes a lot and partakes in illegal activity such as drugs. His attitude to education also shows how he is a rebel. 

3.The Popular Jock 

Zack Siler from 'She's All That'

Zack is the popular jock in the film 'She's All That' that every girl dreams of being with. He always found to be with members of his team at school, the beach or parties. The Ideal clothing you would find him wearing is his Letterman jacket. His attitude towards others are possibly uncaring, as at the beginning of the film it starts off without him paying attention to those who are seen to be low on the hierarchy of high school.