Representation and Stereotypes

REPRESENTATION

Representation is how someone or something is displayed to an audience in mass media. When representing it usually certain features of someones personality or appearance for the audience to understand and connect with the character. A representation can be interpreted in many various ways depending on the person watching it as they will relate to it from their personal experiences ( can be due to; age, gender, race etc.). Representation is usually exaggerated for the audience this is done by stereotypes; a stereotype is a generalisation/assumption of a certain group of people it can also be defined as categorising people. Stereotypes can be displayed through camera, miss en scene, editing and sound. 

Some examples of character stereotypes:

• Popular guy

Camera- Starting from feet and following up 

                 Close up

                 Tracking

Mise en scene- Varsity

                             Expensive car 

                             Trainers

                             Lockers

                             Blue

Editing- Match cut

           

Sound- Non diegetic (Pop Music)

              Diegetic (Girl screams, dialogue)

• Weirdo/Geek

Camera- Long shot

                 Canted angle

                 

Mise en scene- Dark colours

                             Smartly dressed

                             Outside

                             Camera

                             Dark hair

                             Glasses

Editing- Cross cut

Sound- Diegetic- Chatter

                                School Bell

                                Footsteps

• Popular girl

Camera- Medium shot

                 Tracking

                  Close up

Mise en scene- Blondie

                             Pink

                             Short skirts

                             Heels

                             'Followers'

Editing- Match cut

               Sound bridge

Sound- Non diegetic (Loud music)

              Diegetic (Laughter, chatter, footsteps)

Out of all stereotypes my favourite on is the popular girl as they always represented in the same way e.g. blonde, mean, dumb, rich and many teenagers can relate to this type of character another reason is because they are always in a teen drama movie.