Year 12 cover work: Representation

MM50

1) This article is about the representation of females, and focuses mainly on the modelling agency which is dominated by heterosexual Caucasian size 0-2 models. This article also highlights the problems of the "false and unattainable images of the idealised female body" and is linked to the female gaze theory.

2) The film that has sparked this recent debate on body image and female representation is called "A Perfect 14"

3) The Female Gaze differs from Laura Mulvey's theory of the Male Gaze because the Male Gaze suggests that women are presented for men to look at, hence the ‘male gaze’. This links to the idea of ‘sex sells’ and women being represented as sex objects, whereas the female gaze suggests that women are also spectators and consumers of media images of other women, and this causes them to compare themselves to these models and want to change what they see as their flaws.

4) Personally I believe that something should be done to create more diversity within the representation of women in advertising, not only body-wise but ethnicity wise, sexuality wise etc. I believe that there is no such thing as a representation of a "real" woman and that all females are real regardless of their body size whether they are slim or not, what I don't believe is that in the same way that anorexia shouldn't be promoted neither should an overweight body. I do not believe that a clinically overweight woman should be seen as the ideal body and promoted in the modelling world, and that a healthy body should be promoted instead.  Fat shaming and skinny shaming should both not be accepted, because skinny shaming also does exist and is a problem. As a society we should focus on the fact that what makes a woman real is instead on the inside and who she is rather than her body image. 

 5) The aim of this film is to raise awareness on the issue of the lack of diversity within the modelling industry, which is dominated by skinny Caucasian females. The film also trying to prevent woman from being put into boxes and being fitted into labels, and instead encourages companies and modelling agencies to hire models regardless of their size. 

MM51

1)    Introduction - The media almost pre-plans a representation of something, and that the media stands in between what we see and what the object actually is. 

2)    Representations and the mass media - The media has the ability to change an image so the audience can perceive the representation the media wants us so see i.e. an image can be photoshopped to create a re-presentation of a particular person, and this distances the person away from the image that is reproduced, however it is unlikely that the audience are aware of this therefore they take in the representation of this person that the media has created.

3)    The how, who and why of representation - The representation of something/someone is influenced by several factors such as the expectations and needs of the audience, remits, and genre codes.

4)    Another approach to ideology - the work of Stuart Hall - The way the audience perceive a certain text/image depends on the relationship between the audience and the text, the audience are able to have their own interpretation on the content.

5)    Representations and new media - People are able to create their own representations of themselves through the new media i.e. Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, people can now also associate themselves with specific cultures and groups based on their sense of belonging through the new media. 

6)    An example - representing national identity in old and new media - Old media forms would attempt to create one identity for its audience using certain types of representations. On the other hand, the new media allows the audience to have their own opinions even if these opinions conflict the representation that the institution was trying to put out. 

2) I am quite aware of how I represent myself online, and make sure it is a true representation of me rather than a false one. I make sure what I post is appropriate on social media, and that it represents what I believe in and who I am as an individual. 

3) I believe that institutions have the most power regarding representations in the media to an extent, as these institutions are what bring us our films/shows and our news and they do have the ability to change your views on an issue. However, I still do believe that the audience equally do have power in terms of representations as the audience can choose what they believe in and share their opinions with others freely through social media etc.