#25 Representation!

What is representation?

Representation is how media texts deal with and present real world identities and issues. According to the BBC: “Media texts have the power to shape an audience’s knowledge and understanding about these important topics.”

Overall, our film intro should present some real world issues, it does not have to be political, but it could be something all people experience (like relationships). Some key terms in representation are anchorage (aka words that go along with images to provide context, like captions), selection (producers choosing what to put into the media text), mediation (a process that overlooks a media text prior to it being shown to an audience), and construction (the way a media text is put together through editing/ camera shots or layout for magazines). Representation includes portraying stereotypes and ideologies (That producers/directors might have or ideologies they are trying to represent). (BBC,2019).

Furthermore, in an article from the Guardian, it speaks on the importance of representation in media.  The “If she can't see it, she can't be it': why media representation matters ” title, makes it clear that through media, we are influenced by what is seen on the screen. And it included statistics that reflected only a small percentage of women were represented in media, (at around the year 2012), and fast forward to now, there is a surge of women in media, which become role models to women and girls around the world, impacting their life. So even though media texts contain fictional characters (most of the time), through representation it influences real world people.

Who is represented? 

In my film intro, relationships, specifically ones that are long-distance relationships. Additionally, it represents the reality of being in a relationship that looks good, but reveals the actuality within. 

This is shown specifically through the reactions of the girlfriend after hearing the news of her boyfriend’s move to a new state for college. In the beginning of the intro, you can tell that she is trying to hide her despair,pain,sadness,--because she does not want the spirit of valentines day to dwindle– while in the second part, a year a later, while she is alone in her room, on valentine’s day, her sadness is not hidden, rather you can see how uncomfortable she is without him, basically how big the move impacted her. Just like how many relationships end up. It provides something the audience can relate to: the powerful feeling of love and heartbreak. 

Catch me next time as I plan my CCR!

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I'm going to start including my schedule in every blog so you can see in real time what I get done (and don’t get done…)

We on time :)

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  January 18th-20th: Further blogs on idea

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  January 27th: blogs due

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  February 1st: chose filming location

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  February 3rd: Blogs due, reveal title of film intro

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  February 7th: ask Frances (again) to be in video and write the plot/dialogue [half done]

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  February 10th: figure out costumes, camera, and editing software (AND BLOGS DUE)

• More like the 11th… (DONE)

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  February 14th: Get filming down for first 45 - 60 seconds of film intro

• Will probably be moved to the 16th.. (DONE)

• Things occurring on that day may interfere with filming

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  February 17th: Blogs due

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  February 24th: Blogs due

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  February 28th: Get filming done for the second half

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  March 1st: Save the day for any refilming needed

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  March 3rd: Begin editing process

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  March 7th: See if you have time to stop by You Media. 

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  Marth 10th- 11th: complete CCR

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  March 17th - 21st: Edit CCR and finalize the film intro 

References:

https://www.theguardian.com/women-in-leadership/2013/nov/12/media-representation-matters

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9fx39q/revision/1