It has been said that media representations often reflect the social and political concerns of the age in which they are created. Discuss. (48 marks)
Representation can be understood as how groups, events, places and experiences are represented in media texts. Many debates about representation are couched in terms of realism. These debates explore the degree to which media is realistic or to what extent it is a version of reality presented. Representations are influenced by the cultural, political and social contexts in which they are produced.
Media texts such as 'Kidulthood' and 'Bullet Boy' may be examples as they support the point of view of reflecting social and political concerns. This is because both texts reflect the issue of teenagers committing crime. This is an issue which has been widely debated and talked about in the contemporary years. Therefore the argument suggests that media representations may reflect social and political concerns of the age in which they are created.
These texts may flag up more then just one political and social concern. This may also connote the idea of ethnic minorities taking control over areas of London. This is a concern that has been mentioned hugely in Newspaper institutions, particularly tabloid. Which has resulted in the 'white flight'. Both texts represent ethnic minorities through the main characters, therefore links to the current political and social concerns of that age.
Another text on the broadcasting platform which can be studied is 'The Inbetweeners'. This may conflict with the idea of media representations reflecting political and social concerns, as it doesn't emphasise a great deal on crime and moral panics. However it could be argued that there is some element of political and social issues as it still represents teenagers as irresponsible and rebellious. Although this text doesn't emphasise on social and political concerns as the other two texts mentioned.
In terms of print platforms, newspapers are key when considering social and political concerns to do with representations. This is due to them having an input on the nation and what people maybe seen as a political or social problem. As newspapers have to report real life issues, therefore their representations will likely to be linked with social and political concerns of that age as they have to report recent news. Such as teen knife crime that has occurred, this maybe a political or social concern and newspapers are likely to report it.
However newspapers may also report positive aspects among teenagers which aren't current social and political issues. Such as teenagers taking part in charity sponsorships. This will reflect teenagers positively, therefore won't reflect political and social concerns of the age of which it was created.
Magazines contrast hugely with newspapers, as they don't look at real life issues as much. They focus more on an ideal world and celebrities. The majority of magazine tend to target teenagers, therefore view them in a positive way in order to appeal to them. Also magazines which don't target teenagers don't usually refer to political and social concerns but put more emphasis on advice or products to buy. Overall magazines targeted at teens don't reflect political and social concerns of the age it was created as it focuses on the media such as TV shows. Furthermore when issues are mentioned they're usually ridiculing celebrities which isn't seen as a major political or social concern.
The e- media platform is the most complex one to study. The reason for this is, a lot of the aspects are branches from the broadcasting and print platforms. Also many of the institutions that are in control of print and broadcasting are involved in e- media. The internet doesn't tend to look at political or social concerns unless it is an institution linkedto broadcast and platform. Such as movies and newspaper websites. However it could be argued that user generated content may reflect the the political and social concerns in the age of which they're created as it focuses on recent events. Such as youtube, which is constantly updated to fit the current trends. Furthermore how it tries to present contemporary topics such as by giving their own view and theory on an event that has occurred. Therefore this links to political and social issues of the gae it is created.
Economically, media texts use representations to focus on current issues by reflecting characters in situtations that are linked to political and social concerns. Such as TV soaps, like Eastenders which may show characters struggling financially. This relates to concerns in the age of which is created as it may reflect the issues of recession.
Media texts such as 'Kidulthood' and 'Bullet Boy' may be examples as they support the point of view of reflecting social and political concerns. This is because both texts reflect the issue of teenagers committing crime. This is an issue which has been widely debated and talked about in the contemporary years. Therefore the argument suggests that media representations may reflect social and political concerns of the age in which they are created.
These texts may flag up more then just one political and social concern. This may also connote the idea of ethnic minorities taking control over areas of London. This is a concern that has been mentioned hugely in Newspaper institutions, particularly tabloid. Which has resulted in the 'white flight'. Both texts represent ethnic minorities through the main characters, therefore links to the current political and social concerns of that age.
Another text on the broadcasting platform which can be studied is 'The Inbetweeners'. This may conflict with the idea of media representations reflecting political and social concerns, as it doesn't emphasise a great deal on crime and moral panics. However it could be argued that there is some element of political and social issues as it still represents teenagers as irresponsible and rebellious. Although this text doesn't emphasise on social and political concerns as the other two texts mentioned.
In terms of print platforms, newspapers are key when considering social and political concerns to do with representations. This is due to them having an input on the nation and what people maybe seen as a political or social problem. As newspapers have to report real life issues, therefore their representations will likely to be linked with social and political concerns of that age as they have to report recent news. Such as teen knife crime that has occurred, this maybe a political or social concern and newspapers are likely to report it.
However newspapers may also report positive aspects among teenagers which aren't current social and political issues. Such as teenagers taking part in charity sponsorships. This will reflect teenagers positively, therefore won't reflect political and social concerns of the age of which it was created.
Magazines contrast hugely with newspapers, as they don't look at real life issues as much. They focus more on an ideal world and celebrities. The majority of magazine tend to target teenagers, therefore view them in a positive way in order to appeal to them. Also magazines which don't target teenagers don't usually refer to political and social concerns but put more emphasis on advice or products to buy. Overall magazines targeted at teens don't reflect political and social concerns of the age it was created as it focuses on the media such as TV shows. Furthermore when issues are mentioned they're usually ridiculing celebrities which isn't seen as a major political or social concern.
The e- media platform is the most complex one to study. The reason for this is, a lot of the aspects are branches from the broadcasting and print platforms. Also many of the institutions that are in control of print and broadcasting are involved in e- media. The internet doesn't tend to look at political or social concerns unless it is an institution linkedto broadcast and platform. Such as movies and newspaper websites. However it could be argued that user generated content may reflect the the political and social concerns in the age of which they're created as it focuses on recent events. Such as youtube, which is constantly updated to fit the current trends. Furthermore how it tries to present contemporary topics such as by giving their own view and theory on an event that has occurred. Therefore this links to political and social issues of the gae it is created.
Economically, media texts use representations to focus on current issues by reflecting characters in situtations that are linked to political and social concerns. Such as TV soaps, like Eastenders which may show characters struggling financially. This relates to concerns in the age of which is created as it may reflect the issues of recession.
