Male Representation

DIE HARD
Masculinity - Being strong physically and emotionally/mentally.
Men are active - heroic.
Intelligent and Powerful - Villains and Heros.
High Status - Determined to be successful.
Violent.

KRAMER VS KRAMER 
Man looks after kid when wife leaves him - challenges typical male stereotypes.

SWEET SIXTEEN
Liam is a Teenager 15/16
Represented as a 'Chav'
No Job
Masculinity in crisis

FAWLTY TOWERS
Runs hotel - in charge
Serious about things - grumpy and prudish
Active role
Pathetic Male character - misunderstandings
Challenges stereotypes.

Representation of Age

The media have an obsession with representing a physical essence of youth.

Why? 

• To keep up with modern audiences
• Younger generations are easier to influence 
• To be able to relate to audiences
• idea of ideal body image
• Retaining full youthness

Defining age:

• Physical appearance and ability
• Mental state
• Legally: drinking, sex, driving, marriage.
• Morals and values.

Ageism

Encourage discrimination. Younger and older people are discriminated against.

Representation of Old People:

• Complaining/ Snobby
• Quiet Lives
• Dated clothes
• Church 
• Gardening
• Passive
• Gossips
• Stubborn

Representation of young people:

• Rebellion
• Excessive drinking
• Sex
• Drugs
• School/Six Form/ Uni
• Crime
• Up to date clothes
• Irresponsible
• Lazy
• Bad language

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE

Victor Meldrew:

- Complaining

- Grey Hair

- Dated Clothes

- Playing Crosswords

CATHERINE TATE - NAN

- Stubborn

- Forgetful

- Rude

- Grumpy

- Gossip

THE INBETWEENERS

- Parties and drink

- Rebellion

- Boys are inexperienced.

Family Guy Textual Analysis

The Tan aquatic, with Steve Zaissou, Season 6 -2007.
Family Guy is a comedy cartoon animation which was first created in 1999 by Seth Macfarlane and is produced by 20th century fox. The audience is middle class teens and young adults dues to bad language and content of the show.

• Representation: men needing to be looked after by a woman (his wife) which goes against the typical representation of men.
• Funded by 20th century fox which will bring in an audience as it is a big institution.
• Adult themes/ Real themes and issues.
• Linear narrative with equilibrium and use of flashbacks. Moral code - New equilibrium.
• Negative representation - references to pop stars and celebrities.
• Racial digs.
• Lois (Housewife) is sensible and rational.
• Peter (Husband) - Not conventional, childish.
• Joe - being made fun of because of his disability.
• Herbert - Pedophile which is controversial.
• Stewie - Sexuality, gay.
• Spoof family life.
• Audience would have to be light hearted.

Gender Representation

Thelma and Louise, 1991.
Thelma and Louise is a westen film which is a 'road' film, this challenges the expectation of the film's genre. There are two female protagonists who are strong and empowered. They are quite masculine characters who go for the cowboy look which goes against tradition female stereotypes. They are women who criticise men's aggressive behaviour but use masculine behaviour to over power the men. They choose to use guns, which are phallic symbols and are usually associated with men. They create a sense of power using guns, bad language and violence.
Women are represented in a somewhat positive but problematic way as in the representation of power, it challenges stereotypes.

"You'll be there" - Spice Girls
The Spice Girls created music for teenage girls and so would look at creating a positive representation of women. In this video they are being represented not only by being strong empowered women but they also representing a highly sexualised image. The thought of women being strong is a positive image however for teenage girls to be introduced to a sexualised image of women can be looked at being a negative thing as young teenage girls do not have to be sexual consequently making them act in a manner that is out of character for young girls in order for people to find them 'attractive'.

Prime Suspect
The main female protagonist in Prime Suspect is a strong character and stands up for herself. This shows that she is competent. She is a successful police woman which is showing that women can have a career and can earn respect. She also is domesticated which challenges typical gender stereotypes.

Gender Representation; James Bond - Diamonds are forever.

The character T. Case challenges traditional ideas about women. She is a strong and independent woman who is not married or has not committed to a relationship. The costume she wears when James Bond enters her flat is just underwear and the camera uses a extra long mid-shot of her body. There is also a character technique used called the 'Male Gaze' where the camera portrays the male eyes which focuses on the female character's body, thus sexualising women.
The romantic and soft music used as the soundtrack reinforces the idea that she is a love interest to Mr Bond.

Carry on Camping - Gender Representation

Carry on Camping, or in fact any of the Carry On films, is dominated by men and the male characters. In this patriarchal episode the Matron of the girls school is being portrayed by a larger female. Who is represented as being unattractive and prudish. When there is a shot of her walking down the corridor in the school a deep sounding instrumental soundtrack is played which highlights her size.
The other larger woman in this film is a wife to one of the 'sex obsessed' males. She is portrayed as being a nagging wife who doesn't listen to her husband.
Of course there are female roles for smaller sized women in this film, and especially if you under 25, they are represented as young, curvaceous sexual objects for the men to run after and to look at. The main girl the men are interested in is a young blonde girl (Barbara Windsor)  who looses her bra during a morning warm up exercise.
The representations in this film are negative for both genders as men are being represented as seedy sex obsessed men. The younger girls are being looked at as purely sexual objects because they are young and curvaceous, which additionally is creating the sense of a 'perfect' body image and also sinks into ageism as the larger women are being portrayed as unattractive females which suggests that being young and curvaceous is 'perfect' and the only thing that men find attractive. Which in the modern day is not a correct representation.

Gender Representation

HIGH NOON
Will
In the film High Noon the male protagonist Will was portrayed using the typically character traits and gender stereotypes. He was an active role in the film and was also strong and had power and status. He was the more dominant role as he made all the decisions for the couple.

Amy
Amy also reinforces gender stereotypes and typical character traits. She was a passive role in the film who was weak and fragile. She takes the backseat and always goes along with what her husband (Will) says. Amy also gets her status through her marriage.

NIAGARA
Roles for Women;
Rose
In the film Niagara starring Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn's character Rose challenges typical gender stereotypes. She is a strong and independent woman who is very confident with her sexuality. She creates power through sex over a man.

Polly
Polly is the binary opposite to Rose as she reinforces the gender stereotypes. She is a passive, more reserved, housewife which she is happy being. Polly is a more weak and fragile role and conforms to traditional values.

Representation

Gender Character Traits

Men:

• Strong (physically and emotionally)
• Manual Work
• In charge of household
• Provider
• Independent 
• Power/Status
• In control
• Successful
• Interlectual

Women:

• Housewives
• Mothers
• Sexual Objects 
• Women are more emotional
• Fragile Soft
• Materialistic
• Self conscious (body image)

Image analysis; BBC Coverage of Winter 2010 Olympics.

Opening Credits

The opening credit sequence uses animation images which set up the content of the text. Also the range of winter sports is shown in this sequence. The combination of animation and fast editing along with dramatic diegetic sound /music indicate an attempt on the BBC's part to attract a younger demographic compare to past winter olympics. The music used is of a Canadian singer's song which reflects the idea that the olympics were actually situated in canada.  Use of non diegetic sound sets up a very dramatic and tense narrative in relation to Amy Williams, reinforces the stereotype of the major international sporting event. The opening sequence very much reflects the high production values of the BBC as a media institution. The written text anchors the content of the text and the use of the BBC logo represent brand recognition and 'quality' along with the olympic logo.

Montage

The use of the montage very much along with the non-diegetic sound (music and voiceover) builds up the dram/tension but also sets up the narrative a 'hero' in the form of Amy Williams.  The dramatic aerial cinematography and male voice over are setting up a dramatic narrative. The representation of a young strong determined British women is a positive image and one that challenges common media stereotypes of either young women as 'sexual objects' or as 'passive mothers/housewives'. This very much has appeal to the younger demographic audience. Camera shots are used in sequence to reinforce the importance of British-ness and challenges recent negative connotations in the media linked to the Union Jack. 

Studio Sequence

Hazel Irvine reinforce the positive representation of women and challenges the male dominated nature of sport. The studio piece offers a temporary equilibrium in this dramatic sequence. The mise-en-scene of the studio set reinforce and reflects the youthful feel of the text.

Image Analysis; The Only Way is Essex.

The opening credits to this media text sets up the 'glamour' and the 'wealth' that this program likes to put forward - images of diamonds, cars and money all reinforce this. The silhouettes of the men and women reflect character types in the text but also the importance of sex and relationship story lines. The use of silhouettes can also been seen as an intertextual reference to the bond films and their opening credits. The music "The only way is up" by Yazz and the Plastic Population can be seen as ironic with the "fake" tans and boobs that most of the cast have. The lyrics very much represent the drive and ambition the cast have to be famous. The upbeat tempo and lyrics also represent the "light" nature of the story lines. The written text is silver in colour and very much reinforce the "bling" look of the text. The simple plain font reflects the modern young nature of the text.


Aspects of the mise-en-scene such as the real setting (domestic often) reflect the hybrid genre of the text which is reality/soap.  Other aspects of mise-en-scene such as costume, hair, make-up and props are a central feature and attraction to the target audience - a young (often female) low economic demographic. These aspects such as 'designer' clothes, the amount of make-up and posh cars reinforce materialistic ideology put forward by the text.


The use of handheld camera shots and real locations and 'improvised' dialogue reflects the reality of the text.


Aspects of the mise-en-scene and characters very much reinforce rather than challenge the "negative" stereotype of Essex and the people who live there.


The text has a linear narrative with a montage of flashbacks at the start reflecting the soap genre the text has a multi-strand narrative. The main protagonist are young and 'good looking' which reflects the media's obsession with youth.


ITV2 reflect the importance of a young demographic which this channel is aimed at to ITV. It also reflects the 'populist' nature of ITV. It is popular, mainstream TV.

Image Analysis; BBC's The Office.

Genre:

• Hybrid 
• Sitcom
• 'Fly-on-the wall' documentary
• British
• Contemporary
• Realism

Written Codes:

The written codes are the BBC logo which enforces the institution that this particular piece of Media Text comes from. The title of the TV programme is shown in front of a clip of an office building. This is known as an establishing shot and sets the scene for the episode. It also anchors the idea of the show being called 'The Office' and also the idea of the work place. The typography used for the title in a sans-serif font which can suggest and enforces the idea that it is a contemporary TV programme. 

Technical Codes:

A lot of mid-shots and also close-ups shots are used, especially for reaction shots which are typical of the sitcom genre. The character based narrative relies on the use of more mid-shots or close-ups. The use of the handheld camera reflects the documentary genre and reenforces the idea of realism. Diegetic sounds of office based sounds anchors the office environment and the lack of non-diegetic sound reenforces the idea of realism of the documentary genre. The accidental use of zoom adds to the spontaneous realism. The editing has scenes which almost reflect "real" time. Straight cuts are used as well as continuity editing extension shots of scenes over natural times create awkward pauses/looks. Use of inserted shots of things (photocopier) reenforces mundane nature of modern working life.

Content Codes:

The setting is in a typical work environment. The setting is typical of the sitcom genre as it is set the the work place. Also, the actual use of a real office reflects documentary genre in terms of realism. The costume and make-up reinforces the realism typical of the documentary genre. Also costume and make-up (characters such as Dawn 'Blonde Bimbo' or Gareth 'Office Geek') reinforce stereotypes and reflect the genre sitcom. No tan lighting reflects the sitcom genre and reinforces the mundane nature of the work. Facial expressions is very natural and spontaneous which reinforces the realism associated with the fly-on-the-wall documentary genre. It also goes against a typical family target audience linked with sitcoms due to it's content. The main protagonist is male (David Brent) who is typical for this genre - He is middle aged and male, he has 'Pathetic' representations. The use of stereotypes reflect the format and sitcom genre. The characters speak to the cameras which breaks the forth wall this also reinforces the genre. There is a linear narrative, typical of a sitcom but organic nature and narrative resolution goes against the sitcom genre.

Image Analysis; Unknown.

The background suggests that there is a dark urban setting. The dark cold colours (green and blue) and the urban setting places the film into the thriller genre. The gun is seen as an icon of the thriller genre therefore reenforces the poster into this genre. There is low key lighting used which through the use of hard lighting creates an enigma code over the character played by Neeson. The mid-shot/mid-angle used on the image of Neeson gives him prominence as he is centralised also, this reenforces Hollywood's use of stars to sell films. The facial expressions convey a very 'self-reliant' image that re-enforces Liam Neeson's screen persona that has made him popular with cinema audiences. Neeson is also re-enforcing the typical ideas of masculinity for example: Strong, Tough and Confident. The target audience based on the genre and action images has appeal for older more intellectual male audiences.

Image Analysis; Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

The  Forgetting Sarah Marshall poster has bright colours and a beach setting which connotes a more lighter narrative and the text anchors the genre of the film which is 'RomCom'. The audience can also tell that it is a 'RomCom' as the cloud is shaped as a heart and hearts have the connotation of love and romance. The facial expression on the man's face (hawaiian shirt) anchors the idea of being a comedy rather than just a film from the romance genre as it is quite comical. We know that the film  is set abroad from the beach setting and also the colours that are used in the poster ties in with the idea of the beach and also the man's hawaiian shirt, this could suggest that he is the main protagonist in the film. The man is positioned by himself which emphasises the feeling of loneliness. Russell Brand is dressed in black which could suggest that he is considered the 'antagonist' within the narrative and is also looking away from the girl which could suggest that his character could be unfaithful. There are evidence of stereotypes on the poster which is typical to the genre; Brand is the seducer, Blonde girl is the sexual eye candy and the Guy in hawaiian shirt is the geek/fool. Facial expressions and body language reenforces the narrative character types. The film places less emphasis on Russell Brand (who is not a Hollywood star) and more on the producer's previous films.  The target audience, based on images and written text, is more teenagers or young adults.