1. All media representations are constructed to appear natural and reflect certain views while being inherently "fake". 2. Media gives audiences perceived views of reality through producer-dictated content while audiences assess relationship to reality. 3. Representation in media is important as it provides widespread knowledge and shapes perceptions of the world through constructed views.

1. Media Evaluation Question 2
Antony Pettersen

2. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?

3. What is representation in media?
As defined from http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php?pageID=represent
representation in media is:
“By definition, all media texts are re-presentations of reality. This means that they are
intentionally composed, lit, written, framed, cropped, captioned, branded, targeted
and censored by their producers, and that they are entirely artificial versions of the
reality we perceive around us. When studying the media it is vital to remember this -
every media form, from a home video to a glossy magazine, is a representation of
someone's concept of existence, codified into a series of signs and symbols which can
be read by an audience. However, it is important to note that without the media, our
perception of reality would be very limited, and that we, as an audience, need these
artificial texts to mediate our view of the world, in other words we need the media to
make sense of reality. Therefore representation is a fluid, two-way process: producers
position a text somewhere in relation to reality and audiences assess a text on its
relationship to reality. “

4. What is representation in media?
This is http://www.medienabc.org/page5/page19/page19.html view on
representation:
“The media constructs views of the real world for us to read and interpret. These views having
been mediated provide filtered and partial meanings. However we mostly ignore this selection
and often fail to question the language and images that are used. Like wallpaper they are just
there; as Athusser suggested ideologies happen behind our backs. In order for our students to
begin to see behind their backs we need to show them how such meanings are constructed to
appear 'natural'.
The issue of realism therefore is linked to representation. Do we accept the producers' views of
reality? Can audiences read in differentiated ways to judge realism? Can discourses around
representations change? Representations of others can have a fundamental effect not only on
personal behaviour but also on political and global events. Terrorism and immigration continue to
be huge issues.
The success of media texts depends upon their apparent naturalness; we turn off a production
that looks “fake.” But the truth is, it’s all fake – even the news! That doesn’t mean we can’t still
enjoy a movie, watch TV or listen to music. The goal of this question is not to make us cynical but
simply to expose the complexities of media’s “constructedness” and thus create the critical
distance we need to be able to ask other important questions.
2003 Center for Media Literacy / www.medialit.org Literacy for the 21stCentury/ Orientation &
Overview”

5. Summary
In summary of this:
All media is in a way orchestrated to show the views of certain high power
individuals.
Media products are “fake” but rely on their element of realism
Media products work two ways with the content being dictated by producers
whilst the reader assesses the work in relationship to reality
This all equates to the fact that representation is important in media because:
1. It helps us create a perceived view of the world and gives us a wide variety
of knowledge.
2. Media controls how we view the world through point 1

6. How have you represented Gender?
In my music magazine through the use of images I have only
used male models. This can be seen as confirmative or
challenging depending on how you wish to construct opinion
because some magazine feature heavily or exclusive one
gender of model whilst others have a mix or use mixed gender
models. All male is a deliberate choice for this first issue.
The representation of the male gender in my magazine is
positive due to the photos not being intimidating and having a
slight use of humour. Also they look very accessible due to
them looking normal meaning the average reader can relate
to them. This suggests the content is all about the music not
about the person behind it.

7. How have you represented Age?
Due to this magazine being targeted at young to-
middle aged audience meaning that there is quite a
large age ranged. Also the magazines house style
and name of “vinyl” implies its older target
audience due to the use of old technology.
Although the pictures are of young adults there is a
sense of maturity around the magazine helping the
gearing towards a middle aged audience.

8. Deliberate exclusion of certain groups
I have deliberate excluded females from the first issue of
my magazine due to the style of music I want to feature
being prominently dominated by males. Also due to my
magazine being prominently about music I feel the target
audience will appreciate.
Despite the exclusion of female there hasn’t been any
exclusion of different subcultures from the target music
genre of the magazine due to the magazine being all
about the music and not about style of image.