6.1 - Representation of Reality.pptx

1. 6.1 Representation of
Reality
Task 6 – Extended Response to Documentary
Syllabus Point:
Representation of groups,
places, events and ideas
There is no such thing as
objective journalism.The
phase itself is a pompous
contradiction in terms.
- Hunter S.Thompson

2. Note taking as
we go…
For our lessons moving forward, this will be the expectation of you.
• In your ‘Class Notes’ section, create a page for the Lesson topic:
(6.1 Representation of Reality).
• Within that page create a ‘syllabus point’ section to the side for the
point we are looking at.
• Be ready to take notes on content and discussion activities as we go
along

3. Media &
Representation
Representation is a key concept in media studies. It has
three meanings:
- to look like or resemble
- to stand in for something or someone
- to present a second time – to re-present
Language and media representations do all three.
We know and understand the world through language,
through representations (consider children’s books &
toys).This is not to deny that the real world exists – of
course there is reality – but it is to say that all our
learning about the world is mediated by language (and
image*)
Recap on representation

4. Media &
Representation
There is a complex relationship between representation and reality.
Richard Dyer (Professor of FilmStudies at King’s College, London) has
said:
This is difficult territory. I accept that (people)
apprehend reality only through representations of
reality, through texts, discourses and images…
Reality is always more extensive and complicated
than any system of representation can possibly
comprehend and we always sense that this is so.
Representation never ‘gets’ reality, which is why
human history has produced so many different
and changing ways of trying to get it.
Representing our reality

5. Media &
Representation
There is a complex relationship between representation and reality.
Richard Dyer (Professor of FilmStudies at King’s College, London) has
said:
This is difficult territory. I accept that (people)
apprehend reality only through representations of
reality, through texts, discourses and images…
Reality is always more extensive and complicated
than any system of representation can possibly
comprehend and we always sense that this is so.
Representation never ‘gets’ reality, which is why
human history has produced so many different
and changing ways of trying to get it.
Representing our reality
Copy this quote into your class
notes section for today.
Attempt to identify 2 key
points that Dyer is making with
this quote.
What is he trying to say?

6. What Dyer is suggesting here is that we feel that language and
representations don’t do justice to our sense of reality, we have to
find new ways of representing them, and indeed this has been the
history of human culture, constantly developing new modes of
representation and discovering new ways of seeing reality.
The central point remains that ‘There is no such thing as
unmediated access to reality’ (Dyer, 1993)
Often representations and our perceptions of reality come down to
the individual.They are all relative; they will carry the bias of a
particular person or group. How true can a representation be? In the
end this is something you have to decide for yourself.
Media &
Representation
Representing our reality

7. An example of different and developing ways of looking at the world (very
literally in this case) consider traditionalWorld Maps.
Which of these maps seems to be a more ‘accurate’ or real depiction of the
globe? Left or Right.
Media &
Representation
Representing our reality
https://www.thetruesize.com/
What are some of the reasons
why traditional world maps may
not be accurate to the
geographical nature of countries
and the world?

8. Representation & Documentary Reading
Activity
We will be using a fishbone organiser to ‘team tackle’ the
representation in documentary reading.
We will practice one section together then you will work in groups to
complete the fishbone.
Part 1: Read the 1st page of the document and highlight any key
points you find about representation in Documentaries.We will take
what you’ve read and try to paraphrase Three key
points/takeaways from that section.
Media &
Representation
Representing our reality
Read Highlight
Key
Points

9. Analyse how
the changing
values of
society shape
representations
in media work.
Lesson Overview:
Could we answer this question from what
we have discussed today?
What discussion points that we looked at
relate?

10. Extension
Copy into your
summary section of
your notes any short
answer questions
from previous years
that could relate to
today’s lesson.Give
a short summary of
how what you could
discuss if you were
to answer it.