A contemporary issue refers to an issue that is currently affecting people or places and that is unresolved. A contemporary issue can be defined as any event, idea, opinion or topic in a given subject that is relevant to the present day. Contemporary issues can be found in almost any matter of interest.
TYPES OF REPRESENTATIONS
Representations can appear in many different forms. They can depict:
individuals (human / animated characters in narratives, and real people, political and historical figures or celebrities)
social groupings (such as families, genders, generations of people or ethnic groups)
institutions (such as the law)
ideas (such as freedom or equality)
events (such as wars)
issues (such as environmental sustainability or terrorism).
Heinemann Media (2nd edition)
Representations can appear in many different forms. They can depict:
individuals (human / animated characters in narratives, and real people, political and historical figures or celebrities)
social groupings (such as families, genders, generations of people or ethnic groups)
institutions (such as the law)
ideas (such as freedom or equality)
events (such as wars)
issues (such as environmental sustainability or terrorism).
Heinemann Media (2nd edition)
Gender
Media has become an all encompassing, inevitable part of modern life. From films and television to social media and billboards, the media is a constant part of our lives and its influence is unavoidable. While the media certainly has merit, it also has serious issues, particularly in its representation of women. Starting from a very young age women see unrealistic, idealized images of women in the media. Young girls view unrealistically beautiful animated princesses in media aimed at children, and the unrealistic beauty standards continue through adulthood.
It is very easy for women to fall into the trap of comparing themselves to these idealized women shown in the media. Media’s unrealistic images of men, women, and relationships encourages us to see ourselves, by comparison, as inadequate. When the media only shows women with one rather uncommon body type and presents digitally altered photos in magazines and billboards, it leads women to believe that that is how women should look and if they do not look like that there is something wrong with them.
It is very easy for women to fall into the trap of comparing themselves to these idealized women shown in the media. Media’s unrealistic images of men, women, and relationships encourages us to see ourselves, by comparison, as inadequate. When the media only shows women with one rather uncommon body type and presents digitally altered photos in magazines and billboards, it leads women to believe that that is how women should look and if they do not look like that there is something wrong with them.
Men and women are obviously represented very differently in the media, but the link below offers an interesting look at how clothing can be sold to the two genders.
Apparently, it would seem, that "men need clothes", while "women need to look sexy".
- What do you think about this advertising which clearly depicts the two genders very differently?
- What does it say about our society and what we value?
Watch this promotional video for the 2009 film He's Just Not That Into You, and look at the way the target audience has been identified.
- How have the distributors / film makers tried to 'sell' this film?
- What techniques have they used to do so?
The way that we perceive gender is constructed from a very early age. Through the media we consume, the way we are treated, the clothes the wear, the toys we play with and the ways we are taught to behave we are creating our own belief system about gender representations.
Take a look at the advertisements in the clip. Think about the messages that each advertisement is sending regarding gender. How have they tried to target each gender differently?
Take a look at the advertisements in the clip. Think about the messages that each advertisement is sending regarding gender. How have they tried to target each gender differently?
Consider representations of Gender today.
- What aspects / qualities / traits does the media focus on?
- What is promoted as the “perfect” woman / man?
- How is this shown through the processes of selection and omission in media texts?
Watch the the Man / Woman of Now advertisements for KIA Motors Australia.
- How are the two genders represented in these advertisements?
- What stereotypes are used?
- How are they used to represent the Man / Woman of Now?
ETHNICITY
Looking at Australian Identity allows us to determine representation from reality. We live in a developed, democratic, educated and multicultural society which can be represented in many different ways by ourselves, but especially by other countries.
Media representations of Australian identity often express a much narrower, more stereotypical understanding, particularly in sitcoms.
Why? Because of their length (less than 30 minutes), sitcoms do not allow for a great deal of character development. They therefore heavily rely upon stereotypical characterization, and to be funny, characters must be instantly recognisable; hence the need to use stereotyping.
Watch the short clip (right) from Anchorman 2.
Looking at Australian Identity allows us to determine representation from reality. We live in a developed, democratic, educated and multicultural society which can be represented in many different ways by ourselves, but especially by other countries.
Media representations of Australian identity often express a much narrower, more stereotypical understanding, particularly in sitcoms.
Why? Because of their length (less than 30 minutes), sitcoms do not allow for a great deal of character development. They therefore heavily rely upon stereotypical characterization, and to be funny, characters must be instantly recognisable; hence the need to use stereotyping.
Watch the short clip (right) from Anchorman 2.
- What characteristics does this film make use off to help the audience identify that this character is Australian?
The media represents Ethnicity very differently. Group representations of ethnicity into four categories: The Exotic, The Dangerous, The Humorous and The Pitied. These groups can help us to understand how representations of Ethnicity are designed to position the audience a certain way, to feel / think differently about one ethnicity over another.
Watch the following videos and discuss how they portray different representations of ethnicity.
Watch the following videos and discuss how they portray different representations of ethnicity.
This is Where The Media Forms and Reinforces
The Australian media reports on a range of issues and topics. However, the media primarily focuses on two topics in relation to Aboriginal people; the negatives and sport. How many times have you read about a dysfunctional, violent Aboriginal community or drunk Aboriginal people getting into trouble? And how often do we celebrate the success story of an Aboriginal person in health or business?
The decision to report on these topics fuel stereotypes on the Aboriginal population. Some common misconceptions are:
- Aboriginal people are violent and aggresive
- Aboriginal people only excel in the sporting industry
It is through the bombardment of stories and images celebrating the success of athletes and placing an emphasis on negative issues that reinforces the stereotypes held in Australian society.
The decision to report on these topics fuel stereotypes on the Aboriginal population. Some common misconceptions are:
- Aboriginal people are violent and aggresive
- Aboriginal people only excel in the sporting industry
It is through the bombardment of stories and images celebrating the success of athletes and placing an emphasis on negative issues that reinforces the stereotypes held in Australian society.
Video: Aboriginal representation in the mediaWatch Francis Kelly talk about the history of the Warlpiri Media Association,
What are the consequences of distorted representations of Native people with regard to their identity, self-esteem and social and cultural development?
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