AS Media Studies

G322: Key Concepts in MediaSection A: TV DRAMA

Date: 25/02/2014 Term Sp2, Lesson 1 1

STEREOTYPES

• Lets find out how many sterotypes you can think of for CLASS!

• In your Rows add as many as you can to your pieces of paper

Connect

Class and Status

• If you are asked to focus on Class and Status, you need to look at the following

– Stereotypes (Appearance, Accents, Catchphrases, Employment)

– Associated Behaviours– Representation in Current Media

Develop

Upper Class

• Statistically a smaller part of society

• Land Owners: Aristocracy and Royalty

• Born into Wealth

• Not necessarily employed

• Homes in UK and Abroad – Often Large and Old

Develop

Middle Class

• Range of Lower/Middle/Upper Middle classes

Develop

Lower Middle Middle Middle Upper Middle

Works in supervisor /service Industry / Small Business Owner

Mild Regional Accent

GCSE/A Levels

Home Owner in Suburbs

Professional Jobs needing Qualifications: Teacher/Nurse etc

Very Mild Accent

Degree Education

Home Owner in Suburbs/Villages

High Level Professionals – Managers/Doctors/Head teachers

Well Spoken (No Accent)

Degree Education

Large Home Owner in Villages/Suburbs

Working Class

Unskilled• Entry level Jobs –

Supermarkets/Fast Food

• Regional Accent

• Low Educational Success

• Council Estate Housing

Skilled• Training and Experience in Work

• Regional Accent

• Education relates to work – apprenticeships

• Own small home

• Often self employed - trades

Develop

Poor/ Below Poverty Line

• Unemployed

• Strong Accent

• Claiming benefits

• Council Housing/No housing

• Uneducated/No Schooling

• “Criminal Class”

Develop

Status

• A person’s status is more linked to their impact on society and economic position rather than their behaviors

• High status can be achieved through wealth or achievements but high class cannot!

Develop

Disability/Ability

• If you are asked to focus on Disability/Ability, you need to look at the following

– Stereotypes (Appearance/Conditions) – Associated Behaviors– Representation in Current Media

Develop

Disability/AbilityDevelop

Disability/Ability

• Looking at the representation of disability in the media it’s easy to identify common stereotypes.

1. Exhibition – This is where the media presents people with disabilities as different or unusual. Here disability is something to be viewed and observed; ‘difference’ is highlighted and made a spectacle.

2. Sympathy/pity – By far the most common representation in the media. People with disabilities are often shown to be deserving of pity when they face difficulties or prejudice.

3. Fear – For a long time film makers have used scarring and disability as a short cut for evil.

4. Humour – An odd one but it’s definitely there. An extreme case of schadenfreude (pleasure in the misfortune of others, think about how funny someone else falling over is) this may seem politically incorrect.

5. Admiration – This is where people with disabilities are put in a position of admiration that despite their disability they are achieving something.

Develop

Exam Practice

MES CW ED S

Point

Evidence

• What is the Representation• Is it positive or negative?

Exam Practice

• Watch the following extract and make notes using the grid to help you prepare you answer to the question

How is Disability represented in My Mad Fat Diary (Carron, 2013) ?

Delight