Regional and National Identity

Representation Q2c. Or Q3Gender (Blog)Ethnicity (Blog)Age (Blog)IssuesEventsRegional and National IdentitiesAIM Provide overview and explore 3 contrasting examples from a range of media forms.Rich textsTexts that you can use for more than one area of the specificationE.g London Riots age, ethnicity, gender, Eventsregional.As well as audience responses and targeting

Regional and National IdentityStarterWhat area do you belong to?

Wales? Britain? Europe? Town? Village? Region?

Or do you define yourself (your identity) by age, sex, gender, race, family, friends or religion?

National and Regional Identity

National identity is a complex issue people may disagree about what makes a national identity or that it exists at all!Other factors may also be related to identity Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Religion, Class and Sexuality. These make the concept of a national identity even more complicated.This is also complicated by the idea of Regional Identity as well.

What is Britishness?

Do Britons shareOne language?One region?One religion?One race?White English is the dominant language, people in Britain also speak Welsh, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Gaelic, etc.In addition to the Churches of England, Scotland and Wales and the Catholic Church, Buddism, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh are also represented in Britain.Many people have no beliefs AtheistsBritain is a multicultural and multiracial societyCan still be undermined by regional identities, gender, sexuality, race etc

National Identity is constructed a representation based on a particular view of what is means to be British

An imagined community Shaun Moore (1998) argued that media texts often allow audiences to perceive themselves as part of an imagined community, where the audience feel that they have something in common with other imagined members of the audience. Carrying distinctive characteristics of their nationShared national values can be shown in the media though sporting events rugby world cup or national events royal wedding etcCan also be shown in newspapers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-S8n8-9RU#t=52

Understanding regional identityPick 3 of the following regions and stereotype their regional identity:NorthernersSouthernersEssexScottishWelshScousersGeordiesYorkshireMancsBrummiesLondoners

NorthernersStereotype= Northern Monkeys, Loud rude, drink a lot and of a lower status Costume= Track suit or cheap/casual clothesDialogue/dialect= Vowel sounds over-pronouncedMake up= Over the top or minimalClass/Status= Low

SouthernersStereotype= Poncy Southerners arrogant and posh- Dialogue/dialect= Well spoken the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain-Costume= Suit and tie, tailored clothing and dresses-Props= Brief case-Make up= Classy and to a minimum-Class/Status= Middle/Upper

ScottishStereotype= Humourless, hate other nations, alcoholic and violent Dialogue/dialect= Strong accent 'och' 'wee'Costume= Kilt, tartan, Tam o' Shanter Location= Highlands, cold and vast open spacesProps= Bagpipes, haggis, whiskyMake up= Ginger hair and frecklesClass/Status= Lower class (farmers)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp-jVwBGUsI

WelshStereotype= Small ,dark haired people who play all rugby, sing in choirs, herd sheep or mine coal Dialogue/dialect= Very song-like and melodic, slow and exaggerated pronunciationCostume= Rugby shirtsLocation= Rugby pitch, church, pub, fields with sheepProps= SheepMake up= MinimalClass/Status= Middle/Lower

ScousersStereotype= Dangerous ; Why does the river Mersey run through Liverpool? If it walked it would get mugged- Dialogue/dialect= Flemmy, difficult to understand; 'like' prominent k's-Costume= Tracksuits, very casual cheap looking clothing-Location= Pub/home-Props= Cheap looking jewellery-Make up= Minimal, or OTT -Class/Status= Low

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STIvNjWobzAYorkshire- Dialogue/dialect= 'Ey up, An' Ah'll tell thi that fer nowt, dont pronounce tsCostume= Flat caps, tweed jacketsLocation= Open fields, country pubs, Local shopsProps= Whippets/Yorksire terrier and Yorkshire puddingsMake up= Minimal/pale Class/Status= Low (farmers)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzAD2GLfaNU

17Geordies Stereotype= Loud, swear a lot, party animals and binge drinkers (help coined by Geordie Shore)Dialogue/dialect= way eye man, difficult to understandCostume= Revealing, tight clothingLocation= Busy town centres, clubs, urban areasMake up= Over the top, fake tan, dark hairClass/Status= Lower middle/ middle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PVQbnvv79IMancsStereotype= Loud, rude, funny and fond of fighting (Helped coined by Oasis)Dialogue/dialect= Oh, aye NowtCostume= Manchester United ShirtLocation= Busy town centresClass/Status= Low/lower middle

BrummiesStereotype= Unintelligent and unfriendlyDialogue/dialect= 'Yow' heavily pronunciation the 'ow' of 'You' Costume= Casual/ CheaoLocation= Busy, industrialised centresMake up= Greasy hairClass/Status= Low

Identity can however be unclear.

You could have such a strong regional identity that you do not see yourself as having a national one.

Or it could be that the sub-culture you belong to does not carry the same values as your nationAre you British if you dont care about the queen? Considering the national anthem is dedicated to her?Are you Welsh if you dont like Rugby? Or if you prefer another nations national sport? Such as football?The anonymous group are seen as a terrorist organisation by the British Government So are they British still? Despite being an enemy of the state?Do they identify with a different Britain? With different values?

LondonBrainstorm London in the mediaWhat are the different representations?

Its a diverse place

Londoners (Northern/ more posh boroughs)

- Dialogue/dialect= Well spoken, range of vocabulary-Costume= Cashmere jumpers/sweaters and suits-Location= Skyscrapers, swanky bars, posh homes-Props= Briefcase-Class/Status= Middle/upper

Londoners (Cockney/ South London)- Dialogue/dialect= Gorblimey, Rhyming slang apples and pairs = stairs, dropping ts-Costume= Flat caps-Location= Busy streets, market stalls-Make up= Minimal-Class/Status= Low

RTV: Made in Chelsea

Modern Drama: Top Boy

Classic Drama

Film Skyfall

Film: Mary Poppins

TVsouth-east London

Comedy: Twenty Twelve

Soap: Eastenders

Music video

Music video

News: London Riots

Celebrity: Royal Wedding

Sport: Olympics

Economics

Politics

Fashion

Representation 1: dangerousRecycle your knowledge!Top Boy (C4 drama) trailer? (Representation of ethnicity/ teens).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeIEogaPLr0Youngers (Drama/comedy) TV?(Representation of teens).

Text 1 - TopBoyDominant representation of London represented as an dangerous, urban placeMontage of establishing shots depict the mise-en-scene of the Summerhouse neighbourhood as an undesirable place (the frameworks of the buildings connote prison like bars)Visual codes consist of drugs, a black man carrying a knife and a black person abducted, which together construct an iconography of crime (Alvarado black people represented as dangerous and pitied)Technical codes: tracking shot of a boy getting chased by a villain honing in on his target, London as a dangerous place + zoomed in shots of the drug dealer protagonist to position him as an intimidating characterAudio codes: the grime/electronic music connotes an exotic sound which suggests this region of London is multiculturalProtagonist: I havent got nothing else to be except this no future aspirations for people living in this urban region of London

Representation 2: PoshText 2 - Made in chelsea poster

Representation 2: PoshText 2 - Made in chelsea posterScripted RTV show (for E4).Filmed in Knightsbridge (thats where Harrods is).Text 2 made in chelsea posterAlternative representation of London as affluent and wealthyWide shot of cast in an opulent Mise-en-sceneConnotations of Tudor like dcor with the mahogany wooden wall frame and chandeliers lightsCast depicted as people of high social status, due to their distinct body poses connoting royaltyDress code of female subjects in grand ball dresses, men are dressed in smart suites and are well groomedLow key lighting edited on poster to make the cast stand aloof from the dark mahogany wallsThe cast are positioned with a direct mode of address, who are framed to appear seemingly arrogant through their facial emotions and body stance

Other posterRepresentation 3: Patriotic, royalist, traditionalText 3: The Olympics Opening Ceremony (not all 3 hours!). James Bond and the Queen.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AS-dCdYZbo

Supports/ reinforces Dominant ideology Patriotism Synergy Mutually beneficialWhy?

Region 2Shut uuuup.EssexTOWIE

What Representations did you find?Last nightEastenders/ Clacton Bed Sit Town, Britain - Ross Kemp: Extreme World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgZ22BwPhtMcheap, rented accommodation' where seasidetownsbecomebed-sitghettos.In the final episode of the series, Ross takes a look at an issue slightly closer to home - on Britain's coast.

Alcoholics/ mums getting drunk (Women/ Londoners)

Educating Essex (Rep of teens too)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxK3_hihHishttp://www.channel4.com/programmes/educating-essex/on-demand/49967-001

Essex Lifemagazine

Film/ DVD Cover2013EssexStereotype= Image conscious, unintelligent, love to shop and partyStereotype coined by TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex)Dialogue/dialect= 'Shut up' 'Oh my God' = common phrases Costume: Girls= Revealing/OTT Boys: FashionableLocation= Clubs and boutiquesProps: Expensive, flashy, tacky handbags, up to date mobile phone Make up= Fake tan, fake eyelashes and hair extensionsClass/Status= Lower Middle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vTzuZk1OHA

November 2011's edition

Key TheoristsTheorist Andrew Higson (1998) writes; Identity is generally understood to be the shared identity of naturalized inhabitants of a particular political-geographic space this can be a particular nation or region.

Benedict Anderson (1983) maintains that the media play a vital role in constructing a national/regional identity as in reality the nation is too big for everyone to know each other yet they often have shared values ; The unification of people in the modern world is achieved not by military but by cultural means, in particular the media system enables people (of a nation or region) to feel part of a coherent, meaningful and homogenous community.

Higson (1998) claims that many TV dramas (such as Eastenders, Corrie etc) demonstrate the importance of community and patriarchal values; Social and cultural differences seem less significant when shared. The common purpose pulls the individual characters of the drama together, forges them into an organic, self-functioning community and ensures that each person has a clear role in the community. This small, self-contained functional community can then be read as standing for the nation, which is thereby imagined as a consensual gathering together of the diverse interests of individuals who make up that community.

Higson (1998) and Corrigan (1992) argues that TV drama does not always present communities like this, Identity is fluid, unstable and contingent on circumstances (Corrigan 1992) Allegiances are forever being made, unmade and remade; community cannot be taken for granted; they are insecure and often self-destructiveTension of race, gender, sexuality, the family and generations represent not simply as multicultural but in disarray(Higson 1998).

In short, as Higson summarised; Images of social and cultural disturbance and fragmentation are more prominent than images of consensual community this obviously paints a slightly negative image of multicultural Britain. Higson goes onto argue that TV drama has to find ways of representing hybrid identities in multicultural Britain; As Britain becomes visibly multicultural, so the makers of media texts have attempted to deal with plurality, to find space in representation for cultural minorities, ethnic or otherwise. In doing so, the cultural boundaries of the nation have been redefined, and a wider, more extended and hybrid national community imagined.

Constructing images of regional/national identity:According to Higson (1989) there are two ways in which the process of constructing images of national/regional identity should be understood; The first involves an inward looking process, defining the nation in terms of its own cultural history. The second is a more outward-looking process, defining the nation in terms of its difference from others.

In other words, stereotypes play a large role in constructing images of identity and these can either reaffirm notions of a nation (historic/culture) or contradict them. For example, as Higson (1998) states; Film like Trainspotting (1995) deal with quite specific cultural traditions, including working class traditions, youth traditions, all of which can be subsumed under the umbrella term Britishness. In other words, Trainspotting taps into traditional stereotypes of Scotland while illustrating what these stereotypes mean to working class youths (social-realist interpretation). Interestingly, this film changed the way this film represented Scotland changed outward perceptions of the nations (negatively).

Higson also argues that; Representations of national/regional identity are constructed as the narrative of the text unfolds, as characters are pitted against one another, so a sense of identity emergesbut at the same time producers often resort to stereotyping as a means of establishing character and identity.

Higson goes on to say; Stereotyping is a form of shorthand, a way of establishing character by adopting recognisable and well established conventions of representationthe stereotype reduces characters to the most basic form and attempts to naturalise them and the more widely recognisable they become the more readily they are accepted. Except that if a stereotype becomes more widely recognisable it becomes comic. Higson adds; No wonder then that a particular characterization may be critised for being stereotypical, meaning it lacks a realistic dimension, it fails to match up to the reality of identity.

As Higson points out, it is always important to analyse: Identities and alliances, in particular relating to class, ethnicity, religion, class and gender. In other words, how does a certain region seem to view these things and what does it imply the producer wants you to think about this region and its views.

In terms of regional identity, it is again important to remember who the dominant producers are because it is often the case they stereotype those not like them (working class Cornish Carrot Crunchers etc). Also, it is worth noting that if middle class white men appear in regional TV dramas (e.g. Dr Martin/Vicar of Dibley) they are usually made out to be educated and reasonable unlike the locals.

Homework (Blog)Using your own detailed examples explore the representations of London or Essex.in the media todayHow does TFOTEB represent Essex residents? How does Essex Life represent Essex residents?Add another Medium TOWIE? Educating Essex?Write at least 500 words Start with Intro - concept of representationOverview of regional and national identitiesP.E.A.T Purpose and Effect (Print Layout and design, Language and mode of address, Camera Shots and angles- Moving image C, Ed, Audio)Include theories (Blog) and Debatesperpetuate stereotypes?Conclusion

Region 3Cornwall

Representation 1: Picturesque & desirableText 1: Visit Cornwall website

Text 1: visit Cornwall tourism websiteDominant representation of Cornwall represented as picturesque and a desirable placeMain Image: establishing shot of nuclear family sitting on a hill overlooking beautiful scenery, with accompanied text: sheltered + peaceful tranquil estuaries, which anchors viewers interpretations of Cornwall immediately on homepageColour scheme: of the hyperlink option on the toolbar (turquoise, pink, sky blue, lime green and purple all connote happiness through bright colours)Narrative codes: Images under surfers paradise hyperlink are constructed in a state of constant equilibrium, with medium shots of surfers smiling and enjoying the waves Cornwall has to offerUnder hyperlink About Cornwall (Information, audiences uses and gratifications - Blumer and Katz), is the text A love affair that lasts a lifetime underneath an establishing shot of a spectacular sunny beach in CornwallVideos: plethora of videos showcasing the best of Cornwall, including the Fowey Festival, and Cornish Spring Gardens

Representation 2: a bit weird!Text 2: wild west BBC TV series

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkWD8RgpJ1s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4AEHEvhPxA

Text 2: Wild west BBC tv seriesAlternative representation of Cornwall: represents Cornish people as crazy, odd and unintelligent Mary (Dawn French) dialogue: Do you want me to pierce her to deathClose-Up shot of Mary with a gun, shooting directly at the camera with a faded in edit, with her dialogue: anyone move, Ill put a ring in your nippleMedium shot if Mary licking batteries and putting them back in the box in their convenience store (frames her as an odd character, and shops in Cornwall as unhygienic) This shot comes straight after an establishing shot a hill in Cornwall, to anchor the representation of place that the convenience store is CornishWide shot of Mary when she violently hits her friend Angela (Catherine Tate), which is accepted as if its a normal routine actionWhat begins with Z, yoghurt? Marys dialogueAudio codes: western styled music is used to frame the barman as a cowboy like character (Iconography of his gun, sideburns and shirt)Visual codes: barman slides the pint of beer across the bar for it to then smash of the side, frames him as being inepthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riNpxKVstpQ

Representation 3: Invaded and spoilt by touristsText 3: Guardian news article

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/may/16/newquay-cornwall-police-teenagers

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/jul/12/alcohol-binge-drinking-underage-newquay

Text 3: the Guardian News article Alternative representation of Cornwall: represents Cornwall as a dangerous place which consists of encouraging binge-drinking (leading to deaths)Headline: Teenage tragedies cast shadow as Newquays drink culture takes tollMain image: medium shot of teenagers partying in fancy dress (seemingly equilibrium)Text anchors meaning: Why do we come to Newquay? To get wasted; to get lashed (Gemma)We come here to drink (Kate) throwing her arms in the air and laughing as the rain hammered down, drenching her

Inappropriate behaviourhttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/sep/28/mankini-ban-newquay-crime-stag-parties

And even in the storms...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-25602947

Homework (Blog)Using your own detailed examples explore the representations of.in the media todayHow does represent Essex residents? How does Essex Life represent Essex residents?Add another Medium TOWIE? Educating Essex?Write at least 500 words Start with Intro - concept of representationOverview of regional and national identitiesP.E.E Purpose and Effect (Print Layout and design, Language and mode of address, Camera Shots and angles- Moving image C, Ed, Audio)Include theories (Blog) and Debatesperpetuate stereotypes?Conclusion

Now think about programs/films set in the following locations, do they reinforce these stereotypes through mise-en-scene (location, setting, actors, props, costumes etc), camera work, sound (include dialect that could be colloquial) and editing?

EastEnders Shameless TrainSpotting/Braveheart/Monarch of the Glen Doc Martin Emmerdale

The satellite map shows us a city sprawl so we know that the programme is set in an urban area. However it is the River Thames than reveals the specific location as being London.

Regional Identity can be seen by the views we see in the picture. We can see the countryside in the distance and we can also see an old vehicle of which is only used in the countryside.

You can tell that this is set in the country also because the background of the first picture is the country and in the second picture the house is styled as a country house. Also, what the characters are wearing symbolises the country

You can tell that this is set in an estate as there are flats in the background and the people look like they aren't of a high class because of the clothes they are wearing therefore we would expect them to live there and if there is a show about them then it would be set here.

Manchester - Mancunians, or Mancs

Liverpool Scousers

Task: As you watch, write notes and then write one P.E.E for each of the following clips

As you watch, consider:SettingAccentsDialoguePropsMake upClass of charactersCostumes

As you watch, consider:SettingAccentsDialoguePropsMake upClass of charactersCostumes

For Regional Identity in Emmer dale we shall look at this clip for examples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QQB_nrOtUViews at 0.30 show that the setting is in the country and we see straight away that all the views we see are all of this manor also/We see that the clothes and possessions (van) show low class as the clothes look old and used as the van that the women is driving does too.

We know that they either run or live on a barn as when they open the barn we see a lot of sheep , which can only really be in the country which backs up our other beliefs.

We then see people decorating a house which we can see was very old by the dcor for example the curtains are very countrified which means that if the house was oringinally decorated as if it was in the country it is probably in the country.

We then see the sheep again and the farm surroundings which is repeated throughout which only drums in the fact that they are in the country and that that is their regional identity.

Good example clips to look at during revision if you want to practice note taking include; Vicar of Dibley or Doc Martin (middle class/upper class characters do not have regional accents and are presented as intelligent while the locals are ridiculed this obviously links to Marxism).