Representation (and theories)

Find a YouTube clip from film or TV and complete the same activity we have just done in class:

• White men: Alternative, as they are more submissive than pro-dominantly portrayed.
• White women: Dominant, as they are working under someone and are being submissive.
• Black man: Dominant in the fact that they dominate but alternative as he is the main man in power.
• Women: Dominant, as they're working beneath someone but alternative as we are made clear the female protagonists disagreement. 
• Males: Dominant as one is in power and strives to be listened to but alternative as other males are forced to listen are are less impulsive.
• Young adults: Dominant as Males are still joking about and impulsive in disagreement, both genders are given less power.
• Adults: Dominant as they have more power over the situation and give commands
• Groups: Dominant are there is a leader and the rest are in consensus. 

Task 2; 

You now need to write an in-depth analysis of the representation in this clip as if you were writing an essay or exam answer. 

The representation of men in the clip are varied. There is a dominant representation of men in the sense that the main person in power is a male character who strives to be listened to. The theory of Mudhurst can therefore be applied, as you see an older male, who seems fairly built and you presume he has both mental and physical power and therefore be assertive and probably aggressive if not listened to, like an 'alpha male'. This is also reinforced through the costume he is wearing, he is wearing a sort of 'bullet proof vest' suggesting that he may be a sort of solider. This may create the concept that he is the 'good guy' maybe even the doner, and in turn having much more powerful and positive connotations such as him being strategic and trustworthy. This may mean that Perkins stereotype theory may apply in the sense that this positive representation isn't very negative and is often true regarding the solider profession. Alternatively the representation of the younger male characters is that they are less impulsive and listen, this is an alternative representation as young adults aren't usually represented as less impulsive and calm. This may be subverting from typical stereotypes however some of them are still impulsive in disagreement and immature. Strauss' theory of ideologies can therefore be applied as this may be the belief of the producer who is likely to be an adult and maybe even have children therefore sharing this stereotypical view that young males are immature and impulsive, this therefore also involves dyers theory as these are less powerful individuals and therefore their representation can be presented in this certain way. Moreover in terms of the male representation another interesting aspect is that the powerful man is in face a black man. This is a dominant reading in the sense that black males are stereo-typically associated with being assertive and easily dominate other characters however alternative in the aspect that he is in power. He is of a minority group which deters from Dyers concept that minority group individuals have less power and are therefore in turn represented in a negative light however this therefore supports Perkins theory as this idea of black men have a dominating character isn't a fully negative aspect, also partially true and the fact that he is in power is in fact a positive rather than negative thing .Another racial aspect is that the white males in the clip are presented as less powerful and submissive which is also an alternative representation, moreover it opposes Dyer also as it represents a fairly powerful group in a more negative light and in turn supports Perkins idea that stereotypes aren't always about less powerful groups.

Alternatively in this representation of male characters there is also a representation of female characters too. There is both a dominant and alternative representation, it is dominant in the aspect that they are working beneath a male character, which is somewhat true of our society therefore showing an aspect of Mudhurst as its a negative representation of a minority group but Perkins' theory in the aspect that there is some aspect of truth in this representation. However, there is an alternative reading due to the fact that these women are represented as they are not submissive and openly express their disappointment and disagreement with the authority figure.