STRANGER THINGS - REPRESENTATION
How are individuals and social groups represented?
In Stranger Things individuals are split into different social groups, which is mainly organised through different age groups. For instance, Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas represent one social group of younger teenagers who ironically are more clued-up on the unusual happenings of their small town. This pattern continues as the social groups get older, so secondly the older teenagers, predominately Nancy and Steve help to represent a very stereotypical social group. For instance, Nancy is represented as a studious character who is interested in her education however can also be influenced by other representations such as Steve's character. He is represented as a 'high school jock', interested in sports and girls, with a lesser interest in his studies. This teenage social group are less involved with the unusual goings-on however they soon become more involved. Whereas the final social group who are represented, the adults are the most naive when it comes to the unusual goings-on, which is again ironic as adults are typically represented as being the most involved with the dangerous opposed. For instance, Nancy and Mike's parents follow the stereotypical pattern of the mother acting as a housewife and the husband bringing in the family income. This is shown in a scene where an altercation occurs between the family and when Mike asks his dad for his opinion, he states to 'ask his mother'. Here this shows how the dad is represented as being not involved in family life, not acting as the typical farther figure which is often another representation.
How are the main characters represented through the use of media language? What social groups can they be seen to fall into?
Firstly, the police officer known as 'Hopper' is first introduced as an irresponsible character as he is shown sleeping on a couch with alcohol and tobacco spread around the room from the night before. The use of media language then changes this representation as shots of him getting ready are used, however they are edited so that not his whole body is visible. This has been done deliberately to focus the audiences attention on the items he is putting on, such as a police badge and a hip strap which then a gun is placed into. Here this completely juxtaposes the original representation of a town police officer as purely from his home life it shows that his levels of responsibility are lower than what may be expected. Furthermore, the younger teenage social group with Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas is also represented using mise-en-scene devices. For instance the clothing they all wear is typical to the 1980's era, with denim jackets, suede bags and baseball caps. Dustin specifically is often shown wearing a baseball hat which helps to indicate to the audience that him and his peers are typical and realistic representations of those form the American time period.
What individuals or groups are under-represented in the drama? How do you know? Why might this be?
The series is noticeably lacking in
What stereotypes are used? Are any of the main characters stereotypical, and if so why might they be represented in this way? How do we respond to them as a viewer as a result?
Are the stereotypes we see used in a positive or negative way?
How much influence will the producer have had on the way individuals, social groups or social identities are represented?
Why might the producer have decided to construct this representation? What aspects of media language are used by the producer to help construct these representations?
How are events, issues and social identities represented?
What events or issues are represented?
Did you already know about these events or issues? Are they usually under-represented or not? Why might they be the focus of representation in this drama?
In Stranger Things individuals are split into different social groups, which is mainly organised through different age groups. For instance, Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas represent one social group of younger teenagers who ironically are more clued-up on the unusual happenings of their small town. This pattern continues as the social groups get older, so secondly the older teenagers, predominately Nancy and Steve help to represent a very stereotypical social group. For instance, Nancy is represented as a studious character who is interested in her education however can also be influenced by other representations such as Steve's character. He is represented as a 'high school jock', interested in sports and girls, with a lesser interest in his studies. This teenage social group are less involved with the unusual goings-on however they soon become more involved. Whereas the final social group who are represented, the adults are the most naive when it comes to the unusual goings-on, which is again ironic as adults are typically represented as being the most involved with the dangerous opposed. For instance, Nancy and Mike's parents follow the stereotypical pattern of the mother acting as a housewife and the husband bringing in the family income. This is shown in a scene where an altercation occurs between the family and when Mike asks his dad for his opinion, he states to 'ask his mother'. Here this shows how the dad is represented as being not involved in family life, not acting as the typical farther figure which is often another representation.
How are the main characters represented through the use of media language? What social groups can they be seen to fall into?
Firstly, the police officer known as 'Hopper' is first introduced as an irresponsible character as he is shown sleeping on a couch with alcohol and tobacco spread around the room from the night before. The use of media language then changes this representation as shots of him getting ready are used, however they are edited so that not his whole body is visible. This has been done deliberately to focus the audiences attention on the items he is putting on, such as a police badge and a hip strap which then a gun is placed into. Here this completely juxtaposes the original representation of a town police officer as purely from his home life it shows that his levels of responsibility are lower than what may be expected. Furthermore, the younger teenage social group with Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas is also represented using mise-en-scene devices. For instance the clothing they all wear is typical to the 1980's era, with denim jackets, suede bags and baseball caps. Dustin specifically is often shown wearing a baseball hat which helps to indicate to the audience that him and his peers are typical and realistic representations of those form the American time period.
What individuals or groups are under-represented in the drama? How do you know? Why might this be?
The series is noticeably lacking in
What stereotypes are used? Are any of the main characters stereotypical, and if so why might they be represented in this way? How do we respond to them as a viewer as a result?
Are the stereotypes we see used in a positive or negative way?
How much influence will the producer have had on the way individuals, social groups or social identities are represented?
Why might the producer have decided to construct this representation? What aspects of media language are used by the producer to help construct these representations?
How are events, issues and social identities represented?
What events or issues are represented?
Did you already know about these events or issues? Are they usually under-represented or not? Why might they be the focus of representation in this drama?
Comments
Post a Comment