Media Test 1

Media Test 1

1. Identify two different representations of age in the DVD covers

   • Younger people are represented as serious and sinister (stereotype)-Emphasised by the hoody wearing serious male on the cover
   • Subversion of stereotypes of old people in Red 2. Represented as active, action filled and energetic as opposed to frail and dependent on others. Represented by the gun wielding fairly old Bruce Willis on the cover

2. Choose one of these representations of age. Explore how it has been constructed in the DVD cover.

   • Older people in the middle surrounded by some younger people makes the older people seem more dominant and strong in the image.
     • Makes them seem confident (Also wielding of the weapons makes the older people seem more dominant, changing the stereotypes of age)
   • The explosion and the flames in the background makes the older people cover across as eccentric, challenging the stereotype of age
     • "The Best Never Rest" Resting is a word that relates to old people as that is what they are stereotypically known to do all the time as they get older. But the never resting part along with "best" makes them seen more powerful and active which is once again subverts the stereotype
       • "retired CIA agent" in the blurb emphasises age and shows that obviously the character he is playing is very old with contradicts the action theme as older people aren't known for starring in action films.

3. The Cover of GQ magazine featuring Clint Eastwood on the cover features Clint Eastwood looking old but still very strong, grump and serious which the latter 2 are stereotypes of older people

   • With reference to your own detailed examples, explorer representations of older people in the media today.
   • Use of terminology such as "badass" challenges the stereotypes of older people as it is a word used by younger generations, thus challenging stereotypes of older people and making them seem "cool"
     • The Michael Caine SAGA magazine cover also represents old people in a strong and confident manner, thus subverting stereotypes
       • "I don't remember old people being terrified to go out" Shows that modern day old people are more confident and thus leads to a subvertion of the "scared" stereotype

4. With detailed reference to two or three examples you have studied, explore how media texts are constructed to position audience and/or users

   • Positioning in the "This Girl Can" uses a variety of close ups and long shots of women that are not afraid of ruining the way they look for exercise, it focuses on these carefree features to persuade women to exercise frequently, and not matter about how they look.
     • An article in the Mail Online on Citizen Khan writes from the viewpoint of the creator. This represents ethnicity in a positive way, as the original TV show positions the audience in a way that they may view the TV show as racist and stereotypical, however the fact that the creator writes an article that positions the audience from his viewpoint neutralises that racism factor and makes people see the comedic side of it.
   • The Junk Food Kids documentary uses footage of unhealthy families with obese children that also have parents that provide them with fattening food. They then use interviews with doctors blaming the parents in order to position the audience in a way that they believe that obesity is caused by the food that parents give their kids.