Representation in moving-image media

Representation in moving-image media

There are many different forms of representation in the media. These can be biased, offensive or stereotypical. There are also many platforms in which these representations can be held within. These include trailers, TV shows and films. These platforms also have their own websites or places that they can be found. For example, trailers and other short clips can be find on one of the most popular websites in the world-YouTube.

Youtube is the home of millions of videos and everyone can post them on there. One of the best examples of media on YouTube which represents different things in a certain way are trailers. Sometimes, these show different genders, social classes or races in an unfair way. For example, Bruce Willis faced a lot of accusations for his trailer for his movie 'Death Wish' being racist. With the power of social media, these accusations spread around very quickly and these thing become massive talking points. Similarly, the movie 'Get Out' was very bold in it's representation of different ethnicity groups. From the start, the film bravely exploits liberal racism in America(and makes a great film of it in the process). The trailer arguably shows some parts of our society as racist by showing the protagonist character(Chris), who is a black male person uncomfortable and nervous about his girlfriend's family meeting him. He is worried because he is dubious that he will be accepted because of his race and unfortunately this is truly common in some parts of the USA. Another form of representation of race in this movie is the fact that the servants working for the middle/high class white family are all black. Of course, this is racist but the film does this intentionally to prove how some forms of our society still think this way so we can improve the situation.

Get Out also tackles social issues in regards to gender. In comparison to a typical horror movie like 'Friday the 13th'(which portrays women as weak and unable to fight their own battles), Get Out shows that women are strong and can be the 'evil' character in a movie. From the start, we are made to think that Chris's girlfriend Rose is innocent and is on Chris's team. Despite all of the controversy and doubts that everything is right in the family house, Rose isn't thought of as a villain at all. However, towards the end of the movie, a new side to Rose is revealed and she is shown as powerful. This supports the ideology of feminism and it attempts to break down the stereotype of men being superior to women which has wrongly lived through generations.

TV shows are becoming more and more popular as the days go by. These also hold strong power and influence in determining people's representation of different things. Some TV shows have even become global talking points. These include Game of Thrones, Rick and Morty and The Walking Dead. All of these have their own individual representations of different things. For example, in The Walking Dead there is a female, black character called Michonne. She is one of the more likeable, heroic characters on the show and it therefore represents women as strong physically and mentally. She is portrayed as a potential leader and a very brave woman. She even carries a massive sword around with her! Similarly, Daenerys(from Game of Thrones) and Tulip(from Preacher) are both shown to be strong women with what our society would class as 'masculine traits'. Characters like these do a good job at trying to break the stereotype that the media has set.

On the other hand, some forms of moving-image media do not portray women fairly. In the exact same show as Daenerys, there are many scenes where women are sex slaves and are only there to be sex symbols. Of course, the show is set in the past where women were seen as this way more. That doesn't change the fact that it is still uncomfortable to watch and it sticks to the stereotype. Disney movies have faced a lot of backlash for what people would call "stereotypical characters". 'Aladdin' showed arabs to be barbaric and backwards. Pocahontas is a very stereotypical native-American character.

In conclusion, the media in terms of film and TV have a reputation for portraying minority groups wrongly, but in today's day and age it is a lot more equal and fair than it was in the past.