REPRESENTATIONS
TV DRAMA
What is TV Drama? Its a television program content that is scripted and (normally) fictional along the lines of a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up comedy and variety shows.
REPRESENTATION
Representation in the dictionary is defined as something to describe, or depict it, to call it up in the mind by description or portrayal.
Why is it used? To represent also means to symbolise, stand for something, be a substitute for for example the shape of a cross can symbolise Jesus Christ and the crucifixion.
MEDIATION/MEDIATED
Every time we encounter a media text, we are not seeing reality, but someones version of it. The media place us at one remove from reality: they take something that is real, a person or an event and they change its form to produce whatever text we end up with. This is called mediation.
STEREOTYPE
A standardised, often simplified, mental picture or attitude that is held in common by members of a group. Some examples are that blondes are dumb (not true!)
HEGEMONIC NORM The term "hegemony" refers to the leadership, dominance or great influence
that one entity or group of people has over others.
IDEOLOGY
(Plural ideologies) a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
SEMIOTICS The study of signs and their use or interpretation. Its the sign processes
(semiosis), indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication.
CONNOTATION
An idea or feeling that a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning. The implication of such ideas or feelings.
SIGNIFIES/SIGNIFIER
1. -Be an indication of. 2. -Be a symbol of; have as meaning. Examples include: A check mark next to your name signifies that you have met all the requirements. Or: He gave her a diamond ring to signify his love. Signifier: any material thing that signifies, e.g., words on a page, a facial expression, an image. Signified: the concept that a signifier refers to.
TYPES OF SIGNIFIER Iconic signs where the signifier resembles the signified, e.g., a picture. Indexical - signs where the signifier is caused by the signified, e.g., smoke
signifies fire.
Symbolic - signs where the relation between signifier and signified is
purely conventional and culturally specific, e.g., most words.
BINARY OPPOSITES Are a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Binary
opposition is the system by which, in language and thought, two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another. E.g. Warm or cold
MODE OF ADDRESS
Basically how the media shouts at the audience e.g. How music magazines are presented to the audience.
ANCHORING
Fixing of meaning eg the copy text anchors (ie fixes to one spot) the meaning of an image (for instance, a single rose, that could be used for an ad for anything from a dating agency to a funeral home) in a print advertisement
CONVENTIONS The widely recognised way of doing something - this has to do with content,
style and form eg the conventions of music video
they are the same length as the song (somewhere around 4 minutes, say) they present the band, who look as though they are singing they have lots of fast edits
LISTING THE CONVENTIONS OF A TV DRAMA
Usually there is some kind of crime that has been committed. There are several characters, including usually a member of the police force and most likely a detective. Theres a whodunnit theme. Settings usually include a living room, cafe, pub or workplace. Its generally a week in week out, all year round programme. It features continuous storylines, often revolving around domestic themes and personal family relationships. The introductory theme tunes are well known. The cast are more often than not unknowns, though you get the odd special guest every now and then. The plots are open ended and there are lots of little twists intertwined. If its a TV crime drama, the problem is normally resolved.
