Representation and stereotypes
Representation within the media is to show someone or something, using a process of depicting, descripting and symbolization. Stereotypes, as described by Stuart Hall, is the “production of the meaning of the concepts in our minds through language which enables us to refer to either the ‘real’ world of objects, people or events, or indeed to imaginary worlds of fictional objects, people and events”. In his research Hall has suggested that there are two systems of representation, the first system regarding direct associations of events, people and objects that have certain mental representations and concepts that people have in their minds. Meaning is therefore dependent on these correlations. Hall’s second system is language. To produce meaning, the concepts must be translated into common language. Halls refers to language as “anything from written words, spoken sounds and visual images, to music, fashion and even facial expressions”. A stereotype is a form of representation but a stereotypical representation is often inaccurate, partial, negative and limited. According to Hall and Itzin, a stereotype is an exaggerated, misleading and distorted representation of a group of people or a person through the reduction of that group or person to a few essential characteristics. Itzin explains a stereotype as representing “a set of ideas or a set of beliefs about people - an ideology rather than as people as they are.” Therefore stereotypes in the