Regional identity

Theorist Andrew Higson (1998) writes: "Identity is generally understood to be the shared identity of naturalised inhabitants of a particular political-geographic space- this an be a particular nation or region."

Benedict Anderson (1983) maintains that the media play a vital role in constructing a national/regional identity as in reality the nation is too big for everyone to know each other yet they often have shared values: "The unification of people in the modern world is achieved not by military but cultural means, in particular the media system enables people (of a nation or region) to feel part of a coherent, meaningful and homogenous community."

Higson: "Stereotyping is a form of shorthand... a way of establishing a character... that often reducing the character to the most basic form so that the stereotype often becomes comic."  (Higson 1998)
Higson: "No wonder then that a particular characterisation may be criticised for being stereotypical meaning it lacks a realistic dimension, it fails to match up the reality of identity." (Higson 1998)

Medhurst: "Awful because they are not like us."


Stereotypes for different regions:

Brummies: 

Brummie- Drag on words, meant to say Birmingham as Buuuuurminghammmm

Yams yams , Citizen Khan 

"Brummie screwdriver" is UK slang for a hammer

Cornish: 

Cornish- Pasties. Farmers, Fields, Beach weather, holiday, miners, tractors

Poldark, Doc martin

Cornwall has about half a million people, 75,000 cows and more than five million tourists a year.

Put the cream on BEFORE the jam when having a cream tea

Essex: 

Everyone in Essex has the same accent - a chavvy, cockney like accent 

Everyone is blonde and tanned

 "The Only Way Is Essex" uses phrases like "Shut Up!" and "Well jell"

 Everyone in Essex enjoys alcohol and parties 

London: 

London-  Fake tan, crime, chavs, grime, tourists, gangsters, 

Eastenders

Celebrations of St Piran’s Day in 19th century Cornwall led to the phrase ‘drunk as a perraner’.


Our food is awful and we can’t produce our own wine

Manchester: 

The Mancunian stereotype is much like the stereotype of just your general northerner, alcoholic rude loud and lower working class status.From what I’ve found it appears like Manchester is a city of two halves, you’re either a ‘casual’ who enjoys music like Oasis and The Stone Roses or you’re a ‘chav’ and you wear tracksuits and have babies at 16.

 Not just that but when you think of Manchester you think “United or City?”

Some of the better stereotypes of Manchester is not only its HUGE football teams but the fact that its multi cultural, it has a lot more diversity than other cities in the UK, hence why like places such as Bradford and Birmingham which also have a very diverse culture, EDL make a few appearances in Manchester.

     Scouser: 

·      Obsessed with football

·      Distinguishable accent

·      Chavs

·      "Ya ma" is still the best comeback of all time

·      You will see people at Tesco wearing pyjamas and Ugg boots

·      You know the words to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' if you're a red or a blue or neither

·      You'll see people blatantly in their mid-20s trying to buy a child ticket on the bus

·      Hollyoaks is set there

·      A new poll looking at people’s perceptions of various different UK accents shows the “scouse” accent is the most popular for mimicking for comedic effect

·      Accent is hard to understand

·      Liverpool vs Manchester

·      Full of chavs and drug users

·      Rough schools

·      Full of criminals- bad reputation

·      Stereotyped to have hair rollers in their hair

·      Known to love cheesy chips

·      “Birds”

·      Hard to understand- a lot of new phrases

·      Woolyback / Wool : A person from Runcorn, Wirral, Wigan, Warrington, Southport etc.

·      Swear a lot

      
       Wales: 

·      Obsessed with football

·      Distinguishable accent

·      Chavs

·      "Ya ma" is still the best comeback of all time

·      You will see people at Tesco wearing pyjamas and Ugg boots

·      You know the words to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' if you're a red or a blue or neither

·      You'll see people blatantly in their mid-20s trying to buy a child ticket on the bus

·      Hollyoaks is set there

·      A new poll looking at people’s perceptions of various different UK accents shows the “scouse” accent is the most popular for mimicking for comedic effect

·      Accent is hard to understand

·      Liverpool vs Manchester

·      Full of chavs and drug users

·      Rough schools

·      Full of criminals- bad reputation

·      Stereotyped to have hair rollers in their hair

·      Known to love cheesy chips

·      “Birds”

·      Hard to understand- a lot of new phrases

·      Woolyback / Wool : A person from Runcorn, Wirral, Wigan, Warrington, Southport etc.

·      Swear a lot

·      Thieves

      Yorkshire: 

·     Scones

·     Yorkshire puddings

·     Yorkshire tea

     Scotland:
     People from Scotland have been presented, as ginger people, who eat haggis, wear kilts and play the bagpipes. Iron Bru is also associated with them.
   
     Devon :
     People are presented as, farmers who drink cream teas, drink cider, and clotted cream is a big thing.
   
   

The clip above fits with the London stereotype, of people being in gangs, chavs and it has there accents. It portrays them differently, and magnifies a small story, into a large program that is watched by millions of viewers every evening. This would agree with Higsons theory "No wonder then that a particular characterisation may be criticised for being stereotypical meaning it lacks a realistic dimension, it fails to match up the reality of identity." 

Class

In the advert above, of the UK TV drama Shameless, we can see the different levels of class in this advert, you can see that it's based around christmas, and that the characters are having christmas dinner. We can see that the setting is a run down pub, and that it's not a modern place. We can see that the table is broken, and that there is a large amount of alcohol and cans, there is also loads of mess. This gives off the impression that the place is dirty, and that the location is in a much more poorer area. The characters in the advert, are all doing something rebellious which makes the advert looks chaotic. All the characters are dressed grubby, and look like they're not too clean. The main character in the middle, specifically looks drunk and disorderly, this gives off the impression that the characters are "chavs" and not from a well advantaged background. The main character looks shabby as his hair is long, and greasy, we can see his beard is long, and that he is lunged over the table, as if he's drunk, or high. The dog in front of the table is eating the turkey, and the happy christmas sign, has been torn in half, making it look like the christmas was a disaster, and that the family is uncontrollable. The colour schemes are bright and loud, it makes the characters look cheap, and unorganised. The poster overall shows that this family are not a rich, and are much poorer.























All the characters in this advert, are smartly dressed, they are all well clothed and look healthy. This represents that the people in the advert are wealthy, and look well off. The scene looks neat, the grass is cut short and is looks smart, and the building in the background shows a well looked after building, and that it set in the early 1900's. It gives a brief insight into this time period, and the dog at the front is calm, and lying down, showing that it is trained, where as in the other poster, it is eating the turkey. The facial expressions are either smiling, or look proud, this again hints that they are well off, and are happy, due to their lifestyle. The characters hair is also clean looking, all the males have a clean shave showing how well looked after they are. The characters are dressed in formal clothes, however are dressed in clothes from a older time period. Overall the colours of the poster, are neutral, and look posh. The poster overall, makes the characters look posh, and wealthier.


Keith Gandal's 2007 theory, Gandal states that lower class people are portrayed as a; "Cultural other," through fashions that deviate from the middle and upper classes.

Medhurst's 1998 theory; "They are awful because they are not like us," (the us being the middle class producers of media texts) is also relevant here because mise-en-scene is taken to the extreme to make the stars look very different (poorer and more edgy) than more stereotypical middle class conservative fashions. In terms of Medhurst and Marxist theory, it could also be said that working class people are made to look 'awful' because they are stereotyped to look more prone to; drinking, unemployment, being un-reliable and criminal behaviour.













This ties in with the theories of Richard Butsch (1992) who says working class males in the media are presented as; "Incompetent and ineffectual, often a buffoon, well-intentioned but dumb. In almost all working-class series, the male is flawed, some more than others...he fails in his role as a father and husband, is lovable but not respected."  This ties in with the stereotypical rock-&-roll image of male rock stars, who are often in the news for cheating on their partners, violence, drunken buffoon behaviour but are still 'loveable' because they have some talent or some likeable qualities. This appeals to young working class males and females because it makes the stars seem human, like them. 









Keith Gandal's, in 2007 he said that target audiences are drawn in by the; "Sentimental rags-to-riches story,"

Shameless essay: 

There is a clear difference between the different types of classes, the upper class are seen as wealthy, posh, and look down on others, however the lower class are seen as much more poorer, and are the people who get looked down on. Though out the media you can see how poorer people are portrayed they're seen as benefit scroungers, anti-social and dirty. This is the typical stereotype of people from a lower class. 

The opening scene shows  male character walking from a shabby, run down, estate, the character is dressed scruffy and greasy hair. There is a tracking shot of the character as he continues to walk down the road. It shows an over the shoulder shot, as the character is knocking on the door. The character enters a house that is much more neater, and you can see clearly that the characters in the house are better off financially than him. This would support Gandal's theory that the lower class are the "cultural other." It shows a one two shot, then of two characters talking, it shows how the female character looks healthier, as she's dressed neatly, with jewelled earnings, and clean tidy hair. This shows the difference between the two characters backgrounds, and how one has more wealth than the other. It then shows a long shot, of the two characters sitting together, but also showing off the scene, we can see the house looks big, and has expensive ornaments in the cabinet behind the male, this also shows off the families wealth. This would portray the male character as poor, agreeing with Medhurst's theory "they are awful because they are not like us." However the male goes against the stereotypical views, that poor people are not as intelligent, and Richard Butsch's theory that working class in the media are represented as "often a buffoon." As he's doing homework for the wealthier female, and explaining how things work. 

It then shows a high angle of the female character as she's crawling under the table, to approach the male, this shows that she's less powerful, and vulnerable. It then shows a close up of the male characters face, showing his facial expressions as she's undoing his trousers. It continues with a eyeline match shot. It shows an over the shoulder shot of the mother, showing the commotion in the background. It then shows a high angle shot of the female character, as she appears again. It shows a close up of the characters face, and again, a low angle of the female. It then shows a medium close up, of the male character showing his facial expressions. It shows the male's bedroom, we can see it's untidy and over crowded, as it has multiple beds, the boy changes his pants, showing a mid shot of his backside. This shows how much poorer the family is, and supports Medhurst's theory again of "they are awful because they are not like us." 

Gender

Gender

Laura Mulvey- "As erotic objects of desire for the characters within the story, and as erotic objects of desire for the spectator." (Mulvey, 1975) 

David Gauntlett- "Images of the conventionally rugged, super-independent, extra-strong macho man still circulate in popular culture." (Gauntlett, 2002) 

Makillion 2002- In 2002 Mackillion said males are now used in the similar way as women, in so far as they are being presented as sex objects and are seen to be more image conscious and sensitive. 

How males are represented in the media

Males in the media are represented as masculine, strong and heroic. The representation in the media of males is that they should have a body with abs, and look perfect. However things such as certain adverts, and magazines e.g. sport adverts, and perfume adverts, they're specifically aimed at men. Men are represented to be this brave, powerful character, and the females are their objects/property. Overall in the media, men are the more dominate, powerful ones. However although it is still extremely sexist, men are also in the media starting to be sexualised. 

How females are represented in the media

In the media women are represented more like sex objects, compared to men. Women are seen as weak, powerless and objects. The 'traditional' role that women fit into is also like they should be in the kitchen, or doing the typical wife role. An example of this is cleaning/food product adverts, it shows women doing the mom role, it shows sexism. 

Another point to make is the way women are portrayed in adverts such as perfume adverts, they are almost naked and have the perfect image, his is specifically to attract men and appeal to them. Music videos are a good example to, women are also treated like objects or are not regarded in them. Blurred lines 

Disability

How are disabled characters stereotypically portrayed? 

Disabled characters in TV genres tend to seem more useless and powerless, than the typical character you would see. Programs like Family Guy, or Eastenders have disabled characters in them and you can see that the story line is specifically aimed at them and their disability, when there are featured in the scene. Disabled people are the outcast, and are specifically portrayed as useless and that they're not the same as the typical person you would see.

Does gender of the character impact the representation? 

Disabled people in general are stereotyped, no matter what the gender. They are treated completely different, and lower that the normal person you'd meet. They are treated more like animals, and that they're are not important in society.








JESSICA EVANS (1998), Drawing on the works Frued and other psychoanalysis states:
"Disabled people are seen as childish, dependent and underdeveloped and regarded as other, and are punished by being excluded from ordinary life. Thus popular images and rhetoric of disabled people around which comfort us with people who are imperfect, helpless, unattractive, disgusting, shitty and dribbling."

As Cumberbatch and Negrine (1992), Barnes (1992) and Longmore (1987)
point out studies of the representation show that disabled people are screened out of television fiction or else occur in a limited number of roles.

As Jordanova stated in 1989:
"The idea of otherness is complicated, but certain themes are common: the treatment of others are more like an object, something to be managed and possessed, and as dangerous, wild, threatening. At the same time the other becomes an entity whose very separateness inspires curiosity, invites inquiring knowledge. "

Medhurst argued that in terms of power relations and the constitutions of stereotypes, "they are awful because they are not like us." (Medhurst 1997)

JESSICA EVANS (1998)
"Old people in our culture are also segregated and treated as though they are waiting to die. There are close associations between dependency, illness, dying and death. It seems that increasingly in our culture there are pressures that encourage a reversion to infantile feelings which have to be madly defended against."


Essay Practice: Secret diaries of a Call Girl

Immediately in this extract there is non-digetic music playing, and a mid shot of a woman who's dressed in very sexualised clothes, supporting Mulvey's theory of women being seen as "erotic objects." Shortly after that, the call girl continues to open the door, the non-diegetic sexualised music cuts out, as the camera tilts down, showing a disabled man. This shows the difference in power, and that the disabled character isn't the same as the call girl. This supports Jessica Evan's theory, stating that disabled people are seen as "unattractive," and "disgusting." The shot then reverses showing the call girls face, as she is surprised there is another gentlemen there. The camera tilts upwards again, as it goes from the disabled man, to a much more able, and stronger gentlemen. This shows the difference between the characters, as it specifically is aimed at the disabled man as he is not the same. This supports Medhurst's theory in 1997 when he stated "they are awful because they're not like us."

 There is then a long shot as the characters enter the living room. The camera is specifically aimed to show the disabled man, as well as the stronger, more able characters. This shows the power between the characters again, and supports Medhurst's theory still. The shot makes the disabled character look weak, and feeble. The scene then shows dialogue between the characters, using one-two shot. The scene then continues and shows how dependent the disabled character is, as it shows his dad having to grab his things from the bag. This supports the stereotypical views on disabled people, that they are useless, but also Jessica Evans theory stating that disabled people are seen as "helpless" and "imperfect."

Continuing on into the extract, we can see again that the disabled person is completely dependent on his dad, the dad is looking around, but the disabled son has to ask him for help. This shows how vulnerable the disabled character is and is still supporting Mulvey's theory as well as Jessica Evans'. The dad has to take his son onto the bed, it creates awkward tension between them, as it shows a long shot and mid shot of the scene. The extract continues showing one two shot, between the dad and call girl, it creates more awkwardness between the characters as they continue to have a conversation, and makes the disabled character look even more week and feeble. The next scene shows how the disabled character, gets nervous and panics when he is left alone, as the call girl locks the door. Parallel editing is then used as the scene continues with the disabled boy making out and the dad waiting in the van.