Exam practice exemplar

Stuart Hall's theory on representation succinctly summarises the complexity of representing women in the media. Representations of women in the media have never been 'simple and straightforward' they are too influenced by the politics, social ideas and power struggle between genders that surrounds and constructs them. Some may argue that representation of women in historical media texts such as Folger's coffee advertisements are 'simple and straightforward'. The denotation of a stay at home wife/mother who is reprimanded by her working husband for making bad coffee and for not having the foresight to buy a better brand appear to be simple; woman are less intelligent than men and are constrained to the domestic environment. However, modern representation and future representation of women reflect woman's changing role in society and changing position in the power balance between men and women. In BBC 1's 2015 TV Drama Dr Foster and Smoke House's 2015 dramatic film August: Osage County it is clear to see that representations of women, in their many different roles, are hugely complicated and complex.


BBC 1's Dr Foster presents many different roles for women. The main protagonist Gemma is a professional, a GP holding down a medical practice, a marriage and fulfilling the role of mother to her son. Throughout the 6 episodes of this drama, this one character is represented as: a competent GP; an unprofessional and unethical GP; a loving wife and a revengeful seductress willing to use her body in order to manipulate her husband Simon's, demise; a kind and nurturing mother and a deranged mother willing to let her husband believe she has killed their only child in order to force a confession. Through this one very complex character it is clear to see that it is increasingly difficult to represent the myriad of personas/personalities and roles that a modern day woman can inhabit. We also have 'stock' characters such as Kate, the young, simple-minded seductress willing to believe Simon's every promise and ends up pregnant with his child, but they seem to have been included in this TV drama as an anathema to Gemma's tragically-flawed heroine. The 'gaze' here is clearly one that is perhaps 'feminine' or pro feminist. Perhaps Charlotte Moore, BBC One's controller, clearly understands her complex female viewers, the TV drama was aired at 9pm on a weekday perfect for an adult female audience desiring complex female characters to explore the complicated identity of what it means to be a woman in a modern context. Suranne Jones won Serial Drama Performance for National Television Awards 2016 for her portrayal of Gemma again highlighting the appreciation for a complex representation of what it means to be a professional working female, whilst still fulfilling the more traditional roles of wife and mother.


Smoke House's representation of women is no less complex. The all female Weston family are lead by a powerful matriarch Violet, held together by a powerful, aggressive and forthright eldest sister Barbara, softened by younger sister Ivy's compassion and shyness and in positioned in contrast to Karen's overt sexuality and desire to fulfil the role of wife.

Exam practice question

Media and Collective Identity

6 Discuss how the identity of one group of people you have studied has been ‘mediated’. [50]

7 “Media representations are complex, not simple and straightforward”. How far do you agree with this statement in relation to the collective group that you have studied? [50]

How to get an A* in the exam essay

WWW:

• student has clear knowledge of their texts with data and statistics to support their ideas
• student is discussing the theory. arguing with the essay question and also arguing against it 'however' 'on the other hand' 'in contrast'
• student continues to debate the exam question and uses evidence from both of their texts to draw out developments 
• students uses contextual information to further their debate e.g. changes in law/social change
• Student only uses media theory in order to make a point about evidence from her case studies and only uses four media theory throughout her whole essay
• Student recognises the context of her media texts and uses them to argue the essay question e.g. Dr Foster-British/London Osage County: America-deep south
• Student in their conclusion goes back to the essay question
• Student in their conclusion considers the future of their essay question and provides examples of recent changes

Peer marking

After reading the article 'It's all in the mind' consider what the writer has done well. Perhaps use the mark scheme to help you.


WWW:

• the writer focuses on how the group are represented in different mediums e.g. reality TV and TV drama
• the writer uses a wide range of examples trying to find common representation types within them e.g. short list in introduction
• clear understanding here that there is no such thing as collective identity 'many and various'
• the writer clearly understands the genre of the texts and the generic expectations we have of these fictional characters e.g. a staple of the crime genre
• the writer uses small sections of description from their texts to exemplify their point e.g. 'wedding speech'
• the writer investigates the representation e.g. uses phrases such as on the other hand
• the writer uses another text to compare/further your ideas e.g. takes things further
• the writer does describe, but turns the description into analysis. They continually use PEE structure
• the writer recognises the audience in their argument. They know the demographic of their texts BARB
• continual comparison of the texts and similarities/patterns shown where possible
• the writer understands the use of stereotypes to create familiarity, but also explores where it is challenged
• the writer recognises our need for these types of representation. e.g. stock characters, entertainment, but also investigates the need to distort them

Music used in Dr Foster

‘Never Tear Us Apart’ and it’s performed by Paloma Faith. What does this say about the representation of women?
Don't ask me
What you know is true
Don't have to tell you
I love your precious heart

I
I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never tear us apart

We could live
For a thousand years
But if I hurt you
I'd make wine from your tears

I told you
That we could fly
'Cause we all have wings
But some of us don't know why

I
I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never ever tear us apart

Details for Dr Foster and August:Osage County

August: Osage County

Smoke House Pictures. The company was founded in 2006 by George Clooney and Grant Heslov after the shutdown of Section Eight Productions.
Director:John Wells           

Writers:Tracy Letts (screenplay), Tracy Letts (play)

It is produced by George Clooney, Jean Doumanian, Grant Heslov, Steve Traxler, and Bob and Harvey Weinstein.

For their performances in the film, Streep and Roberts received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively

Dr Foster
BBC one-flagship channel 'most watched television channel.
June 2013^[update] the channel controller for BBC One is Charlotte Moore,
Writer: Mike Bartlett
Director: Tom Vaughan
Screening: BBC One 9pm weeknights
The series was commissioned by Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson.The executive producers are Roanna Benn, Greg Brenman, Jude Liknaitzky and Matthew Read
Suranne Jones won Serial Drama Performance for National Television Awards 2016 for her portrayal of Gemma.

What does the use of soundtrack/music do to the representation of women?

"Lay Down Sally"

There is nothing that is wrong
In wanting you to stay here with me.
I know you've got somewhere to go,
But won't you make yourself at home and stay with me?
And don't you ever leave.

[Chorus:]
Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms.
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon.
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you.

The sun ain't nearly on the rise
And we still got the moon and stars above.
Underneath the velvet skies,
Love is all that matters. Won't you stay with me?
And don't you ever leave.

[Chorus]

I long to see the morning light
Coloring your face so dreamily.
So don't you go and say goodbye,
You can lay your worries down and stay with me.
And don't you ever leave.