Question - Explore how this newspaper reflects the ideologies of the producer
Underline the key terms
Explore how the representations in this newspaper reflect the ideologies of the producer
Knee jerk reaction
The producer is using representations to reflect right wing ideological perspectives, to appeal to a right wing, middle class audience
Plan
MES
Lexis
Shot types (low angle!)
Headlines
Serif font
Images
Polysemic
Point of view/ideology
Gender binary
bell hooks - feminism
Stuart Hall - stereotypes
Van Zoonen - the male gaze
Formal language
Mode of address
Intertextuality
Narrative
Introduction - DAC
Definition, argument, context
Representation refers to how a group, issue or event is re-presented by the producer to reflect their ideology. Furthermore, the producers of media products are profit incentivised, and can use stereotypical representations to minimise risk and to maximise profit. Additionally, a representation is a reflection of reality, and can shape the ideology of the audience. In this essay, I shall argue that the producers of the Daily Telegraph use a complex system of representations to construct a right wing ideology for their middle class, right wing target audience. By presenting a biased, right wing point of view to a right wing target audience, The Daily Telegraph reinforces it's ideological perspective. The Daily Telegraph is a British right wing broadsheet.
Paragraphs - PEA
Point, evidence, argument
Example paragraph
p - One way that the DT uses representations to reinforce their ideology is through the main image of Liz Truss...
e - Truss's representation is constructed through MES of the background. The Union Flag has connotations of patriotism and nationalism, and reinforces Truss's approval of British values. This patriotic mode of address is further reinforced through a secondary image, depicting Margaret Thatcher, also in front of a union flag. This combination of images makes clear to the audience that Truss is very right wing in her ideology, and the audience is likely to agree with this viewpoint. Truss's positive representation is reinforced through the use of a low angle shot. This functions as a proairetic code, and suggests that Truss's leadership will be strong and powerful, which aligns with the ideologies of the producer. Furthermore, a headline above this image reads "Truss wins telegraph readers poll". The function of this lexis suggests to the audience of the Telegraph that Truss is popular with the readers of the telegraph, which of course reinforces the ideological perspective of the newspaper.
- MES of smiling face
- The dress is well fitted and luxurious
- The colour of the dress is symbolic of wealth
- Anchorage
a - The Telegraph is clearly presenting a biased and limited representation of Truss. This highly manipulative mode of address presents a clear desire for this right wing candidate to be politically successful. By cultivating a right wing audience, the Telegraph can maximise their profit, as the right wing audience are more likely to align with the values of the newspaper, and even more importantly, to buy it.
Other points
p - Another way in which the DT constructs representations is through its use of lexis, which constructs a middle class audience [the DT uses a middle class lexis to not only position audiences, but also to construct them. It cultivates middle class, right wing hegemonic representations and asks the audience to identify with them!!]
p - Yet another way in which the DT uses representations to present it's ideology is through it's deeply biased representation of Boris Johnson [the puff piece about Boris Johnson represents him in an overwhelmingly positive way, and the anchorage of the golden MES and the MES of 'fairy tale crowns' even constructs him as some kind of romantic hero! Johnson is/was a controversial figure, and to represent him in such a stereotypical and straightforward way clearly demonstrates an OVERWHEMING political bias!]
p - However, there are examples of unconventional representations of gender. For example [ you could discuss how Truss actually challenges stereotypical representations of passive, highly sexualised women through the power and dominance of her construction. Why? To appeal to the middle aged, middle class female audience! The ideology of the producer here is that Truss is an aspirational figure: and this reinforces the significant right wing bias of the newspaper!]
