For this post, we're going to look at two approaches to performing a representational comparative analysis on the set newspaper edition. Both groups chose the daily mirror, but please remember, The Times set edition could also come up for representation in component one section A! If none of this makes sense, get down to the past papers section and familiarise yourself with the exam!
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| You need to get very familiar with this front page! |
Example one
2 - Compare how these pages from the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror construct versions of reality. In your answer you must:
consider the choices media producers make when constructing versions of reality
consider the similarities and differences in the representations
make judgements and draw conclusions about how far the representations relate to relevant media contexts. [30]
Examples of UK left wing newspapers
The Daily Mirror/ The Mirror on Sunday (tabloid)
The Guardian/ The Observer (broadsheets)
Knee - jerk reaction - The Daily Mirror and the Daily Express are fundamentally different in terms of their political views
Plan
Rule of thirds
Camera shot types
Masthead
MES
Z pattern
Lexis
Layout
Font
Sans/serif
Tabloid
Broadsheet
Codes and conventions
David Gauntlett - identity
Stuart Hall
Stereotypes
Ideology
Headings
Gender performativity
Bylines
Hegemony
Introduction - DAC
Representation refers to how something is presented again, by the producer, for the purpose of constructing and reinforcing their own ideological perspective. By presenting something again, a producer can construct a new version of reality, and, in turn, can manipulate the ideology of the target audience for the purpose of power and profit. In order to explore this idea, I shall look at these two newspapers, in particular, the front page of the daily mirror, a left wing UK tabloid, and the daily express, a right wing UK tabloid
Paragraph one: main headline and lexis
The MES of the colour yellow for the lexis ZERO SHAME has symbolic connotations of a stern warning, and suggests to the target audience (working class and left wing) that Johnson is a threat.
Paragraph two: the main images
The front page of the daily mirror uses a striking main image of Boris Johnson in order to construct a highly leading version of reality. The producer has selected a mid shot of Johnson, which emphasises the MES of his smug expression. This version of reality is further anchored through the MES of his un-brushed hair, which symbolises Johnson’s incompetence, and reinforces the preferred reading that Johnson is an unreliable PM. The image compliments the text through the layout and position, with the lexis of the headline NO SHAME further anchoring the ideological perspective that Johnson is a bad character. Hall argues that representations are constructed through a series of stereotypes. Stereotypes have the function of manipulating the ideology of the audience, and provide an excellent short cut for the producer to present their own ideology and specific version of reality.
Paragraph three: Composition and layout
Example two
1. Compare the ideologies conveyed through the representations in front page of the times and the edition of the Mirror you have studied with Boris Johnson on the front page..
In your answer, you must:
consider how representations convey ideologies
consider the similarities and differences in the ideologies conveyed
make judgements and draw conclusions about how far social and cultural contexts affect the representations. [30]
Knee jerk reaction - the newspapers present completely contrasting representations, that also depict contrasting ideologies
High key lighting
Codes and conventions
Masthead
Lisbet Van Zoonen - feminist theory
Hard news
Soft news
Gauntlett identity - identity
Stuart Hall representation
Stereotypes
MES
Lexis
Text font
Gender performativity
Semiotics
Hegemony
Patriarchal hegemony
Encoding and decoding
Columns
Gutters
Main image
Front page
Copy
Journalists
Byline
Skyline
Cost
Barcode
Propaganda
Audience manipulation
Working class
Tabloid
Tories
Introduction - DAC
Representation refers to the ways in which a producer represents a person, issue or event using media language to encode their own ideologies. Therefore representations can be used to persuade an audience to believe the dominant ideology of the producer. In this this essay, I shall argue that two completely different and contrasting ideologies are constructed through these newspapers. To explore this idea, I shall use the examples of The Daily Mirror, a working class, left leaning tabloid newspaper published by Reach PLC, and The Daily Telegraph, a right wing broadsheet newspaper targeting a more middle class audience with a higher level of education.
Paragraph - main image
MES of messy hair constructs an ideology of Johnson as a slacker, who is not taking his highly important job seriously. This representation is further anchored his smug, tired facial expression, which constructs a representation of an irresponsible middle aged man. The MES of Jojhnsons’s slouched shoulders, further reinforce this representation. Constructed through a mid shot, Johnson presents a powerful representation to the target audience, who are positioned to accept the preferred reading that Johnson does not feel guilty for his enormous incompetence. Furthermore, the enormous size of Johnson on the front page not only symbolically represents his power, but also his complete lack of responsibility. Stuart Hall argues that stereotypes are used by powerful people, in this case Mirror Journalists, in order to simplify complex political ideologies. The working class target audience of the mirror will identify with this simple and straightforward representation, and therefore agree with the political ideology of the newspaper. This ensures that audiences will continue to read the newspaper, and will continue to identify with the dominant ideological position.
However, The Daily Telegraph presents a radically different ideological perspective of the Tory Party through the selection of the main image
Paragraph 2 - lexis, headlines, captions
Paragraph 3 - non-headline stories and soft news
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