It is argued that dominant media representations serve the interests of the powerful. Discuss with reference to one or more social group or place. . (June ’04 b)

Definition: Representation is the mediated versions of people, in this case woman, in the form of a re-presentation.

Feminism is the response to society’s assumptions that women should be subservient to men. Until the emergence of feminism, women were treated almost as objects, passive agents in the male world
Women are constantly portrayed in the media as objects of the male gaze.
Semi-naked models are a constant presence on the cover of men’s magazines.
SUN newspaper- Rupert Murdock owns the sun newspaper along with other newspapers. The Page Three girls were introduced in 1969 when Rupert Murdoch re-launched The Sun. The Page Three girl was topless for the first time on November 17, 1970- This meant that women were being objectified. Bare breasted women represented in most tabloids newspapers.

She argues that cinema audiences look at films in tow ways:

Ø Voyeuristically
Ø Fetishistically

Audiences are voyeurs who watch people on screen. This can lead to two effects:

àObjectification- female characters controlling male gaze and human characteristics being taken from them.

àNarcissistic identification-having an ideal image on screen

The reason women are represented inadequately is due to lack of females in higher positions. Media is a male dominated as a result woman is shown representation from their point of view.

Film in particular sees women in an active role however they are being shown as eye candy and objectified. The reason for the lack of directors is due to:

Naomie Harris
“Film is such a male dominated industry”