Representation In Attitude

How far are the representations constructed in the set texts of Zoella and Attitude stereotypical?

-Underline key terms

-Define key terms

Stereotypes- A construction of ideas surrounding a person or a group that has been widely accepted by society. these are created when knowledge is lacking or unattainable and the substitution of thoughts and opinions is implemented. 

This often leads to misjudgement and unfair discrimination towards certain groups. (Stuart Hall)

In media products, they have the potential to impact the mindset of audiences, often sustaining perpetuating and creating stereotypes.

Media products portray the unspoken norms of an ideology.

Such products appeal to the widest audience- intellectually and globally. 

LGBTQ+ stereotypes

The representation of the LGBT community is often narrow and stereotypical

Gay men are often represented as camp, effeminate, theatrical or flamboyant, functioning as visible Markers of differences in relation to heterosexuality and masculinity. 

While this may represent some gay men, it does not reflect the diversity of gay male identities. 

These representations can be said to be promoting hegemonic understanding of masculinity by constructing the gay men as 'other'

Masculinity is often equated to heterosexuality. 

This construction of dominant ideologies can be related to Stuart Hall's theory.

Representing LGBT (Richard Dyer)

Media representation of sexuality in Britain are overwhelmingly heterosexual

Sexuality is quite unique in that it is an invisible part of our identity. 

Heterosexuality is not generally 'encoded' with signs and signifiers to make it apparent

Homosexuality, however, is often made visible through media language codes e.g. dress code, body language and colour. 

Under representation of the LGBT community still remains an issue.

Gerbner argues that the media participate in the symbolic annihilation of LGBT by negatively stereotyping them, by rarely portraying them realistically, or by not portraying them at all. 

Craig suggests that they are often stereotyped as having amusing or negative psychological and social characteristics.

Campness- the camp persona reinforces negative views of gay sexuality by being somewhere in between male and female

macho- a look that exaggerates masculinity and which is regarded by heterosexual men as threatening because it subverts traditional ideas of masculinity

deviant- evil or as devious in television drama, as sexual predators

Gaunlett argues that the LGBT community are still under-represented in the mainstream media, but things are slowly changing for the better.

Subversive content in Atitude

Stereotypical content in Attitude

Devient content in Attitude

Key Theory 11- Theories around ethnicity and post-colonial theory- Paul Gilroy

Post-colonialism is the study of the impact that being under direct rule has had on former colonies. These ideas and attitudes continue to shape contemporary attitudes to race and ethnicity in the postcolonial era.