An obvious starting point for the study of the various forms of the Mass Media (television, films, newspapers, etc.) is the issue of Realism, that is, the relationship between particular mass media forms/examples and the "reality" that is being represented. This consideration applies as much to the analysis of television or newspaper "News" ("how true is it"), as it does to the basic criticism of films or television drama ("how lifelike is it?"), or even to the analysis of advertisements ("what is the relationship between the image and 'real life'?").

The word "media" itself should direct us towards this process: a medium is that which carries, transmits or relays messages or processes. In the case of the "mass media" we are concerned with media which deliver a view of the world, ‘re-present reality’, and inevitably we need to be aware of the ways in which those media transform, distort or re-process the "reality" which they present to us.

Analysing realism in the investigative project

A starting point for your investigative projects might be to examine your texts critically, becoming aware not only of the particular view of "reality" which is being presented, but also of the ways in which that view of the world is presented, and the reasons why this is so.

• You could conduct a basic content analysis of particular programmes or films, looking at things like the exclusion of certain social or racial groups, professions or lifestyles.
• Alternatively, you might consider different versions of the same "reality", such as documentary versus soap opera accounts of social issues.

From this starting point it will be clear that a number of factors - technological, social, and cultural - do govern the ways in which a particular media text will present its particular view of the world, and the "message" which it delivers about that reality. If a film or television programme presents a particular view of the world it does so on its own terms, and within its own contexts and conventions. We can proceed further by isolating some of the factors which determine the text and affect the way in which it represents the world

You will then need to consider the following areas, citing examples and recording your responses

1. Sociological and Economic Factors.
   What external influences (political, social, economic, etc) influence the ways in which the media present or construct "reality"?
   
   • the relationship between media texts or forms and the political/social climate at the time of production (questions of control, regulation and censorship as well as ideology are important here)
   
   • the ownership of means of production and distribution of film, television and newspapers within the wider economic system (questions of profitability, marketing and targeting, "commercial" considerations and how they influence the representation)
   
   • the relationship between the text and its audience, and the more general issue of the role and influence of the media (questions of marketing, audience research, targeting, distribution, and related questions of whether or not the media reflects, informs or directs "popular" taste, knowledge or values).
   
2. The Media Text Itself.
   To what extent, and in what ways, does the nature of the film, television, advertisement, etc, influence what is (or is not) presented as "reality"?
   
   • The aesthetic and technological nature of the text including its language and codes (nature of the medium, of visual images, the interrelationship of sound, image and text).
   
   • "narrative" structure and the selection, editing and presentation of the "story" (sequence, plot, order).
   
   • time and duration (eg, a film may last 120 minutes, but present 5 years of action)
   
   • characterisation. (i.e., the need for films or programmes to present character in certain ways; the effect of "stars",)
   
   • function (e.g. educational, commercial, entertainment?)
   
   • implied audience (who is the film/programme for, and who is it not for?)
   
   • genre: what kind of film/programme is it?
   
   • point of view, and the inclusion/exclusion of certain points of view.
   
   • relationship to other media texts and forms (intertextuality)
   
   • "message" and meaning: ideology and the "message" which the text asserts, implicitly or explicitly, about the view of the world which is being presented.
   
3. Viewers and Readers.
   Finally, what is the role and significance of the viewer in terms of "decoding" and responding to the "reality" that is presented? (Some of these factors may require you talking to viewers or accessing reviews of your programme/film)
   
   • the conditions and contexts of viewing/reading (including medium of exhibition, duration, concentration, scheduling etc)
   
   • viewer/reader familiarity with the conventions of the media form, and recognition of those conventions.
   
   • the pleasures and expectations of viewing/reading.
   
   • what meaning did the viewer make of the messages e.g.denotative/connotative messages, recognition and identification (psychological and social), and questions of ideology, value and belief. Do we see what we want to see, and believe what we want to believe? Do we simply believe all that we told or shown?

All of the above factors come into play when considering the reasons why and how media texts present "reality" in particular ways, and are recognised and experienced by the reader or viewer and are important facets of your investigative project.

The Task

With detailed reference to a film, body of films or television programmes, critically analyse and evaluate the representation of one of the following

• Disability
• Race
• Class
• Sexuality

The project should be submitted in essay format, fully referenced and bibliography supplied. The minimum word length is 1000 words.

Help

The essay should begin by introducing the chosen texts, including any particular focus episodes/directors/genres.

Your essay then needs to develop into an analysis of your chosen represented group. Use the handout on representations and realism to structure your ideas in considering the following:

• Sociological and Economic Factors
• The Media Text Itself
• Viewers and Readers

The final part of the project needs to evaluate the realism of the representation and to consider stereotypes/ideology. Use theory from the previous sessions e.g. Perkins work on stereotyping.
The key to success is knowing the chosen text inside out.

Hand in Dates

Your Aim Higher sessions before Christmas will enable you to work on this project. You may want to read about issues of representations, research the texts or view and analyse. Anything is possible.

The project needs to be submitted in your Aim Higher session on the agreed deadline.