Terms to Learn
Representation, Ideology, Character Codes
Think: Does film reflect the world we live in or shape the way we view it?
Task:
Consider the ideas and messages communicated by these two versions of the same character. Use this document to analyse one of the two characters.
Key questions to ask about film representations:
- Who, or what, is being represented?
- How are they, or it, being represented?
- Using what film language?
- Within which genre?
- How does the narrative resolve for the character?
- What ideas, values and opinions seem to be reflected in the representation?
The film + the ideas & messages communicated in it are collectively called ‘representation‘, put more simply:
Representation = an image + an idea.
So, when you’re asked to analyse representation, you are being asked to ‘read’ what films, through the way they show the world, tell you about values attitudes & beliefs of society.