Thursday 24 December 2015

Christmas 50 work



Notes:

Age 
There are many sub-categories to Age stereotypes: teens, children, infants, 30-somethings, mature, elderly, and mid-life crisis.
The key binary opposition is young VS old. 
Young: less responsible, criminal, out of control, academically weak - but also cunning, innocent and naive.
Old: dim, romantic/sexual plotlines for cheap laughs, slow, bad drivers.
Non diegetic music and how it can represent age groups e.g classical (older) and pop (younger).
Key words: irresponsible vs responsable, immature vs sensible, foolish vs wise

Gender
Crude stereotypes of women as housewives and men as bread winner. Men are superior and dominate power. 
Binary oppositions: strength/weakness, domestic/professional, victim/hero. Mental strength as well as physical: men are brave, women are helpless victims.
Gender divide has narrowed by male grooming and metrosexual icons e.g David Beckham.
Key words: physical/mental power/strength, hero vs victim, emotionally closed vs open (tears)

Sexuality
Gender attributes (feminine male/masculine female).
Gay characters often used for comedy - not taken seriously.
Lipstick lesbian - positive representation or male gaze?
Key words: camp vs manly (males), feminine vs manly (females), groomed vs scruffy (males)

Ethnicity
Religion is key significance - religious people negatively treated (e.g muslims often associated to 9/11)
National and regional identities - question of Britishness and citizenship often featured.
Western vs non-western also key binary opposition.
Most negative stereotype of Muslim Middle Eastern characters: violent, religious, fanatical.
Black youth often stereotyped through language, clothes and musical taste.
Can also get white racist characters to contend with.
Key words: alien/different, non-western vs western, religious vs secular

Disability
Most under-represented chjaracteristic of disabled people is their invisibility.
Storylines typically revolve around the carer and not the disabled person themselves. Most disabled characters are those who had an accident and have to adapt to the lifestyle rather than those born disabled, presumably as the audience can relate more.
Sexuality is often ignored.
The handling of mental disability and TV drama is heavily critisised and is usually seen as sensationalised and stigmatising those who suffer from it.
Key words: independance vs dependance, result of accident, invisible, issues on sexulaity.
Also: good vs evil

Social class and status
Common issues with urban vs rural. 
Clothing often crucial, accent/speech too. Possessions and housing other key factors. 
Camera angles can establish class difference.
'Dramedies' willl have class clashes as humour. The easily offended sensibilities of middle class are also a source of humour.
Working class stereotypes revolve around crime, laziness and scrounging.
Key words: fined/sophisticated vs crude, urban vs rural, powerful vs powerless, victim vs criminal.

Regional Identity
Main issue is urban vs rural, advanced vs backwards. 
Accents can be used for comedy. 
Clothing is important to establish sophisticated vs backwards - also tied to urban vs rural identity. Latest fashions vs leisure/outdated wear.
Also issues around national identity e.g Welsh, Scots and N.Irish.
Often attempted to highlight differences but essentially all British. 
Regional identity annd social class and status often linked.

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