Representation Theories

Lacan – Psychoanalysis and ‘The Mirror’

Lacan's theory of 'identity' revolves around the idea of identity. Lacan considered the point in which a person develops a sense conscious and self-identity. He said that a child recognises their own reflection and think about how other perceive them, changing their own appearance to satisfy their perceptions of how others will perceive them. 

Mulvey extended this theory, she writes about 'the sliver screen' which she says is used almost like a metaphorical mirror that reflects back to the female consumer representations of the female identity, however these representations are not complete true reflections of the viewer but rather male idealised femininity ideologies.

Queer Theory – Judith Butler

This particular theory came from the field of Gender studies. The Queer theory suggests that male and/or female gender roles do not control our entire identity or even how we as society perceive others identities. Gender in particular, represented in broadcast Medias is fluid and flexible, depending on the context of said broadcast media. This theory was a way to combat and challenge negative representations of gay sexuality within the media and the idea that these people should be divided and categories due to their sexuality and in addition a person’s identity should not dwell upon their sexual preference. It allows for us to question just how the media represents homosexuals.

Subculture – Representation of Groups – Dick Hebdidge

 Dick Hebdidge stated that a subculture is a group of similar minded individuals who feel neglected by society's standards and whom develop a sense of identity which is different from the dominant ideologies and culture which they belong to.

Ken Gelder: 6 ways in which subculture can be recognised.

1. More than often have a negative relationship to work
2. Ambivalent relationship to class
3. Through their associations with territory
4. Their stylistic ties to excess
5. Through their movement out of domestic setting into non-domestic forms of belonging
6. Through their refusal to engage with what they might see as the 'banalities' of life.

Other ways of identifying a subculture may be through symbolism that is attached to clothes, music or visual aspects. Subcultural values often associated with being mainstream and 'trendy'.

Anthony Giddens – Traditionalist vs Post Traditionalist views of society

The media's representations of society can be viewed as either traditional or what is called post traditionalist. Traditional societies are ones where an individual choice is limited by its dominant traditions. Giddens states that we are living in a post traditional society where we are less concerned with patterns set by previous generations that our choices are only limited by what the public opinion allows.

Bell Hooks - Interconnectivity of race, class and gender

Bell (pen name Gloria Jean Watkins) focused upon the perpetuation of the system in terms of domination and oppression within the media and how it influences attention to the devaluation of black women. There is an apparent lack or otherness and how women and ethnic minorities tend to be represented as the 'other'. Their 'primary purpose' is simply to be outside of the norm (a CIS white male hero). Therefore, they are known more by the context of lack than by a complicated identity. This particular theory can in term be linked and associated to ideas of monstrous feminine (femme fatal) found within feminist analysis of literature and art.