Gauntlett's Representation Theory:
- Audiences get a sense of their own identity from the media they consume; gives you ideas on who you are and who you want to be
- Past = simple representations of identity; one-sided
men: strong, brave, look care after family financially
women: housewives, mothers, caring, emotional, stay at home, no independence
- Present: diverse, complex
- films we watch all provide information about ways of living which we purposely and knowingly integrate into our own relationships and lifestyles.
Maid Activity:
In this clip from TV Drama 'Maid', gender is represented through the mother and her daughter, with women being depicted as good mothers who are caring, nurturing, spend time with their children, and protect them from harm. This notion is supported through the four technical elements (camera, sound, editing, and mise-en-scene), which work together to encode meaning into the clip, which readers will decode and form an opinion on, deciding whether they will accept, reject, or have a negotiated view on what is being represented, as stated by Stuart Hall's Reception Theory. In addition to this, audiences might find themselves identifying with this clip, as per Gauntlett's Representation Theory, getting a sense of their identity through this heartfelt clip. This clip also represents class and status, specifically those of a lower socio-economic status, challenging the conventional depiction of such peoples by the general media. Despite their living conditions, both the mother and daughter are dressed rather neatly and warmly, and make the most out of their situation by utilising the space surrounding them.