How the media shows us things about society- but this is through carful medication. This is called re-presentation
Stranger things 2- Group of 5 children from different ethnicities. A girl saves the day
Key theory 1: Tim O'Sullivan et al. (1998)
Media texts only give a partial representation of real life
This applies in stranger things 2 because it shows a powerful being that dominates the children.
Key theory 2: Laura Mulvey (1975)
Male gaze
Women are objectified in media texts and passive objects.
Key theory 3: Stuart Hall (1995), Alvardo (1987)
western/ white cultures continue to misrepresent ethnic minorities as in the media due to underlying racist tendencies.
In stranger things the monsters and roots are black this represents darkness. the main consumers of this programme are white western, this backs up this theory.
Key theory 4: Earp and Katz (1999)
men are often represented as having tendencies of pathological control and violence.
To the character 11 this theory is true. in the series her 'papa' appears to have pathological control over her this makes her afraid of him. To show this it uses the production technique of flashbacks.
Essay
'Discuss how representation and narrative is constructed in a media product you have studied'
The media product I studied was Stranger Things 2. Narrative theories apply to this television show such as Tzvetan Todorov's (1977). Stage 1- A point of stable equilibrium. This is shown through the scene where the boys cycling to the arcade with exhilaration. (A medium long shot is used to show the key characters and there props). The diegetic sounds of the 80's arcade games creates a safe joyful setting to show the state of stable equilibrium. Stage 2- This stability is disrupted by some kind of force, which creates a state of disequilibrium. A panning shot then shows the character Will in distress; non-diagetic drum sounds start to play as Will has is flashed into the 'upside down'. This disrupts the state of equilibrium and creates a state of disequilibrium. Stage 3- Action directed against the disruption. Following this the characters go on a mission to destroy the thing that is possessing Will and to do this they gather information surrounding information from the last series. This is to counter the disruption. Stage 4- Restoration of a state of new equilibrium. Because of the events that occur, throughout the story equilibrium can not be fully restored; a new state of equilibrium occurs this is rounded off in the end sequence at the 'Snow ball'. The viewer is shown equilibrium through the slow, smooth panning shots of the ball room from left to right. A Non-diegetic sound track plays; 'Every breath you take' by The Police. Fitting the 1980's narrative and also connoting that the monster they thought was gone is in fact watching them and to their horror leads them into a third series.
Stranger Thing's viewership is majority western white; Stuart Hall (1995), Alvardo (1987) said 'western white cultures can misrepresent ethnic minorities ... have underlying racist tendencies. Audiences often associate colours to certain feelings. In Stranger Things 2 the antagonist is an all black surreal monster that is represented as intimidating and scary. The producers may have mis-intentionally associated black dark and evil. To some ethical groups this may seems like the show is being dicrimative. However the monster is also surrounded with a lot of red. Red also connotes blood, fire and alarming feelings to an individual this may combat this theory and drain any discriminative thoughts out the picture.
In conclusion representation and narrative are well constructed throughout this media product. Without various production techniques and theories, Stranger Things 2 wouldn't provide the element of escapism which allows the viewer to feel involved in the story line.
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