The term verisimilitude is the appearance of being real or truthful. Since concepts like "truth" and "reality" are largely subjective, the narratives, images, and stories we tell can either support the status quo (maintaining power structures). [by the way, verisimilitude is created in our writing by copious (lots) of detail and description.]
How we depict or represent characters in novels, television programs, comics, and films, for instance, or how images are used by the media to sell products or persuade us can marginalize or reinforce stereotypes of certain hegemonic groups. This all gets tricky because representation is a political act as much as it is an attempt to create meaning. For the masses, that often means shoveling a perspective in front of you (the audience) and showing you a simplified concept.
Writers often do not mean to be cruel or ignorant, but want to get across their point as easily as possible. Busy writers tend to cut corners by relying too much on archetype, templates, stereotypes, cliche, or simplistic representation (particularly with minor characters). It's easier to depict your antagonists as a commonly hated group that is easily recognizable than it is representing the truth. A man in a black hat represents a bad man in Westerns; a Nazi represents evil in war films, etc.
Why is this important? By showing a representation of reality, the media creates meaning for us. We are basically told what to think, based on what the media (or particularly a small group of elite corporate executives) wants us to think.
1. Miss Representation (documentary)
2. The Mask You Live In (documentary)
3. Middle Eastern & Muslim Stereotypes: Eefa Shehzad (TED talk/speech)
4. Black men in America (clip)
4. The Celluloid Closet (documentary)
How we depict or represent characters in novels, television programs, comics, and films, for instance, or how images are used by the media to sell products or persuade us can marginalize or reinforce stereotypes of certain hegemonic groups. This all gets tricky because representation is a political act as much as it is an attempt to create meaning. For the masses, that often means shoveling a perspective in front of you (the audience) and showing you a simplified concept.
Writers often do not mean to be cruel or ignorant, but want to get across their point as easily as possible. Busy writers tend to cut corners by relying too much on archetype, templates, stereotypes, cliche, or simplistic representation (particularly with minor characters). It's easier to depict your antagonists as a commonly hated group that is easily recognizable than it is representing the truth. A man in a black hat represents a bad man in Westerns; a Nazi represents evil in war films, etc.
Why is this important? By showing a representation of reality, the media creates meaning for us. We are basically told what to think, based on what the media (or particularly a small group of elite corporate executives) wants us to think.
The Hegemonic Model: the ruling classes rule us through influence and persuasion rather than force. This is done by creating a consensus about an idea, social group/event, or product. This is a Marxist theory. The media makes things they want to "sell us" seem "natural"--which supports the status quo and the current structures of power. Essentially, we are in consensus about who is to rule or lead, and who is to follow.
The Pluralistic Model: Consensus is created from the views and values of the masses, which allows the media to cater to or "sell" diverse viewpoints or products to the masses through consumer "choice". In this model, the media's job is to please, entertain, or satisfy the presumed needs of the masses. It is the masses job to select media that supports or addresses their need or desire.Let's examine representation in the media. There are 4 documentaries/speeches that we are going to examine. For each one in the coming classes, we will view, discuss, and write about our findings. Before we do that, however, a little academic vocab.
- Marginalization: the process of treating a person, idea, product, or concept as inferior, insignificant, or peripheral (out of direct sight).
- Hegemony: an identifiable or dominant social/cultural group.
- Stereotyping: representation used to categorize a group of people (usually in a negative light).
- Stereotype: an easily recognizable "character" who is seen not as an individual, but symbolizing a group or type.
- Verisimilitude: Semblance or appearance of truth or reality, usually as details or description in a text.
- Representation: how a text produces verisimilitude or "truth" of reality.
- Audience: the targeted group of a text.
- Consensus: agreement about a concept/idea or way of doing something.
- Status Quo: the existing state of affairs; the current situation.
- How does the Media represent these groups to its audience?
- What is the cost or effect to these groups by the Media's use of marginalizing and stereotyping? (What's at stake?)
- How do these arguments support or challenge the status quo?
1. Miss Representation (documentary)
2. The Mask You Live In (documentary)
3. Middle Eastern & Muslim Stereotypes: Eefa Shehzad (TED talk/speech)
4. Black men in America (clip)
4. The Celluloid Closet (documentary)
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