Evaluation question 2Evaluation question 2

How does your media product How does your media product represent particular social represent particular social

groups? groups?

Why is representation importantWhy is representation important

Representation involves the creators of Representation involves the creators of the film encoding characters using the film encoding characters using stereotypical signifiers so the audience will stereotypical signifiers so the audience will understand will be able to decode them understand will be able to decode them and understand the character more and understand the character more deeply.deeply.We have used various signifiers for our We have used various signifiers for our characters which link to many stereotypes characters which link to many stereotypes often used in film often used in film

The Psychopath: Luke and Kevin (we need The Psychopath: Luke and Kevin (we need to talk about Kevin) to talk about Kevin)

White – suggests he is upper or middle classWhite – suggests he is upper or middle classMale – suggests dominance and aggressionMale – suggests dominance and aggressionLate teens – often linked with rebellion and often Late teens – often linked with rebellion and often conflicting with parentsconflicting with parentsMiddle class – average, relatable to the mainstream Middle class – average, relatable to the mainstream audienceaudienceTroubled relationship with motherTroubled relationship with motherHarms sister Harms sister (kidnapping)(kidnapping)Evil expression – creates atmosphere of forebodingEvil expression – creates atmosphere of forebodingHoodie (connotes suspicion)Hoodie (connotes suspicion)See character grow from child to adultSee character grow from child to adultImplied he was originally a healthy child – may be Implied he was originally a healthy child – may be seen as challenging conventions of a psychopath as seen as challenging conventions of a psychopath as we show him as a child in a more sympathetic light we show him as a child in a more sympathetic light using signifiers of innocence. So we do not portray using signifiers of innocence. So we do not portray him as a completely evil personhim as a completely evil personHigh angle shots used when viewing younger self – High angle shots used when viewing younger self – suggests powerlessnesssuggests powerlessness

•White

•Male

•Late teens

•Middle class

•Troubled relationship with mother

•Harms sister (murder)

•Evil expression

•Smart clothes (connotes sophistication)

•See character grow from child to adult

•Implied he is born evil

The abusive mother: Mother vs The abusive mother: Mother vs Margret White (Carrie) Margret White (Carrie)

Long hair – suggests vanityLong hair – suggests vanityWoman – normally seen as caring and emotional which contrasts Woman – normally seen as caring and emotional which contrasts with our character’s mean personalitywith our character’s mean personalityIn her 40s – an age often associated with bitterness, shown through In her 40s – an age often associated with bitterness, shown through her costumeher costumeUnclear ethnicity – adds to mystery surrounding her character Unclear ethnicity – adds to mystery surrounding her character Middle class – seen as normal and relateableMiddle class – seen as normal and relateableMatronly clothes – cold colours and formal style suggest they are Matronly clothes – cold colours and formal style suggest they are uptight and obsessed with appearanceuptight and obsessed with appearanceCold personality – isolation showed through mis en scene as she is Cold personality – isolation showed through mis en scene as she is playing the pianoplaying the pianoVerbal and physical abuseVerbal and physical abuseHas one son and one daughterHas one son and one daughterMarries for moneyMarries for moneyAbuses sonAbuses sonFace is not shown – makes it harder for audience to connect with Face is not shown – makes it harder for audience to connect with her as we cannot see her expressionsher as we cannot see her expressionsFinds child shameful Finds child shameful (since son is product of rape) (since son is product of rape) Low angle shots to show powerLow angle shots to show power

•Long hair

•woman

•In her 40s

•white

•Matronly clothes

•Cold personality

•Verbal and physical abuse

•Has one daughter

•Religious fanatic

•Finds child shameful (because of supernatural powers)

•Attempts to kill daughter

The kidnapped girl: Evie Vs Megan The kidnapped girl: Evie Vs Megan Rose (along came a spider)Rose (along came a spider)

White – makes her appear averageWhite – makes her appear averageFemale – often damsels in distressFemale – often damsels in distressTeens – seen as carefree but sometimes Teens – seen as carefree but sometimes unaware of dangersunaware of dangersMiddle class – does not have much wealth, Middle class – does not have much wealth, suggests motive for kidnapping is not suggests motive for kidnapping is not moneymoneyKidnapped out of hatred for the motherKidnapped out of hatred for the motherOnly shown through picturesOnly shown through picturesLast seen wearing school uniformLast seen wearing school uniform (connotes innocence)(connotes innocence)High angle shot of poster connotes High angle shot of poster connotes powerlessnesspowerlessnessBaby photos of her being burned Baby photos of her being burned foreshadows trouble for the girlforeshadows trouble for the girl

•White

•Female

•Teens

•Upper class

•Kidnapped for political reasons

•Actively appears in the film

•Wears smart and sweet looking clothes (connotes innocence)

•High angle shot

The dedicated lawman: policeman The dedicated lawman: policeman vs Detective Tapp (Saw Franchise)vs Detective Tapp (Saw Franchise)

African African AmericanAmericanmalemaleMiddle classMiddle classDetectiveDetectiveWorks on Works on murder cases murder cases in a crime in a crime filled areafilled areaBelieves firmly Believes firmly in justicein justiceGoes insaneGoes insane Smart clothesSmart clothesIs eventually Is eventually killedkilled

•White – seems more average in a British setting

•Male – typically seen as protectors, most policemen stereotypically male

•Middle class – more average looking and relateable to most audiences

•Policeman

•Works on a kidnapping case in a pretty quiet neighbourhood

•Firmly believes in justice

•Police uniform – suggests authority

•Depicted in a long shot – seems like more of a side character with less significance

Groups we did not includeGroups we did not include

The elderly, because we did not want too The elderly, because we did not want too many characters as it would cause many characters as it would cause confusion, so we wanted to keep it mainly confusion, so we wanted to keep it mainly within one family and the themes explored within one family and the themes explored in the film may prove unpopular with an in the film may prove unpopular with an older audience.older audience.