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Advertising: The representations of women in advertising

  Read  these extracts from an academic essay on gender in advertising by Reena Mistry . This was originally published in full in David Gauntlett's book 'Media, Gender and Identity'. Then, answer the following questions: 1) How does Mistry suggest advertising has changed since the mid-1990s? Advertising began showing more independent, confident and career-focused women rather than only domestic or passive roles. 2) What kinds of female stereotypes were found in advertising in the 1940s and 1950s? Women were shown as housewives, mothers and homemakers whose main role was pleasing husbands and caring for the home. 3) How did the increasing influence of clothes and make-up change representations of women in advertising? Women became represented more as objects of beauty and glamour, with focus placed on appearance and attractiveness. 4) Which theorist came up with the idea of the 'male gaze' and what does it refer to? Laura Mulvey — the male gaze refers to women bein...

Advertising: Introduction to advertising

  1) How does the Marmite Gene Project advert use narrative? Apply some narrative theories here. The Marmite Gene Project advert uses narrative by showing a family discovering that taste for Marmite is genetic. It follows a simple story structure with a beginning (normal breakfast), a disruption (genetic testing), and a resolution (results revealed). Narrative theories like Todorov’s equilibrium model and Barthes’ enigma code explain how suspense and resolution engage the audience. 2) What persuasive techniques are used by the Marmite advert? The advert uses persuasive techniques such as humour, curiosity, exaggeration, and identification. It encourages viewers to relate to the family, laugh at the reactions, and see themselves reflected in the genetic experiment. 3) Focusing specifically on the Media Magazine article, what does John Berger suggest about advertising in ‘Ways of Seeing’? n Ways of Seeing , John Berger suggests that advertising constructs meaning by making products a...

MIGRAIN: Collective identity in the online age

1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you? The section “Who are you?” says identity is shaped through media images and profiles. The article argues modern media often focuses on image rather than meaning. It explains constant media exposure influences how people see reality. It also says people construct their online identity by selecting what to show. Finally, it explains companies collect user data to predict behaviour and target advertising. 2) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean? “Style over substance” means focusing on appearance instead of real meaning. Modern media often prioritises image, but not all media lacks depth. 3) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in  one  paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more. Jean Baudrillard argued media saturation means people are constantly surrou...

Blog tasks: Ideology

  1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence. The article explains how The Hunger Games uses symbolism, propaganda, and media to show how ideology is created, controlled, and challenged in a capitalist society. 2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films? The films present capitalism as exploitative and unequal, showing how the wealthy Capitol benefits from the suffering and control of the poorer districts. 3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs? The films suggest that media is extremely powerful, able to manipulate emotions, shape beliefs, and control public opinion through propaganda and spectacle. 4) What is  YOUR  opinion on this topic? Do you think the media shapes our values and beliefs? My opinion: Yes, I think media strongly shapes our values and beliefs—what we see repeatedly in films, news, and social media influences what we accept as normal or ...

Feminist theory: blog tasks

  1) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)? The article shows the male gaze through retro advertising and fashion imagery , such as the Pan Am -style air hostesses, where women are styled to look attractive and glamorous for visual pleasure. It also highlights celebrity magazine images , where women pose in sexualised ways, reinforcing Mulvey’s idea that women are displayed to be looked at rather than to act. 2) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form? The article argues that sexism still exists but in a post-feminist form . Women appear empowered and confident, but are still sexualised and objectified , suggesting feminism is still needed because inequality is disguised as “choice.” 3) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog. Post-feminism – The idea that feminism is no longer necessary, even though tradition...

MIGRAIN: Introduction to feminism

  1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project? Laura Bates started the Everyday Sexism project because she became aware of how common and normalised sexism is in women’s everyday lives , yet how rarely these experiences were spoken about or taken seriously. 2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies? The project challenges post-feminist ideas by showing that gender equality has not been fully achieved , as many women continue to experience sexism, harassment and discrimination, proving that feminism is still necessary in western societies. 3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project? New technology was essential because social media and online platforms allowed thousands of women to instantly share their experiences , making sexism visible, collective and impossible to dismiss as isolated incidents. 4) Will there be a point in the future when the Eve...

Representation: blog tasks

  1) Why is representation an important concept in Media Studies? Representation is important because the media constructs versions of reality , shaping how people, groups and events are understood rather than simply reflecting the real world. 2) How does the example of Kate Middleton show the way different meanings can be created in the media? The Kate Middleton example shows that the same person can be represented in contrasting ways depending on media selection and context, creating different meanings such as admiration, criticism or judgement. 3) Summarise the section 'The how, who and why of media representation' in 50 words. Media representations are created through choices about what is shown and how it is shown, usually by media producers with particular values and viewpoints. These representations are shaped by institutional power and audience expectations, and they often reflect wider social ideas, beliefs and ideologies rather than objective reality. 4) How does Stu...