Compare the media portrayal of two social groups. (June ‘02a)

Asians

• 1970s ITV programme ‘Mind Your Language’ reflects the zeitgeist and the immigration

• Asians under-represented on screen because they are mainly represented by white, males who work in the institutions

• Lack of ethnic minorities working within institutions

BBC is “hideously white” (Greg Dyke), which shows a lack of progression

• Stereotypes of Asians are still used, ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ (2002) uses the accent

• Considered to be “the other”

• Aladdin (the hero) has a western accent, whereas the villain has an eastern accent, representing him as “the other”

Women

• Objectified through the male gaze, the Bond Girls (Mulvey) and are still objectified in The Sun’s Page 3 and other lad’s magazines.

• Women’s roles are stereotyped

Bimbos = blonde
Femme fatal always dies for her promiscuous ways
Madonna and whore
‘Final girl’ Carol Clover

• Progression of the zeitgeist is shown, e.g. more female protagonists as a result of the third wave of feminism

• Lack of female directors, so women are represented by male directors

Both groups still rely on stereotypes in order to represent them to audiences and the audiences can easily identify them.