Representation

The word 'Representation' has multiple meanings in multiple categories. The official definition for representation is "the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way."
In media, representation covers every aspect of what is produced. Women and men are represented in a certain way, children are represented in a certain way, family life is represented in a certain way, celebrities are represented in a certain way. The media does not show anything in its true form, everything gets manipulated - sometimes in a positive exaggeration, sometimes a negative one.

Representations from the media typically quickly get turned into stereotypes linked to a group of people which the audience instantly thinks of after hearing a word.




Many representations/ stereotypes are shown in this short clip from the film Aladdin. These stereotypes include: women, men, Indian people and Indian culture.
Women are represented as objects to look at in this clip as Jasmine does not say much or show much personality but Aladdin is still shown gawping at her with lust whilst describing her with "wow".
This also shows the stereotype that women must conform to me's beauty standards in order to be noticed and liked.
There are similar stereotypes set upon males in this clip. One main representation of men is when Aladdin jumps in front of Jasmine to save her from a man with a knife. This highlights the stereotype of men having to be hyper-masculine in order to progress and become successful. It also accentuates the stereotype of women being weak and not being able to save themselves.
Additionally, this clip makes India look poverty full and economically poor. This is noticeable when Jasmine remarks at the young boy "you must be hungry".

The media is representing these stereotypes to be seen by the audience because it makes the story and location more obvious without having to have a narrator. Many films and aspects of the media use this technique .