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How are representations constructed?

Camera shots and angles

A low angle camera shot can make someone seem more powerful and in control than they really are.

A high angle shot of the same person may make them seem less important or influential.

Editing

Media producers can manipulate the emotions of the audience by representing certain characters or situations through editing.

For a documentary style reality show, like Don't Tell the Bride, many hours of film footage may have been recorded, but this footage is edited down to fill a one hour broadcast.

How it is edited will determine how the characters are represented and how the audience respond to them.

Photograph of Don't Tell the Bride

Reality shows like 'Don't Tell the Bride' edit down many hours of footage to create a one hour programme

Audio codes

The representation of a person or fictional character can be influenced through their dialogue; if they use slang or speak with a strong accent, audiences will respond to that person in a very different way than someone who speaks perfect English without the trace of an accent.

Music can also influence representation in a media text. In a film scene, where a character is walking down a street, a slow, sombre piece of music will create a very different representation to a cheerful, upbeat tune.

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