The Constructionist Approach

-the representation is constructed with a set of ideas and values (producers intent/ intended meaning)

-the context of the representaion is part of the representation (media language choices, anchorage, media form, placement/location, genre expectations)

-the audience reacts to this representation and this depends on their own personal interpretational context: age, gender, political/religous beliefs, nationality etc. (negotiated meaning).

Representation

Rayner, a theorist came up with the theory of representation in the media. He explained representation as 'the process my which the media represent the 'real world'

He believed that this was done using a selection process, he though that the selection process was as follows:
-the decision over what is chosen to be represented and what is rejected.
-the choices made when organising the representation.
-the options taken the focus the audience in a certain way.

When thinking about representation within the media you have to consider the following:
-Who or what is being represented?
-How is the representation created? This could be through Mise en Scene.
-Why is the representation created in that way? What is the intention?
-What is the effect of the representation?