Media extended response

A negative representation is better than no representation at all

Due to the London riots that happened on the 7^th of November 2011, a rampage started where rioters took to the streets, supposedly in the name of the banishing of Ema and of the death of Mark Duggan. This then resulted with severe consequences as recently rioters have been sentenced for imprisonment for over 1.800 years, the average custodial sentence being 16.8 months, roughly more than four times the average term that has been handed down the magistrates. Editors became ecstatic with the idea of being able to conjure up the next biased article, or being given the chance to reinforce the negative representation that we have of young people today. After all the custodial sentences, CCTV camera footages, BBC news updates, Tweeting and BBMing, the issue no longer became about the serious prospects it started with, but the media represented thousands of Greedy primitive people, eyeing up the closest Nike trainers, Swarovski diamond  and earrings or the latest Selfridges handbags. Although some of these deluders probably get a kick out of seeing their face headlined under ‘rioters go wild’, they don’t realize this infamous representation has caused loss of reputation and jobs, reinforcement of racism within society. Not to mention the disappointment from helpless parents who once thought they had brought their children up better than this.

Firstly, negative representations weren’t only aimed at stereotypical unemployed youths, but also Shonola Smith, a 22 old model who admittingly helped take part in the looting of an Argos store in Croydon. To reinforce the representation of her status, editors made sure that her photograph took a quarter of an A4 page. In comparison to the other looters who owned miniature represented photographs, enveloping the corners of the tabloid and broadsheet newspapers. Shonola’s photograph represents a medium shot of her laying down on her front, facing towards us, resting upon one hand. Whilst, her bare legs are shown crossed behind her, allowing men to voyeur upon her femininity revealing clothing (Laura Mulvey). The slip of her elegant baby pink dress rests on grass as she look at the audience with direct mode of address. The first impression the audience gets from her image, without looking at the headline on the right hand side, would be an advertisement of a new young model. Irony has probably favored the evening standards further as she is represented in girly colours, appearing very innocent and lady-like. Yet, we then don’t realize that she’s the exact opposite (Levi Strauss- Binary opposition) as she has taken part in a crime, affecting all of London’s society. The editors may have used this representation to connote and pose a threat that not everyone appears as they may seem. Whilst, informing audiences (Blumler &Katz) that youths have been given a choice of a good career but at the end of the day, they are the ones that ruin it. This image has not only given reinforcement of how society’s stereotypes youths today, but also how race has been stereotyped within the media. For years, women have strived to be accepted as equal to the white population (putting on their white masks), in the modeling industry. Yet, the editor allows us to capture that proud moment when we see this black female taking more of a dominant role in society. Then manipulating and syringing (hypodermic model) the audience into feeling disappointment and shock, by the way she has degraded herself, giving writers like Dewsbury’ a way to claim that Black people can’t be involved with middle class jobs. Shonola’s representation has probably not only cost her, her career, but has also probably given her modeling agency a negative representation too, further displaying just how ungrateful people can be.

Some may argue that the reinforcement of stereotypical views of black people was probably one of the most troubling issues that evoked the results of the London riots as one of the main causes was due to the death of black youth- Mark Duggan. However, this can then be argued that instead of honoring his death by proving to the police and society that the stereotype is wrong, further showing that they are not ‘decilized’ (fanon), they reinforced these ideologies by giving editors a chance to focus on the negative representations of them. Within most of the images of the looting, Black people had been the main foreground in nearly every single image. An example of this is headlined, alongside 10 miniature images of ‘Trouble in the hood’ as Kevin Braddock says: ‘How did a comfy, utilarian item of clothing become the ultimate symbol of exclusion and menace?’ The images then represent the individual images of black boys in hoodies, reinforcing Alvarado’s theory of ‘danger’. Whilst, also allowing audiences to identify themselves with. A good example of this is the second image where a hooded boy is communicating with his friends on the left. He is represented to be holding a long pole in his hand. The fire behind him, the Policeman’s silhouette and the lifeless body underneath him, firmly screams out the preferred reading of danger. Yet, the oppositional reading could suggest the policeman’s lack of power over the youths, ‘primitising’ them. Another representation is the image where most of the hooded figures are silhouetted and shadowed in black, further creating enigma (Barthes).Yet, also making the figures seem mysterious by the black cloths around their mouths. We could then connote this as being a sign that they don’t want to be represented within the media because of the shame of being identified. Other examples include groups of black boys in hoods, hands gesturing, which could then be connoted as very intimidating, reinforcing the stereotypes of youths within today’s society.

Lastly, no representation is better than negative representation as the disappointment of parents led to them escorting their youngsters down the police station. An example of this is the medium shot image of a black girl slashing out because as she’s been arrested in the police station. The way she’s not looking with direct mode of address could further connote here embarrassment and how she’s unwilling to be identified. This can be considered ironic as this hasn’t helped her as her own mother identified her to the police. However, this can similarly be connoted by the small icon of a black girl in tracksuit jacket covering her face. The medium side shot of the girl captures her in an unflattering pose as her white top rolls up, exposing a bit of her tummy. Editors could have used this as a way to humor the negative representation of her, syringing (hypodermic model) the audiences that this representation of them leads to consequences by the media, by making a mockery out of them.  This has also been used with a close up of image of a black persons face on the left making a face. This could then link to Alvarado’s theory of humour, but also link to Fanon’s theory of ‘decilizing’ and ‘primitising’ the black people.  However, Said’s theory of the uncivilised and civilised can be opposed as theirs a black police officer in the background. This then can subverts Dewsbury’s opinion on Black people failing to form into a middle class background. Whilst, also subverting to how black people are represented in society, as the police officer is actually doing good to society. On the left hand side, a proper image of a mixed race girl is conveyed as a way to identify her. Headlines have informed the audience (Blumler&Katz), that her mother was the one to give her to the police. This then subverts the idea that parenting supervision and authority was one of the problems that resulted in the riots. This represents a sense of responsibility and that parents also care about discipline and keeping London safe. The way the mother is represented as black subverts the stereotypical representations of them being ‘uncivilized’ and shows that discipline can be evoked by anyone of any race. Whilst, showing that morals is a part of today’s society.

In conclusion, I personally believe that no representation is better than a negative representation as these negative representations has led to people worldwide being able to negative represent people and the atmosphere in London. They have shamed our country, by giving us a bad name, whilst, reinforcing stereotypes of youths and race in within today’s society. As a result of this, they have already given themselves a bad reputation which will lead to barriers for them In the future.