In TV drama a stereotype is often used as a form of dramatic shorthand for “stock character".

Stereotypes change with time. The unwitting use of some stereotypes appears awkward to a present-day audience which refuses to tolerate a representation of individuals based on that stereotype. Life On Mars clip

Many other stereotypes pass unnoticed, sometimes even by those being stereotyped.

If you look at stereotypical representations from TV drama from the past it is strange to see how inappropriately some demographics (particularly minorities such as homosexuals or ethnic groups) were depicted or represented.

Love Thy Neighbour clip

Discuss with the people sitting next to you (and write down) as many negative or positive characteristics as you can think of that are

associated with the opposite sex, e.g.

Women are bad drivers!

Men can’t multitask!

Simplification Exaggeration or distortion Generalisation Presentation of cultural attributes as being

'natural'.

Consider the stereotypical characteristics you came up with, are they examples of the above?

Does it matter?

Physically Strong Functional Role Sexually Dominant Rational/Practical Individualistic Success-orientated, ambitious; proud, egotistical,

moral, trustworthy; decisive, competitive, uninhibited, adventurous.

This list was written in 1974. Is it still relevant?

What are the implications? Positive? Negative?

A positive stereotype.

Focuses on positive elements of group traditionally represented as bad.

Still an oversimplification of the enormous diversity featured with the group.

Stereotype or countertype?Stereotype or countertype?Group task

Stereotype or countertype?Stereotype or countertype?

Stereotype or countertype?Stereotype or countertype?

Stereotype or countertype?Stereotype or countertype?

Stereotype or countertype?Stereotype or countertype?

You now have 12 minutes to write up your textual analysis using the following structure:

1.What is denoted? (Describe what the image contains using the technical elements, e.g. details of mise en scene and camerawork.)

2.What is connoted? (Explain how the image might be interpreted, e.g. what does the denotations suggest about the characters?)

3.What is the significance of the representations? (Does the image present a stereotype or countertype? Is this a common representation? Is it a positive or negative representation?)

Individual task

Stereotype or countertype?Stereotype or countertype?

Now try doing the same with a short TV Drama clip…