Evaluation 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Within this evaluation I will discuss, explain and review how particular social groups are represented within our film opening compared to the stereotypes of these demographics.

Challenged or met?

There is only two active characters introduced in our opening. The killer is a young, upper middle class, white male. The role that he plays challenges the stereotype of these demographics as a man of this ethnicity and class wouldn’t usually be linked to such a case. The body is played by a young, white, upper middle class female. This character uses the stereotype of her demographics as she is portrayed as the weaker character of the two.

In our film opening, the male character that is of a white ethnicity is portrayed in a violent, disturbed way, challenging the stereotype and creating a negative representation. However, the fact that his character is a male meets the stereotype of this gender as he is portrayed as strong and powerful.

The woman also meets the stereotype of her gender, acting as the weaker of the two. However, this character’s situation challenges the stereotype for her class as a person within this particular social class wouldn’t be in this dangerous situation.

The killer also meets the stereotype of his age and physical ability. Although this isn’t the usual situation a man of his age and ability would be under, he meets the stereotype as he is able to

do all of these things (dragging the body and digging) without getting overly tired or struggling.

How are the demographics demonstrated?

As the female character didn’t have any lines or particular actions, her social class was mainly demonstrated through the costume she was wearing. We placed her in light blue jeans and a mustard yellow coat to signify her innocence within the murder. This not only made the audience sympathize with her more but allow them to understand that she is of a higher class as she was fully covered and brightly dressed. The fact that she doesn’t have any actions or lines also meets the expectation

The killer developed some of the stereotype of his demographics such as his social class. We would usually expect someone of a higher class to be dressed smart and appropriately, however, we chose for this key character to be dressed in a suit, accentuating his eccentric personality and higher class.

Location also developed the stereotype of both character’s social class. Although typically, people of a higher class usually go for outing/walks in woodland areas, the situation that was taking place in the area challenged the stereotype and made the setting seem less pleasant.

Conclusion:

To conclude, our media product challenges, develops and meets some of the stereotypes of particular social groups and often represents them in a different light to how they would usually be seen.