Case Study: Representing the World

While representation is defined as the constructed and mediated presentation of people, things, ideas, places, etc., in this context, it also defines the process by which the media presents the ‘real world’ (Rayner). In doing so, the media decides how they want to show things to their audience through the mediation process, where they alter people, ideas, and events to appear as what they think is best.

I chose this movie because it represents my age group. I am a high schooler who will be graduating next school year so I feel I can relate as I am also a teen who knows what it's like to celebrate that feeling of it being the last day of school similar to them. This representation of High Schoolers graduating is mostly accurate as they are wearing caps and gowns, holding diplomas in their hand, and jumping in the air with joy which is true to how actual graduates would feel and act, especially surrounded by their friends. While what they are wearing underneath their gowns isn't necessarily accurate to what graduates would be wearing, I believe that the person who made the representations did so successfully. The screenwriter and filmmakers of the film are Peter Barsocchini and Kenny Ortega who were middle-aged white men during the film's production in which I do think they can relate to being in this position of graduating from an American high school when they were younger. Due to this, I do view them as being like me because not only do we fit under some of the same categories of being white, males, and born in America but we also know what it was like when they were at that age to be finishing high school even though it was a different time. For this reason, I do think that the creators are like the representations they have built up in the film, or at least when they were younger.

I chose this show because it represents my gender. When watching the show, I feel I can relate to the characters due to what they go through as guys. Examples of this are being strong enough to stand up for yourself and protect the people you care for. I think the show does a great job at showing what it can be like to be a male in its ability to show the guys' strengths, but also places of vulnerability and the struggles they each face. Therefore, I do think that the representations of what it is to be a male in this show are accurate even though it takes place in an unrealistic setting filled with superheroes, which isn't accurate to our society, as what's at the core of their problems are real issues that men face and can relate to today such as feelings of weakness, anger, greed, and envy. The creators of this representation are the comic writer Garth Ennis, and the comic illustrator Darick Robertson, who originally created the characters in their comics as well as Eric Kripke, the television producer that brought the comics to life with a real-life adaptation in the form of the show. I feel as if these are people who are like me as they have gone through struggles that come with being a man, even more so than me, and were able to add pieces of themselves into the characters they made and represented each being reflections of parts of themselves. While the lives the boys in the show live are much different than those of the creators, I do think they are alike in how the creators were able to show and add pieces of themselves and the struggles they went through with their characters. I also believe that when they made the show they weren't worried about it being something that everyone would love and watch but rather wanted to show the real things they have gone through or see others go through and make it something entertaining that will reach and resonate with those watching.

I chose this movie as it gives a representation of what being a little brother is like. I can relate to being a little brother, like the film's main character, as the lessons and morals he picked up from his older brother influence who he becomes and the decisions he makes. This movie shows a loving relationship where even after the older brother's death, his passion and care, in the form of his robot called Baymax, continues to protect and shelter Hiro, the little brother. I believe this is a great representation of what a brotherly relationship can be like, although it is not 100% realistic due to the futuristic setting. I also think it's accurate in its attempt to show this bond as it's the older brother's love and guidance that helps Hiro grow to be better, which is something I think many siblings can relate to. The directors of the film were Don Hall and Chris Williams, with a screenplay written by Jordan Roberts in which not only do I think they can relate to their characters because they know what it is like to have an older role model that helps you grow but also to me because of this.

All in all, representation plays an instrumental role in what we see in the media and is significant due to its ability to build scenes and convey emotions as a person gets to shape what the audience sees. This way creators can not only make and represent characters based on what they view in today's world but also include parts of what they've experienced into the characters to make them more realistic and complex and someone that the audience can feel connected to. While there are times when the representation of a type of person or group may be wrong I think it has helped producers, directors, writers, and illustrators tell stories that people relate to through the way they show and build their characters. It is because of representation that the world has been able to witness and learn about their favorite characters and fall in love with who they are.