Representation
Representation questions
1) How does the film challenge or reinforce stereotypes?
The film reinforces stereotypes by
showing that most scientists are friends with each other. This is reinforced
when Sheldon facetimes Stephen Hawkins. We also see this because most of the
Characters in the Big Bang Theory who are friends, and some enemies, are
scientists. Not including Penny and Stuart. This is mainly because they all
share the same common interest in science and comic books. We also have the
stereotype of Scientists being Nerds because Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj
all have hobbies including Gaming, Technology and Comics. These are all
stereotypically associated with nerds. They explore the stereotype of types of
women in the Big Bang Theory as they have Penny who isn’t a scientist but as
the ‘hot blonde’ who seems to date tons of men and care about her appearance,
whereas Amy who is a scientist is not interested in any relationship at the
start of the series and wears glasses and is portrayed as not caring about
their appearance unlike Penny.
2) What is empathsised by the Representation?
Raj’s relationship with Women is
partially empathised throughout the ongoing series as he is inadequate to talk
to women unless he is drunk. This could be because where Raj is from, India;
they have arranged marriages and so Raj doesn’t have to worry about talking to
Women and dating them. This means Raj doesn’t have the experience in talking to
women and therefore struggles to communicate with Penny and Bernadette in the
first few series. We also see the relationship with Howard and his mother. With
Howard being a Jew it is stereotyped that he has an almost intrusive
relationship with this mother. This is shown as Howard lived with his mother
during her whole life and this empathises on the fact that Jewish Mothers are
usually stereotyped to be invasive of their children’s life. Such as when
Howard and Bernadette start dating they never get any free time because
Howard’s mother is constantly pestering them.
3) What does the representation neglect to tell us?
In the small clip of Howard and Raj discussing accents they mention
small forms of stereotypes. Howard mentions that all Indians eat curry and ride
elephants, but the representation negelects to tell us that infact not all
India's eat curry and ride around on elephants.This also happens when Raj tries
to speak in an American accents and says'Hey my snow white American
friends,lets put some cow meat on the barbecue and eat it until we're all
obese' The stereotype is that all Americans are, or are becoming obese.This is
actually a true stereotype as the episode,'The Extract Obliteration' which was
aired 1st November 2012.America had the highest obesity rates across the globe
with 33.8% of the population being obese. However the representation neglect to
tell us that all Americans aren't 'snow white' and eat cow meat.
4) Is a particular group being under-represented or
omitted entirely? Why?
I believe that Women are being omitted because
the whole series starts straight away with a 'hot blonde' moving next door to
Leonard and Sheldon.The sterotype of Penny being a dumb blonde and always
dating someone is explored continiously throughout the sitcom as she is only a
waitress and has no interest in science.However when Penny and Leonards
relationship does develop further we see that Penny starts to become more
interested in his work and science altogether.The sitcom even has an episode
where Sheldon tries to teach Penny some scientific facts and information about
the area of science Leonard works,experiemental physicist.But yet again the
stereotype of 'Dumb Blondes' is shown as Penny struggles to retain and
understand the information Sheldon is giving her.Bernadette is almost a
juxaposition to Penny as they are both blondes but Bernadette understands
science as she is a microbiologist.Although feminism isn't brought up in The
Big Bang Theory we do see the mental,and physical capabilities of women whilst
interacting with male charcters.This is usually being flirtatious (Penny and
Bernadette) towards them.However despite seeing negative representation there
is positives running throughout the series. In one episode Penny wins tickets
to go a Wine tasting, and with Bernadette being pregnant, and Sheldon not
drinking they both opt to stay behind.Sheldon plans out a whole day for them
and to Bernadette's surprise Sheldon has even created his own story for
Dungeons and Dragons containing a character to represent Bernadette who is
called Bernadetrix,a tall brave warrior queen.This is a postive stereotype as
Sheldon is representing women as strong and powerful and not vulnerable and
objectified.
5) What are the dominant messages to the film and how
are these re-enforced by representations?
The dominant messages of the Big Bang theory is that 'work is work'
despite Penny being a waitress,Stuart being a Comic book owner and then
Bernadette,Amy and the boys being scientists they still get along because they
don't criticise or judge each other by their jobs. We see this because Penny
and Stuart both are friends with the scientists and they don't feel left out
because of the different work roles. The Big Bang Theory is also educational in
the fact that everything that Sheldon or Leonard's work we see are
scientifically correct.This is because the script is written by scientists and
so by watching the Big Bang theory the audience can actually learn science by
watching the programme.
6) What dominate ideologies are
being presented or criticised by the representation on screen?
The main ideology we see on the Big Bang Theory is Penny's
character.This is shown as extremely femine and at first the character is
potrayed as beautiful yet dumb and is only there to start a love interest for
the geeky boys who never usually interact with Women.She is also known to wear
revealing clothes that caught the interest of three charcters Raj,Leonard and
Howard.At first Howard's and Penny's relationship showed him trying to hit on
her all the time when she clearly had no interest in him.This presents how her
life is constantly revolving around the numerous boys that she has slept with
and dated. Another ideology
is that women were always suited best for being a waitress where they are
serving to the men. In the show Big Bang Theory we see just that as Penny works
at the Cheese Cake Factory as a waitress and she constantly serves the boys
their food and this is also where Howard met his love interest; Bernadette.
7) What are the film’s social and political contexts?
The film's social context is how different everyone's friends groups
are.Some have the same interests and
some don't.Much like the Big Bang Theory where each character has their own
interests.Amy and the Harp,Leonard and his Cello, and Sheldon and his
collection of trains.We also explore the different type of people there
are.Whilst Penny is very extroverted,Sheldon is more introverted and we see how
they develop a friendship despite being very different especially whilst they
share nothing in common.Sheldon is also very socially awkward and when we see
him outside it isn't just humerous but we feel almost sorry for him being so
awkward and unable to act 'normal' around people due to his childhood and his
introvertness.
We don't see many political contexts except the mention of the science
political views when Leonard,Sheldon,Raj and Howard are working on a super
secret project for the Armed forces.
8) What are the elements of film form used to construct
the representation?
Mise en Scene is used in the Big Bang Theory alot to help with the
representation of science and geekiness.Leonard's and Sheldon's apartment are
full of science and geeky objects.As their apartment is one of the main sets we
see the use of these sciencetific objects help to keep the representation of
science shown throughout the series despite the characters not always talking
about science.
Mise en Scene is used in the Big Bang Theory alot to help with the
representation of science and geekiness.Leonard's and Sheldon's apartment are
full of science and geeky objects.As their apartment is one of the main sets we
see the use of these sciencetific objects help to keep the representation of
science shown throughout the series despite the characters not always talking
about science.
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