Representation in the Media
By definition, all media texts are re-presentations of reality. This means that they are intentionally composed, lit, written, framed, cropped, captioned, branded, targeted and censored by their producers, and that they are entirely artificial versions of the reality we perceive around us. When studying the media it is vital to remember this - every media form, from a home video to a glossy magazine, is a representation of someone's concept of existence, codified into a series of signs and symbols which can be read by an audience. However, it is important to note that without the media, our perception of reality would be very limited, and that we, as an audience, need these artificial texts to mediate our view of the world, in other words we need the media to make sense of reality. Therefore representation is a fluid, two-way process: producers position a text somewhere in relation to reality and audiences assess a text on its relationship to reality.

Masculine	Feminine
Physically strong	Caring
Macho	Emotional
Determined	Organised
Sporty	Stubborn
Independent	Maternal
Lazy	Fashion
Brash	Petite
Proud	Argumentative

Masculine	Feminine
Football	Hair and beauty
Beer	Shopping
Mechanic	Shoes
Rugby	Make up
Gaming	Dresses
Trainers	Handbags
Mirror	Books
Cars	Accessories
Paparazzi	Journalism
DIY	Perfume