The Theories of Representation

Television and Representation

In this course, Dr Julia Havas (University of York) discusses representation as it relates to television. In the first module, we look at the different theories of representation, focusing particularly on the theories of British sociologist Stuart Hall. After this, we discuss textual analysis and how it is carried out in television studies. Then, we look at the the British TV show Killing Eve and the history of so called “quality” television. In the penultimate module, we look more closely at Killing Eve and discuss it through the lens of gender and feminist quality television. Finally, we take a constructionist view of Killing Eve and analyse it through the lens of nation and race.

The Theories of Representation

In this module, we look at the different theories of representation, focusing particularly on the theories of British sociologist Stuart Hall. In particular, we look at: (i) the definitions of representation that Stuart Hall gives; (ii) Stuart Hall’s three theories of representation, including the reflective view, the intentional view and the constructionist view; (iii) how Stuart Hall favours the constructionist view as most useful; (iv) how representation involves text, author's opinions, audience reactions and societal context; (v) how negotiated reading allows audiences to interpret and engage with media texts; (vi) how representation is an unfixed exchange, involving power dynamics; (vii) how texture analysis is used to uncover representational meanings.