20th June 2012 Digital paper practice
Stereotypes
Definition
A stereotype is a fixed, commonly held notion or image of a person or group of people. For example all stereotypical Scots have red hair, a bad temper and/or wear tartan in films like “Brave” and TV shows like “The Simpsons”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18502247
Even the character of Shrek has a Scottish accent because he had a bit of a reputation for having a bad temper because he was an ogre. This Scottish stereotype was further emphasised by the use of the song “I’m On My Way” when he went on a journey with Donkey.
Film makers use stereotypes so that we can quickly understand what someone is like. Most stereotypes are used to make us feel we are better than, or superior to, the character we are watching.
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Here is another real question from the exam paper this year.
4. This question asks you to think about the Representations in the text you have studied.
(a) Identify one stereotype OR one non-stereotype in the text you have studied.
(b) By referring closely to the text, describe how this stereotype or
non-stereotype has been made. 10 marks
4 (a) A stereotype in the film is Lieutenant Kotler who is portrayed as being an evil German Nazi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGLlFzgdxm4 – 6 minutes in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfXhqUFTIis&feature=fvwrel – 1 minute 40 in.
4 (b) The stereotype was made using various cinematic techniques such as:
Costume
Props
Dialogue
Framing/camera angles
Scenery
Make up
Diegetic (natural) sound
Non-diegetic (non-natural) sound like music.
