Representation Analysis

 

What is Representation 

Representation in Media is how groups of people and things are portrayed in a specific way to the audience. This has become a very serious and large problem that is just now being recognized and considered. It mostly affects the minorities and portrays them in a negative way or not at all to the audience, which leads to their views being altered in a bad and inaccurate way. Now, new groups are being considered for roles in media, giving them a more positive representation.

Ad 1:H&M

In the H&M ad, multiple races, genders, sexualities, body types, ages, and communities are shown. This ad portrays everyone in a positive and accepting way, letting people know they can dress however they wish to without being judged. This doesn't represent the stereotypes associated with our society, like men can't wear pink or skirts and women can't wear blue or suits. Everyone's fashion style is accepted and respected with society. They inform the audience "there is no rules in fashion but one: to recycle your clothes." The audience feels comfortable wearing whatever makes them happy and wants to recycle their clothes so others can represent themselves as well.

Ad 2:Axe body spray

The commercial for the axe body spray shows women in a horrible representation. The women are dressed only wearing bikinis and they run through the forest like wild animals who smell their next meal. There is a large majority shown in this commercial, which is white women. Throughout the entire viewing there is only about two black women shown, implying black women aren't the typical "type" for a white male. The commercial is aimed towards a male target audience and because of that they use skinny, primarily white women to catch the viewer's attention and portray these women as animals when a male uses axe deodorant. The film also uses slow motion in some of the running scenes and by having women running in slow motion, the male is attracted to look at the women's body's half naked. Axe used one race and a specific body type to persuade the audience that women would run to them like animals if they used this product, portraying women in a very negative way.