Les Revenants - Representation

Representation is the study of...

 1.     The group, place or issue on which a media product is focusing.

2.     The media language the media product uses in order to present these groups or issues.

3.     The ideological perspective about the group or issue being created within the product.

4.     The impact of this ideological perspective on the target audience.

Camille: 
  • Young female teenager 
  • Natural makeup look which suggests she is younger 
  • Button up blue shirt with grey cardigan more of a conservative look, stereotypical 'good girl '. 
  • Long Auburn hair suggests that she is young and free
  • Pale, young, sheltered life which reflect death? 
  • Complex representation, allows the audience to negotiate their own response '

Julie :
  • Grey Jumper with white collard indicates she is intelligent 
  • Hair partially tied up, a bit reserved
  • Natural makeup she is comfortable in her own skin 
  • Mid-twenties, 27, but her own which is a suppressive representation 

Claire: 
  • She is emotionally and dependent calls two men when Camille shows up.  
  • Grey jumper, classic implies comfortable, chic, stylish but not over the top
  •  Wavy dirty blonde hair which suggests openminded, relaxed, bit wild?
  •  Late 30's / middle-aged
  •  natural, comfortable in her own skin
  • Stereotypical Mother
  • Hegemonically Attractive
Liesbet Van-Zoonen argues that media language encodes how male and female characters act in media products. Explore how representations position the audience in Humans and Les Revenants. (30)

Episode 1 - Lena walking Simon to Adele's House  (34:20 -38)
  • The representation in Les Revenants is constructed through the mise-en-scene of costumes/makeup of characters. Plus through the performance of the actors, things such as body language, facial expression and their characteristic. Camera Angle can also help reinforce these representations. The representation in Les Revenant is fairly subversive which positions the audience in an uncomfortable situation.
  • Lena's Representation: 
Through the mise-en-scene of Lena's costumes, it is implied that she is a young female. The clothes she is wearing is more casual and fun which contrast to what Adele is wearing. Her costume can reflect her personality. Lena's character is quite subversive, as in it doesn't conform to the 'dominant patriarchal ideologies' that Bulter speaks about. It challenges the typical representation of females in a media product. As she is outspoken and confident, she also more relaxed and 'wild'. You could argue the mise-en-scene of her Auburn hair suggests that she is wild/fun. There is a binary opposition between her character and Simon's character, where he is more reserved and more tranquil. On the other hand, you can argue that her rebellious character does conform to the stereotypical representation, as she is hegemonically attractive. We can apply Van Zoonen's theory of the male gaze and apply to Lena's character. Her costume is considerably revealing, the short skirt allows her to have her 'legs on display' which may appeal to the male audience. 

  • Adele's Representation :
Unlike Lena's character. Adele's Character is more stereotypical. As it conforms to the 'usual' Representation in the media. Her costume is more conservative which implies her age and suggest she is an older character. She is wearing a long white flowy nightdress which could signify innocent. Her clothes could anchor her being a mother as it is more appropriate, much more nurturing?. I guess it can be argued that she conforms to the 'dominant patriarchal ideologies'. As she seems quieter, a shyer character she is much simpler. We can also apply male gaze theory to Adele's representation when she is looking into the mirror. It positions the audience in more of a voyeuristic mode of address.  Another sequence in the scene when she conforms to the stereotypes is when she starts to cry. Which reinforces the stereotype that women cry in difficult situations, can't handle their emotions. In contrary to Simon's character, a male representation, who held more of calm composure. 

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