19/01/24

 

Representations reconstruct reality. When looking at newspapers we aren't looking at reality we are looking at a reconstruction.

A Man with no shame- how does this double page spread represent issues, events, people and places?

• The entire double page spread features a number of different articles. However, the headlines and themes of each of them relate explicitly to the then PM Boris Johnson. - Political Cartoon, Comments/ Public interview column, Centre spread splash/image/headline, Editorial, Article by Keir Starmer, Article about Covid survivor.
• The range of different addresses allows the mirror to construct a reality that is appropriate to every audience.This consequently allows the newspapers biased and highly manipulative representation of reality to appeal to as many working class and left leaning audience members as possible.   
• Boris Johnson is represented in a universally negative way throughout the double page spread, constructing a highly repetitious and clearly politically biased mode of address. This biased mode of address allows the producers to target a working class labour supporter.
• The composition is cramped and overwhelming, reinforcing the reality that this is a complex situation and there is a lot to learn.   

• By being situated directly in the middle, the centre spread image presents an eye catching and impossible to ignore messages for the target audience. While the image is technically ambiguous , the constant anchorage surrounding the image informs the audience that this medical emergency is related to covid, constructing the reality that covid is an international disaster and life threatening.
• The caption under the image of Johnson reads ' RULE BREAKER: Boris Johnson took us all for fools' The lexis 'Rule Breaker' constructs the straightward representation of Johnson as a criminal. Additionally, the use of the word 'us' constructs the readership of the Mirror as a community as opposed to a simple audience. 
• The huge splash image of the chaotic hospital scene forms a binary opposition with the image of Johnson. With the mise-en-scene of a suit and a glass of prosecco, the party setting is world apart from the chaos, confusion and misery of an intensive care unit. While the image is potentially from a completely different time period, the anchorage of the image of Johnson being placed next to brave saviours of the NHS. The combination of the images here constructs a completely convincing version of reality where the Covid pandemic  is actually Johnsons fault. 
• The headline 'A man with no shame' is an intertextual reference to Sergio Leone's spaghetti Western trilogy featuring Clint Eastwood. The pun is typical of tabloid newspapers, and also reinforces that Johnson is ridiculous and should be laughed at. 

Editorial-where a newspaper will take a particular point of view under the guise of opinion.

Editorials allow newspaper producers to present extremely blunt, biased and potentially unsubstantiated representations based on the assumption that the audiences will know this is simply opinion. However, the blunt anchorage that this editorial takes by being positioned so close to several more factual stories reinforces the reconstruction of reality that the Mirror is constructing, and further constructs Johnson as a dangerous liar.

• 'He is an embarrassment to our great nation' This insulting mode of address directly includes and invites the reader to join in the hatred of Johnson. Additionally, the lexis 'our great nation' constructs a patriotic mode of address, which also reinforces the representation of the UK as a wonderful country.
• 'Boris Johnson is prepared to destroy everything' The connotative aspect of the word 'destroy' are aggressive and powerful.
• 'Leaders of every nation know Johnson is vastly diminished premier' This address is mocking, and will doubtlessly anger the audience at thinking that they are being laughed at. It also makes a huge and substantial assumption about literally an entire group of people, forcing the audience in to a highly manipulative mode of address.