23/01/24

 Using ideology to shape dominant hegemonic perspectives.

• Ideology is the belief and viewpoint of the producer.
• Hegemony refers to the dominant ideas of society- Rules that we follow through consent.

How are representation mediated through media language on the front page of The Times?

-What groups of people, issues and events are represented on this front page?

• Politicians- negatively
• The Covid pandemic- negatively 
• Boris Johnson-broadly negative 
• Police- positively
• Covid restrictions-positively 
• Migrants- negative 
• Finance and the economy- positively 
• Middle class, middle aged women- positively

• A close up of Boris Johnsons smirking face reinforces the ideological perspective that Johnson is careless and somewhat incompetent. The selection of a close up image enables the audience to realise and to accept the fact that he has broken the rules, and his personal responsibility. However, the close up represents Johnson as tired and ineffectual. The representation is constructed through the mise en scene of Johnsons dark eye bags and prominent wrinkles. This presentation of mise en scene anchors a reading that Johnson is pathetic vulnerable and remorseful. This more sympathetic representation is typical of a right wing newspaper. However, since Johnson was remarkably unpopular with the voting public at the time, the newspaper cannot present a wholly positive representation. In supporting the hegemonically accepted idea that Johnson was unfit for purpose, the  newspaper minimises risk and maximises profit.
• The pull quote suggests through the lexis 'there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country' that ultimately it is Johnson to blame rather than the conservatives. This reality is reinforced through the direct mode of address of the pull quote, which encourages the audience to side with this version of events. 
• The headline 'police investigate PMs four lockdown parties' presents a vague and factual mode of address obscured the nature of the crimes, in order to more positively represents the PM.
• A further lead story references Putin, yet inserts the narrative of Boris to the Ukraine crisis. In doing so, the newspaper constructs a more relatable mode of address for the target audience.
• The colour splash skyline story ' how to be fit do the bare minimum' uses soft news approach to constructing an identifiable mode of address. Not particularly glamorous, yet still wearing sporty gym wear, a healthy lifestyle is being presented to the target audience. The 'bare minimum' mode of address will particularly appeal to a stereotypical middle aged middle class target audience who feel that they are overworked and have little time.
• The masthead uses a bold yet subtly serif font that connotes that the target audience is older and more middle class. The luxurious crest, written in Latin has connotation of private education and privileged background.