Exam answer

with detailed reference to two or three examples you have studied, explore how media texts are constructed to position audiences and/or users (30 marks)

In contemporary media, the dominant ideology create most media texts and images such as on magazines and newspapers meaning that we only see what they want us to see and what they deem as important. However in recent years there have been some campaigns and videos on changing people's  stereotypes and perceptions.

Typically, women are seen to be objects in the media which is why there are images of half naked girls on magazine front covers. All these covers include girls with the dominant ideologies idea of a perfect body which makes other women feel like they're not good enough because they don't look like magazine cover girls. Even though most of those pictures are photoshopped or edited somehow, it gives women expectations that they need to look like that. Although, the This Girl Can campaign created by Sport England has changed they way some women see themselves and their bodies. The campaign was designed to show women that anyone of any race and body size can take part in sports whether they are stereotypically female or not. Also, upbeat music by Missy Elliot is playing for the duration of the campaign which is supposedly meant to empower women. This has positioned the target audience to realise they can be happy with their bodies no matter what shape or size it is and they can be happy and healthy while taking part in sports as it will make them feel good.

Going along with this theme of women being objectified, it could also be said that the yearly Victoria's Secret Fashion Show subliminally tells women they will only look good in lingerie if they have the bodies of models. As the show only has slim models with the 'ideal' body, it makes other women wish they had bodies like that even though it's very hard to maintain. It also makes males think their their girlfriend or wife can only look good if they have a body like those models. This makes women try to live up to a standard that is very hard to achieve.