Introduction to Representation

1) List the different people/groups represented in the trailer (men/women/Americans etc.)
  • Men
  • Women
  • Eastern Europeans
  • Americans
2) For each group you identify, decide whether the representation is a dominant or alternative portrayal. Explain why you think this.

Men, is a dominant portrayal as the protagonist (Liam Neeson) is shown to be strong, confident and protective over his daughter.

Women, is also a dominant portrayal as they are presented sexually and emotional. Clips of women shown in the trailer are of them crying and being shown hopeless. They are also shown to be reliant on a male to come and save them.

Eastern Europeans are portrayed as an evil and aggressive as they are shown to casue harm and distress to the girls that they kidnap which can be seen as an alternative reading of Europeans.

Americans, in this trailer are portrayed in a dominant way due to them being shown to be heroic, attempting to protect his daughter and in multiple violent scenes (Americans love war). 
3) What stereotypes can you identify in the trailer? 


Some stereotypes identified in the trailer are the belief of Americans solving all the problems with violence. Also, the stereotype is that Americans see themselves as heroic and believe they liberate others. Women being portrayed as hopeless and extremely emotional as they are shown to be constantly crying throughout the movie, also being dependant on males.
4) Why might the Taken trailer offend or alienate certain groups?

Taken may offend some viewers as they alienate certain groups such as Eastern Europeans which are presented in the trailer as evil and villainous. Other groups such as women may be offended as they are presented in a hopeless and emotional way which may offended women as it is labelling them as 'weak'
5) Why do mainstream film and television texts such as Taken so often use stereotypes?

 Audiences associate certain characters with certain traits which could either portray them positively or negatively. It also allows media texts to be easily understood and therefore appealing to an audience.

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