Television Industry First Dates: Representation

To explore gender representations in First Dates.

To recognise that ALL reality TV shows are constructed to a certain degree.

To consider why audiences watch reality TV.

Key Terms:
Diversity - 

• A broad variety of things or people being included; a range of different things or people.
• The fact that there are many different ideas or opinions about something.

Construction - 

• The way a media text is put together. In a film or television programme this includes the words, images, sounds, design, and other elements.
• No one text tells the whole story. Every text tells part of the story from a point of view. Deconstructing a media message can expose the values (and biases) of the media maker and uncover powerful messages.

Patriarchy -

• A patriarchal society is seen to favour the masculine over the feminine; men typically have power and control and women have a disadvantaged, lower status. 
• The repetition and reproduction of these gender roles in the media serves to reinforce patriarchal values, resulting in a narrow range of gender stereotypes.

Dominant ideology

In Marxist philosophy, the term dominant ideology denotes the attitudes, beliefs, values, and morals shared by the majority of the people in a given society. As a mechanism of social control, the dominant ideology frames how the majority of the population thinks about the nature of society, their place in society, and their connection to a social class

*Representations of characters can be constructed to reflect dominant ideology. 

For example, the mise en scene may include framed family photographs indicating strong family values or a successful character may be shown to be working hard for his position; long hours, dedication etc.  

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Starter task: Place the titles of the reality shows on the line depending on how real you think they are.

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Diversity:

With it's 360 degree Charter, Channel 4 has set out a commitment to diversity both on and off screen.

David Abraham, Channel 4’s Chief Executive said: “Diversity is baked into Channel 4’s DNA – it’s vital that we are open to the widest variety of voices, and that we nurture new talent from all backgrounds and reflect all of contemporary Britain.

“We have a rich heritage in pioneering programming that has reshaped how we think about diversity from Queer as Folk through to the 2012 Paralympics, but like all media organisations, there is more we can do.

“The launch of our 360° Charter is an opportunity for us to change how we think about diversity and ensure that it’s at the very heart of everything that we do.

First Dates Characters - In line with Channel 4s commitment to diversity the couples on First Dates are heterosexual, homosexual, transgender, old, young, able, disabled, rich, poor and from many racial/ethnic groups. The age pairings for the dates are usually similar.

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Task 1: Using the handouts provided, identify the different (stereotypical) representations that the First Dates participants are offering to the audience.
For example; new man, flirty woman, middle aged etc.
5 minutes 

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First Dates cast

The representation of gender on film and TV is a source of constant debate. Popular films and television are frequently criticised for their reinforcement of traditional gender stereotypes, which see the male as active or dominant and the female as passive and controlled by men. These on screen representations reflect a wider, influential social system, known as patriarchy. 

A patriarchal society is seen to favour the masculine over the feminine; men typically have power and control and women have a disadvantaged, lower status. The repetition and reproduction of these gender roles in the media serves to reinforce patriarchal ideologies, resulting in a narrow range of gender stereotypes.
Traditionally, men are stereotypically portrayed as heroic, adventurous and aggressive whereas women are stereotyped as inferior, domestic or home-based, sex objects or distressed damsels in need of male rescue.

David Gauntlett (2008) argues that today, a wider variety of images and gender representations are offered on screen.

For example there are new, stronger screen images of women such as the action hero (Lara Croft) or the detective (Catherine Cawood).

Grayson Perry's recent book The Descent of Man also offers an insight into new male 'types' such as single Dads, hipsters and 'emotional' men.

Task 2: To reinforce Gauntlett's theory that a wider variety of gender representations are offered on screen, discuss in groups and make notes about any modern types that you can identify amongst the daters in episode 6 of First Dates. Do any challenge patriarchal values?
10 minutes.

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Construction - 

Representation from aealey

The construction of First Dates:

First Dates looks simple, however it is far more lengthy, in-depth and complicated than you might think.

"For each episode there are five dates that you’ll see, and per episode we have filmed seven,” explains Sayers. “So there’s seven dates filmed for five, and on a filming day we essentially film two episodes a day. So we film 14 dates per day in order to get two episodes with ten dates in them each.”

“So every single weekend there are auditions. There are up to 80 people that we see per week.”

 we’ve got GoPros in the loos as well!” exclaims Sayers. “And all of the cameras are remotely operated. They’re all at different heights – you have to when people are sitting and when they’re standing, that’s why we can only have three dates in at any one time because we’ve only got a certain amount of cameras that can cover the dates. 

“We might have 42 cameras but we’ve only ever got ten streams, so we can only record on ten at a time. Which means if there are three featured dates in, you’ve got a close-up of one person, another close-up of their date and a two shot – then times that by three. So that’s nine of your streams taken up, and then you might have a camera on Fred or on Cici and Laura having a chat in the bar. It’s all quite choreographed."

There are 42 cameras covering every inch of the restaurant.

“We were lucky enough to have access to an online casting database of over 150,000 people which has been running for the last few series,” says Gray. “But we always say with that comes its own problems, because where do you start?

“So we try and start each new series with a wish list of the stories that we want to tell. Obviously we’re on our sixth series now so we have seen a lot of stories before, but there’s always new ones."

The voice-over of Brian Protheroe (male, reassuring, authoritative – these are stereotypical
attributes that have been attached, historically to the male ‘voice of authority’ that is a
convention of the documentary form). 
He is our narrative guide through the story of First Dates.

Fred - Fred Sirieix, the Maître D (and Head Waiter), is the presenter of the programme. He
introduces each couple through direct address to the camera but not before he delivers his
soliloquy on love. Fred is French and the theme of ‘French’ is also continued in the mise-en
scene and sound (music) because the French are stereotypically associated with love and
romance. Fred tells us that marriage is universal so he reinforces the ideology that drives the
show.
Participants engage in ‘warm up’ chat with the barman, Merlin Griffiths who asks them what
they are looking for in a date.
Fred wears a blue suit. This colour has connotations of security and trust.
Waiters - Provide another insight for the audience. For example by talking to one
participant about the progress of the date while the other has gone to the toilet.
The waiters are the same in each episode. Their uniform is brown. This colour has connotations of permanence.

Cici Coleman, 29 - waitress. She has lots of anecdotes and amusing observations.

Laura Tott, 22 - waitress. She never studied but has travelled broadly and describes herself as a graduate from the University of Life

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This lesson will prepare you for the sectionA MS4 Representation exam question. 

For example:

SECTION A: TEXT
You must refer to the three main texts you have studied in each answer. 

Explore the different ways in which people are represented in your three main texts. [30]
(WJEC A2 Media Studies Summer 2012)

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In order to access higher level ‒ you are required to discuss the ways in which people are represented within the text. Do not simply describe their roles. 

Points covered may include reference to: 

• Characters, roles and attitudes 
• Appearance – dress codes, body language, mode of address 
• Stereotypes, traditional or unconventional representations 
• Theory as appropriate – for example Mulvey, Alvarado, Gauntlett.

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Homework: 
Watch Episode 6 of First Dates again and answer the following question 
(in relation to First Dates only). Consider David Gauntlett's theory.
At least 200 words.

Explore the different ways in which people are represented in your text. [30]

Complete this task for Wednesday Feb. 1st. E-mail to ealey_A@sjd.ac.uk

Useful First Dates representation links:
http://www.channel4.com/info/press/press-packs/first-dates-staff-bios

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-12-19/10-secrets-of-first-dates
http://www.sugarscape.com/film-tv/a1082616/channel-4-first-dates-photo-diary/