Representation: (Stranger Things)

First 15 minutes of ST S1 E1:
Events - Scientist is killed
- Boys playing D&D
- Riding bikes home
- Will is caught by the monster
- Hopper goes to work
- Breakfast at Byers' (cant find Will) - cut to Wheeler's breakfast on call.
- School - Bullies and Nancy&Steve in the toilets
Issues - Scientist doesn't have control (monster)
- Monster catches Will - hiding in house, phone etc
- Can't find Will
- Bullies picking out race, religion and disability
- Know something will happen to Barb
Individuals - Scientist (smart, vulnerable)
- Will, Lucas, Mike and Dustin (nerds, innocent, outcast)
- Wheeler parents and Nancy
- Hopper
- Joyce and Jonathan (messy, scared)
- 2 bullies
- Barb
- Steve
Social Groups - Middle class, white family
- Lower class, white family
- 4 Boys (race, religion and disabilities)

Representation Theory: Hall
Representation should be potential meanings constructed rather than relations with reality.
- focuses on who/what is, who/what isn't, difference between.
- 'preferred readings' can be pushed but inevitably audiences construct their own.

Identity Theory: Gauntlett
Media language is used to portray a wide range of different messages about identity - audiences then question their own.
- Gender and sexuality are more fluid than they were
- Media is used as a form of expression of identities.

What and Why:

A weak and disinterested representation - adults (men) are usually the heroes but the lack of heroism leaves the kids to fill that void.

How:

Dialogue - 'I think you should listen to your mother' - 'think' is a suggestion not an order, half arsed, no real input

Props - glasses - nerd and non influential character

Foregrounded - dad is marginalised where as the other two are not the focus

Body language - lack of eye contact, distracted, neglecting

What and Why:

Carefree, masculine and no order. - men being the heroes means theres not much hope in him.

Unhealthy - 1980's

How:

Many scattered beer cans, pills and an ash tray - more acceptable in the 80's - no care to it

Light - day time and hes still in bed

Clothing - slept in jeans on the sofa

Contrasts with him actually having meaningful authority (chief of police)

What and Why:

Lower class, small and poor. - contrasts with the Wheelers showing variety in the town - could show how the lesser in society are taken - represents the whole of the family

How: 

Frame - can fit in one shot where as the Wheelers house couldn't 

Mise en scene - dry grass washing line (no dryer), not a fancy car - unappealing and plain.

House - one floor, no neighbours - light outside but still dark in the house

Representation of Hawkins:

Hawkins is presented as a small, rural, quiet and provincial town. This then suggests nothing goes on/wrong, everything and everyone is known. Therefore this contrasts with the events because there is so much secrecy - it is a perfect target. This is presented for instance by the characters knowing eachother (Hopper and Joyce are now older both went to school) - no one leaves. The boys are trusted to go home late at night alone (trusting the town). It seems so normal: Family and friends, school, jobs. It creates an opportunity and almost a need for something to go wrong.