Representation

Since my opening scene is set in 1982 Russia, I looked at the 1989 Soviet Union census to tell the different representation I should cast when choosing my extras. I want the movie to be as realistic as possible, while recognizing that my options for extras are very limited. 

According to the 1989 Soviet Union census, 70% of the population was made of East Slavs, 12% Turkish peoples, and all the other ethnic groups were below 10%. The census also told that there was a literacy rate of 75%, so having a large number of students in a library is not out of the ordinary. 

Moscow, the setting of the feature film, is also highly densely populated per this map. 

Representation Research

(Content and quotes from research: 

https://prezi.com/xqpq1wnyzi1w/representation-of-age-in-american-tv-dramas/

https://prezi.com/f2nibftnb_95/representation/)

Media texts present various social groups and people in different ways, which can follow or break stereotypes.

My feature film will do both, representing the archetype of the hardened Russian soldier, the strict, by-the-book teacher, the fearful and oppressed mother, the beaten father, and the underdog. The strict, serious Soviet spy stereotype is broken by Vetrov, however, as he loves to party, isn't blindly loyal to the Soviet Union, but to America. He also has a soft spot in his heart for Novikof, a nobody teenager, and lets some of his fear dictate some of his actions, leaking to Ludmilla, his girlfriend. 

Representation: the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way. 

Through this, the audience will get a sense of the world of the film. Signs are manipulated to make sense of the world. (Representation can make something resemble something else or stand in for something or someone)

Film is an artificial version of the world around us, so producers consciously crop, caption, brand, and target their media texts for specific groups. 

Audiences and producers pay attention to these artificial realities because without media, our view of reality would be very limited. Representation is a fluid, two-way process; producers position a text somewhere in relation to reality and audiences access a text on its relationship to reality. 

Signs are the smallest piece of meaning people can use to decode meaning. Signs make up codes. Signs have a signifier (the form of a sign, ex- a facial expression, color etc.) and that which is signified (the concept or object being represented (ex- an article of clothing or a message on television). 

Charles Pierce said there are three types of signs:

1. Icon - which has physical resemblance to the signified (ex- a photograph of something that signifies that thing)

2. Index - shows evidence of what's being represented (ex- an image of smoke representing fire)

3. Symbol - has no resemblance to the signifier or the signified, often must be culturally learned. 

The Commutation Test - All media texts can be read on a horizontal and vertical level. 

Vertical Dimensions (Paradigms) - each element/sign/code taken individually. 

Horizontal Dimensions (Syntagms) - how elements/signs are put together to create meaning and certain image. (By substituting objects for other signs in the same paradigm and decoding new meaning, one can isolate what the original sign is making to the meaning of the image. 

(Ex- Substitute the paradigm "How you doin' girl?" for "How are you?" adding more meaning.)

Stereotype: standardized representation of a specific group of people or objects. 

Archetype: a familiar character who emerged from hundreds of years of storytelling. (ex- old crone, cruel king...etc.) 

Generic Type: a character familiar through use in a particular genre of movie. 

Understanding representation is important because it helps audiences understand context (or the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea. A setting's society's ideology can have a huge impact on context. 

Identity factors to consider in representation: gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity, class, age, regional identity, and ability/disability. The interconnected nature of social categories overlap, called intersectionality. Different groups have different connotations and can be analyzed in film. 

Deeper into group representation (only the groups relevant to Novikof):

Age Representation:

Common stereotypes: children (helpless and innocent), teenagers (irresponsible and nonconformist), adults (responsible and conformist), and elders (vulnerable and a burden). 

There are many stereotypes of teens: 

(Positive) active, sociable, strong, long future ahead, adventurous, fun

(Negative) lazy, rebellious, hormonal, dependent 

- Youths believe the police have it in for them, that they are more criminal (hoodies), alcoholics, drug abusers, complaining, aggressive; middle school kids are conceited and gossip-ridden. Different types include: nerds, rebels, the beautiful ones with unrealistic problems, and the seemingly perfect boys. Teens are often pictures at parties, school, drinking and doing drugs, having sex or promiscuity. These stereotypes tell teens what they should be watching and lead to negative body image. 

There are many stereotypes of adults:

conformist, parents, in a relationship or willing to be in one, committed, responsible, professionals, often seen in soap operas. 

(Positive) wise, authoritative, well-educated, freedom, wealth, stability

(Negative) weak, fragile, mentally incompetent, uncool, lonely, boring, unwilling to try new things. 

Representative Stereotypes, Archetypes, and Generic Types Relaying Film's Theme

Novikof is the underdog, symbolizing hope and intellectually-based change in a weak nobody. He develops the film's theme that even though the powerful individuals in a society control the masses and have "mindless drones" (the guards, other Soviet officers, and other KGB spies [excluding Vetrov]) to validate this power, an intelligent underdog with little power can make great change. Novikof is a young student. His family is on Soviet watch lists and he isn't very well known or has any kind of governmental influence, yet his spying on Soviet officers and passing information to Vetrov, who then gives it to Reagan makes a huge impact on the Cold War, eventually leading to the USSR's demise. 

The age representation is an extremely vital part of the movie. At first glance, the movie has situational irony as Novikof, the teenager, is the responsible and steady character whereas Vetrov, the adult, likes to go to parties and be promiscuous with women, going against the stereotype that teens are irresponsible and adults are stable and responsible. But upon further viewing, audiences see that in fact Vetrov is cautious and steady and Novikof is (at least) nonconformist. Novikof could be considered a nerd, as he quotes and connects with an author deeply and always handwrites information in books and journals. He also wears the "ivy league style," wearing always dress shoes, suits, and ensembles and carries a leather satchel.  

My signifiers in the opening scene include:

1. library (index)

2. Soviet guard (symbol) 

3. Novikof's clothing (symbol) 

4. Novikof's leather satchel (index)

5. Novikof's flashback to the Soviet officer and the attack dog and the swinging interrogation lamp (icon)

6. the book with the fake cover (icon)

My corresponding signifieds in the opening scene include:

1. The concept that the movie involves books and storing them (keeping secrets). 

2. The concept of the Soviet Union's totalitarian control over its citizens and that there is a constant, menacing government presence in everyone's daily lives. 

3. Novikof's characterization as an intellectual, a nerd, bookish, confident, and independent. 

4. The idea of hiding something and then transporting it somewhere else as it is hidden. 

5. The further characterization of Novikof as mysterious and having a dark past. This also gives possible motives to the character as the audience watches the movie. 

6. Also the idea of secrecy. Novikof opens the fake cover to be 100% sure that it is his Complete Works of Solzhenitsyn and to show the audience that the cover that was on it is not actually what the book is. Adds intrigue, mystery, and tells the audience more about why he ran so hard to the library for the book and is running from the guards when they see something suspicious.