Broadcasting Class: Perceptions of Media Representation

Human societies have been characterized via systems of division based on bloodlines, wealth, and professions. The emergence of social/broadcast media has proliferated the symbols of each class, as well as awareness of their respective lifestyles. Media exploits social class symbolism to reify their own status, or that of their character archetypes. It glosses over classism by portraying character archetypes and situational stereotypes, rather than dynamic nuance of social class. This thesis studies class framing in media through design response and criticism to expose and generate awareness about media representation of class.

Based on research and cultural probes, I studied several iconic characters, personas, and brands that universally imply class stereotypes. I used the appropriation of existing scenes and images that I manipulated to create the idea of class framing in media.

This visual analysis explored the evolution of historical stereotypes of the working class into contemporary social and broadcast media.

Projected Stereotypes consists of fifteen video frames of varying sizes, which contain characters from different types of media. As my thesis capstone project, it aims to reveal and emphasize how communications design contributes to the current construction of social class stereotypes.