Stranger Things representation essay

How are different social groups represented in the sequence you have analysed? What role does the use of media language, signs and significance have in constructing and presenting these representations as real? 

One very apparent representation shown within season 1, episode 1 of Stranger Things is the role of single mothers. Being a major character within the story line, Joyce Byers, opposes to the typical, domestic role of a mother; she is over-worked and conscientious. She may be absent from Will’s and Johnathan’s life due to her job, but remains caring, loving, benevolent and supportive. However, she is also represented as an emotionally unstable and vulnerable character after his son Will Byers goes missing. Her weak state is represented through not only her emotive dialogue and characteristics, but also by her clothes and home. She dressed in dark and miserable colours, reflecting her emotional state, and similarly her house is untidy and unkept due to the trauma and upset she is facing in the episode. Joyce is also divorced, which somewhat represents a broken family - it was unusual to be divorced in the 1980's, which could suggest attributes of judging, adding extra weight to her stress. During her screen time, the lighting of the shots is mostly darker and dimmer, reflecting her overwhelming upset and paranoia. 

To contrast to this, Karen represents the domestic role of a mother in this era – she cooks, cleans and strongly supports her family with strict responsibility.  During her screen time, Karen is positioned in the foreground and in strong lighting, signifying her importance and dominant role.

Showing a form of contrast to the unstable state of Joyce, Hopper, the towns Sheriff, fits the stereotype of an American officer by bringing an element of calm at the Byers home. The representation of the police department is relaxed, comfortable and stress-free; even when Hopper was firstly informed of Will’s absence, he appears calm and untroubled. The short cut shots between Joyce and Jonathon are interrupted by tracking and panning shots when Hopper arrives representing how Hopper is taking control of the case and is attempting to eliminate panic amongst his town’s citizens, especially the traumatised family of the Byers. Their cream boiler shirt and trousers along with a sheriff hat, police badge, walkie-talkie and police car all represent Hopper as an authoritative member of the town, there for showing that the police force have not been misrepresented within this episode.

During the scene of Will’s disappearance, representations of the supernatural are shown. The light in the shed begins to flicker, mirroring the lights that were flickering before Will was taken. As well as the lights creating suspense, uncomfortable and mysterious noises are heard. Gurgling sounds and rumbling sounds suggested to be coming from the supernatural monster that took Will are seen to cause Hopper distress, not only representing the monster/supernatural as something fearful, but it also represents Hopper as perhaps being scared. This contrasts his early calm and controlled representation.

The four main, protagonist teenager boys, Dustin, Will, Mike and Lucas, represent a compassionate and highly committed role to protect and help their friends. Together they communicate using cultural parlance, speaking with fantastical explanations. They oppress the typical stereotypes of teenagers within the 80’s and express a passionate, intelligent, level-headed approach, whilst maintaining a vivacious, cheerful personality. They also represent outsiders, unique to the other pre-teenagers seen in the high school. Similarly, Nancy and Jonathan are also hyper-intelligent, however as Nancy becomes rebellious with the interaction of Steve, Johnathan becomes brave, independent and a male leader. Steve, the complete opposite, classes himself to be popular boy with a crude personality.