Browsing by Subject "TV-series"

This study investigates what kind of representations of teachers' are constructed in fiction. Previous research indicates that fiction is as powerful as nonfiction in changing peoples' attitudes, beliefs and opinions. The main concept used as a tool for analysis is representation. Representation is as well as an individual mental model of an element, for example teachers', it also shared. Representation is a process in which also TV-series take part in constructing. Representations are also inscribed in wider discourses. In Finland in literature, TV and movies there has been many teacher characters and, despite their well-esteem status in society, their representation has been mainly negative as is evidenced by labels such as discipline keeper or dictator-like. In Anglo-Saxon movies and TV-series teachers' representation is on the contrary mainly positive e.g. charismatic and heroic. This study examines how teachers are represented in a TV-series called Uusi päivä (New day, 2010-) and if the representations relate to earlier representations. The data used for the analysis was five consecutive episodes of the series from the third season (2012 autumn). Characters web-profiles were analyzed. Data was recorded and transcribed. The analysis concentrates on teacher characters' interaction and with other interlocutors. The analysis was made with qualitative approaches of content analysis and discourse analysis. The results of this study are multiple. Two main categories of teachers' representations were identified. These representations were artist teachers and normal teachers. The juxtaposition of these groups was made in discursive forms but also in the plot of the series. Compared to the traditional representation of teachers the artist teacher's representation is more positive and has Anglo-Saxon influences. The normal teachers seem to be following the Finnish tradition. Both of these representations are not only one sided but rather caricature like representations of earlier representations. Teachers' relationship with students is either friendly (artists) or discipline keeping (normal) oriented. The TV-series reflects societal issues such as school reforms and constructs an "appropriate" cultural model for activism.