Media Representations

In “The Sopranos” men and women are being represented however not as equals but males as dominant and females as inferior beings subjected to the ideologies of “white trailer park trash” and whores. In a Sopranos scene a stripper “Tracee” is represented and treated in a derogative manor as she wants love and affection but is not taken seriously by her boyfriend as she’s wearing a tight dress and is asked “how many cocks you sucked tonight”. This implies that the phallic is a symbol of male dominance over women and are treated as sexual object only in the drama for the male gaze and pleasure and not to drive the narrative. I think that the representation of women is inaccurate as women who are strippers are stereotyped as sex objects and whores and not taken as professional exotic dancers.

Media Languages and Forms

Tracee is wearing a tight revealing red dress in one scene, the dress connotes that impure as she’s not a virgin, easy girl, a prostitute and inferior to men as she’s not fully clothed or appropriately clothed. Additionally Tracee asks Ralphie her boyfriend if he wants a drink and gets slapped on her behind. This connotes that she’s treated in a derogative manor and is idealised as Ralphie’s object or possession. Moreover, when Tracee is outside “the Bing” she gets beaten up by Ralphie, the high angle shot on the stripper portrays her as vulnerable and inferior to the male gender. The theme of inferiority lies beneath these connotations and representations of the Tracee and the other stripper. Additionally the scene is set in “The Bada Bing” a “strip joint” this let alone as the setting amplifies the theme of women as sexual objects.

Narrative

The women strippers and housewives in “The Sopranos” are represented as sexual objects inferior to Tony Sopranos and his Capo’s, they are there to provide them with their sexual desires and promote the male gaze. The women do not drive or push the narrative but only to fulfil the male audience’s fantasies. The Tony Sopranos and his men push the narrative cycle to a conclusion or a cliff hanger; they are the ones that make the decisions. Women’s heads are edited or cut out of scenes and focus only on the men.

Genre

“The Sopranos is a gangster/drama hybrid, not only focusing on crimes and killing but also family life. The generic conventions that is displays are male superiority, the men as the breadwinners; “bringing home the bacon” by committing crimes and felonies. Additionally men are carrying guns also seen as a phallic symbol portraying their male dominance. The Actor James Gondalfini has become infamous for gangster roles and working within this certain genre, which displays his/Tony’s male dominance and his love for sex with women.

Media Institutions

HBO has produced “The Sopranos”, most of the institutions shows are rated TV-MA, and often feature suggestive themes and high amounts of profanity, something that would be much more difficult to get on other network channels.

Media Audiences

The media text is addressed to mostly males from a c1’c2 socio economic group. The show attracts males from the middle class for its intricate and interesting storyline and issues within the family, and men from the working class because of its action killing and sexual scenes which to them enforces most of the working class men’s ideologies of male superiority. The show is scheduled at 10:00 on E4 this implicates that it will contain sex and nudity as it is broadcasted after watershed, attracted mostly males aged within 18-45 or more. I evaluate the text as not only as show that excites the male’s fantasies and action but also for its interesting storylines and dilemmas and issues of everyday life. Yet I acknowledge the fact that half the storyline enforces the male gaze, this is why I think teens my age watch the show.