Media Representations

Betty suarez- she's the main character within the dramedy series, her aims throughout the series is for her to run her own magazine, but little did she know what she was letting herself in for. Betty represents; within the series a kind sweet loving person, however, the ruthlessness and the competition of the fashion industry made no room for her sweet and kind approach to acheiving within the industry. Interestingly, Betty was hired by Bradford Meade; then owner of MODE magazine to become his son's Daniel Meade's assistant. She was hired knowing that if he used someone like Betty then he wouldn't become attracted to her as Daniel's character is a typical Bachelor, player & womanizer etc. who would eventually had slept with her. Betty as a character truly challenges people's perception of Betty, as at first glance she would already have a judgment made against her as she isn't phsyically attractive, however her personality changes that all. She opitimises the true meaning of the usual saying 'don't judge a book by its fron cover' and as an Ugly Betty fan its fair to say that, that saying is completely and untterly true. What's also so interesting about Betty is that with her incredible personality she brings the best out of people, particularly Daniel, as the series began he was a stuck up character unable to interact and see through people who weren't attractive.



Daniel Meade- He truly opitimises the word 'player'. His lack of ability to stay with just one woman throughout the series says something about his character, before he meets Betty, he was at the peak of ultimate cockyness, he truly represented men that only thought about sex and unable to think about anything else, he was self centered and stubborn as he was rich he could get his way, but as the series developed thanks to Betty he has matured and become a character that the audience can actually warm to as he now had a personality that the audience can watch, and also because of his stubborn behaviour at the begginning of the series prior to meeting Betty and because of this change in personality he actually became a character which audiences didn't like at the begginning because he was so typical but he went from a character that has become attractive as his caring and hard working personality made him attractive to the female audience.



Ignacio Suarez 'papi'- Papi is Betty's father who spent 30 years in the US as an illegal immagrant and was later sent back to mexico but safely became an American citizen thanks to a deal that Betty struck with Wilhelmina. He represents the protective father who will do what ever it takes to protect his family, the mexican way of life is definantely transmitted through the episodes which makes audience more aware of the mexiacan tradition where family values are highly important, This representation is a way is fair as we see both sides to Papi, good and bad, good his unconditional love for his family and his well mannered behaviour towards people makes the audience warm to his character and the bad is when he is sent back to mexico but he shows his ture sportsmanship as he comes back safely to be with his family. This representation of Papi; in a way is quite heroic as audiences see Papi being seperated from his family knowing that he is the one thing that keeps his family together, so to see him come back truly re-instated the saying in movies about how 'the good guys come out on top' Papi; as a character has shown this through the representation that is made about him.

Wilhelmina Slater- A respected figure in the fashion industry, she is used to getting her way but due to her character's inability of becomming editor in cheif of MODE magazine she goes on a quest to fulfill that dream, by any means necassary, manipulative, lying and cheating are just an understatment to truly say describe her actions and the lengths she goes to get her way. The representation of Wilhelmina is a cold hearted gold digger, who only cares about getting to the top and upkeeping her 'perfect' image and upkeeping her profile up within the fashion industry. This representation of Wihelmina is unfair to a certain extent, as audiences do not get to see her true personality and what she is like on the inside, however, her actions within the series are a good explanation for her behaviour and character as she ultimately fails in nurturing her daughter whom she continues to send her to private schools and does not live up to her role as a mother, yet again she has done this and sacrificed even her own family to get ahead in her career, however, later in the series she realises what she has missed out on.



Media Languages and Forms

The significance of the texts connotations are highly sugnificant. For example the different colours at the begginning sequence of every episode, perhaps could connote different personalities or just difference in general, in addition, the mix up of different faces used also is significant as it breaks the stereotype of beauty and the notion between real and fake as the photos of the models are clearly were digitally enhanced but betty was kept the way she was and that was significant because it created a narrative enigma as to expect something different from the episode/series. The non-verbal structures of meaning such as the clothing truly opitimises the opposite to stereotype as Betty isn't wearing anything fashionable as she is just being herself. The significance of this is that its trying to portray to audience's that personality is more important than looks, especially in an image centered society such as the fashion industry. The significance of settings, especially NewYork, where the series is set. New York is a higly famous place known to have famous residents and rich residents also, New York is one of the fashion capitals of the world,so the significance of New York is huge, especially for Betty as she comes from the a financially unstable background so for Betty being in the high end and rich end of New York is higly significant because her quest to be accepted in that society is a hard one.

Media Institutions

American Broadcasting Company
The ways in which ABC has influenced the dramedy series are the fact that the headquarters are based in New York City, therefore the ability to truly show what life is like in New York City. It is a public service institiution and the difference this makes to the series is that it has all the resources available as it already broadcasts and funds other t.v shows. ABC is owned by The Walt Disney company this is matters because walt disney are well known institution that specialises in broadcasting and funding succesful films, dramas and sitcoms.




Narrative

The narrative is a linear narrative, starting from introducing the characters to the audience. The audience are positioned in relation to the narrative in the begginning just like the narrative is. This is effective in many ways as the audience do not have any narrative enigmas in order for audiences to continue to watch the episodes, therefore, going on what is shown to them e.g. clothing, setting & behaviour etc. meaning that audiences have made their judgment on characters on just what they see. The interesting point here is that audiences pre-conceived perceptions on ugly betty as a character and other characters have probably changed, therefore a linear narrative is highly effective as the twists and turns of judgments made by audiences continue to change.

Media values and ideology

The ideologies linking in with Ugly Betty are that despite what colour, ethnic background,sexual orientation, acedemic ability or looks has nothing to do with your ability to work hard and that people shouldn't judge on appearence and it is the personality that counts. In addition, Ugly Betty's ideologies are also that becomming part of a stereotype isn't the way forward, and that breaking the trend is a way to get noticed, not by looks. In addition, Ugly Betty's ideological values could also mean that being yourself is more important, otherwise you become lost and do not understand who you are and that could damage your career, almost like it did for Betty, but she got back on track.