Miss Representation

This is an interesting media issue which came up his week in Japan and then went viral in our online age which goes to the heart of our subject.

Here is the Manga style anime image created by artist Toshiko Hasumi

What do you think the message is?


Now read the text in English

"I want to live a safe and clean life, have a gourmet meal, go out freely, wear pretty things and luxuriate.

"I want to live my life the way I want without a care in the world — all at the expense of someone else.
"I have an idea. Why don't I become a refugee?"

How does the text anchor the meaning of the artefact?

This is what we term 'anchorage'

Now look at the original image taken by photographer Jonathan Hyams that has been manipulated by the artist.

This was taken in a Syrian refugee camp for the charity Save the Children

How does this add to our understanding of the image?


Everything is political. What are the artist's political views on refugees /immigrants?

What reaction has there been to the image?

What does this say about media in the online age ?

How have the artist and the photographer reacted?

Compare the reporting in different newspapers such as the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail.