Abstract

Images are full of embedded meanings of the social world. Importantly, televised images may reflect meanings when integrated with the existing knowledge that viewers hold on to, in real life social practices. For images to establish meaning potentials with viewers, the representation of male social actors plays a crucial role in mirroring men in society. In such instances the images of social actors visually interpreted from different hierarchical positioning may either maintain or challenge one group of men over another. Visually, men's positioning can also be mirrored as the “self†or “other†through the dynamics of televised images. However, the agency given to heteronormative acts with the existence of presupposition of effeminacy is crucial to viewers of a conservative background. In Malaysia, the notion of masculinity itself is undergoing a crisis. Using content analysis joinly with both grammar of visual design and representational frameworks (Kress & van Leeuwen, 2007; van Leeuwen, 2008), this paper analyses the images of social actors in a televised show. Findings are discussed and linked together to explore the representation of masculinity through interactive scenes of the male social actors. Findings reveal that authorisation plays a significant role in mirroring the “other†through the inclusion of the "self".