Stuart Hall argues that the representation of black subjects has gone through two phases: first challenging racist stereotypes and asserting a positive black identity through African history, and second considering the black subject as produced within regimes of representation. Hall was concerned with media power and how it propagates social values, criticizing how the media often portrayed black immigrants in stereotypical crisis or drama roles without exploring their rich experiences. In his search for black identity, Hall studied identity in detail to create a cohesive understanding by pulling together diverse strands.

1. Theorists Harriet Hearn

2. Stuart Hall – Marxist Black representation Hall argues that the representation of the black subject has been through two phases. The first was a challenge of the racist stereotype and asserting a positive black identity. This was typically through recovery of a lost African history in which an essential core is found. In the second phase, the black subject is considered to be produced inside 'regimes of representation'. He shows how cultures grow nest within one another, for example in how a black person in Martinique inserts the black culture into the French culture, thus creating an oscillation between the Other and unity. Media power Hall was concerned with media power, including how it propagates social values. "The mass media play a crucial role in defining the problems and issues of public concern. They are the main channels of public discourse in our segregated society". In 1971 he made an influential appearance on BBC television where he criticized media portrayal of blacks. "There is something radically wrong with the way black immigrants - West Indians, Asians, Africans-are handled by and presented on the mass media" He noted how blacks appeared on TV often in racially stereotyping positions, despite liberal assumptions and discussions by broadcasters. "When blacks appear in the documentary/current affairs part of broadcasting, they are always attached to some 'immigrant issue': they have to be involved in some crisis or drama to become visible actors to the media." "There has been little, attempt either in drama, documentary or features to explore and express the rich, complex, diverse and troubled experience of blacks." Identity In his search for black identity, Hall has studied the whole sphere of identity in some detail, pulling together diverse strands to create cohesive understanding.

4. Media/government ‘package’ the news

5. Media delivers the news

6. Public receives the news in a much more simplified way