Write a detailed paragraph (300-350 words) which is evidence of your thinking about representation.

The use of chopsticks in the advertisement is symbolic of chinese culture because it is the tool that is used everyday for the chinese people to eat, and survive. The woman who mockingly tries to use chopsticks to eat Italian food can be seen as offensive towards the chinese culture. In the advertisement, the portion of italian food is very large and the woman trying to eat it with chopsticks is acting as if she is having a hard time, in a very exaggerated manner. The Italian food is represented as if they have a higher value seeing the fact that chinese woman struggling to eat italian food, to a certain point where chinese chopsticks doesn’t serve its purpose anymore. This can also be implied that italy has higher power over China and that China cannot get as good as italy. Moreover, the stage accessories that are thought to provoke chinese culture in the advert is wrongly use, some not even one of china, this shows their seriousness towards chinese culture. Such large companies should be careful when representing another culture, since their audience is a large group of people and one wrong act can lead to damaged image of the company. 

Another issue presented here is the relationship between the man and the woman in the advertisement. The man, who is not in the frame is talking to the woman in such a paternalistic manner. This suggests the gender inequality, where women in shown as if she cannot do anything without a man’s help. This is further emphasised when the man praises the woman saying “good job” in a very exaggerated and patronising manner.