How do Media Representations influence collective identity?

When focusing on British identity and discussing the influence media representations have, the analysis of the different theories that surround this is fundamental. David Gauntlett believes that by living in a media saturated society it is inevitable that as an individual our identity is to be shaped, in spite of this when looking further into his theory he draws on the fact that it is not as straightforward as one might believe and what we see from media texts isn’t necessarily what we copy. However, Stuart Hall suggests otherwise; his view touches on the fact that while the media appears to reflect reality the actual truth is that it constructs it to what the producer requires you to feel. When carrying out my own primary research, the various opinions and beliefs of this argument differ. Through portraying ‘normal’ people in everyday life, some may say that the media reflects accurately on society. However, others think that depending on how a media text addresses certain issues, results in the construction of society and the concept of what reality actually is.