The representation, that is, the production of meaning through language, discourse, and image, occupies a central position in cultural studies. In this introductory text, Stuart Hall clearly and coherently presents how images, language, and discourse function as systems of representation.

Hall analyzes representation as a signifying practice in different social and institutional contexts, raising questions about the relationship of representation to meaning, knowledge, and power. By combining illustrated examples with activities and selected readings, from Roland Barthes to Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, the book serves as a unique resource for educators and students in cultural studies and other related fields of knowledge.

How does representation relate to culture and meanings? One usage of the term based on common sense goes as follows: "Representation is the use of language to say to someone else or to represent something from the world meaningfully."

How does representation connect culture with language and meanings? To explore this connection, we will examine some theories on how language is used to represent the world. We will focus on three distinct theories: the reflection theory, the intention theory, and the constructionist theory.

Does language simply reflect a meaning that already exists in the world of objects, people, and events (reflection theory)? Does it merely express what the speaker, writer, or painter wants to say, only the meaning that he or she wishes to convey (intention theory)? Or is meaning constructed within and through language (constructionist theory)?