portrayal-n; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: a verbal description or characterization of something

Commentary: PORTRAYAL[+entity][+symbolic][+information][+writing][+description][+characterization] [+event][+speech_act][+description][+characterization]

Examples:
Most scholars consider his portrayal of that conflict to be one-sided and factually erroneous.
The children sat spellbound by the storyteller's portrayal of the shipwreck at sea.
The senator resented the editorial's portrayal of herself as a ruthless power seeker.

Mappings:
PropBank: portrayal.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: enactment of a character in a theatrical performance

Commentary: PORTRAYAL[+event][+performance][+theatrical][+enactment][+character]

Examples:
The actor was most famous for his brilliant portrayal of King Lear.
Film noir's portrayal of the femme fatale generally supported the social order of the day.
They have tried to counterbalance Hollywood's stereotypical portrayals of Arabs.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: artwork that gives a visual interpretation of some subject matter

Commentary: PORTRAYAL[+entity][+artifact][+representation][+interpretive][+visual][+artwork][+subject_matter]

Examples:
Mary does not like Picasso's cubist portrayal of Gertrude Stein.
The artist's portrayal of the Holy Ghost as a dove was characteristic of that period.
These portrayals of 19th-century English country life were done with pastels.
Johnny's sketchbook contained many cruel and unflattering portrayals of his teacher.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 4, 5