All Theorists

Question 1

What is props theory?

Answer 1

Character theory

Question 2

List four different characters?

Answer 2

Hero, villain, damsel in distress, helper, dispatcher, donor and false hero

Question 3

What is Todorov’s theory?

Answer 3

Narrative theory

Question 4

What is the typical narrative structure?

Answer 4

Equilibrium - balanced, normal and no problems
Disruption - some problem occurs, and the hero has to go sort it out
New Equilibrium - happy ending back to “normal”

Question 5

What is Roland Barthes theory?

Answer 5

Semiotic theory

Question 6

List the five different types of codes

Answer 6

Symbolic codes, semantic codes, action codes, enigma, codes, and cultural codes

Question 7

What is Levi Strauss‘s theory?

Answer 7

Binary opposite theory

Question 8

Define binary opposite in a media context

Answer 8

Binary opposite is when two things have been represented as completely different

Question 9

What is David Gauntlets theory?

Answer 9

Identity theory

Question 10

Explain identity theory

Answer 10

Identity theory is the idea that audiences get a sense of their own identity from the media that they consume.

The past used to have a very simple representations of gender. Whereas now representations are much more diverse.

Question 11

What is Van Zoonens theory?

Answer 11

Feminist theory

Question 12

Explain the Feminist Theory

Answer 12

Van zoonen believes that our ideas of gender come from discourse and that we learn what being “female” and “male” is.
Discourse - communication from the media

Question 13

What is Hesmondhalghs theory?

Answer 13

Cultural industries theory

Question 14

Explain cultural industries theory

Answer 14

The idea that companies minimise risk and maximise audience

Question 15

What is Butler’s theory?

Answer 15

Theory of Gender Performativity

Question 16

Explain gender performativity

Answer 16

The idea that gender is constructed based on what we do. E.g. certain activities make you more female/male

Question 17

What is Livingstone and Lunt’s theory

Answer 17

Regulation theory

Question 18

Explain regulation theory

Answer 18

The idea that all media products are regulated. Often to do with protecting us from harm, trauma etc… (cap)

Technology has made it much harder to regulate all media

Question 19

What is Henry Jenkins theory?

Answer 19

Fandom theory

Question 20

Explain fandom theory

Answer 20

Jenkins believes that the audience is a huge part of the media product. Raving fans who produce around the media product

Question 21

What is Curran and Seatons theory?

Answer 21

Power and Media Industries theory

Question 22

Explain power and media industries theory

Answer 22

The idea that most media industries are dominated by a few companies. Which leads to a lack of innovation and creativity in the media.

Belief that media companies only care about profit and power. (Not all)

Question 23

What is Clay Shirkey’s theory

Answer 23

End of audience theory

Question 24

Explain end of audience theory

Answer 24

The idea that audiences are no longer passive and know want to interact with the world of the media product. Technology has made us much more active audiences.

Question 25

What is Bandura’s theory

Answer 25

Media effects theory

Question 26

Explain Media Effects theory

Answer 26

The idea that children would copy the behaviour they saw, particularly violent behaviour.

Problems: done in a lab, kids might be trying to please researcher.