Exam #3 Review Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are ideologies?
How do ideologies influence our sense of the “reality”?
How might the media promote certain ideologies?
Def. Ideologies are systems of meaning that define and explain the world and judge it.
How it Shapes Reality:
They shape what we believe is “normal,” “true,” or “real.” They are like “mental shortcuts”. (ex: big house = happiness b/c that is what we see in movies and ads, and rich = successful when that’s not necessarily true)
Media’s Role: Media (like movies, news, and ads) repeat ideas over and over, so we start to see them as “common sense.” That repetition can make those messages feel like “the truth,” even if they’re just one point of view.
Ex: Ads that show happy people with new clothes or luxury cars promote the ideology that buying stuff = happiness.
For media scholars, what is hegemony?
Hegemony means powerful groups shape what most people see as “normal,” “natural,” or “just the way things are”—without forcing them.
Ex: TV shows that glorify wealth, war, or beauty standards.
What does economic news coverage often focus on?
Mostly on investors and big business, not everyday people.
Ex: Layoffs are often shown as good for stock prices rather than bad for workers.
How is family life often portrayed on U.S. television?
Mostly white, middle-class families with high-status jobs.
Ex: Shows like The Brady Bunch vs. rare examples like Good Times (a poor Black family).
What type of lifestyle do U.S. ads often promote?
Consumerism: buying things = happiness.
Ex: Ads for luxury cars, cosmetics, or home baking with brand-name products.
What is consumer culture?
Why are some media critics concerned about consumer culture?
A culture where buying things is central to life and happiness.
But It hides inequality and promotes endless spending.
Even those who can’t afford the lifestyle are taught to dream about it.
In the 20th century, how were different races/ethnicities often portrayed in the U.S. entertainment media?
What do media scholars consider to be concerning about these portrayals?
What is an example of a recent piece of popular media that is consistent with or counters these portrayals?
Portrayal: Stereotyped or ignored.
Concern: These portrayals were made by white producers and misrepresented real people.
Ex: Black Panther flips this by showing African culture and power positively
In the 20th century, how did U.S. media often portray homosexuality?
What do media scholars consider to be concerning?
What is an example of a recent piece of popular media that is consistent with or counters these portrayals?
Portrayal: Homosexuality was usually shown as negative or a problem.
Concern: These portrayals made LGBTQ+ people seem dangerous or shameful, contributing to stigma and discrimination.
Ex of Concern: In a 1974 Marcus Welby episode, a gay man was shown as a child molester, sparking major backlash
Positive shift: In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres and her character both came out as gay on national TV—marking a big step forward.
Why does the author of the reading “Why Black Panther Is a Defining Moment for Black America” consider the movie Black Panther to be so important?
Shows black power, culture, and pride in a blockbuster film.
Ex: It breaks away from Hollywood’s usual white-centered stories.
Why does the author of the reading “Everything Everywhere All at Once Is a Deeply Asian American Film” consider the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once to be so important?
The movie breaks harmful stereotypes and shows complex, realistic, and leading roles for Asian
Ex: Everything Everywhere All at Once is important because it does NOT follow the usual stereotypes of Asian characters in Hollywood like these:
* Asians are shown as perfect, quiet, smart, hard-working, but emotionless.
* Even if they were born in the U.S., Asian characters are shown as outsiders, with accents, weird habits, or ancient traditions.
What is the difference between encoding and decoding when it comes to media content?
Encoding = creator’s intended message.
Decoding = how the audience understands it.
Ex: A director might show a villain in the shadows (encoded as evil), but a viewer might see the villain as misunderstood (decoded differently).
Why is it important to study how audiences “receive” (i.e., respond to, interpret) media content?
Different people interpret the media differently based on their background.
Ex: A union worker may see a news story as pro-business, while a manager sees it as fair.
What does the “uses and gratifications” approach focus on studying?
It studies why and how people use media to meet personal needs.
Ex: Watching a comedy to feel happy, or scrolling Instagram to stay updated.
What are the different major uses and gratifications for social media? (Remember “Silly Elephants In Silly Socks”)
Which ones apply to your social media usage?
Why do you consider these uses valuable or not valuable?
- Socializing
- Entertainment
- Information
- Self-expression
- Status
- Funny Phrase Mnemonic to Help Remember: “Silly Elephants In Silly Socks”
Ex: Posting Art = self-expression.
Scroll TikTok = entertainment.
Generally speaking, what proportion of users are responsible for producing the majority of the content people experience on popular online platforms?
A small group of users: 3%
Ex: Most people watch YouTube, but few make videos compared to the most who watch.
How has the Internet impacted cultural gatekeeping?
More people can share content, but most still just watch.
Ex: You can post a tweet that goes viral, but big influencers still shape trends.
How the Everything Everywhere All at Once movie breaks those stereotypes?
Asian Leads: Michelle Yeoh (Evelyn) plays the main hero, not a sidekick. The cast is almost entirely Asian or Asian American.
Strong Emotions: The characters laugh, cry, scream, love, and fight—just like everyone else. They are messy, real people.
Family Struggles: The movie shows a very real relationship between a mother and daughter, including arguments about: Cultural pressure, Queer identity, Feeling misunderstood.
