symbolic internationalist theories of media Flashcards
(22 cards)
Who proposed the concept ‘The medium is the message’?
Marshall McLuhan in 1964
What does McLuhan argue is more important than the content of our message?
The medium we use to communicate
What did McLuhan forecast about modern communication?
It would lead to a creation of a global village
What does globalization allow people to do?
Receive the same information and consume the same media and popular culture
What is a criticism of McLuhan’s theories?
It overemphasizes the role of technology and the medium itself
What does Cultivation Theory state?
Media exposure shapes our social reality, particularly regarding violence and risk
Who created Cultivation Theory?
George Gerbner
What metaphor does Gerbner use in Cultivation Theory?
Cultivation as practiced in farming
What is ‘mean world syndrome’?
The distorted view of the world as more violent than it actually is
What do heavy viewers of television perceive about crime statistics?
They believe their odds of being a victim of violence are higher than they actually are
What is a key finding regarding representations of violence in media?
Older people, children, African Americans, and Latino/as are often shown as victims more than other groups
What is a limitation of Cultivation Theory?
It assumes a direct and uniform effect of television on all viewers
What theory did Stanley Cohen develop related to media and society?
Moral Panics
What study did Cohen conduct to illustrate his theory?
A study of youth subcultural groups Mods and Rockers
What do moral panics often scapegoat?
Social groups such as immigrants and ethnic minorities
What are the five stages of a Moral Panic?
- Something or someone defined as a threat
- Threat depicted by the media
- Rapid build-up of public concern
- Response from authorities
- Panic recedes or results in social changes
What is a key limitation of moral panic theory?
It can exaggerate the influence of the media and authorities
What is an example of a moral panic mentioned in the text?
The moral panics around ‘African gangs’ in 2018
Fill in the blank: Cultivation Theory suggests that media exposure gives us a ______ view on violence.
distorted
True or False: Heavy viewers of television are more likely to believe they are similar to the characters they watch.
True
What does the media often create around alleged gang activity?
A ‘folk devil’
What does moral panic theory sometimes overlook?
The genuine concerns or agency of the public
