Theories

Question 1

(1) what is meant by ‘symbolic codes’ and (2) what theory do they apply to?

Answer 1

(1) Images symbolising meaning
(2) Roland Barthes theory of semiotics

Question 2

(1) what is meant by ‘semantic codes’ and (2) what theory do they apply to?

Answer 2

(1) something within a text that gives meaning through connotation - ie. tuxedos = sophistication
(2) Roland Barthes theory of semiotics

Question 3

(1) what is meant by ‘proairetic/action codes’ and (2) what theory do they apply to?

Answer 3

(1) a code symbolling something will happen as a result ie. gun = violence will happen
(2) Roland Barthes theory of semiotics

Question 4

(1) what is meant by ‘hermeneutic/enigma codes’ and (2) what theory do they apply to?

Answer 4

(1) code that draws audience in with the mystery, what happens next?
(2) Barthes theory of semiotics

Question 5

(1) what is meant by ‘cultural/referential codes’ and (2) what theory do they apply to?

Answer 5

(1) codes that will only be understood and decoded by members of a particular group
(2) Barthes theory of semiotics

Question 6

(1) What narrative theory consists of 5 crucial plot points and (2) what are they?

Answer 6

(1) Todorov’s narrative theory
(2) equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempted resolution, new equilibrium

Question 7

(1)What narrative theory consists of 7 key character types and (2) what are they?

Answer 7

(1) Propp’s Character Theory
(2) hero, villain, damsel in distress/princess, helper, dispatcher, doner, false hero

Question 8

Which theory relates to instances of repetition and difference in genres?

Answer 8

Steve Neale’s genre theory

Question 9

What theory relates to cases of binary opposition?

Answer 9

Levi Strauss theory of binary opposition

Question 10

(1) What media theory can be used to ‘prove’ that social media makes people violent and (2) what are the issues with this theory?

Answer 10

(1) Bandura’s media effect theory
(2) the theory was tested in lab conditions so the children would want to please the adults, the doll is also not human so we don’t know if they would have acted the same way if it was a person

Question 11

What are the two parts to David Gauntlett’s Identity theory?

Answer 11

(1) people gain ideas of identity from the media they consume

(2) representations in old media were much simpler and more stereotypical than they are today where there is a wider range of representations - ie. from Score advert “men should be masculine and desire the attention of women”

Question 12

(1) Who coined the term “Male Gaze” and (2) what does it refer to?

Answer 12

(1) Laura Mulvey
(2) media texts often view the female body through the lens of a heterosexual male viewer, sexualizing women and treating them as objects to be looked on and enjoyed

Question 13

Define Scopophilia

Answer 13

voyeurism or a sense of pleasure gained by viewing people as objects and subjecting them to a domineering gaze (often women being viewed by men)

Question 14

What are the 5 aspects of Van Zoonen’s feminist theory?

Answer 14

(1) we get our ideas about gender through ‘Discourse’ (repeated representation)
(2) ideas about gender change through historical and cultural contexts (score advert)
(3) women are often objectified in the media, illustrating our patriarchal culture
(4) women presented as domestic vs men presented as active
(5) women’s bodies shown something to lust over (not praised) whereas men’s bodies are instead praised

Question 15

(1) Define intersectionality and (2) explain what theory it is related to

Answer 15

(1) overlapping of oppression (ie. homophobia, racism, sexism) to support a white supremacist capitalist patriarchy
(2) related to bell hooks (DO NOT CAPITALISE) theory of feminism - white, upper class, male views are those most commonly represented in the media

Question 16

(1) How are stereotypes created and (2) what theory does this relate to?

Answer 16

(1) stereotypes are created and enforced by the media, particularly when minorities are not in positions of power within the media industry
(2) Stuart Hall’s theory of stereotypes

Question 17

(1) What theory covers the different reception of media texts by the audience and (2) what are the three readings/receptions by the audience?

Answer 17

(1) Stuart Hall Reception theory
(2) dominant, oppositional and negotiated

Question 18

What is Bauldrillards theory?

Answer 18

• media used to show reality but has since become more artificial
• 3 artificial realities (heightened, simulacra and hyperreality)

Question 19

What is Livingstone and Lunt’s theory?

Answer 19

• It is difficult to regulate online
• Regulations are in place for protection
• Fight between consumers and citizens

Question 20

What is Curran and Seaton’s theory

Answer 20

• media industries prioritise profit and power (death of creativity)
• few companies own large amounts of the media industry

Question 21

What is Hesmondhalgh’s theory?

Answer 21

• industry must minimise risk and maximise profit
• done through star power, franchise, and mass genre appeal
• leads to the comodification of culture and loss of artistic products

Question 22

Define Structuralism. Who coined the term?

Answer 22

• no text can be understood in isolation as texts exist in a grater context
• levi-strauss

Question 23

Who theorised “encoding and decoding” and what does it entail?

Answer 23

• Stuart Hall
• representations are either reflective (fixed truths), intentional (producer opinion) or constructionist (artificial meanings)

Question 24

what three theories relate to Stuart Hall?

Answer 24

• stereotyping
• encoding/decoding
• reception theory

Question 25

Define diaspora

Answer 25

A mass group of people who are involuntarily displaced from their homeland eg, Jewish people displaced from Germany in WW2

Question 26

Define civilisationism

Answer 26

A prejudiced ideology creating a racial hierarchy by creating binary oppositions between the "civilised" and "uncivilised"

Question 27

What was Dyer's theory of stereotypes?

Answer 27

Stereotypes are a result of power; those with power stereotype those without (minorities) through media language

Question 28

What is Medhurst's theory of stereotypes?

Answer 28

stereotyping as a form of media shorthand to help audiences understand quickly - these stereotyped characters can be developed more later.

Question 29

what is Perkin's theory of stereotypes?

Answer 29

not all stereotypes are negative and they often come from an element of truth. Also, stereotypes can be held against non-minority and ones own groups.