Theories Flashcards
(18 cards)
Propp’s Character Types Theory
Vladimir Propp identified common character roles in traditional narratives, such as:
Hero – Protagonist, the main character.
Villain – Opposes the hero.
Donor – Provides help or an object of importance.
Helper – Assists the hero.
Princess – The reward/motivation for the hero.
Dispatcher – Sends the hero on their journey.
False Hero – Pretends to be good but is actually bad.
Levi-Strauss’s Binary Opposites Theory
Media texts create meaning through opposites, such as:
Good vs. Evil
Light vs. Dark
Hero vs. Villain
Rich vs. Poor
These contrasts help drive narratives and create conflict.
Neale’s Genre Theory
Genres evolve over time by repeating familiar conventions but also introducing differences.
Audiences expect similar elements (like horror movies having jump scares) but also need variation to stay engaged.
Todorov’s Narrative Structure Theory
Stories follow a five-stage structure:
Equilibrium – Everything is normal.
Disruption – A problem occurs.
Recognition – The problem is recognized.
Repair – The problem is solved.
New Equilibrium – A new normal is established.
Stuart Hall’s Reception Theory
Audiences interpret media in different ways:
Preferred reading – The audience agrees with the intended meaning.
Negotiated reading – The audience partly agrees but has their own interpretation.
Oppositional reading – The audience rejects the intended meaning.
Henry Jenkins’ Fandom Theory
Fans are active participants, not just passive consumers.
They engage with media by creating their own content (e.g., fan fiction, memes).
Convergence culture means audiences can interact with media across different platforms.
Blumler & Katz’s Uses & Gratifications Theory
Audiences actively choose media for different reasons:
Entertainment – To enjoy and escape reality.
Information – To learn about the world.
Personal Identity – To see reflections of themselves.
Social Interaction – To discuss media with others.
Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory
Women in media are often objectified and shown from a male perspective.
Women are represented as passive or sexual objects for male pleasure.
Naomi Wolf’s Beauty Myth/Standards
Media promotes unrealistic beauty standards, pressuring women to conform.
This is used to maintain power and control over women.
Butler’s Gender Performativity Theory
Gender is a social construct, not something we are born with.
People “perform” gender based on societal expectations.
Gender norms can change over time.
News Values by Galtung and Ruge
News stories are chosen based on their newsworthiness, including:
Frequency – Events that happen quickly are more newsworthy.
Negativity – Bad news is more interesting.
Unexpectedness – Surprising stories grab attention.
Personalisation – Stories about people are more engaging.
Dyer’s Star Theory
Celebrities are manufactured by the media to fit an image.
They are both real and fake – their public persona is carefully crafted.
Audiences consume stars as products.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
People have different levels of needs, from basic survival to self-fulfillment:
Physiological needs – Food, water, shelter.
Safety needs – Security, stability.
Love & belonging – Relationships, social connections.
Esteem needs – Recognition, respect.
Self-actualization – Personal growth, achieving potential.
Desensitisation Theory
Repeated exposure to violence in media makes audiences less sensitive to real-world violence.
They may become numb or see violence as normal.
Two-Step Flow Theory
Media influences opinion leaders first, who then influence the wider public.
Audiences trust influencers, experts, and celebrities more than direct media messages.
Hypodermic Syringe Theory
Media injects messages into a passive audience, who absorb them without questioning.
Suggests media has direct and powerful effects on behavior.
David Buckingham’s Media Theory
Media is constantly changing, and audiences must learn how to engage with it.
Young people are especially influenced by media and need critical thinking skills.
John Berger’s Ways of Seeing
Men act, women appear – Women in media are often shown as objects to be looked at rather than active participants.
The way people see images in media is influenced by culture and history.
