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ENGL 3300 > ENGL 3300 Final Exam > Flashcards

ENGL 3300 Final Exam Flashcards

1
Q

What does Structuralism argue about society?

A

Society functions on the basis of large structures that have their own internal logic.

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2
Q

What does structuralism argue about meaning?

A

Meaning can be understood within certain structures and the differences between them

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3
Q

Who is Ferdinand de Saussure?

A

A Swiss linguist who created structural linguistics

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4
Q

What is structural linguistics?

A

The idea that language is a system of signs organized in structures.

Words only have meaning in opposition to one another

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5
Q

What are the components of a sign?

A

A signifier: the physical form (word, picture, image)

A signified: a concept (themes, concepts…)

A referent: the emotion we feel in response

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6
Q

What are the types of signifiers?

A

Indexical: tangible evidence of what they signify (smoke = fire, light = day)

Iconic: Resemble what they signify, but still employ codes (pictures, statues)

Symbolic: Purely arbitrary (words, flag)

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7
Q

What are the differences between signifiers?

A

Syntagmatic: refer to possibilities of combinations governed by a set of rules

Paradigmatic: Evokes different images because we know which are selected or left out

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8
Q

What are myths in structuralism?

A

Myths consist of structural opposition.

Reveal that the human mind operates in terms of oppositions that structure every aspect of human culture

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9
Q

When does a sign’s meaning arise?

A

A sign’s meaning arises from the differences between signifiers

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10
Q

What are some myths in Fangface?

A

Abstract:

  • culture:nature
  • safe:dangerous

concrete

  • Inside:outside
  • human:animal
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11
Q

What did structural analysis prove about Fangface?

A
  1. Cartoons have potential to be an intellectual and cultural activity
  2. They have a positive cultural value
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12
Q

What are the three orders of signification

A

Denotation (literal meaning of a sign)

Connotation (cultural meanings)

Myths (the combinations)

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13
Q

What does ‘Denotation’ mean?

A 
literal meaning
describes
no values
no background knowledge required
non-coded
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14
Q

What does connotation mean?

A

Cultural meaning
suggests or implies
background knowledge required
coded

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15
Q

What are linguistic codes in TV

A

Captions
Graphics
Dialogue
Narration

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16
Q

What are Iconic Codes in TV?

A

Misc-en-scene
-casting, wardrobe, setting, action, lighting

Cinematography
- composition, focus, colour, contrast, visual effects

Editing
- Fades, cuts, flashbacks, montage

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17
Q

What are sonic codes in TV?

A

Music, voices, noise, sound effects

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18
Q

Why are semiotics applied to commercials?

A

Commercials create needs by presenting certain ideals as “natural” or “normal” so they depend on the effective use of myths

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19
Q

How is semiotics used to discuss music videos?

A

Combination of multiple media generates a new meaning that exceeds or surpasses the meaning of each individual medium

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20
Q

Define Conformance

A

Conformance - Image and the music are synonymous

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21
Q

Define Contest

A

Contest - the image and the music compere for control

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22
Q

Define Complementarity

A

Complementarity - each medium does something that the other cannot

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23
Q

Define Mycrorhythms

A

When the image accentuates the music

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24
Q

Define Synchresis

A

When there is a casual connection between the image and the music

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25
Q

Define Inversion

A

The image and the music are separate

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26
Q

Define Metaphor

A

The connotations of one medium are transferred to the other

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27
Q

What do the lyrics do in Addicted to Love

A
  • Addiction as a metaphor for love
  • Addressee is in denial, experiences withdrawal
  • Imply that the desire is unhealthy
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28
Q

What do the images do in Addicted to Love?

A
  • The women are powerful and have agency

- We connect the women with the storm clouds

29
Q

Audio/Visual Connections in Addicted to Love

A
  • The women are linked to the “noisy, bawdy guitar”
  • represent the addressee’s addiction through the camera’s gaze
  • Suggest that the male singer is powerless
30
Q

What was Marx’s Ideology?

A

There is a direct relationship between a society’s economic base and its superstructure

31
Q

What is the feminist ideology?

A

The patriarchy, the superstructure, must be challenged by society’s base

32
Q

How were women depicted?

A
  1. As “happy housewifes” who were defined in relation to their husbands.
  2. They were confined to the home and were incompetent
  3. Mindless and boring, and dreaming of love
33
Q

What is the goal of feminist television criticism?

A

To critique the representations of women on TV and promote positive representations.

34
Q

How do feminist critics see TV?

A

An instrument of social control, and a potential tool of political resistance.

35
Q

Define Sitcom

A

Short episodes, featuring a wide range of possible conflicts. Comedy is used to ridicule subordinate social groups

36
Q

What is concluded about the Mary Tyler Moore Show?

A

Promotes Liberal Feminism and the notion that women should have access to public sphere

37
Q

What does the Mary Tyler Moore Show say about gender roles?

A

Women can only play a significant role in society by adopting masculine roles

38
Q

How is The Mary Tyler Moore Show different than Murphy Brown

A

Murphy, unlike Mary, does not achieve success by playing the domestic role

39
Q

What ideal does Murphy Brown reinforce?

A

Women must choose between career and marriage

40
Q

What was the goal of African American TV criticism?

A

To advocate for more black characters on TV and to critique representations of black characters on TV

41
Q

How were Black characters represented on sitcoms?

A

Appeared as stock characters, and the genre was largely responsible for the reinforcement of cultural stereotypes

42
Q

How were black characters treated in the Social Relevancy Era?

A

They were depicted as thriving and contributing to their communities without abandoning their culture.

They were often poor, pathetic, and deserving of pity.

43
Q

How did the Cosby show influence TV?

A

First sitcom produced by an African American and was the first sitcom to depict and upper middle class black family.

44
Q

What are the three approaches to representing African Americans on TV?

A

Assimilation
- Acceptance is dependent on their separation from black life and culture

Pluralism
-Depict the black community as monolithic

Multiculturalism
-Do not reinforce a single black experience.

45
Q

How did Good Times depict the black experience?

A

It was designed to contain the anger and impatience of black viewers.

It reinforced the idea that black people were all impoverished.

46
Q

How did Fresh Prince depict race?

A

Reflects a pluralist approach

47
Q

How do Structuralist and Ideological analysis differ in what they ask?

A

Structuralism asks how TV conveys meaning, while Ideological asks how Tv influences viewers

48
Q

How do Structuralist and Ideological analysis differ in their assumptions?

A

Structuralism assumes that (1) TV critics are objective and (2) TV is a system of signs

Ideological assumes that (1) TV is an instrument of social control and (2) TV critics are political advocates.

49
Q

How do Structuralist and Ideological analysis differ in their objects of study?

A

Structuralism focuses on individual frames and shot sequences, while Ideological examines entire series and their contexts

50
Q

How do Structuralist and Ideological analysis differ in their methods?

A

Structuralism uses a formal analysis, while Ideological uses thematic analysis

51
Q

How do Ideological and Ethnographic analysis differ in the questions they ask?

A

Ideological asks how TV influences viewers, and Ethnographic asks how do viewers interpret TV

52
Q

How do Ideological and Ethnographic analysis differ in their assumptions?

A

Ideological assumes that (1) TV is an instrument of social control and (2) Tv critics should be political activists

Ethnographic assumes that (1) TV viewers can be passive or active and (2) TV critics should be anthropologists

53
Q

How do Ideological and Ethnographic analysis differ in their objects of study?

A

Ideological examines entire series and context, while Ethnographic examines viewer responses and their social background

54
Q

How do Ideological and Ethnographic analysis differ in their methods?

A

Ideological analyzes characters while Ethnographic analyzes comments.

55
Q

Define the three phases of Ethnographic analysis

A

(1) Media Effects research/Cultivation theory
(2) Uses and gratifications
(3) Encoding/Decoding

56
Q

What is Media Effects Research?

A

The influence of TV is assumed to be negative.

The viewer is passive.

Power lies with the TV producer

The research method is QUANTITATIVE (statistical)

57
Q

What are the problems with Media Effects Research?

A

It ignores the fact that viewers have prior knowledge & experience

Assumes that viewers are weaker than researches

Difficult to isolate one message from the context

58
Q

Define cultivation theory

A

Influence of TV is negligible

Viewer is active

Power is with the viewers rather than the producers

Method is qualitative (anecdotal)

59
Q

What are the problems with cultivation theory

A

Assumes that social context has no influence on viewers

Ignores the power of producers, who do have control

60
Q

Define encoding/decoding

A

Influence is assumed to be both positive and negative

Viewer is both active and passive

Power is negotiated between viewers and producers

qualitative

61
Q

What are the three Interpretive Positions of ethnographic analysis?

A

DOMINANT: The viewer accepts the preferred reading

NEGOTIATED: The viewer partially accepts the preferred reading but modifies it based on their background, experiences, and interests

OPPOSITIONAL: The viewer rejects the preferred reading

62
Q

What is the importance of TV News?

A

Objectivity is impossible

News represents a constructed version of events

Influence the way people see the world

63
Q

What are the TV News Values?

A

Frequency: duration of an event
Threshold: size of an event
Proximity: closeness of an event
Negativity: focus on deviancy
Predictability: expectations of journalists
Continuity: Tracking stories over time
Personalization: focus on individuals
Narrativization: news items are shaped into narratives
Visual imperatives: focus on pictures and graphics

64
Q

What are the techniques used in TV news.

A

Selection: focus on “wedge” issues
Video Clips: removed from their original context
Stock footage: used in misleading ways
Graphics: highlight key points
Commentary: reporting and editorializing
Consultants: Chosen for their political views
News Alerts: frame certain issues as relevant

65
Q

What are the important aspects of a Soap Opera?

A

Setting: Community, hospital, school, workplace
Characters: two or three families, across generations
Perspectives: Multiple POVs
Plots: Overlapping storylines
Dialogue: Focus on intimate personal conversations
Time: Narratives take place in real time
Cliffhangers: lack of narrative closure
Longevity: storylines continue indefinitely
Involvement: Viewers are active in constructing narratives

66
Q

What aspects of Audience Involvement are applicable to Soap Operas?

A

Publications: Viewers follow soap magazines, cable shows, websites…
Conventions: viewers attend soap opera fan conventions
Mail: viewers praise and condemn particular performers and stories, and they suggest possible developments or romantic pairings
Surveys: Networks invite fans to provide feedback on their favourite soaps
Forums: Producers invite viewers to watch upcoming episodes and discuss their reactions

67
Q

Define Feminist TV Criticism in relation to soaps

A

Feminist critics are interested in the representations of women & their appeal to female viewers

Critics argue that soaps appeal to women because they feature strong female characters who are not simply objects of male desire

Critics note that the most popular fantasy in soaps is the fantasy of domestic bliss

68
Q

What was the goal of SciFi Criticism?

A

To challenge condescending attitudes of journalists who saw fandom as evidence that SF was infantile.

ENGL 3300 (1 decks)

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