Exam 3 wk 15 Reading Flashcards
what are the 3 common themes in reality tv shows
- actors engage in confessional moments, engage inner thoughts
- they form alliances and build entourages
- reality participants carefully manage onscreen identities
describe the term cultivation analysis
developed by George Gerbner.
heavy tv viewing “cultivates” perceptions of reality consistent with the view of the world presented in tv programs.
concentrate long-term effects of exposure (adults/children) rather than short-term impact on attitudes&opinions.
what are the 3 main problems that cloud cultivation findings
- difficult to determine cause/effect
- ppl differ in ways other than their TV viewing habits
- technical decisions bout way TV viewing/attitudes are measured can have impact on findings
define the term agenda-setting
media have ability to choose& emphasize certain topics, thereby causing public to perceive these issues as important.
define catharsis
holds that viewing scenes of aggression can actually purge the viewer’s own aggressive feelings.
person who see a violent tv program might end up less likely to commit violence.
define stimulation theory
opposite of catharsis theory
seeing scenes of violence actually stimulate an individual to behave more violently afterward.
define reinforcement
strengthening of support for existing attitudes and opinions
define crystallization
sharpening and elaboration of vaguely held attitudes or predispositions
what is the cocoon effect
process whereby ppl surround themselves w/ only political/social info that find comforting, appealing, or acceptable
define functionalism & how related to media
- functional perspective, society regarded as:
- surveillance(inform of events)
- correlation(socialize common thoughts)
- transmission(cultural heritage)
- entertainment(reduce lvl of tension)
- mobilization(focus on objectives)
define integration and how related to media
- give ppl sense of community, exp same msgs/ideas–>shape society into coherent whole.
- create public sphere, build unity
define the term fragmentation and explain how its related to media
- reduction over time of the “public sphere”.
- media foster social isolation, ppl pursue own agendas, leads to less public activity/less sharing values. (public sphere smaller)
what is the confetti generation
the confetti person is overwhelmed by experience but ungrounded in any cultural discipline for arriving at any reality but the self.
what is the neo-Marxists perspective on what role the media play in society
media powerful tool that spread idea that kept the working class enslaved in false consciousness.
what strategy used by TV stations to keep people turned into the station has become less effective as a result of changes in technology.
repeated exposures
what research was disproportionally used by the FCC during its media ownership proceedings from 2002 to 2007?
economic research
what are the two characteristics shared by many of those who have written about media literacy
- criticize mass media/emphasize harmful nature
- suggest ppl need be more mindful during media exposure, argue against faulty msgs, protect from harm.
Potter explains that personal locus operates in two modes. what are the two modes? which mode likely to show greatest effect from the media?
- conscious & unconscious
- conscious, aware of options, exercise will in making decisions
- unconscious, decisions made outside awareness/control (most powerful effect)
what is the distinction made by Potter relative to the terms information and knowledge
info is piecemeal(bit by bit) and transitory(temporary), whereas knowledge structured, organized, and of more enduring significance.
what are the 7 tools most relevant to media literacy
- analysis
- evaluation
- grouping
- induction
- deduction
- synthesis
- abstraction
define analysis in terms of media literacy
breaking down msg into meaningful events
define evaluation in terms of media literacy
making judgement about value of an element
define grouping in terms of media literacy
determining which elements are alike in some way
define induction in terms of media literacy
seeing pattern in smaller things, then generalizing pattern to the bigger picture
define deduction in terms of media literacy
using general principles to explain particulars
define synthesis in terms of media literacy
assembling elements into a new structure
define abstraction in terms of media literacy
creating a brief, clear, and accurate description capturing the essence of a msg in a smaller number of words than the msg itself
define cultivation
trying to acquire or develop quality/skill
define resonance
respondent real life exp. congruence w/ those of tv world–>greater cultivation effect
define the term framing
general way a news topic is treated by the media
define the term agenda building
how media build their agenda of newsworthy items