language theorists Flashcards
Todorov
Narrative structure:
1) equilibrium
2) disruption
3) realisation
4) resolution
5) new equilibrium
Levi- Strauss
Binary opposites:
suggests a good story revolves around conflict between 2 things represented as different to one another (binary opposites)
meaning is dependent on and produced through these pairs
the way in which these opposites are resolved can have ideological significance
Barthes
Semiotics:
media products are embedded with codes by producers, which audiences can decode to gain more meaning.
semantic codes: connote particular meanings that most understand e.g. red connotes love
symbolic codes: so engraved in us they have taken on a specific meaning e.g. cross - religion
enigma/hermeneutic codes- mysterious elements of a product that leave the audience with unanswered questions.
action/proairetic codes: key information is given to answer some of the enigma codes
cultural codes- might only be understood by a specific audience in a specific culture.
Neale
genre theory:
audience enjoy specific texts because of ‘repetition and difference’ of the collections of genre elements used.
how much the media conforms to its genre conventions and how much it subverts them.
genre isn’t static it is always evolving.
