Media Identities Flashcards
What is identity?
The way different groups in society see us and the way we see ourselves, often in comparison to others.
Are identities fluid or fixed?
Identities are fluid and constantly changing. It’s constructed over time. Giddens calls this ‘the on-going story about the self’.
What two identities do all individuals have?
- Cultural: belonging to a particular group e.g ethnic groups, social class, subcultures etc.
- Personal: e.g age, gender, sexuality, race etc.
These two areas may overlap.
Briefly describe identity and roles in traditional societies.
- Roles were more clearly defined and fixed.
- Many had little say in their own roles and identities.
- Roles were passed on from previous generations and not questioned e.g: peasant/ruler.
Briefly describe identity and roles in postmodern society.
- In today’s postmodern media saturated world, tradition has become less important.
- Fragmented globalised world where identities are less fixed and more fluid.
- Identities are a matter of choice and not so predetermined.
- Identities/roles not being so clearly defined leads to individuals making their own decisions about their roles
- May choose a variety of identities and construct a narrative about their life.
According to Giddens, what is a post traditional society?
A society where traditional/established ways of looking at the world are no longer important. The world is less predictable and much more self aware (reflective).
How does Giddens theory of post traditional society link to identities?
With identities, including gender, we have to work out our role for ourselves they’re not as clearly defined as in the past. We have to make more choices.
Giddens work links to postmodern uncertainties, lack of meta-narratives + democratisation.
How does mainstream media contribute to identity?
Mainstream media promotes conformity, a desire to belong to acceptable social groups. It also constructs a variety of representations + offers a variety of identities.
What are the Marxist and Pluralist views on the representations and identities offered by new media?
Marxist: These identities are narrow/fixed and suit needs of capitalism.
Pluralist: Individuals have a wide/free choice and adapt to their own needs.
Alternative media (defined by what is mainstream) may offer more challenging representations, which in some cases can become __________.
Mainstream.
How are identities constructed according to cultural commentators/feminists?
- Mass media: can offer a variety of identities across a range of products and platforms, such identities change + it’s possible to have multiple identities.
- Media representations: shape our understanding of the world + of ourselves + offer us a range of meanings to identity with e.g a celebrity, character, social group etc.
How are identities constructed according to some media theorists?
Although personality may be innate (genetic), identity is culturally defined (learnt) - media is involved.
How do we understand the world or cultural systems, according to Strauss?
By defining something as what it is not rather than what it is i.e good is not evil. (Binary oppositions). The media uses narratives containing oppositions to engage audiences.
What do some media theorists argue about (binary) oppositions?
Some argue that such oppositions can be oversimplified and ideological in nature.
What may the construction of (binary) oppositions lead to?
An acceptance of ‘us’ and ‘then’ in society. The ‘us’ is familiar, reassuring, normal; the ‘them’ is strange, unnatural, unsettling.
