Media representations Glossary and Theorists

Question 1

What are positive and negative stereotypes?

Answer 1

good/ bad sets of ideas society may have about a particular group/ place

‘typical’ or ‘generic’ view of what a person is like- this is applied to a whole group

Question 2

What are countertypes?

Answer 2

Representation that seeks to subvert/ challenge negative stereotypes

Question 3

What is misrepresentation?

Answer 3

Giving false representation with the intent to do so/ deceive

Question 4

What is selective representation?

Answer 4

Focus on specific ideas producers wish to communicate (other aspects are ignored) to shape and position audience’s interpretation

Question 5

What is a dominant ideology?

Answer 5

The most favoured/ hegemonic ideology (beliefs and values)

Question 6

What is a constructed reality?

Answer 6

Reality is a construct made by producers/ us

Question 7

What is hegemony?

Answer 7

Leadership in the media that defines norms, values and ideas of the public (dominance)

Question 8

What is audience positioning?

Answer 8

The relationship between audience and text - how they recieve and respond to texts

Question 9

Hall and representation theory

What is the difference between encoding and decoding?

Answer 9

-encoding: communicate ideas through a system of signs- producers make specific choices in order to do this
-decoding: process which audience interprets a message

Question 10

Gauntlett and theories of identity

What is fluidity of identity?

Answer 10

More free/ wider range of representing identities

Question 11

Gauntlett and theories of identity

What is a constructed identity?

Answer 11

The idea that we construct our own identity with the media we consume

Question 12

Gauntlett and theories of identity

What is a negotiated identity?

Answer 12

The way in which people consider elements that influence identity

Question 13

Gauntlett and theories of identity

What is a collective identity?

Answer 13

Someone is made to feel as if they belong to a particular group

Question 14

Feminist theories- Laura Mulvey

What does the ‘male gaze’ mean?

Answer 14

Products are constructed using a male point of view and reflect male desires- women are objectified in representations in order to appeal to this

Question 15

Feminist theories

What is meant by voyeurism?

associated with anonymity

Answer 15

The pleasure of looking at others whilst anonymous- looking to gain an illicit pleasure

voyeurism may be achieved by looking at sexual websites online- men could gain an illicit pleasure from looking at women

Question 16

Feminist theories

What is meant by a patriarchy?

Answer 16

A male- dominated society

Question 17

Feminist theories

What is meant by sexual or raunch culture?

Answer 17

This culture promotes overtly female sexual representations

Question 18

Feminist theories

What is meant by post- feminism?

Answer 18

A collection of theories relating to gender- changed in society fro second wave feminism are recognised

second- wave feminism- its top priorities included gender roles, reproductive rights, financial independence, workplace equality, and domestic violence.

Question 19

Feminist theories

What is meant by the female gaze?

Answer 19

Products are constructed using a female point of view and reflect female desires- men are objectified to appeal to this

Question 20

Van zoonen and feminist theories

What is gender and power according to Van Zoonen?

Answer 20

The idea that there is a dominating powerful gender- this can be representated in different ways across the media

Question 21

Van Zoonen and feminist theories

What is gender and discourse according to Van Zoonen?

Answer 21

A range of symbollic activities (style of dress, ways of moving/ talking style of make-up etc)

Question 22

hooks and feminist theories

What is meant by intersectionality?

Answer 22

The acknowledgement that issues of power relating to gender, race and social class all intersect

Question 23

Gender performativity- Butler

What does gender as performativity mean?

Answer 23

• Gender isn’t an inherent trait- it is based more on performance through societal norms

Question 24

Gender performativity- Butler

What is subversion?

Answer 24

Something is against the dominant “typical”/ “norm”, and is always contingent to change

Question 25

Postcolonialism

What is cultural imperialism?

Answer 25

The position and imposition of a politically powerful culture over a less powerful nation

Question 26

Postcolonialism

What is multiculturalism

Answer 26

the view that cultures, races, and ethnicities, minority groups, deserve special acknowledgment of their differences within dominant societies

Question 27

Postcolonialism

What are imagined communities?

Answer 27

Describing a nation as a socially constructed community

Question 28

Postcolonialism

What is marginalisation?

Answer 28

The singling out of an individual/ certain group, often due to ethnicity, race, age, gender etc

Question 29

Postcolonialism

What is orientalism?

Answer 29

A term that describes imitation of aspects from the Eastern World by the Western World (western may take credit for what came from Eastern origins)

Question 30

Postcolonialism

What is otherness (alterity)?

Answer 30

Being recognised as being “different” in some way

Question 31

Postcolonialism- Gilroy

What is diaspora?

Answer 31

Prejudiced ideology establishing clear binary opposites between those who are “civilised” and “uncivilised” (racial issue)

Question 32

Postcolonialism- Gilroy

What is double consciousness?

Answer 32

Describes internal conflict experienced by black people who live in overwhelmingly white societies