Media theories for may exam

Question 1

Baudrillard - postmodernism

Answer 1

Modern audiences are so immersed in the media that it is no longer possible to tell reality from ‘simulacra’

Question 2

Neale - genre

Answer 2

He thinks genres are made up of repetition and difference. For example, a typical convention of sci-fi is the use of technology which is used in Humans

Question 3

Todorov - narrative

Answer 3

All narratives follow a similar structure - equilibrium, disruption, realisation, restored order, equilibrium.

Question 4

Levi - Strauss - binary opposites

Answer 4

Most texts can be considered as binary opposites which drive the narrative forward and position the audience to support a particular ideological standpoint

Question 5

Hall - representation (stereotypes)

Answer 5

Stereotypes are used in the media to represent minority groups

Question 6

Butler - gender performativity

Answer 6

She believes that gender is constructed through performance, so performing certain activities makes you feel more feminine/masculine

Question 7

bell hooks - intersectionality

Answer 7

Feminism is a political commitment
Gender, class and race determine the extent to which individuals are discriminated against
Women are not all discriminated against in the same way or to the same extent

Question 8

Van Zoonen - feminist

Answer 8

Men and women are represented in different ways by the media

Female objectification is linked to historical, patriarchal culture

Question 9

Gilroy - postcolonialism

Answer 9

Female objectification is linked to historical, patriarchal culture
He believes ethnic minorities are often shown as powerless, weak, dehumanised, marginalised and ‘other’

Question 10

Gauntlett - identity (pick and mix)

Answer 10

We build our sense of identity partly through media representations
Media representations are becoming increasingly diverse