Midterm 2 Flashcards
What is media?
Any form of communication that targets a mass audience in print or electronic format
List and define the 4 functions of media in society.
Surveillance: ways that information is collected and distributed in society; how we know what is happening around the world
Correlation: ways that information about our world is interpreted and prescriptions for behaviour in response to events - we have a certain way to react or respond
Transmission: communication of information, norms, values from generation to generation - history minutes or books for example
Entertainment: communication intended to amuse or relax - everything from books to videos and the internet etc.
Who is responsible for defining the functions of media in society in regards to deviance?
Charles Wright; functionalist that provides a viewpoint on how media affects deviance
How can the impact of media in society be defined in regards to crime rates?
the media is responsible for discrepancy between dropping rates of crime and the perception that youth crime is out of control
What is differential reporting?
When some topics are being covered in the media, and others are not. For example, street crimes, violent crimes, and crimes committed by strangers are often more reported than corporate crimes, property crimes, and crimes committed by those known to the victim, which are all more common.
What is the dramatization of crime?
media is in business and therefore needs to be made dramatic to draw viewers
What are the 3 ways that crime is dramatized?
Language, atypical cases, brief and horrific headlines
what is meant by the incompleteness of reporting?
public is made unaware of how courts work and reasons for sentences for example. This may cause the public to be less sympathetic for the offender, or cause Canadians to become angry at the system and demand change.
How does media desensitize violence?
through music videos and movies for example.
What are the effects of increased exposure and violence?
The more exposure to violence in media and real life, the more tolerant people become.
What are the emotional and physiological effects of becoming tolerant to violence?
lower levels of anxiety, lower heart rates and blood pressure respectively
What did Moynihan say in regards to the normalization of deviance?
Deviant behaviour is so common that we are not even recognizing it as such anymore - we are subscribing to a new idea at the time called the broken windows theory .
Ex. the newspaper title “Edmontons first murder of the year” only is normal if violent crime is normalized in Edmonton
What is the broken windows theory?
crime occurs whenever/wherever social controls are not strong. This theory argues that communities that are run down invite crime, through the assumption that since they are already run down, individuals will get away with it
What is a moral panic?
an exaggerated and sensationalized concern over a particular phenomenon
List the 5 items that characterize a moral panic and define them in regards to the Salem Witch Trials.
- heightened concern: seizures were happening, perhaps by cases of epilepsy, but since there was no scientific understanding, this set off panic.
- Hostitility towards the offending group: inequality of women before the onset of deviance, but now women seen as bringing evil
- A certain level of consensus that there is a real threat: deeply religious community, so there is already a spiritual aspect. This jump of evil spirits was just a small step beyond what was already believed.
- disproportionality: belief that people became hysterical due to fear and anxiety
- volatility: the potential for things to become very serious very quickly - oppressive leaders in the Church increased tensions and fights for power.
How did the media play a role in creating a moral panic in the 1600s?
Newspapers, books, and pamphlets wrote about the Salem Witch Trials and spread the news this way.
Who is associated with the term folk devil?
Stanley Cohen
What is a folk devil?
those who possess characteristics that make them a suitable screen upon which society can project sentiments of guilt and ambivalence upon; ie. scapegoating
What is an example of a folk devil?
homosexual men during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s; blamed for this crisis, as same sex relations was stigmatized.
What role did the media play in the Mods and Rockers in 1964?
created a moral panic about the young urban male youth.
How did the Mods and Rockers scenario show the different items that characterize a moral panic?
Increased concern: through the medias portrayal of the minor riots, it showed that British youth were out of control
Manufactured hostility toward offending groups: media manufactured gang image, even though there was no gang affiliation
Increased consensus over the threat: all newspapers framed the story the same, and convinced everyone else that they were out of control
Disproportionality: exaggeration tactics
volatility: gang fighting image; threat that the marginalized youth posed
What were the Mods and Rockers?
2 young male groups: the Mods: punk rock; and the rockers: leather jacket rockers
there were no gang affiliations or violent activity, and members were part of the working class.
Upset when they arrived and the coffee shops were closed.
What is the Kerner Commission?
A report that was released in 1968, after seven months of investigation from riots in the USA. It blamed lack of economic opportunity, failed social service programs, police brutality, racism, and the white-oriented media for the causing the riots.
Why were the riots painted a race riot?
Most blamed the riots on African American young men, due to “black unrest”
What was a critical aspect of the media coverage during the riots in the 60s?
the Kerner Commission blamed white racism rather than black anger, but the public was hoping that communists would maybe be the blame
What three items did the media fail to do during the Kerner Commissions report?
Failed to accurately reflect the scale and character of the riots
failed to adequately report on the underlying problems of race relations
the post riot reviews were lacking
How did the media fail to accurately reflect the scale and character of the riots via the Kerner Commission report?
the riots were less destructive, less widespread and less of a black - white confrontation than the media portrayed.
Media used scare headlines, staged riot events, quoted unexperienced officials the estimates of damage, portrayed them as race riots, and stacked stories to cause a cumulative affect
How did the media fail to adequately report on the underlying problems of race relations via the Kerner Commission report?
The media reported and wrote from the standpoint of a white mans world - the impacts of the ghetto were ignored.
reporters arrived to scene post riot, which tended to emphasize police response and the narration of events rather then those who were actually involved (left to do a social autopsy and interpret what happened leading to an absence of voice)
Police agents were overwhelmingly white, and those who were bystanders and who experienced property damage were also predominantly white. African American males were also mostly predominantly seen acting violently
How was the media lacking regarding post riot interviews via the Kerner Commissions?
post riot interviews emphasized and there was a lack of voice from the African American population; the underlying causes were not analyzed
When African Americans were interviewed about the riots, what were the findings?
white bias in media, police and media biases as well - there was failure to report false arrests, and how many residents helped the police was not reported
journalists told the story from a white mans perspective
some reported that they were pressured to loot and riot to put on a show for the media
What is important to remember in regards to critical approaches to the media?
It is important to look at who they ignore vs who they voice and that there is significant power in the media
What are the two critical approaches to the study of media and society?
framing and power
what four groups in society does the media frame?
individuals, health issues, social issues, social groups
How can we think about framing in the media?
Like a picture frame - the media focusses on one thing, and ignores the others
List the 3 types of framing and define them.
- Conflict frame: sets 2 groups in conflict
- human interest frame: biographical frame; where the media angles things towards a shared/common experience
- economic consequences frame: the Kerner Commission for example; the media chose to run a piece where there are economic impacts from the riot
List the 4 implications of social group framing and define them.
- Where a social group is not represented: there is an internalized meaning, and is usually experienced as oppressive and unfair
- Where a social issue is associated with a specific social group: demonstration on poverty injustices; ex. the media framing the riots as race riots instead of poverty riots
- Where media presents a singular image: internalized meaning - Internalizing the label of criminal hooligans on African Americans for example.
- Framing impacts social policy: having more law and order or social control instead of programs to address poverty and racism; could have framed the riots balanced, but instead focussed on social control instead
What is the Marxist approach in regards to media ownership?
that there is power in the media. This power is brought by the relationship between those who own production and those who do not
In regards to the marxist approach to media, what three things does ownership do?
ownership of the means of production = power
ownership influences content
ownership becomes increasingly concentrated = corporate empires control the message (due to fewer people owning the media)
List the 3 trends in media ownership and define them.
Convergence: independent companies own multiple forms of media; ex. one company owns TV, radio and newspapers
Conglomeration: companies merge or buy out others, creating larger companies; ex. Bell owning both media and sports teams
Concentration: a small number of companies control most media products
What 3 things do administrative approaches focus on?
structural functionalist; focus on determining what types of messages will result in certain outcomes in individuals
focus on cause/effect relationships (what causes someone to act deviant)
sometimes focussed on determining what is needed to change people’s behaviours (what is the best promotion campaign? for example)
What is the deviance dance?
the interactions, negotiations and debates among groups with different perceptions of whether a behaviour or characteristics is deviant and needs to be socially controlled and, if so, how. The idea of the back and forth of a certain topic.
How is media used as a tool in the deviance dance?
media is a tool for deviant acts - ex. cybercrimes
media is a tool to exert social control - ex. catching digital pirates
media is a site for claims making and counter claims making - ex. Wikileaks or the example of abortion: children are born into unwanted homes so abortion is okay, and then there is the other side
Who is Talcott Parsons and what does he believe?
Structural functionalist regarding sexuality and deviance; believes that the family provides a number of functions for society
What functions do the family provide for society?
care for children (providing basic necessities), socialization of children (education, and encourage them to grow into law abiding citizen) , social cohesion which leads to social stability (trust that extends outwards for example)
What do structural functionalists believe in regards to sexuality and deviance?
that sexual activity that is limited to marital relationships is most functional for society, and that sexual deviance are those who do not conform to societal norms and therefore threaten social stability (for example, deviance would be considered those who refuse to marry or have children)
What do structural functionalists fail to account for regarding sexuality and deviance?
those who don’t conform to society; meaning those who do not want kids or are single/ cannot have kids
How has history regarding sexuality and deviance changed over time?
who was considered sexually deviant has shifted over time - for example, homosexuality used to be seen as a sin in the past, and now it has changed to be more normalized
how has culture shifted in regards to sexuality and deviance?
formal and informal social control differences across cultures - for example, homosexuality is considered a crime in some cultures still today, or polygamous relationships are common in cultures
How has sex shifted in regards to sexuality and deviance?
impact of cultural changes; pornography or birth control for example - have become more culturally accepted and accessible then in the past; marrying your cousin or age of consent as well
What is the social gospel movement?
led by middle class protestant women who felt the need to cleanse the community, and only this way can individuals then find God (focussed on alcohol consumption among other social issues as well)
Why was prostitution considered a moral problem?
seen as sinful and criminal
why was prostitution seen as sinful?
because it drives men away from their wives, women are using their bodies for other purposes then to serve God (sex not to have children)
why was prostitution seen as criminal?
1892 Criminal Code: Offenses against morality
concerned with the quality of the Canadian race, due to the outcomes produced by unsafe sex (incest, sodomy, corruption of children, etc)
How did prostitution move from a moral problem to a public health problem?
The focus shifted away from eradicating prostitution but to eradicate the secondary effects (such as STIs) - harm reduction for example
How did the Gold Rush contribute to the topic of prostitution?
Moving toward tolerance of the sex trade; saw it as a necessary evil; for every woman there was approximately 200 men - acknowledging gender imbalance in Yukon; this was a practical solution for mens natural lust (if men can’t control their urges, it did not victimize women)
What was introduced in Dawson city in regards to prostitution that promoted public health?
prostitutes had to be tested monthly for syphillis; this shifted the focus away from the act and more on the public health
How did prostitution become a process of victimization?
Instead of criminalizing them, it became a matter of having sympathy for prostitutes.
Why should prostitution be victimized?
it is linked to human trafficking, most sex workers were victims of abuse in childhood, most experience violence in their work, many are marginalized and experience lower health care access, age of trade is as young as 13
Why do many sex trade workers avoid health care?
they worry that they will be reported or will not be treated normally due to stigma and lack of trust
Why is criminalizing prostitution dangerous?
Most work occurs in dark places late at night, which increases the risk of abuse to vulnerable populations
When anti prostitution laws were challenged, which 3 points were determined to be invalid?
the keeping of a common bawdy house (brothel)
giving on the avails of prostitution (pimps)
soliciting on the street
What was Bill C-36?
it treats prostitution as a form of sexual exploitation.
it protects those who sell their own sexual services, protects communities and children from the harms caused by prostitution, and reduces the demand for prostitution and its incidence
What is coyote advocacy?
“call off your old tired ethics” - called for sex trade workers to out politicians
What were the 3 points regarding coyote advocacy?
- repeal of all existing prostitution laws
- the reconstitution of prostitution as a credible service occupation (states that women should be able to sell her sexual services just as much as she sells her brain services)
- the protection of prostitutes rights as legitimate workers (patriarchal outlook - things for men to buy and have sex whenever they want)
What are the four stages of the deviance dance regarding prostitution?
morality, public health, victimization, worker rights
Is the deviance dance a linear process?
no, they are all still happening and are ongoing
What is a flapper?
the modern girl of the 1920s; independent, young, urban women, wear revealing clothes, makeup and have short hair, danced, drank alcohol, smoked, were sexually active, shopped for pleasure
How was the flapper percieved?
presented as a female model to gaze upon, which changed the advertisement culture
How did the image of the flapper contribute to the moral panic?
the film “the flapper” was aired, and months later actor Olive Thomas died from an accidental overdose. This led to the contribution of the image of the flapper that was connected to all the dangers. This was the first Hollywood death to be sensationalized
What other factors contributed to the moral panic image regarding flappers?
without corsets, the body would fall apart and be damaged
fear of sunburn with exposed skin
What was found in Nickle’s research regarding flappers?
that there was a strong promotion of beauty for women in the 1920s which caused you to gaze upon a woman in advertisements. There was then a worry about these women not reproducing as they were formally meant to.
How was the flapper portrayed as a folk devil?
society projected social anxieties about sociopolitical change onto flappers/women’s bodies
List the sorts of anxieties experienced during the flapper moral panic and describe them.
immigration: people coming from places that were not anglospeaking
urbanization: young girls moving to the cities
morality: films being released that were concerning, as there was worry women would fall in love with actors and commit immoral acts
drugs: street level drugs and prostitution, alcohol consumption also increased as rates of anxiety increased
women’s emancipation: fight for women rights to vote in the 1920s
What are the three steps of the social typing process?
description, evaluation, prescription
Describe flappers using the social typing process.
Description: flapper
Evaluation: floozy, dumb, scatterbrain, phony
prescription: women were living in sin (Catholic Church), demand that stores quit selling dresses and distributing catalogues that was promoting the image of the flapper
What was the subjectivist position focussed on in regard to regulation of sexuality?
on issues related to power and regulation - who decides and regulates the rules of what is deviant and normal. deviance is a result of a violation of the dominant moral codes, which are determined by those who have power
What were critical researchers focussed on regarding sexuality?
the governance and regulation of sexual behaviour, and the deviance associated with this
what is considered the defining feature of normal sexuality in Canada today?
consent, which makes deviant sex = sex without consent
What is the age of consent in Canada?
16, but a 14 year old can consent to sexual activity if the partner is less than 5 years older
How did religious groups govern elite discourse in regards to homosexuality?
resistance to same sex marriage, saw it as a sin. Had influence on delaying same sex marriage laws
How did doctors govern elite discourse regarding homosexuality?
saw homosexuality as a disease and treated it as a mental disorder
how did educators govern elite discourse regarding homosexuality?
gay and lesbian studies introduced in the 1980s; the resistance to teaching same sex relationships and gender expression
how did the state govern elite discourse regarding homosexuality?
sodomy laws (anal sex was illegal); had significant power to determine rules
Who was Kathleen Wynne and what did she aim to do?
Liberal premier of Ontario; wanted to modernize sex ed curriculums. Grade 5: gender expression grade 6: masturbation grade 7: sexting grade 8: same sex relationships
Why was Kathleen Wynne seen as deviant?
individuals saw her decision about sex ed curricula as liberalizing rather than modernizing, and she was an out lesbian.
What is structural marxism and how is it related to sexual deviance?
societal rules protect capitalism; concerns over the decreasing quality of the Canadian race, and concerns over individual bodies not serving the social body
what is instrumental marxism and how is it related to sexual deviance?
societal rules protect capitalists; seeking market access/expansion - desire for legislation of sexual deviance (pornography for example)
Who is connected to the term power reflexive theories?
Michel Foucault
what is the power reflexive theory in regards to sexuality?
socially constructed knowledge and regulation concerning hetero/homosexuality impacts the experience of being gay/queer - these determine a persons master status
Why are there often higher rates of suicide and depression among LGBTQ community members?
if they are pretending to be someone they are not by the pressured labels of society, there are grave effects caused by mental health and self image issues