Theoretical explanations of the media: Postmodernism

Question 1

Postmodernists
What is there in the media? (2)
What can peope do?

Answer 1

There is diversity and choice in media images which people can pick and choose from

Question 2

What three ideas do postmodernists dicuss?

Answer 2

Idea 1 : Globalisation

Idea 2 : Media saturation

Idea 3 : Identity creation

Question 3

McLuhan
Idea?
term?- definition
How has globalisation had an impact on media representaions?-(access to? (2) this offers people?

Answer 3

Idea 1 : Globalisation

Global village - Information moving at the ‘speed of light’
The postmodern world has created a new pattern of communication and social interactions = globalisation has a direct impact on media representations because it provides access to a variety of lifestyles and identities that offer people choice e.g. hybrid ethnic identities
The internet reduces the globe into the dimensions of a village

Question 4

Strinati
Studied the effects of?
what kind of countries are now media saturated?
Why (What are people involved with? (2)
When does the media play a significant part?
Why (what are people engaging with regularly)
What has happened to media representations as a result of the diversity offered?
Term? (identity)
What have boundaries become?
This means that there are no? surrounding what (4)

Answer 4

Idea 2 : Media saturation

effects of ‘media saturation’
Capitalist countries eg the UK are now media saturated due to peoples involvement with a variety of media products and forums
Media plays a significant role when people are constructing their identities as people are engaging with services and devices regularly
The mass media is used to directly reflect society but this is difficult in a postmodern world as due to the diversity offered by the media there are no longer traditional media representations of social groups = ‘erosion of identity’- people no longer use the media to reference to develop their identity meaning that identity is no longer constrained.
Boundaries between groups of people have become less significant meaning that their are no set and restrictive roles, norms and values surrounding social class, gender, ethnicity and age.

Question 5

Baudrillard
Idea?
Influenced by who’s work?
What has media saturation resulted in? What impact could this have? Why?
What have people become engulfed in? What state has this led to?
Some people are more involved n?
What do media owners have the power to do because of the various information?
What does this mean audiences accept?
TERM definition?

Answer 5

Idea 2: Media saturation

Influenced by the work of Mcluhan
Media saturation has altered reality which could have negative impacts
Media saturation means that people find it difficult to distinguish between what is reality and what is fiction.
People have become engulfed in devices and by communication which has led to a state of ‘hyper reality’ - physical and virtual intertwined
Some people are involved in the hyper-real world than the physical world
There is so much information in the world that the media has to simplify it for their audiences. Therefore, media providers have the power of presenting what is real to their audience = audience accepting a diluted view of information e.g. fake news
Simulacra = a virtual more satisfying version of physical reality

Question 6

Turkle
Idea?
What behaviours have become normal?
What two things does this pose a risk to?
term? definition?
What does digital communication technology give us more control to so?

Answer 6

Idea 3: Identity creation
Using phones during meetings, in classrooms, family denying attention to each to
other and using phones during funerals to remove ourselves from grief has now become normal
Poses risks to relationships and identities

‘Alone together’- ‘lose’ each other rather than connect
Digital communication gives us more control to edit and delete our interactions and shape who we are seen as