Theories

Question 1

Semiotics

Answer 1

Roland Barthes- It is a great way to analyse how the words, sounds and images in a media text combine to create meaning.

Question 2

Narrative

Answer 2

Todorov- Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition Repair the Damage and Equilibrium Again.

Question 3

Genre Theory

Answer 3

Steve Neale- films of a type (genre, like romance or horror) should include features that are similar

Question 4

Structuralism

Answer 4

Levi Strauss- structure within a media product (binary opposites)

Question 5

Representation

Answer 5

Stuart Hall- how media texts deal with and present gender, age, ethnicity , national and regional identity, social issues and events to an audience. (steryotyping)

Question 6

Identity theory

Answer 6

David Gauntlet- while everyone is an individual, people tend to exist within larger groups who are similar to them.

Question 7

Feminist Theory

Answer 7

Van Zoonen- Gender is constructed through codes and conventions of media products, and the idea of what is male and what is female changes over time. Women are sexualised.

Question 8

Post-colonisation

Answer 8

Paul Gilroy- It explores the relationship between imperialism and identity, especially the representation of ethnic minorities in the media.

Question 9

Cultivation theory

Answer 9

George Gerbner- Being exposed to repeated patterns of representation over long periods of time can shape and influence the way in which people perceive the world around them

Question 10

Reception theory

Answer 10

Stuart Hall- To watch/read/play/listen to/consume a media product is a process involving encoding by producers and decoding by audiences. The preferred reading - the dominant-hegemonic position, where the audience understands and accepts the ideology of the producer
* The negotiated reading - where the ideological implications of producer’s message is agreed with in general, although the message is negotiated or picked apart by the audience, and they may disagree with certain aspects
* The oppositional reading - where the producer’s message is understood, but the audience disagrees with the ideological perspective in every respect

Question 11

Fandom

Answer 11

Henry Jenkins- Fandom refers to a particularly organised and motivated audience of a certain media producer franchise.

Question 12

Semiotics

Answer 12

Barthes- codes and conventions, e.g. enigma codes

Question 13

Postmodernism

Answer 13

Baudrillard- the idea of hyperreality, bricolage (bringing conventions as well as intertextual links together)