theories

Question 1

Hypodermic syringe theory

Answer 1

Information from the text are injected into the audience by the syringe . It suggests the audience are passive and believes anything

Question 2

Two step flow

Answer 2

Opinion leaders get info from the media source
Opinion leaders then pass info along with their interpretation to others ( personal influence )
It suggests that info is filtered through opinion leaders

Question 3

Uses and gratifications

Answer 3

It suggests that people use the media to fulfil specific gratifications
Eg -
Diversion - entertainment
Surveillance - to get information
Socialisation - personal relationships,a topic of conversation
Personal identity - self understanding - relating other people to yourself

Question 4

Maslows hierarchy of needs

Answer 4

At the bottom -
Physiological- basic needs
Safety - secure home , safe environment , resources
Belongingness - love , friendship
Esteem - self esteem , respect , intimacy
Self actualisation - morality , luxury goods

Question 5

Cultivation theory

Answer 5

Proposed by George Gerbner
The theory argues that the media generally presents an image of the world that does not reflect reality
According to the theory , people who watch to frequently are more likely to be influenced by the media

The exposure to to overtime will shape viewers perceptions of reality

Question 6

Inoculation theory

Answer 6

The theory of a media audiences reactions grow weaker according to the level of exposure to something

The more you see something the less it effects you

Question 7

Narrative theory - todorov

Answer 7

It states that most plots follow the same pattern

1. A state of equilibrium - everything is stable
2. Disruption of equilibrium (disequilibrium) - a problem will disrupt the happiness
3. Recognition/ realisation
4. Restored order - character attempts to repair the damage and restore the problem
5. New equilibrium - problem is resolved - normality can resume again

Question 8

Narrative theory - Vladimir prop

Answer 8

Character theory - 8 character types
The hero
The villain
The princess
The dispatcher - sends the hero on the task
The donor- gives something to the hero that will help them
The helper- helps the hero in restoring the resolution
The father
The false hero

Question 9

Claude Levi Strauss

Answer 9

Binary opposites - he found out that narratives are arranged around conflict of opposites .
Eg 
Good vs bad 
Peace vs war
Young vs old
Boy vs girl
Day vs night

Question 10

Roland Barthes

Answer 10

Enigma codes

Texts may be open ( unraveled in a lot of different ways) or closed ( only one obvious answer)

Question 11

Hermeneutic / enigma code

Answer 11

Refers to mystery , clues are dropped but no clear answer

Enigma codes make the audience want to know more

Question 12

Proairetic / action code

Answer 12

Adds suspense and contains sequential elements of action

Question 13

Symbolic code

Answer 13

Shows contrast , creates greater meaning , tension , drama and character development

Question 14

Semantic code

Answer 14

Refers to additional meaning

It has a connotative function , has an extra meaning in addition to its literal meaning .

Question 15

Referential code

Answer 15

Refers to external body of knowledge such as scientific , historical and cultural knowledge .

Question 16

Connotation

Answer 16

Your own personal thoughts , what you think or believe about a symbol. It can have different meanings in different cultures

Question 17

Denotation

Answer 17

The literal meaning - dictionary definition

Question 18

Audience profiling - mass audience/ low brow

Answer 18

Very large group , those who consume mainstream or popular texts
Normal / conventional things to do

Question 19

Niche audience -high brow

Answer 19

Small , specific group
Unique interest
Rare , not popular activities , different to everyone else

Question 20

Demographics

Answer 20

What you usually can't change 
Age 
Gender
Race 
Disabilities

Question 21

Psychographics

Answer 21

What you can control
Attitudes 
Interests
Lifestyle 
Habits
Religion
Education 
Style

Question 22

aberrant reading

Answer 22

interpretation of a text in a manner different from the way its author intended it to be decoded

Question 23

antagonist

Answer 23

the opposition to a hero- usually a character- villain .

this is the force that disrupts the equilibrium

Question 24

binary opposition

Answer 24

construction of a text around opposing values- good vs evil, young vs old , women vs men

Question 25

connotation

Answer 25

meaning created through association

Question 26

demographics

Answer 26

audiences categorised by specific features - e.g. working class females or 5-7 year old american children

Question 27

denotation

Answer 27

the simplest way to create meaning

Question 28

equilibrium

Answer 28

stability within a story

Question 29

gatekeeper

Answer 29

anyone within an organisation who decides what items will be published

Question 30

hegemony

Answer 30

the practice among powerful groups of dominating the media

Question 31

intertextuality

Answer 31

the way multiple texts drawn upon one another to create meaning

Question 32

moral panic

Answer 32

a lot of fuss about something that the media creators don’t like

Question 33

narrative

Answer 33

a story

Question 34

point of view shot

Answer 34

a shot that shows the audience the scene from the perspective of a character

Question 35

preferred reading

Answer 35

the way in which the creator of a text intends it to be read

Question 36

propaganda

Answer 36

a text that aims to alter the ideology of an audience

Question 37

protagonist

Answer 37

main character

Question 38

stereotype

Answer 38

a prejudicial assumption about what type /group/place will resemble