Theories Media Language

Question 1

Semiotics - Roland Barthes

Answer 1

Barthes believed that everything around us can be seen as a sign which conveys a larger meaning.

Signifiers and signified, signifiers are the signs, signified are the meaning which the signifiers represent.

Question 2

Narratology - Tzvetan Todorov

Answer 2

Todorov believed that most narratives follow a similar and basic structure.

Equilibrium- Story starts in a stable situation (balance)
Disruption- Something disrupts the equilibrium
Recognition- Realisation of a disruption
Attempt to repair- Character attempt to fix the disruption
New Equilibrium- story ends at a new stable equilibrium

Question 3

Genre theory - Steve Neale

Answer 3

Neale believed that genres often repeat themselves but also change due to media adding variations to keep genre fresh.

Question 4

Structuralism - Claude Lévi-Strauss

Answer 4

Lévi-Strauss believed that conflict between binary opposites drives forward the narrative.

Question 5

Postmodernism - Jean Baudrillard

Answer 5

Baudrillard believed that in todays society, its hard to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s just a representation.

Media has become more ‘real’ than reality.