Theorists Flashcards
What did Barthes focus on?
Semiotics
- texts communicate meanings through signification
-codes HPSSC
-achieving the status of myth through a process of naturalisation
What are Barthes different codes?
Hermenuintic- enigma/mystery
Proairetic - Action code
Semantic - something that has meaning e.g: ring
Symbolic - what the semantic connates e.g: ring symbolises marriage
Cultural - interpret meanings through knowledge or experiences
What did Levi-Strauss focus on?
Structualism
-idea that texts can be understood through their underlying structure
-binary opposition (meaning is dependent upon pairs of opposition)
-Conflict between two opposites drive forward the narrative.
What did Todorov focus on?
Narratology
-All narratives share a basic structure that involves a movement from one state of equilibrium to another.
equillibrium-disruption-resolution-equilibrium
What did Neale focus on?
Genre theory
-Genres may be dominated by repetition but marked by difference
-Genres change overtime as they borrow from other genres
What did Baudrillard focus on?
Postmodernism
-In postmodern culture the boundaries between the ‘real’ world and the world of the media have collapsed and it is no longer possible to distinguish what is reality and what is simulation.
-age of simulacra- nothing is ‘real’
What did Hall focus on?
Representation
- Media language is used to create representations.
- Stereotyping, as a form of representation reduces people to a few simple traits.
- Stereotyping happens where there is inequality of power. The excluded groups are made to be different and “other”
What did Gauntlett focus on?
Identity
- The media provides us with ‘tools’ that we use to construct our identity.
- In the past the media conveyed simple stereotypes of how men and women should be, however today the media offer us a more diverse range of icons and characters from whom we can ‘pick and mix’ different ideas from to create our own identity.
What did Van Zoonen focus on?
Feminism (gender)
- idea that gender is constructed through discourse and its meaning varies according to cultural and historical context.
-display of women’s bodies as objects to be looked at (western patriarchal culture)
-codes used to represent men and women are completely different.
What did bell hooks focus on?
Feminist/ethnicity
- Feminism is a political struggle to end patriarchal domination.
- Feminism is more of a political commitment than a lifestyle.
- Race, class and sex determine how people are exploited and oppressed.
What did Gilroy focus on?
Ethnicity and Post-colonialism
- Civilisationalism constructs racial hierarchies.
- Despite no longer having colonies the effects and representation of groups still remains.
What did Curan and Seaton focus on?
Power and media industries
-The idea that the media is controlled by a small number of companies driven by profit and power.
- More diverse ownership of companies could lead to more creative and adventurous media productions.
What did Livingstone and Lunt focus on?
Regulation
-the rise of new technology has placed traditional approaches to media regulation at risk.
-underlying struggle between the need to protect citizens and the need to further the interests of consumers.
What did Hesmondhalgh focus on?
cultural industries
-Cultural industry companies try to minimise risk and maximise audiences through vertical and horizontal integration.
-largest companies now operate across a number of different cultural industries.
What did Bandura focus on?
media effects
-the media can implant ideas in the mind of the audience directly.
-audience acquire attitudes through modelling and identifying with someone they see in the media.
-media representations of transgressive behaviour, can lead audience members to imitate those forms of behaviour.
