CM382 Critical theories of communication (encoding/decoding)
Critical theory is interested in power, dominance
Ideology
“Received wisdom” about the world (beliefs, values etc.) typically benefits people at top more than people at bottom
Ideology legitimizes, justifies and naturalizes social system
To analyse ideology we must uncover how the status quo provides large advantages to those who already have more power and privilege
John Thompson (1990) defines ideology as “meaning in the service of power”
“Hegemony” = dominance by consent (but it is never complete)
“The challenge facing us as students of the mass media is to examine the workings of, and sometimes the tensions between, dominant and
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The moment of the text:
-symbolic construction and arrangement
-form and content of what is published or broadcast
3. The moment of decoding:
-moment of reception/consumption...by the reader/hearer/viewer [which is] ‘closer to a form of “construction” than to ‘the passivity....suggested by the term “reception”
The “dominant code” = preferred reading
[e.g. police are our guardians and young rioters are ‘deviants’]
The “negotiated code” = largely accepts dominant code but takes account of a particular group’s place within social structure
[e.g. police are in general good for society but treat some groups, such as immigrants, unfairly]
The ‘oppositional code’ = rejects dominant code [e.g. Police are instrument of oppression]
Advertising encoding/decoding
Mathew Soar draws on hall, but also on Pierre Bourdieu [“Cultural capital”]
Suggest that studies of advertising have overwhelming focused on ends rather than means
Soar suggests that advertising encoders (and creatives in particular) are primarily a self-addressing group
Myra Georgiou (2012) ‘Watching Soap Opera in the Diaspora’
[Soap operas challenge hegemonic discourses of gender in regions of origin]
Sarita Malik (2012) ‘The Indian family on UK Reality Television’
[Examines documentary/reality series The Family ]
‘The Grewal family - standing in here for the hegemonic authentic Indian family ... have just the ‘right amount’ of cultural difference’ (Malik
Now I realise it seems a bit hypocritical of me to attack the media’s representation of a news event when I myself am a part of the hype-generating circus we call mass media. However, the voice of my wise, high-school English teacher echoes in my subconscious that we should always be critical of the texts we consume and conscious of the
Opening the book, Postman explains how he will fulfill showing that a “great media-metaphor shift has taken place in America, with the result that content of much of our public discourse has become dangerous nonsense” (pg. 16). There are two major points First: under the printing press, discourse In America was different from what it is now—generally coherent, serious, rational. Second: under the governance of television, it has become withered. This made me think about how much media affects us on a daily basis.
Privilege and oppression provides a framework for understanding how institutional structures and ideologies shapes individual experiences. Privilege and oppression also explains “how power operates in society” which led to the formation of “a dominant group and a marginalized group” (Launius and Hassel, Threshold Concepts, 72-73). “Oppression can be defined as prejudice and discrimination directed toward a group and perpetuated by the ideologies and practices of multiple social institutions” (Launius and Hassel, Threshold Concepts, 73). While, privilege refers to the “benefits, advantages, and power that accrue to members of a dominant group as a result of the oppression of marginalized group”,
Assignment: As the documentary Miss Representation explains, “The media is now the message and the messenger.” Every day, we take in countless hours of media that influence how we view others and in turn how we view ourselves. It is our responsibility to consume media in an intelligent way AND fight back against negative messages put forth by the media.
Once Jim Morrison said that whoever controls the media controls the mind. This shows that he had recognized the immense power and influence that the media has in our day to day lives. The media plays a very important role in the society as the source of information for every person. Hence, it is very hard for the modern society to live without the media. As a result of the media being the major source of information in our society, it is an undeniable fact the media shapes people’s opinions, attitudes and actions on particular issues (Czopp & Monteith, 2006).
It has been stated that the media is biased, and consequently acts as a destructive force in our republic, an idea that has proven to be realistic in society today in American politics. Rather than showing information on politics in a neutral manner, the media will only provide information on what they believe is important, attempting to influence the American people with one side of the story. With that, the media is a destructive force for reasons also including that it has no choice but to be, it is just a way of nature of the media. The final reason as to why the media acts as a monster to our republic is because rather than focusing the attention of the information that will benefit our society, the media provides viewers information on
Through the broad TV of fierce substance, and the mass correspondence of unjustifiable connections, generalizations, measures, desires, and regularizing parts, the media develops rough conduct and frightful or skeptical mentalities about this present reality.
The power and consequently the responsibility of media, especially mainstream, is something that shouldn’t be underestimated. It often sets the agenda amongst the general public and is the reference point for the majority of the discussion surrounding it. For many, what they see and read in the media forms the basis of their opinions on most important topics. Despite warnings not to, many believe that everything they read in the media must be true.
A real life example of this would be the stereotyping of police officers. The stereotypes have gotten more attention recently in the past year, due to the incidents involving police killing unarmed minorities. In many situations, people have turned to violent protesting, rioting through the streets, burning cars, and breaking into stores. Endangering their lives and the officers. These protests act as a wake up call to police departments throughout America, to enforce more rules and training within the departments to help and stop police brutality.
Throughout society, the mass media constantly changes over time. The mass media play a prominent role in informing the public about what occurs within the world, especially in areas which audiences do not acquire direct experience and knowledge. This essay will argue that the propaganda model is no longer valid as it has become outdated. This essay will also discuss the model in relation to the five filters and draw on Rampton's critique of the propaganda model in contemporary society.
The mass media has become a big part of our society and its counterparts. In a time span of 50 years this medium has influenced society to an extent where it has created wonders. This immaculate tool can control almost every action we perform, from speaking to the actions that every human being performs in society. The mass media has brought upon a new era of idea's and changes in the world we live in. As we analysis media in depth we will find many aspects of media which overlap and some of the smallest factors and aspects of media, which create the biggest impact on society.
Society is a structured hierarchical system of classes. The higher class you hold, the higher power often associated to you. With this construction of society one-group claims dominance over another doing so with “power over” (Bishop, 2015). Power over others can be visible through physical strength, wealth, resources, and access to opportunities, etc. These dominate groups not only spread ideas, but often are in charge of the creation of ideas, their importance, and the norms and roles for society and classes labeling groups different than their own as inferior.
Mass media plays an important role in the society by providing entertainment, information and acting as the government’s overseer. Several scholars have developed philosophies that help people understand how mass media fulfills its roles in the society. For example, Horkheimer and Adorno have constructed theories that explain the functions and impacts of mass media in the society across the globe (Mosco, 2008). The central theme in all mass communication models entails the meaning of media contents, which include the images and texts and their influence on the target audience. The perception of the target audience concerning the text and images in the media are what form the basis of these theories. This essay discusses two hypothetical frameworks: the political economy and cultural studies theories, including their similarities and differences, and how they help in understanding the relationship between the media and society.
Nobody can doubt that the role of mass media in the present-day life is extremely important for a society. Mass media aims not only to inform, educate, and entertain people, but also influences the way they see the world; it may change their views and, in general, mould public opinion. Except for newspaper reports, radio and TV broadcasts, with the help of the Internet people have an unlimited access to the most burning news and tons of important information, and as a result, they lose the possibility to evaluate the information flow critically. Despite the liberal activity of journalists, they are always dependent on political powers that are in control. Thus, there is a problem of news media bias helping to create necessary political spin in the society.
Four intellectuals established Cultural Studies, namely, Richard Hoggart, Raymond Williams, E.P. Thompson, and Stuart Hall. Hall (b. 1932) has had the lion's share of publicity. Scholars working in this tradition often take their cue from his articles.