Media theories overview

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  • Created by: jesskeayy
  • Created on: 14-05-17 14:49
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  • Media theories
    • PLURALISM
      • Mass media is a platform for all view-points. View points are diverse, catering for all needs in society
      • Media is vital in modern society, as this is the main way that we learn about our democracy and politics
      • Media owners must be impartial and responsible in political messages
        • They are sometimes restricted by market economies and competition
          • Constrained by state control and the needs of the audience- they'll go out of business if they don't produce what the audience want to see
      • Audiences are diverse and critical of media content, rather than passively accepting what the media tells us
    • MARXIST
      • Media is a powerful ideological influence that is concerned only with transmitting capitalist ideology
      • Media persuades people the capitalism is meritocratic- this is actually a false class consciousness
      • Media only covers certain stories, from one view point. This allows the audience to see that this view point is correct
      • Media reinforces ruling class ideology, rather than challenges it
      • Media uses gate keeping and agenda setting to ensure we only see 'approved' stories
    • NEO-MARXIST
      • Media functions to ensure the cultural hegemony is ruling class
        • Ensures exploitation and inequality are not seen as social problems
      • Media stories may be bias, due to media professionals being a by-product of the capitalist system
        • Middles class, white males that benefit from capitalism
          • HOWEVER, sometimes given opportunity to write anti-establishment stories
    • FEMINISM
      • Socialises women to be dependent and men to be dominant through stereotypes of both genders
        • This can limit young girls' future aspirations
      • LIBERAL argue there has been a march of progress in female respresentations
        • Still focuses on cult of femininity
      • Glass ceiling in media means women's perspectives are ignored/ trivialised
        • MALE GAZE- MULVEY
      • Women's success still defined by attractiveness, dehumanising their achievements
        • Portrayals of sexual violence in **** creates more sexual violence in real life
    • POSTMODERNISM
      • Messages are polysemic, society is media saturated, creating a hyper reality
        • Allows for us to have different view points, through different interpretation
      • Media allows us to create different identities and is now part of our lifestyles
      • Challenges gender identity, and encourages diversity i.e. LGBT COMMUNITY
    • FUNCTIONALISM
      • Media provides role models, imitation and sanctions- SOCIALISATION
        • Must be controlled/censored to protect norms and values for children
      • Reinforces values through norms setting- showing us consequences for breaking the rules

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