This document lists all the set theories for the course and evaluates/critiques them and compares the theories together - this particularly useful for the long form component 2 questions and helped me to get an A* on my paper
THEORIES COMPARISON TO OTHER THEORIES EVALUATION
Semiotics by Roland Claude Levi-Strauss: would be more interested in the way that There is no one direct meaning as audiences has
Barthes media products articulate oppositions than the effect of a single different responses (subjective)
code. He would argue that media products are informed by
universally shared structures whereas Bathes argues that they are
influenced by social and historical context.
Todorov: media produce meanings through narrative features and
isolated connotations are insignificant.
Structuralism by Claude Stuart Hall (aud): though binary oppositions do exist, the Theory focused on fairy-tale and myths
Levi-Strauss audience may not decode the product meaning in the intended Doesn’t take into account contexts (e.g. ownership
way. patterns) and the producers intentions
Paul Gilroy: Western Binary simplifies racial issues to white and Doesn’t look at audiences’ interpretation of meaning as
civilised vs black and uncivilised. These are hugely damaging. they can have varying responses
Judith Butler: similarly, Western gender binaries mask the
complex nature of sexuality.
Narratology by Tzvetan Steve Neale: argues that story structures are continuously Was only designed for single narratives therefore
Todorov adapting and changing to reflect the context doesn’t always fit serials.
Levi-Strauss: doesn’t care that narratives present oppositions Looks at only linearity (can’t fit multi segmented
rather than the way those oppositions are transformed storylines)
Doesn’t help understand narratives strands that don’t
add to narrative drive (e.g. red herrings)
Other modern narrative techniques don’t fit with the
theory (e.g. in media res, unreliable narrator)
Genre by Steve Neale Stuart Hall (rep): agrees products construct pleasure for but To what extent do genres change and develop over
would emphasise the dangers that certain genres have in effecting time – the fundamental conventions that underpin
audiences views through genre specific stereotypes them remain consistent throughout.
Curran and Seaton: genre hybridity is not significant in a How far do products differ from each other (e.g. Life on
contemporary landscape as media concentration has led to less Mars similarity to The Sweeney)
, variety and experimental media due to focusing on mass media
appeal from tested genres
Postmodernism by Jean Roland Barthes: argues media products have a clear relationship Critics have disputed the ideas that audiences can no
Baudrillaurd with reality as texts represent the views of producers longer distinguish between reality and simulation.
Henry Jenkins: would disagree with the idea of postmodernity Is postmodern culture primarily experienced in the
causing hyperreality inertia due to the use of participatory culture form of the mediated images.
and audiences being active
Representation by Stuart Stuart Hall (aud): audiences can resist the effects of the media Stereotypes are complex, capable to empower
Hall and cultivate their own responses
Paul Gilroy: believes racial stereotypes are framed by wider
historical context of the British Empire
Postcolonialism by Paul David Gauntlett: believes that media can enable a positive
Gilroy identity due to the variety of contemporary media representation
available.
Henry Jenkins: more optimistic view of media with the creation of
participatory culture to form online communities with possibly
alternate views
Feminism by Liesbet Van David Gauntlett: argues contemporary media offers a diversity of
Zoonen gender based identities enabling audiences to construct their own
identities and subvert the patriarchy
Judith Butler: agrees on some accounts but the labels of male and
female mask the complex nature of sexuality and that audiences
can resist falling into conventional labels
Intersectionality by Bell Paul Gilroy: provides more specific framework on postcolonialism.
Hooks Henry Jenkins: participatory culture has allowed audience to gain
power through online activism (e.g. #BlackLivesMatter)
Gender Performance by David Gauntlett: contemporary media means heteronormativity
Judith Butler doesn’t dominate the media, allowing for diverse and fluid
identities with society adopting a more positive view of gender
subversion
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