MEDIA THEORY FOR A2By Heather Larkin

Introduction…Media theorists are essential to be added to the exam questions in Section A for both Question 1a (2 theorists briefly explained) and Question 1b (explain several theorists in more detail). So for any question that relates to the topics of:

Question 1a:◦ Digital Technology◦ Creativity◦ Research and Planning◦ Conventions

Question 1b:◦ Genre◦ Narrative◦ Representation◦ Audience◦ Media Language

Theorists…

Genre Theorists◦ Fiske – CONVENIENCE OF GENRE◦ Jenkins – HYBRIDISATION OF GENRE◦Hartley – CULTURAL INTERPRETATIONS OF

GENRE◦ Chandler – RESTRICTIONS OF GENRE◦Neale – REPETITION/DIFFERENCES OF GENRE◦ Buckingham – CHANGES OF GENRE OVER TIME◦ Altman – PLEASURES OF GENRE

Narrative Theorists◦ Levi-Strauss – BINARY OPPOSITIONS◦ Todorov – FOUR ACT STRUCTURE◦Goodwin – KEY FEATURES OF MUSIC VIDEOS◦ Propp – CHARACTER ROLES

Audience Theorists◦ Blumler and Katz – GRATIFICATIONS THEORY◦Gauntlett – PROSUMER THEORY◦Hall – AUDIENCE POSITIONING THEORY

Representation Theorists◦Mulvey – MALE GAZE◦Hall – DOMINANT/NEGOTIATED READINGS◦Dyer – STEREOTYPES AND INEQUALITIES◦ Levi-Strauss – BINARY OPPOSITIONS◦Gauntlett – HEGEMONY◦ Baudrillard – HYPER-REALISM

Relevance to Coursework…◦Within media, there has been a vast number of commentators who have created

different theories which are useful to apply to the work of media texts today. Although theorists are highly useful for the A2 exam, they can also be applied to the evaluation questions of this coursework, so I have created this powerpoint of useful theorists which are relevant to this course; that I can easily refer back to for exam revision and the evaluation questions.

Laura Mulvey Claude Levi-Strauss Tzvetan Todorov