Cultural Studies and Media Analysis

The theory suggesting that media, particularly mass media, serves as a tool for the powerful to manipulate and control the masses.

A Marxist concept that highlights how dominant ideas and beliefs uphold existing power structures.

A concept developed by Marx and Engels criticizing capitalist systems for creating a culture of mass consumption and entertainment.

A theory that examines how media production and distribution are controlled by powerful economic forces and influence cultural values.

The process of news selection and presentation where some events are prioritized based on their perceived importance or suitability.

The social and cultural values that guide journalists in determining what constitutes newsworthy events.

A form of media that blends factual reporting with elements of entertainment and sensationalism.

The idea that public service broadcasting should prioritize education, information, and cultural enrichment over commercial interests.

The entire way of life of a society or group. It encompasses values, meanings, identities, traditions, norms, and how people understand the world.

Refers to creative practices and activities within a society, such as art, music, literature, and television.

The complex network of social interactions, institutions, and relationships within which a society operates.

The ability of individuals to make choices and act independently, even within established social structures.

Patterns of wealth, power, and inequality that exist within a society.

Formal organizations in a society, such as governments, schools, religious groups, businesses, and families.

The dynamic interplay between established social structures and individuals' capacity for independent action.

The social processes through which people are categorized and ranked based on factors like class, ethnicity, and gender.

A communication model highlighting the importance of the sender, message, medium, and receiver in understanding media and its effects.

A communication model focusing on the technical aspects of sending and receiving information, emphasizing the transmission of messages through a channel.

The active and dynamic adaptation to the feedback and cues of others during interpersonal communication.

The role of the audience in shaping and influencing media content and direction.

The limitation of Shannon and Weaver's model, focusing primarily on the technical aspect of transmission, neglecting the social and cultural context of communication.

The strength of Lasswell's model, encouraging an examination of the characteristics and context of the sender and receiver, offering a more nuanced understanding of the communication process.

The limitation of Lasswell's model, neglecting the broader social and cultural influences that shape communication, leaving some context unexplored.

Key elements identified from Lasswell's model to analyze media and communication processes, including 'Who', 'What', 'Channel', and 'Whom'.

A medium with high definition and detail, engaging one sense intensely. Examples include radio and printed literature.

A medium with low definition, engaging multiple senses simultaneously but less intensely. Examples include television and film.

Television, for McLuhan, is a cool medium because it blends sound and low-definition visuals, engaging both senses less intensely than print or radio, leaving room for interpretation.

The printing press and its ability to mass-produce books and newspapers led to a shift from oral, informal communication to a society dominated by standardized written materials.

McLuhan argued that the printing press standardized language, culture, and ways of viewing the world, leading to the creation of hierarchically organized societies.

McLuhan considered print media "hot" due to its intense detail, linear organization, and one-directional information flow, which isolates readers and dictates specific messages from a limited source.

McLuhan argues that print media's "hotness" contributed to the development of early capitalism, with its rigid societal structures, standardization, and individual isolation.

Electronic media, like television, are becoming increasingly "cool", contrasting print's "hotness". Electronic media promote interaction and participation, allowing for multiple perspectives and interpretations.

The idea that the technical features of a medium determine its impact on society, disregarding other factors.

A theory that media, particularly television, emphasizes short, attention-grabbing content and focuses on style and entertainment over substance.

A theory suggesting that different media technologies influence the way people interact, understand the world, and form social structures.

The theory that the technical characteristics of a medium shape its impact on the user, influencing their understanding and behavior.

A contrast to McLuhan's optimistic view of the media, where television is seen as a hierarchical and unidirectional communication tool that empowers a select few and disorients the masses.

Media theorist who argued that television's emphasis on visual spectacle and superficiality leads to a lack of critical thinking.

Media theorist who argued that television, unlike print media, promotes a sense of immediacy and passivity among its audience.

A theory that examines the relationship between media technologies, cultural practices, and social structures.

The ways technology is used and its impact on society are influenced by the contexts in which it exists. This includes the institutions, discourses, and consumption practices surrounding the technology.

Technologies are not neutral, they have built-in capabilities and limitations that affect how they are used.

Technical features of media influence their usage and social effects, even though context, use, & consumption play a significant role.

Classifying media based on their communication capabilities such as text, sound, image, video, one-way or interaction; mass media or interpersonal; synchronous (real-time) or asynchronous (not real-time).

Media that allows communication with large groups of people and are often one-way.

Media that enables small-scale interaction between individuals or small groups.

Media that operate in real time, with communication happening simultaneously.

Media that do not operate in real time, communication is delayed, allowing for flexible scheduling.