Language In The Media

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers concepts from the lecture notes including media purposes, semiotic codes (Barthes), structuralism (Strauss), postmodernism (Baudrillard), and theories of identity, representation, and gender.

Purpose: Inform

Providing an explanation of facts or concepts.

Purpose: Persuade

Encouraging agreement through the use of hyperbole, vivid imagery, and anecdotes for engagement.

Purpose: Provoke debate

Creating doubt or critiquing existing ideas to shape ideology or reflect cultural anxieties.

Formality in Standard English

Characterized by sophisticated vocabulary, jargon, an objective tone, hedging, passive voice, and statistics.

Colloquial language

A feature of informal sets utilizing emotive language, conversational rhythm, direct address, and exclamatives.

Hermeneutic code

A code in Semiotics (Barthes) that acts as a hook to create mystery and raise questions for the reader.

Proairetic code

A code in Semiotics (Barthes) involving actions which build tension and sequential suspense.

Symbolic code

A code in Semiotics (Barthes) that uses binary options, oxymorons, or juxtaposition to create deeper meanings.

Referential code

A code in Semiotics (Barthes) relying on cultural understanding, wit, and cataphoric references.

Semantic code

A code in Semiotics (Barthes) featuring connotative meanings embedded through techniques like personification.

Myths of modern society

Widely held beliefs that are reinforced through media language and advertising, as identified in Semiotics.

Structuralism (Strauss)

A theory suggesting human culture and the mind are shaped by deep, universal, and unconscious structures, organizing reality through binary oppositions.

Hyperreality

A postmodern concept by Baudrillard where audiences are bombarded with images (simulacra) that no longer refer to anything 'real'.

Theories of Representation (Hall)

The idea that stereotyping reduces people to simple characteristics to help producers construct products that audiences can decode, often resulting in power imbalances.

Theories of Identity (Gauntlett)

The belief that audiences are not passive; they can 'pick and mix' ideologies that suit them and ignore elements they disagree with.

Theories of Gender Performativity (Butler)

The concept that identity is constructed through acts and expressions, meaning there is no gender identity behind these expressions.

Theories of Ethnicity and Postcolonialism (Gilroy)

The theory that postcolonial attitudes have reinforced racial hierarchies where white people are given more positive roles than BME people.

Cultivation Theory (Gerbner)

The theory that exposure to repeated patterns of representation shapes our perception of the world and reinforces mainstream hegemonic values.

Verisimilitude

A term used when evaluating evidence that refers to the quality of appearing true or real.

Synthetic personalisation

A tone characterized by informalisation, anecdotes, and colloquial lexis to create a personal relationship with the audience.