Media Studies Study.

Steve Neale - Genre Theory

Genres are based on instances of repetition and change.

David Buckingham - Genre Theory.

Genre in Constant Process of Negotiation and Change: "Genre must respond to socio-economic and cultural change.

Agenda setting function theory.

This theory suggests that the media can't tell you what to think but it can tell you what to think about. Through a process of selection, omission and framing, the media focuses public discussion on particular issues.

Jay's wife, and son, in Modern Family.

Gloria, and Manny.

Sherwood Schawrtz - LA times fact that inspried the Brady Bunch.

30% of US marriages in the 60s had kids from prior relationships.

Diff'rent Strokes - Family types.

Blended Family - Arnold and Willies (lower-class, african-americans), and Mr Drummond, Kimberly, and Mrs Garratt (upper-middle-class, white).

Change in US society: linked to family representation in Diff'rent Strokes.

The 1950s and 60s Civil Rights movement.

Klapper's reinforcement theory.

The media cannot create opinions from scratch, but can be effective in reinforcing existing beliefs and attitudes and encouraging people to act on them.

Neo-traditional nuclear family type.

Same as nuclear family, but the roles are more equal (mum may earn a higher wage, may be the wiser figure/more a decision-maker, etc).

Hypodermic Needle Theory

This theory suggests the idea that the media is like a syringe that injects ideas, attitudes and beliefs into the audience who, as a powerless mass have little choice but to be influenced by its content and ideologies.

Horton and Wohl - Genre Theory.

Parasocial interaction, and relationships, theory: The audience watching the show develop a one-sided relationship with the character. The illusion of having a face-to-face relationship with them, where we view, interact and see them often - creating a "friend" in our head.
An implication of this is: shows like Modern Family, when the characters talk directly to the camera through the interview, as though they're talking to the audience thus can create stronger parasocial interactions with the audience.

David Foster Wallace - Writer and Academic.

Secondary source quote: “If we want to know what American normality is - what Americans want to regard as normal - we can trust television. For television's whole purpose is reflecting what people want to see. It's a mirror.”

Aylin Zafar - Critic and Journalist.

Secondary source quote: “Viewers are looking for relief, compassion, and healing from television; they're battered from some rough years, both in the real world and in the overwhelming entertainment world to which they've been subjected.”