THEORIES AND THEORISTS

Semiotics

The study of signs and meaning in communication.

Narratology

The study of narrative structure in media language.

Genre Theory

The classification of media products based on codes and conventions.

Structuralism

Understanding texts through their underlying structures and oppositional pairs.

Postmodernism

Making meanings in a post-structuralist world with collapsed boundaries.

Representation

The production of meaning through language and stereotypes in media.

Feminist Theory

The construction of gender and political commitment in media.

Theories of Gender Performativity

Identity construction as a performance without inherent gender.

Post-colonial Theory

Exploration of colonialism's legacy and racial hierarchies in media.

Power and Media Industries Theory

Media driven by power and profit with concentrated ownership.

Industry Regulation Theory

Struggle between citizen and consumer interests in media policy.

Cultural Industries Theory

Exploration of media industries, risk minimization, and audience maximization.

Media Effects Theory

Effects of media on audiences, implanting ideas and shaping attitudes.

Cultivation Theory

Effects of repeated media exposure on audience perception and values.

Reception Theory

Exploration of encoding, decoding, and audience interpretations of media.

Fandom

Fan participation in constructing meanings and identities through mass culture.

'End of Audience' Theory

Changing relations between digital media and individuals, leading to active engagement.