The rest of the test will be the usual multiple choice and true/false mix. I have broken the study guide into chapters. This test relies a lot on the notes we took, since some of that information is not the same as the text. Click on Keep Reading for the Study Guide and Take Home Essay!!
Spiral of Silence (Chapter 29, notes will be given on 4/6)
Definitions of spiral of silence, pluralistic ignorance
Driving force behind the spiral of silence
What groups have the potential to hange the world/don’t care what society things of them?
Biggest factor in determining who will voice their opinion? (p376)
Name of the test that determines who speaks out
Cultivation Theory (Chapter 27) by Gerbner
What’s the main focus?
Definition of dramatic violence, heavy viewer and what 4 things do they believe?
How many violent acts occur in a drama show per hour (prime time TV)
Which racial groups are more often the victims?
Double Dose Effect and Mean World Syndrome
The Truths about media violence
Agenda-Setting (Chapter 28) by McCombs and Shaw
Main idea of agenda setting
Why did they come up with the theory?
Gatekeeper
Important (salient) issues—where would they be in TV or print news? (ex: fromt page vs inside pages)
Other Media notes:
Direct Effects
2 Step Flow: what does it include (human agency or involvement and opinion leaders)
Definition of Opinion leader
Who really created Media Ecology?
Semiotics (Chapter 25)
What is a sign? What kind of meaning does it carry? (refer to myth for the answer)
Definition of myth
Definition of ideology
Definition of semiotics
Whether or not mythic signs reinforce dominate values of society
Take Home Essay
Essay Question: Due day of test (4/15) You must refer to at least one TV show (preferable prime time) and one news show (local or national, not sports—sorry guys) when answering the essay.
Repeatedly it is said that TV is something that amuses boredom.
“We’re in the boredom killing business…we’ll say any shit you want to hear.” –Howard Beale
“…and all boredom amused…”-Jensen
(add to this anything people like Postman or McLuhan might say)
A. How does this apply to today’s TV programming (mention specific shows)
B. How does it (or can it) be applied to the news? (watch local and national news and refer to it.)
13 points.
Typed, double space. Usual directions, you know the drill. At least 2.5 pages, (full pages, none of that large header to take up space that some of you are STILL doing.) Nor more than 5 pages.
3 Comments
March 31, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I’m just curious as to what your answer is for, “Who really created Media Ecology?”
April 2, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Lance, I tried commenting on your blog, but it doesn’t seem to have shown up. For obvious reasons, I’m not posting an answer…the students should be looking in the book and notes. I left you a much longer comment, too bad it’s not there. Being the expert (media ecology is not my main thing), what would you suggest to my class?
April 6, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I did get your message on my blog, thanks, and what you said makes sense. It’s an interesting question, one that depends on what you mean by “create” I suppose, and what you mean by “media ecology” (an idea, a method or approach, a field, a curriculum, etc.). There’s no simple answer to the question, but it’s a great basis for an essay.