Question 6/7 Revision

How do genre/narrative/representation theories relate to a media product you have studied. 

Theory 

Examples 

Argument 

Narrative Theories 

-  Binary opposition (Strauss 1958)

- Character roles (Propp) 

- Narrative codes 

- Cause and Effect (Pam Cook 1985): Linear trajectory . 

- Conventional Structure (Todorov 1997): Call narrative a an equilibrium, disruption, new equilibrium 

Genre theories 

- Rick Altman (1999) Genre pleasure: Visual, emotional and intellectual. 

- Steve Neil (1995) Repetition: To keep the genre engaging 

- David Buckingham (1993) Genres Change: Society and cultural develops 

- Jason Mitell (2001) - Genres are exploited for profit. 

Representation theory 

- Working class is societies problem (Newman 2006)

- Male Gaze (Mulvey 1975) - Women being seen as objects and being over sexualised. 

- Racial representation (Alvarado 1989): Seen as comedic, vulnerable, pitied, aggressive and exotic. 

- All texts are encode with a prefer meaning (Hall 1980): Stereotypes