Critical Theory

1
Critical Theory

• Any theory that examines underlying, cultural
  forces that shape the media and influence our
  lives
• These theories typically have social change as
  their ultimate goal

2
Marxist Theory

• Those who own the means of producing goods
  services wield the power to shape society
• Capitalists (owners) proletariat (working
  class)
• Called for the revolt of the proletariat
• Messages produced by media conglomerates will
  rarely challenge their own legitimacy
• Ideology a social myth which represent
  unquestioned assumptions by the populace

3
Feminist Theory

• Questions the ideology of patriarchy
• Liberal-Humanist Feminists aim to extend to women
  the rights already possessed by men
• Radical Feminists advocate development of
  alternative social arrangements
• Socialist Feminists see capitalism as root of
  womens oppression
• Lesbian Feminists contend that women do not need
  to define themselves in relation to men

4
Structuralism Semiotics

• Structuralism seeks to uncover the deep
  ideological structure that affects our
  understanding of media messages
• Semiotics is the study of signs (things that
  represent something other than themselves).
  Iconic, symbolic, indexical.

5
Media Ecology/Medium Theory

• Harold Innis The Bias of Communication
• Marshall McLuhan The medium is the message.
• Walter Ong Orality and Literacy
• Neil Postman Amusing Ourselves to Death
• Joshua Meyrowitz No Sense of Place

6
Ideology

• Governs the way we perceive our world
  ourselves it controls what we see as natural
  or obvious.
• An integrated set of frames of reference through
  which each of us sees the world to which all of
  us adjust our actions.

7
Ideological
Extramedia
Organization
Media Routines
Individual
8
Sphere of Consensus
Sphere of Legitimate Controversy
Sphere of Deviance
9
Are Newspapers Doomed?

• Is the printed word a thing of the past? If so,
  is that problematic?
• If we no longer trust government or the press,
  where will we get our information?
• Can we trust those other sources of information?
  Does it matter?

10
Clash of Civilizations

• Is the gulf between the Arab world and the
  western world too vast to bridge?
• How could the media in this country do a better
  job of educating us on these issues?
• Is the coverage superficial because the press is
  failing us or is it because we have no interest
  or ability to make sense of these things?

11
Ideas Shape the World

• Ideas that once were revolutionary or dangerous
  now seem commonplace. Why?
• If cultures dont share the same intellectual
  history values, can they ever hope to
  peacefully coexist?