Theory questions and your opinion
1) Social learning theory has been criticised for simplifying the causes of violence in society. Do you think the media is responsible for anti-social behaviour and violence?
I believe that the media is responsible for anti-social behaviour and violence, to an extent. When an audience sees something on the media, they might try it out, therefore carrying out violent crimes as a result to playing violent video games. However, I do believe that our environment we live in and how our parents bring us up (upbringing) does powerfully influence us.
2) How is social learning theory relevant in the digital age? Are young people now learning behaviour from social media and the internet? Give examples.
On the social media, audience observe and replicate what they see. Young people now learn from the social media as there are powerful influencers trying to find young vulnerable minds. Teenagers are influenced by drill artists, who usually talk about violence. These teenagers then dress up and talk like them and carry out the violence they talk about in their songs.
3) Research three examples of moral panic from the last 50 years. To what extent was the media responsible for these moral panics? Was the concern in society justified? How have things changed as a result of these moral panics?
The Drugs War (late 80's and 90's) - described as a moral panic due to the exaggeration of the issue and hostility towards recreational drug users. Due to this there were hard consequences such as imprisonment for minor offences. It was shown that the drugs actually declined in the 80's.
Immigration - EU fears of migrants coming from Africa and the UK fear of polish immigrants. Caused a widespread panic with the media exaggerating.
The Red Scare - promotion and fear of communism, anarchism and leftist ideologies which occurred after World War I. Threats from American labor movement.
4) Read this introduction to an academic paper on technopanics. What examples are given of technopanics that create fear in society? If the link is blocked in school, you can access the text here.
Online child safety, digital privacy and cybersecurity, due to societal learning and experimentation.
5) Do you think the internet should be regulated? Should the government try and control what we can access online?
I think the government shouldn't control what we can see but should control when people post and preach false statements to try and snatch vulnerable minds to influence them.
6) Apply Gerbner's cultivation theory to new and digital media. Is the internet creating a fearful population? Are we becoming desensitised to online threats, trolling and abuse? Is heavy internet use something we should be worried about in society? Write a paragraph discussing these ideas.
The internet creates a population of negative people who influence, bully and threat others. In my opinion, I think we have become more desensitised to online threats etc. as they have become so common and part of social norms for online users. I think we should worry about heavy use of internet as the youth rely on it too much, that they become too ignorant about their surroundings.
The effects debate: Media Factsheet
Complete the following tasks using Media Factsheet 030 - The Effects Debate available on the Media Shared drive. You'll find it in our Media Factsheet archive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets. You can also access it via your school Google login here.
Read Media Factsheet 030 - Media and Audiences -The Effects Debate and answer the following questions:
1) Complete the questions in the first activity box (beginning with 'Do you play violent games? Are you violent in real life?')
I play/watch violent video games/films, but I am not violent in real life. When I see products advertised, I don't really want to buy it because it has no significant use for me. I haven't seen a documentary which has made me feel passionate about something.
2) What are the four categories for different effects theories?
- Bandura: Social Learning Theory
- Stanley Cohan: Moral Panic
- Technopanic: The modern moral panic
- George Gerbner: cultivation theory
3) What are the examples provided for the hypodermic needle theory - where media texts have been blamed for certain events?
The murder of James Bulger was compared to Childs play.
4) What was the 1999 Columbine massacre? You may need to research this online in addition to the information on the factsheet.
The columbine high school shooting massacre was a school shooting and an attempt bombing by 2 12th grade students. 12 students and 1 teacher were murdered, with 21 people being injured by gunshots. The 2 shooters committed suicide in the end.
5) What are the reasons listed on the factsheet to possibly explain the Columbine High School massacre?
- Easy access to weapons/social acceptance to gun ownership
- Teenagers feeling that they needed to fit in
- Hopelessness of living in disadvantaged areas and high unemployment
- Desensitisation of access to violent images from movies, games, news and the internet
8) What criticisms of direct effect theories are suggested in the factsheet?
9) Why might the 1970s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour be considered so controversial today? What does this tell us about Reception theory and how audiences create meanings?
The time the sitcom was produced was made specifically for a 70's audience who had different views and morals. The preferred reading would be that the producers made it to provide a source of entertainment for an audience. The oppositional reading is that the audience would be disgusted with the things mentioned in the sitcom and find them offensive as overtime, the society has changed with the views of social norms.
10) What examples are provided for Hall's theory of preferred, negotiated and oppositional readings?
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