The effects debate - blog tasks

The effects debate - blog tasks 

1) Complete the questions in the first activity box (beginning with 'Do you play violent games? Are you violent in real life?') 
I do play video games, however i do not come across as a violent person in real life.


2) What are the four categories for different effects theories?
Audience theories regarding the effects of the media on audiences can be divided into these categories:
• Direct Effect Theories
• Diffusion Theories
• Indirect Effect Theories
• The Pluralist Approach

3) What are the examples provided for the hypodermic needle theory - where media texts have been blamed for certain events?

Child’s Play – The murder of Jamie Bulger
Marilyn Manson – The Columbine High School shootings
Natural Born Killers – a number of murders committed by
romantically linked couples.

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 massacre was a school shooting that occurred on April 20, 1999. Murdered 12 students and one teacher. Ten students were murdered in the library, where the pair subsequently died by suicide.

5) What are the reasons listed on the factsheet to possibly explain the Columbine High School massacre?

The Columbine High School shootings occurred due to a complex relationship between: The ease of access to firearms and the social, acceptance of gun ownership,The alienation felt by teenagers who felt as though they did not fit in, the hopelessness caused by living in an area where unemployment was high.

6) What does Gerbner's Cultivation theory suggest?

This theory considers the way the media affects attitudes rather than behaviour. Cultivation theory suggests that repeated exposure to television over time can subtly 'cultivates' viewers' perceptions of reality. Cultivation theory states that high frequency viewers of television are more susceptible to media messages

7) How does this front page of the Daily Mail (from this week - Wednesday 16 November) link to Cultivation theory?  Mail Online version of the story is here.
The front page of the daily mail is linked to the cultivation theory since many underaged kids are glued to screens for more than 4 hours a day. This reinforces the cultivation theory as the theory suggests high viewers of television are more violent in real life. In the daily mail it implies that when kids use technology such as smartphones for more than 4 hours, they start to neglect their parents which shows a sign of aggression towards them.



8) What does the factsheet suggest about action films and the values and ideologies that are reinforced with regards to violence?
The texts do not always encourage the audience to question the values and ideologies presented in an action film. More often, action film do support violence; the reason for this is so the audience can identify the hero's intentions.


9) What criticisms of direct effect theories are suggested in the factsheet?
This theory is largely discredited as it makes simplified judgements about the audience.

10) 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?

11) What examples are provided for Hall's theory of preferred, negotiated and oppositional readings?

12) Which audience theory do you think is most convincing? Why? It is important that you develop critical autonomy in judging the arguments for and against different theories and form your own opinion on these issues.