Students were introduced to the media equation: INSTITUTIONAL IDEOLOGY + MEDIATION = REPRESENTATION. The aim of the first section of the lesson was to illustrate the idea that institutional ideology dictates the content of the media text. The aims of the institution will shape the content of the ideas being offered through the media text. To illustrate this idea, students were offered the following texts:
- This clip is from The Bill O'Reilly Factor that is broadcast by Fox News in America: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd8o_yqqo9o&feature=related
- This clip is from Hannity which is a news related show broadcast by Fox News in America: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFAGsxkWLJY&feature=related
- This clip was posted to You Tube and was not broadcast by Fox news. Students were asked to consider why Fox news decided to ignore this interview when constructing their representation of the Occupy demonstrators: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhO3dTdp6ek
The class discussion considered how these three texts illustrate the link between institutional ideology and representation. Fox news is sympathetic to the views of the Republican Party in the USA and represent the individuals attending the Occupy demonstrations as being ignorant and absurd. Fox news has not embraced the Occupy movement and this is reflected in the mediation of their representation.
Students were also shown this classic example of institutional mediation. Apologies if this text frightened any individual this afternoon. It is a truly grotesque media text and is clearly the product of a twisted and deviant human mind:
The aim of the second section of the session was to introduce students to media theory. Students were offered a clip from the film MAN ON WIRE and asked to consider how Dyer's Theory and The Uses and Gratifications Theory could be applied to this text. Click on link below to access a You Tube version of the clip shown in class. The audio is out of synch but you get a flavour of the scene:
HOMEWORK: It was obvious that students had not read the theory sheets that I gave the class in September. I expect all students to be familiar with the following theories when next our lives collide in E5:
- The Hypodermic Needle Theory and Marxist Theory.
- Liberal Pluralism
- The Two-Step Flow Theory
- Sensitisation and Desensitisation
- A clear understanding of The Uses and Gratifications Theory.
- A clear understanding of Dyer's Theory.
Students have two questions that need to be completed as a written response:
- What do we learn about the link between Institution and Representation through these texts? Students should consider both the Fox News segments and the Jesse LaGreca interview that Fox decided that they would not offer for broadcast. Students could also refer to the two front pages that I provided. Both offer a different representation of the same event. I want students to consider all the texts offered in the first half of this session when constructing their response.
- How can media theory be applied to MAN ON WIRE? How would an audience use this text? Students need to apply The Uses and Gratifications Theory and Dyer's Theory of Intensity to this text. The aim of this question is to allow students an opportunity to illustrate their understanding of how to apply media theory to a media text.
I am expecting a clear and detailed response to these two questions.I expect two detailed paragraphs with opinion supported with specific textual reference and media language used in an appropriate manner.
The download link below will provide clear guidance notes for the homework.These notes will allow you to produce an appropriate and detailed response. Click on link below to access the download:
