Postmodernism: boundaries between the 'real' world and the media world have collapsed
Steve Neale
Liesbet Van Zoonen
Feminist Theory: The display of women's bodies it a core element of western patriarchal culture. Media can contribute to social change by representing women in non-traditional, non-sexist roles
Narrative share a basic structure, moving from one equilibrium to another
Structuralist theory: meaning is dependent on binary oppositions
Representation theory: Stereotyping reduces people to a few simple characteristics and occurs when there are inequalities of power.
bell hooks
Feminist Theory: Feminism is the struggle to end patriarchal oppression. Western media considers white or pale skinned women to be more desirable
Levi-Strauss
People are not born predisposed to behave in a male or female way. They behave in that way to fit in with society (Gender Performativity)
Genre theory: Repetition & Difference
Stuart Hall
Todorov
Paul Gilroy
Theories of Identity: The media provides us with the tools we need to construct our own identities.
Jean Baudrillard
Judith Butler
David Gauntlett
Ethnicity & Postcolonial Theory: The idea that civilisation constructs racial hierarchies and sets up binary oppositions based on notions of 'otherness'. Colonial discourses continue to inform contemporary attitudes
