Blog Post #6
1. The typology which typically describes my television viewing habits is Excitement (Griffin, 2019). I love the thrill of getting to know a new cast of fictional characters, following their journeys, and feeling like you’re growing with them along the way. While violence plays a role in certain pieces of media that are popular, I don’t think violence is always needed to fit the typology of excitement- oftentimes it can just be a rush you get from the emotions of sadness or happiness on screen- or just two people talking in a room can be extremely exciting. For me personally, this fits onto Maslows Hierarchy of Needs somewhere between Love and Belonging, and Esteem. You can find things such as respect for yourself or a higher self-esteem, by watching characters who DON’T have those things.
2. According to Hall, the dominant code refers to how the media produces the message, and the masses consume it. The audience reading coincides with the preferred reading. The Negotiable code refers to when the audience assimilates the leading ideology in general but opposes its application in specific cases. The oppositional code refers to when the audience sees through the establishment bias in the media presentation and mounts an organized effort to demytholo- gize the news (Griffin, pg. 339). Gerber felt that Cultivation Theory holds that people take home the messages they see on television and it affects the way they act in real life. For example, he felt that if viewers come to believe that the world around them is filled with crime, they’re also likely to feel scared about the prospect of engaging in that crime-filled world (Griffin pg. 357). An example of this would be someone taking the message from an episode of a crime show that there are serial killers roaming around at night, and this causes them to lock their doors and buy a gun. If the message of the show was to protect yourself from these dangers, then the audience would be applying the dominant code to the show when they decide to protect themselves. However, if the show was meant to scare you and make you want to feel like you need to protect yourself- but the audience sees through that and understands it’s just a bit of silly escapism, then it’s not an example of Cultivation Theory.
3. The basic hypothesis of Agenda Setting Theory is that over time, the media agenda shapes the public agenda (Griffin, pg. 368). This is the case because certain media companies have different opinions on how the world should be depicted, so they emphasize ideas and thoughts that coincide with their beliefs, which they want to convince the world are. For me personally, I think Mental Health issues that are very prevalent in society aren’t given enough attention by the media, and I think it’s very harmful to people struggling with those issues. Even in movies or television mental health is ignored, and that neglect makes me feel sad for people out there who are struggling and don’t have a source of information to tell them about what they’re feeling and why they’re feeling it. I think the media has to do a better job about talking about mental health, and letting people know that they're not alone, even if it's a topic that might be uncomfortable for some (and thus why it's largely ignored)
4. My exposure to the media affects the way I frame myself all the time. I think the list of typologies is correct, but it’s missing a few things in regards to people who watch media to feel a sense of belonging, acceptance, or to relate to an issue that they feel other people in their life don’t relate to. In terms of media, I’ll often watch movies or shows which have very positive messages about life, the world, or humanity- and that affects the way I live my life personally. For example, a piece of media titled ‘What Remains of Edith Finch’, which is about death and how fragile life is- really caused me to appreciate the little things in my own life and not to take the days for granted. Similarly, seeing things on television such as the state of Ukraine during the war, it can make people reframe their lives in terms of appreciating things they didn’t before, or being grateful to not be in a warzone like the people in Ukraine are.
Hi Justin, Kelsey here! I like your perspective of your preferred TV viewing typology. I, too, like to watch for excitement, primarily with action movies like any of the Marvel movies. Beyond excitement, I also watch TV for companionship. I actually watched the entire Marvel Timeline (all of the movies... in order) with my family during winter break 2020. It was a wonderful time to spend with family and watch action-packed, exciting movies. Do you find that multiple typologies intersect when you watch TV? How has understanding Maslow's hierarchy impacted your conscious decisions to watch TV or consume media? Do you find that you're more aware of your viewing habits for specific reasons, like UGT suggests?
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your elaboration with the dominant, negotiable, and oppositional codes. Those terms were originally quite confusing, but you've helped the terms become more concrete in your practical example. Have you watched a show and have received the message as an oppositional code, where you "see through the bias" and try to reinterpret the message (Griffin et al., 2021, p. 336)? Sometimes I avoid watching TV that doesn't align with my views, which is known as selective exposure (Griffin et al., 2021, p. 196).
I value your perspective on mental health in the media, and that it is an issue that needs to be part of the conversation and part of the news story. I think this is a crucial issue that should also have a larger voice in the media. Do you think that consuming positive media could improve mental health for individuals? I find that the media can have quite a negative impact in my life, especially in terms of overexposure to social media. How do you think information could be spread to help individuals monitor their media exposure and perhaps, media literacy? I appreciate your perspective! Good work, Justin! :)