COMM Theory: Cultural Studies

Cultural Studies

Theory that says the media represent ideologies of the dominant class in a society because it is controlled by the elite corporations, and so presents targeted information to the public to maintain their role of power. The media's influence on a culture s

Stuart Hall

Major researcher who developed CST when he questioned the role of media as it was rising in its pervasive nature on human lives and its effects on shaping public opinions of marginalized groups, especially people of color. Has Marxist legacy of thinking t

Assumptions

1. Culture pervades and invades all facets of human behavior.
2. People are part of a hierarchical structure of power.

Alienation

Perception that one has little control over his or her future.

Frankurt School Theorists

A group of scholars who believed that the media were more concerned with making money than with presenting news.

Neo-Marxist

Limited embracement of Marxism.

Ideology

Framework used to make sense of our existence.

Culture Wars

Cultural struggles over meaning, identity, and influence.

Hegemony

The domination of one group over another, usually weaker, group.

False Consciousness

Gramsci's belief that people are unaware of the domination in their lives.

Theatre of Struggle

Competition of various cultural ideologies.

Counter Hegemony

When, at times, people use hegemonic behaviors to challenge the domination in their lives.

Decoding

Receiving and comparing messages.

Dominant Hegemonic Position

Operating within a code that allows one person to have control over another.

Negotiated Position

Accepting dominant ideologies but allowing for cultural exceptions.

Oppositional Position

Substituting alternative messages presented by the media.