Critical media studies-media messages

UNDERSTANDING KEY TERMS

FORM

 The creation and satisfaction of desire

GENRE

 A class or constellation of messages that share discernible stylistic or formal (syntactic), substantive (semantic), and situational (pragmatic) characteristics.

RETHORIC

The use of symbols by humans to effect and move other humans.

DOXA

Represents knowledge “which is beyond question and which each agent tacitly accords by the mere fact of acting in accord with social convention.”10 In other words, doxa refers to any constructed aspects of a culture that its members do not significantly challenge or critically reflect upon. A good synonym for doxa is “common sense.” 

INTERPELLATION

The process of unconsciously being indoctrinated into an ideology.

OTHERING

Is the process of marginalizing minorities by defining them in relationship to the (white) majority, which functions as the norm or the natural order.

 AMERICAN DREAM

The idea that a person’s level of success is directly related to the amount of effort or drive that he or she puts forth in attaining his or her goal