Audience: Effects theories (Media Factsheet 30)

1) Complete the questions in the first activity box (beginning with 'Do you play violent games? Are you violent in real life?')

There are documentaries which I watch commenting on issues which are faced globally. I do watch violent movies and play violent games but not violent in life. Yes, there are many Ads which may target thongs such as technology and made me want to buy products of that sought. 

2) What are the four categories for different effects theories?

The Diffusion theories, Direct Effect theory, Indirect Effect theories and the Pluralist approach.

3) What are the examples provided for the hypodermic needle theory - where media texts have been blamed for certain events? 

 Marilyn Manson for the Columbine High School shootings, Natural Born Killers for the murders of couples and Child's play was blamed for the murder of Jamie Bulger,

4) What was the 1999 Columbine massacre? You may need to research this online in addition to the information on the fact sheet.
The Columbine High School massacre was a school shooting that occurred on April 20, 1999. Where two students, been previously bullied, went into their school with guns and killed 15 people.

5) What are the reasons listed on the fact sheet to possibly explain the Columbine High School massacre?
The easy access to be ablt to get automatic weaponsin America, being able to access violent images which may change their psyche and the way social groups and subculture in school may have played a part.

6) What does Gerbner's Cultivation theory suggest?

People becoming desensitised with the repeat of attitudes and thoughts which become more normalised because of the representatives. 

7) How does this front page of the Daily Mail (from this week - Wednesday 16 November) link to Cultivation theory? The Mail Online version of the story is here.

We are known to hear about these certain events that they claim that the people fitting in this category will be placed within these ideals. 

8) What does the factsheet suggest about action films and the values and ideologies that are reinforced with regards to violence?

That action movies represent 'good' violence as a means to help others/ help some through hardships but 'bad' violence would be applied to the villain/antagonist which would be against other people for their pleasure.

9) What criticisms of direct effect theories are suggested in the fact sheet?

Criticism are that the direct effect theories saying that the mass of people are more likely to be unaware and be easily led to stray into a certain path.

10) Why might the 1970s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour be considered so controversial today? What does this tell us about Reception theory and how audiences create meanings?

There is a sense of a dynamic change as before people dint assume one certain meaning behind a text and didn't create a sought of image/meaning for themselves. However, rather now people have this problem.