Theorists of LFTVD

Todorov: Equilibrium Theory (Language)

Traditional narratives follow a 3 point structure (Beginning, Middle, End), which unfolds in 4 phases:

1. Exposition
2. Introduction to conflict 
3. Climax
4. Resolution 

Strauss- Binary Opposition

• Strauss identified that we understand the world by the relationship that two opposites have together.
• He believed that narratives are arranged around the conflict of binary oppositions.
• Some of these oppositions could include:

1. Men vs Women
2. Good vs Bad
3. Day vs Night
4. Old vs New
5. Right vs Wrong

Stuart Hall

Reception theory as developed by Stuart Hall asserts that media texts are encoded and decoded. The producer encodes messages and values into their media which are then decoded by the audience. However, different audience members will decode the media in different ways and possibly not in the way the producer originally intended.

Stuart Hall states that audience members adopt one of the following three positions when they decode the text:

Dominant, or Preferred Reading - how the producer wants the audience to view the media text. Audience members will take this position if the messages are clear and if the audience member is the same age and culture; if it has an easy to follow narrative and if it deals with themes that are relevant to the audience.

Oppositional Reading - when the audience rejects the preferred reading, and creates their own meaning for the text. This can happen if the media contains controversial themes that the audience member disagrees with. It can also arise when the media has a complex narrative structure perhaps not dealing with themes in modern society. Oppositional reading can also occur if the audience member has different beliefs or is of a different age or a different culture.

Negotiated Reading - a compromise between the dominant and oppositional readings, where the audience accepts parts of the producer's views, but has their own views on parts as well. This can occur if there is a combination of some of the above e.g. audience member likes the media, is of the same age as you and understands some of the messages, but the narrative is complex and this inhibits full understanding.

Many factors could affect whether the audience take the dominant, oppositional or negotiated reading.

• Age
• Beliefs
• Culture
• Gender
• Life experience
• Mood at the time of viewing

Galtung and Ruge - News Values

Threshold- The bigger the impact and reach of the story.

Unexpectedness- An event that is shock or out of the ordinary.

Negativity- Bad news is more interesting 'if it bleeds, it leads'.

Elite persons/places- Stories about important people and powerful nations.

Unambiguous- Stories that are easy to understand and for papers to report on.

Personalisation- Stories that include human interest- 'real' people.

Proximity- Stories that are closer to home are more likely to be included.

Continuity/currency- Stories that are already in the news continue to run and are updated.