Question 1

Sandra is convinced that mass media is nothing but a profit-generating machine controlled by the elite. Which theory do her ideas reflect?

Accepted Answer

Sandra's ideas reflect conflict theory, which suggests that society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources. It emphasizes the social, political, or material inequalities of a social group, critiquing the broad socio-political system. In this context, the belief that mass media is controlled by the elite for profit generation aligns with the conflict theory's focus on power disparities and the dominance of certain groups over others in society.

Question 2

Families have relinquished a great deal of control over the transmission of values, beliefs, and norms to the mass media. What are media engaged in when they take on this role?

Accepted Answer

When the media take on the role of transmitting values, beliefs, and norms, they are engaged in socialization. This process involves teaching individuals the norms, values, and practices of a society, which was traditionally a role played by families and educational institutions.

Question 3

Robert believes that mass media operate in a way that makes social order possible, an idea that reflects which of the following theories?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism posits that societal institutions, including mass media, serve crucial roles in maintaining social order and stability. Robert's belief aligns with this perspective, as it suggests mass media contribute to the functioning and cohesion of society.

Question 4

Which of the following approaches critiques functionalism for exaggerating the degree to which mass media serve the interests of all citizens?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory critiques functionalism by arguing that mass media serve the interests of dominant social groups rather than all citizens, highlighting the power imbalances and inequalities in society.

Question 5

Mass media provides Canadians with various television dramas that devote attention to crime, criminals, police, and the law. By producing so many shows in this genre, what function of media are broadcasters engaging?

Accepted Answer

Social control is the function of media that broadcasters are engaging in by producing so many shows in the crime genre. These shows help to socialize viewers about the law and the consequences of breaking it, and they can also help to deter crime by making viewers more aware of the risks involved.

Question 6

Chrissy carefully monitors what her three-year-old daughter is watching on television, ensuring that she is only watching non-violent shows that teach important values like sharing, cooperation, acceptance of diversity, and so on. What function of media is Chrissy engaging?

Accepted Answer

Chrissy is engaging in the socialization function of media by selecting content that teaches her daughter important values and behaviors, which is a key aspect of how media can influence and educate individuals, especially children, about societal norms and expectations.

Question 7

Through Canadian-controlled radio and television, the government ensures that Canadians have access to important national issues, values, and culture. In this situation, what function of media is the government engaging?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Through Canadian-controlled radio and television, the government...

Question 8

Which of the following means of communication is increasingly less feasible due to Canada's size and complexity?

Accepted Answer

Due to Canada's vast geographical size and the complexity of reaching people spread out across such a large area, face-to-face interaction becomes increasingly less feasible as a primary means of communication.

Question 9

By exposing various deviants and showcasing the police and the law, along with model citizens, the media reinforce cultural ideas about who is deserving of rewards and who is deserving of punishments. What does this accomplish?

Accepted Answer

This process accomplishes setting boundaries for normative behavior by reinforcing societal norms and expectations, indicating what is considered acceptable and unacceptable behavior within a culture.

Question 10

Andrew faithfully reads his subscription to Maclean's magazine and The National Post as a way of staying informed about life in Canada. In doing this, what is Andrew a part of?

Accepted Answer

Andrew is part of an "imagined community," a concept that refers to the way people come to identify themselves as part of a larger group (in this case, a nation) through shared media, language, and symbols, even if they will never meet all the other members of that group. Reading national publications like Maclean's magazine and The National Post helps him stay connected to broader national narratives and issues, reinforcing his sense of belonging to the Canadian community.

Question 11

Daytime television programs often show people behaving badly and audience reactions to this behaviour. Besides entertaining people, what important function do these shows fulfill?

Accepted Answer

These shows often serve as agents of social control by showcasing what is considered unacceptable behavior, thereby reinforcing societal norms and values.

Question 12

Many forms of mass media provide people with pleasure, relaxation, and short-term escape from their problems and worries. What function of media does this reflect?

Accepted Answer

The function described is entertainment, as it specifically mentions providing pleasure, relaxation, and escape from problems, which are primary goals of media entertainment.

Question 13

Award-winning author Saul Bellow (1964) stated that "a scandal [is] after all a sort of service to the community." Which of the following ideas does this statement reflect?

Accepted Answer

Scandals highlight what is considered acceptable or unacceptable behavior within a community, thereby delineating societal norms and boundaries.

Question 14

Damien strongly believes that media support the interests of the elite. Which theory do his ideas reflect?

Accepted Answer

Damien's belief aligns with conflict theory, which posits that society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources and that social structures and institutions reflect the interests of the powerful or elite groups within society.

Question 15

According to German philosopher Georg Hegel, which of the following purposes does the act of reading the newspaper every day accomplish?

Accepted Answer

Hegel viewed the daily act of reading the newspaper as a ritual that unites the secular social world, emphasizing its role in connecting individuals within the public sphere and contributing to a shared social consciousness.

Question 16

Recent public opinion polls demonstrate that provincial premier candidate Edmund is falling behind in the polls. In order to boost his ratings, he directs his campaign manager to create commercials that show his opponent as unable to manage getting her children organized for school, much less being able to organize a provincial government. What is Edmund engaging in?

Accepted Answer

Edmund is engaging in negative advertising by creating commercials that portray his opponent in a negative light, focusing on her personal life to suggest she is unfit for office.

Question 17

Graeme is exhausted and stressed out after a 16-hour-per-day week at work. According to the textbook, how is he likely to decompress in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Graeme is likely to decompress by engaging in unchallenging media consumption because when people are exhausted and stressed, they often prefer activities that require minimal mental or physical effort, allowing them to relax and recover.

Question 18

As societies like Canada become larger and more complex, older methods of communication become less feasible. According to the textbook, what does this process lead to?

Accepted Answer

As societies grow in complexity, they naturally evolve to develop new means for organization and operation to adapt to the changing needs and challenges, including how they communicate and function.

Question 19

Which of the following theories focuses on the importance of media as a stress reliever in ways that maintain the social order?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. It emphasizes the role of media in maintaining the social order by providing entertainment, education, and acting as a stress reliever, thus contributing to the overall stability and cohesion of society.

Question 20

Which theoretical approach examines the ways that mass media contribute to economic inequality?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory focuses on how societal structures and institutions, including mass media, contribute to inequality, particularly economic inequality, by benefiting certain groups at the expense of others.

Quiz 18: Mass Media and Mass Communication