Question 1

"No Comment" was a space where readers of Ms. could ______.

Accepted Answer

"No Comment" was a section in Ms. magazine where readers could identify and expose sexist images from mainstream media, highlighting how pervasive and normalized sexism was in advertising and other visual media. This space was not for "trash talking" men, sharing memes, or seeking relationship advice, but rather for critically engaging with and challenging sexist representations.

Question 2

Who is most likely creating content online?

Accepted Answer

Women in their college years are among the most active demographics in content creation online, often engaging in social media, blogging, and other forms of digital expression.

Question 3

Scholars use the term polysemy to describe ______.

Accepted Answer

Polysemy refers to the concept that a single piece of media content can have multiple meanings or interpretations.

Question 4

What makes racialized spaces online like "Black Twitter" important?

Accepted Answer

"Black Twitter" and similar racialized spaces online are important because they serve multiple purposes: they foster a sense of pride and community among people of color, allow for the redefinition and reinterpretation of mainstream media content, and provide a platform for sharing information and personal experiences.

Question 5

Teenage fans are able to interpret sexual music videos in their own way due to ______.

Accepted Answer

Decoding refers to the process of interpreting or making sense of messages, including those in media like music videos, according to one's own perspective and understanding.

Question 6

According to Janice Radway's classic book, Reading the Romance, the damsel in distress, the woman who is incomplete without her heroic man, and the woman who finds love with the man who has sexually assaulted her are all heterosexist visions most commonly found in ______.

Accepted Answer

Radway's book specifically analyzes romance novels and how they perpetuate certain heterosexist narratives, including the tropes mentioned.

Question 7

The sexuality of videos featuring performers such as Madonna and Cyndi Lauper was interpreted by teenage fans as a ______.

Accepted Answer

Madonna and Cyndi Lauper's videos were often interpreted by teenage fans as a sign of female power, showcasing strong, independent women who were in control of their sexuality and image.

Question 8

In regard to online participation, what is the 1% rule?

Accepted Answer

The 1% rule, also known as the 90-9-1 principle, suggests that in an online community, only 1% of the users actively create new content, while the remaining 99% of participants are lurkers who do not contribute.

Question 9

When Liebes and Katz compared the decodings of six different ethnic groups from three different countries, they found that the distinct strategies they used to interpret could be explained by their ______.

Accepted Answer

Liebes and Katz found that the distinct strategies used by different ethnic groups to interpret could be explained by their cultural position, highlighting how cultural backgrounds influence the interpretation of media.

Question 10

Which characterizes the "matrix media" that users live in today?

Accepted Answer

Matrix media is characterized by interactive exchanges among users, allowing for dynamic communication and engagement.

Question 11

What does "decoding" mean in regard to an audience viewing media content?

Accepted Answer

Decoding in the context of media studies refers to how audiences interpret and derive meaning from media content, using their understanding of cultural and medium-specific conventions.

Question 12

What is the argument for the almost endless possibilities of resistance based on?

Accepted Answer

The argument for the almost endless possibilities of resistance is based on faith in the power of citizens to think and behave as active subjects, rather than on empirical evidence, biological determinants, or survey results.

Question 13

Which is a well-known study that focused on the relationship between social structure and audience interpretation?

Accepted Answer

"C Women Watching Television" is a study that specifically focused on the relationship between social structure and how audiences interpret media content, examining how women's social positions and experiences influence their interpretations of television shows.

Question 14

What is one reason polysemy can be a highly desirable content feature for mass-market media?

Accepted Answer

Polysemic texts are open to interpretation, allowing different audiences to find their own meanings and connections, thus broadening the appeal and engagement with the content.

Question 15

In Morley's study of British families, who is most likely to view sitting down just to watch television as a waste of time?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Morley's study of British families, who...

Question 16

The Internet brought audience members out from ______.

Accepted Answer

The Internet has transformed audience members from being passive consumers of media to active participants, allowing them to engage more directly with content, creators, and communities.

Question 17

Which is a defining differences between the traditional broadcast model of mass media and today's Internet environment?

Accepted Answer

The traditional broadcast model of mass media was characterized by professional "gatekeepers" who decided what content was published or broadcasted. In today's Internet environment, the role of these gatekeepers has been significantly diminished, allowing a much broader range of voices and content to be shared directly with audiences.

Question 18

What are the two activities that captivate audiences in the playful celebrity world?

Accepted Answer

Gossip and detective work are two activities that captivate audiences in the playful celebrity world.

Question 19

The "uses and gratifications" approach focuses on ______.

Accepted Answer

The "uses and gratifications" approach in media studies emphasizes both what people are doing with media and why they are using media, focusing on the active role of the audience in selecting and using media to fulfill various needs and desires.

Question 20

What is the main strategy employed by cultural jammers?

Accepted Answer

Cultural jammers often use pranking as a strategy to subvert mainstream media messages and challenge the status quo, employing humor and satire to make their points.

Quiz 8: Audiences and Creators