Question 1

______ analyzes how linguistic and nonlinguistic cultural "signs" form systems of meanings, as when giving someone a rose is interpreted as a sign of love or getting an A on a college paper is a sign of mastery of the rules of the specific assignment.

Accepted Answer

Semiotics analyzes how signs (including both linguistic and nonlinguistic signs) form systems of meanings. It involves studying how people interpret and create meaning from signs in a given culture or society.

Question 2

Unlike firms in many other nations, U.S. telephone and cable firms are not required to allow competitor broadband ISPs access to their wires, so there is virtually no meaningful competition in the now crucial broadband ISP industry. Why does the author think this is such a bad thing?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

The author of the article talks about the rise of the Internet as a form of free communication, seemingly without limits, thus raising the prospect of vast new realms of human sociability and enhanced democratic possibilities. Yet, rather than a means of expanding human sociability, the Internet is being turned into ______.

Accepted Answer

The author argues that instead of expanding human sociability, the Internet is being turned into a new means of alienation. This suggests that the Internet is limiting human connection and interaction, rather than enhancing it. Choices A, C, and D are not mentioned as potential answers in the article.

Question 4

Cultural studies insist that culture must be studied within the social relations and system through which culture is produced and consumed and that the study of culture is thus intimately bound up with the study of ______.

Accepted Answer

Cultural studies argue that culture is shaped and informed by the social, political, and economic contexts in which it is produced and consumed. Therefore, the study of culture should include an examination of how power operates in these contexts, and how social relations and systems of production shape cultural meaning and value. Thus, studying culture is also studying society and politics, in addition to economics.

Question 5

Consider this excerpt from the article: "On the one hand, they value their romances highly because the act of reading them literally draws (them) away from their present surroundings. Because they must produce the meaning of the story by attending closely to the words on the page, they find that their attention is withdrawn from concerns that plague them in reality." Who is Janice Radway referring to when she uses "they" and "them"?

Accepted Answer

Janice Radway is referring to women. The language used in the excerpt suggests that the focus is specifically on a group of people who value "their romances" highly, which is likely to be women who read romantic fiction.

Question 6

An alternative approach to fan experience is one that perceives "Trekkers" (as they prefer to be called) not as cultural dupes, social misfits, or mindless consumers but rather as ______.

Accepted Answer

"Poachers" of textual meanings refers to fans who actively engage with and reinterpret media content, rather than passively consuming it.

Question 7

"They are developed in a social, political, and economic context. And this has strongly conditioned the course and shape of the communication revolution." What is the author referring to in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The author is referring to the development of communication technologies in a social, political, and economic context.

Question 8

In this article, the author mentions that ______ most important economic function came from its role as an instrument of legitimation for transformations in values initiated by the new economic imperatives of postwar America.

Accepted Answer

The article specifically mentions television as having the economic function of legitimizing transformations in values driven by new economic imperatives in postwar America.

Question 9

An escape that is both literal and figurative implies flight from some situation in the real world which is either stifling or overwhelming, as well as a metaphoric transfer to another, more desirable universe where events are happily resolved. What kind of experience does the author claim makes these escapes a reality?

Accepted Answer

The author claims that romance reading makes these escapes a reality, as it allows for both a literal escape from the real world and a figurative transfer to a more desirable universe through the narrative of the romance.

Question 10

The power or dominance that one social group holds over others is ______.

Accepted Answer

Hegemony refers to the power or dominance that one social group holds over others through cultural, ideological, or economic means. Mass media manipulation, Marxist theory, and mass-mediated ideologies are all related concepts, but they do not exactly match the definition of hegemony.

Question 11

The Italian intellectual Antonio Gramsci--to whom the term hegemony is attributed-- ______.

Accepted Answer

Antonio Gramsci developed the concept of hegemony, which states that those in power maintain their power by convincing others of the legitimacy of their rule, even if it goes against their own interests. Gramsci broadened materialist Marxist theory into the realm of ideology, arguing that cultural and ideological factors play a crucial role in maintaining power relations. This idea of hegemony has been applied to a variety of contexts, including consumerism, but Gramsci's original focus was on the intersections of political, economic, and cultural forces.

Question 12

In the media industry, vertical integration refers to ______.

Accepted Answer

Vertical integration in the media industry refers to the process by which one owner acquires all aspects of production and distribution of a single type of media product. This means that the company has control over all stages of the media product, from creation to distribution, which can lead to increased efficiency and profitability.

Question 13

The idea is that ______ is one who is subservient to power above him or her and abusive of power to those below.

Accepted Answer

The term "authoritarian" describes someone who is subservient to power above them and abusive of power to those below. An authoritarian personality is characterized by a willingness to blindly submit to authority and a tendency to be intolerant of those who do not conform to traditional values or authority.

Question 14

Select the answer that best shows what the author was describing with the Mama's Birthday example, and what it represents: ______.

Accepted Answer

The Mama's Birthday example is used to illustrate the conflict between consumer desires and family roles, which reflects television's social role as a mediator between the family and the economy. The example highlights how television portrays consumerism as a way to show love and appreciation, even if it conflicts with traditional family roles and values. This represents how television and media influence societal values and perceptions about consumption and family dynamics.

Question 15

Which term best describes when media companies become part of much larger corporations that own a collection of other companies that may operate in highly diverse business areas?

Accepted Answer

Conglomeration refers to the joining of multiple companies under one umbrella corporation, often across diverse business areas.

Question 16

The author talks about how the role of media is often ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The author talks about how the role...

Question 17

When audiences appropriate texts in line with the interests of the dominant culture and the ideological intentions of a text, they are performing ______.

Accepted Answer

When audiences appropriate texts in line with the interests of the dominant culture and the ideological intentions of a text, they are performing dominant readings. This means that they are accepting the preferred meaning of the text as provided by those with power and influence, rather than critically engaging with the text and interpreting it in their own way. This can reinforce dominant cultural norms and limit opportunities for alternative perspectives to be heard.

Question 18

As the author explains, we must begin to recognize that romance reading is fueled by ______ and ______ not by perfect contentment with woman's lot.

Accepted Answer

The author suggests that romance reading is motivated by dissatisfaction and disaffection, indicating a desire for change and escape from reality rather than perfect contentment with a woman's lot.

Question 19

As discussed in the article, from a cultivation theory standpoint, ______.

Accepted Answer

The article states that the results suggest that television viewing in the U.S. context provides a supportive environment for authoritarian values, which is consistent with cultivation theory. The article does not discuss radio or film providing cross-cultural values or the results being inconsistent with democratic values. Option D is incorrect as the article suggests a link between authoritarian values and entertainment.

Question 20

According to George Lipsitz, advertisers incorporated their messages into urban ethnic working-class comedies with which method?

Accepted Answer

Lipsitz notes that advertisers incorporated their messages into urban ethnic working-class comedies both indirectly and directly, through product placement and explicit ad campaigns within the shows. Therefore, the best answer is A, as it includes both indirect and direct means.

Quiz 1: Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture