Question

which theory (relationships among institutions, relationships within the institution or relationships between an institution an the public) do you think best fits with documentary films as a technological medium of media communication? Why? does the media provide important functions for society? Is the media a reflection of powerful interests? How does the media create the meanings we attach to objects?

Answer 1

The dissemination of information or how information is transmitted within a culture. And this can include print media, television, radio amd so on. This media has consumed changes across the cultures and age groups. For example, my grandmother learns lot of current events from television and newspapers.

It plays various roles in our society through different sociological perspectives. So according to a functionalist view, one of the most important functions of mass media is provide entertainment.so, it's meant to occupy our leisure time. But tge functionalist also say that mass media can also act as an agent of socialization and an enforcer of social norms. It presents the standardized view of society and provides a collective experience for members of that society. For example, watching Olympics in a television.

Mass media also functions to bring people together. And there entire internet based communities that are focused on things like LGBTQ community or childcare.

But mass media can also tell us about what a society exoects of us through what they rewards and punishes. For example, when we hear about criminal cases in the media. Which inforces the idea that criminal behavior is bad and should be avoided.

However, the media can sometimes also glorify behavior that society as a whole would deem to be wrong. Things like intense physical violence.

Amass media also functions as promoter of consumer culture. How the media reflects and portrays divisions that exist within our society like race, ethnicity, gender or social class. Conflict theory uses the term gatekeeper to describe the process by which a small number of people and corporation control whta material is being presented on tge media. It describes how information moves through a series of gates before they can reach the public.

Feminist theory's understanding of mass media is similar to conflict theory in that it also holds that masd media stereotype and misrepresent the society towards the dominant ideology.