Recall — GCSE Flashcards
📺 GCSE Media Studies Flashcards
Theory, representation and industry — 10 free revision cards. Study them below, or add the whole deck to Recall and let FSRS spaced repetition schedule your revision so it actually sticks.
Who is Stuart Hall and what is reception theory?
Jamaican-British theorist. His encoding/decoding model says audiences decode media in three ways:
1. Dominant/preferred reading — accept the producer's meaning
2. Negotiated reading — partially accept it
3. Oppositional reading — reject it
1. Dominant/preferred reading — accept the producer's meaning
2. Negotiated reading — partially accept it
3. Oppositional reading — reject it
What is Todorov's narrative theory?
A 5-stage structure for most stories:
1. Equilibrium — stable starting state
2. Disruption — something disturbs it
3. Recognition — characters realise the problem
4. Repair — they try to fix it
5. New equilibrium — restored, often changed
1. Equilibrium — stable starting state
2. Disruption — something disturbs it
3. Recognition — characters realise the problem
4. Repair — they try to fix it
5. New equilibrium — restored, often changed
What is Propp's character theory?
Vladimir Propp identified 7 stock character types in folk tales:
Hero, Villain, Donor, Helper, Princess (prize), Dispatcher, False hero.
Still used to analyse modern films and TV (e.g. Star Wars, Disney).
Hero, Villain, Donor, Helper, Princess (prize), Dispatcher, False hero.
Still used to analyse modern films and TV (e.g. Star Wars, Disney).
What does Laura Mulvey's "male gaze" mean?
In 1975, Mulvey argued that mainstream cinema is shot from a heterosexual male perspective, presenting women as objects to be looked at rather than active subjects.
Key concept in feminist media theory.
Key concept in feminist media theory.
What is representation in media?
How media texts portray people, places, events and ideas.
Representations are constructed — choices about who is shown, how, and with what associations. They can reinforce or challenge stereotypes.
Representations are constructed — choices about who is shown, how, and with what associations. They can reinforce or challenge stereotypes.
Name the technical codes of moving image.
Camera: shot type (CU, MS, LS), angle (high/low), movement (pan, tilt, tracking).
Editing: cut, fade, dissolve, pace.
Lighting: high-key, low-key, chiaroscuro.
Sound: diegetic (in the world) vs non-diegetic (added in post).
Editing: cut, fade, dissolve, pace.
Lighting: high-key, low-key, chiaroscuro.
Sound: diegetic (in the world) vs non-diegetic (added in post).
What is the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic sound?
Diegetic: sound that exists in the world of the story — characters can hear it (dialogue, footsteps, a radio playing).
Non-diegetic: added in post-production — characters can't hear it (soundtrack score, voiceover).
Non-diegetic: added in post-production — characters can't hear it (soundtrack score, voiceover).
What is convergence in media?
The merging of previously separate media technologies/industries.
Example: A smartphone is now camera, TV, radio, newspaper, computer, gaming console — and platforms like Netflix produce, distribute and exhibit content.
Example: A smartphone is now camera, TV, radio, newspaper, computer, gaming console — and platforms like Netflix produce, distribute and exhibit content.
What is Uses and Gratifications theory?
Blumler and Katz (1974). Audiences actively choose media to satisfy needs:
1. Information — learning
2. Personal identity — see ourselves reflected
3. Integration & social interaction — talking points
4. Entertainment — escapism, pleasure
1. Information — learning
2. Personal identity — see ourselves reflected
3. Integration & social interaction — talking points
4. Entertainment — escapism, pleasure
What is the difference between a mainstream and alternative media institution?
Mainstream: large, profit-driven, mass audience, regulated (BBC, Sky, Universal). Tend to reinforce dominant ideology.
Alternative: smaller, often non-profit, niche audience, independent (indie films, zines, podcasts). May challenge mainstream views.
Alternative: smaller, often non-profit, niche audience, independent (indie films, zines, podcasts). May challenge mainstream views.
These 10 cards are a free starter deck — a companion for memorising the core facts, not a complete course. In the Recall app you can also paste your own class notes and have AI build decks for the topics your exam board covers.