Media & communicationLesson 2 of 2 in the course Media and Technology

Functionalist, Conflict, Feminist, and Interactionist Views of Media

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson examines media and technology through the functionalist perspective, which asks how they contribute to the operation of society. Media can entertain, promote goods, pass along social norms, and change everyday life. These functions can have both helpful and harmful consequences.

Functionalism views society as a system whose parts contribute to its overall operation. From this perspective, media and technology are studied by asking what they do for individuals and society. A television, for example, can entertain viewers, provide information, and connect advertisers with audiences.

All flashcards

Cyberfeminism
The use and promotion of feminism online, including discussion, organizing, and creative work.
Neo-Luddite
A person who may view technology as a symbol of modern life’s coldness or alienation.
Technophile
A person who may view technology as a sign of progress and a brighter future.
Manifest function
An intended and recognized consequence of an activity or social institution.
Latent function
An unintended or less obvious consequence of an activity or social institution.

Quiz questions

  1. What does the digital divide refer to?Answer: Unequal access to media and technology.
  2. What is gatekeeping in mass media?Answer: Selecting and shaping messages for public attention.
  3. What does panoptic surveillance describe?Answer: A system where people may be monitored without knowing when observation occurs.
  4. What aspect of women’s representation do feminist analyses of media often criticize?Answer: Emphasis on appearance over skills and abilities.
  5. What does symbolic interactionism examine when studying technology?Answer: How people create and interpret meanings attached to technological objects.

Based on Introduction to Sociology 3e by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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