Applications of some parts of Theories of Mass Communication on Films

This work was prepared for my theories of mass communication lessons in this term like a termpaper. It has not included all of mass comm theories, I chose some of them for my work. I hope it is serviceable to you. Im waitin your ideas and opinions. (my english is not good)
ABSTRACT
Some parts of theories of mass communication studies occupy a huge place within Movies. Writers who write text of movies work with some mass communication researchers to acquire a perfect scenario. Because of communications researchers know how to affect audiences. They use people like cavy to see their studies effects on people in communication channel such as television, radio, movies, newspapers with gate-keeping, agenda–setting etc. Most of people do not understand any of these but who dabble at communication realize each of this. In the light of this information, within this article I chose a movie (film, called V for Vendetta) and we will be analyzing and studying to show to you how includes these theories on movies.
Mass Communication theories on Movies

Introduction
Mass communications is a part of communications studies. In this way, I want to start a question. ‘What is communication?’ According to Işık, ‘‘communication as a systemic process in which people interacts with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings. ’’ (2008: ?)
Mass communication has strong power to affect people. But, primarily we know what mass communication is. ‘‘Mass communication is messages communicated through a mass medium to a large number of people.’’ (Bittner 1986: 12) You can send your messages to lots of people faster than the other ways with mass medium such as film, radio, television etc. In mass communication, we use some paradigms to study on media such as Marxist media theory, Frankfurt School media theory, Limited effects paradigm from Lazarsfeld and Merton etc. On the other hand, these headings have got some subheading for example, narcotizing dysfunction, gate keeping, agenda setting etc. In this study, we work to match these paradigms with characters’ role, discourse or whatever they do within movie of V for Vendetta. Now lets start to our analysis on movie.

Narcotizing Dysfunction

Firstly, in this movie hero called ‘Vale or V’ says, you forgot the date of fifth November and democracy, liberty etc. You are watched, listened, persuade all places. President Adam Sutler and his party members work on media to hide most of reality. They have a strong lobby to affect to people. He and his partners want to have power on their hands. People live under control.  Nonetheless, a lot of people believe and trust to president and his government.  According to Mass Communications researchers; ‘‘viewers can be responsive, and they interfere to social problems but they are lethargic and unresponsive. Mass communications tolls are accused by mass communication researchers.’’ (Mutlu 1998: 194).  In this definition, we can see easily narcotizing dysfunction in this movie.

Agenda-Setting
People who have media power on his hand want to plan our agenda. They show us whatever they want; generally this agenda is not real. For example, we have an economic crisis but some newspapers and televisions say we have not, everything is normal. On the other hand, they say different thing to believe these. According to Bittner,
The media create an agenda for our thoughts and influence us in what seems important. For example, if the media local community provide considerable coverage of a local issue, the residence of the community is very well perceive a bond issues as being more important than others and consequently influence our decisions about candidates based on how they address themselves to those issues. ( 1986: 408)

In this movie, England has got a problem called Mr. V, Vendetta kills some person who members of party, who did some anti- democratic applications in Lark hill to people, who are important to England. But BTN national television channel is broadcasting different news such as waterlessness, virus etc.

The Gatekeeper Concept and Gate-keeping
I want to start this topic with an example. When we watch to movie, we see some events. For example, when Vendetta went to BTN with strong bombs, he broadcast a video after than some polices and emissaries come there. The channel manager gets a video camera to his hand and he starts to record   to operation of police to studio. When batting order comes, he takes a small part of operation. They shoot false person. But after the operation, they are broadcasting false news. They say we caught and killed ‘V’.
Gatekeeper is any person or formally organized group directly involved in relaying or transferring information from one individual to another through a mass medium. A gatekeeper can be  a film producer, a network censor, a director, a newspaper executive, or any other individual in processing or control of messages disseminated through mass media to public. ( Bittner 1986: 13)

In this definition, we have most of gatekeepers in our life such as sometimes I can be a gatekeeper to you and generally film producers, newspapers editors, speakers, teachers can be a gatekeeper to us.  Moreover; according to Agee, Ault and Emery, ‘‘ability of the media to influence the salience of events in the public mind, shaping awareness and action.’’ (1997: 71) In this movie, we watch a person who is called Luis Prothero ‘sound of London’ time of his death he is not only gate keeper but also agenda setter.

Final
In the light of this information, research and analysis, I worked to show you how to include some applications of theories of mass communication on my sample movie. Researchers are continuing to their study and research. Because of they want to enhance the power of mass communications with mass medium on target audiences. I believe that I said to you corrects things and you can see how to use mass communications paradigm in mass medium especially in movies. We are under control these paradigms and studies in our life in everywhere.
List of References
Agee K. Emery E. and Ault P. (1997) Introduction to Mass Communications. New York: Addison – Wesley Educational Publisher Inc.

Bittner, John. (1986) An Introduction Mass Communication. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Işık Nuran E. (2008) Introductions to Communications  Lessons Notes  Izmir : University of Izmir Economics

(Mutlu 1998: 194). Aydın Ş. İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Yıl:6 Sayı:11 200/2 s. 119-131  www.iticu.edu.tr/Kutuphane/dergi/s11/M00163.pdf
(23.12.2008)

Bu yazıyı sosyal medya paylaşabilirsiniz

Yazar: Erdal Erdoğdu

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“Applications of some parts of Theories of Mass Communication on Films” için bir yorum

  1. Gökçen hocadan gördüğümüz onca konular nasılda bir filmde toplanmış, filmi 7 kez izledim ve anca yorumlayabilmiştim 🙂 replik replik durdurdum filmi ve her lafın altından nerde bir nane var onu aradım 🙂 Marx amcam sağ olsun çok yardımcı olmuştu. güzel bir film analizi olmuş:) keşke daha önceden blogunu keşfetmiş olsaydım, referans alırdım 😉

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