COMM 101 Test 1

the production and delivery of mass cultural products and messages through media channels

serve as intermediaries, produce and surround us with signs, messages and meaning, circulate elements of culture in society, produce materia

study of how meaning is produced

signifier plus signified

the image, word, sound, etc we use to refer to the concept; its material or physical manifestation

concept to which the signifier refers, its abstract, experiential dimension

“thing out in the world” to which the sign refers to

one type of sign that resemble what they signify

second type of sign which bears a causal link with what they signify

third type of sign that arbitrarily associated with referents and do not resemble or relate to them

language structure, rules, grammar, shared meanings

an individual utterance which can shift meaning, which does, but also may not, follow the rules

specific meaning of a given signifier

additional associations with the sign

attempts to fix the meaning of a sign

how signs connect with other signs across media texts

can have several meanings

systems of production of meaning (like a language)

how stories are told

process of imposing narrative meaning onto events

when the story breaks down, this is how the story is fixed and put back on track

8 basic roles found in most stories

stories where opposing forces are in balance

conflict between 2 qualities or aspects

all events in a narrative, those presented and what the viewer infers

everything visible and audible present in film before us

story continues from episode to episode

complete story with ending

puzzles to be solved that pleasuably delay story's end

details that simplify complex actions