Critical Theory of Mass Com Social Construction

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Critical Theory of Mass ComSocial Construction

• Social Construction of Reality
• says mass communication is a perspective, not a
  subject to be studied which is separate from us
• SCR says mass communication (among other types of
  communication) is the process by which all
  reality is constructed
• (Remember, Communication is involved in all
  things and is separate from nothing)

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Assumptions of SCR- 

• Communicative action is voluntary
• We make choices when we communicate and consume
  mass media
• The social environment does determine what can
  and cannot be done
• in terms of what we do with mass media
• When we act we are constrained by meanings, moral
  orders, roles, rules
• even as we use and consume mass media

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Assumptions of SCR and Mass Com- 

• Knowledge is a social product
• It is achieved through interaction with mass
  media
• Language that is expereinced in mass media
  determines meaning and influences action
• Knowledge is contextual (or based on the
  situation)
• Meaning is created in particular times and places
• In particular social situations

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Assumptions of SCR- 

• Mass Com Theories create worlds
• They create knowledge
• They create reality
• Mass Com Scholarship is value laden
• Theories are embedded by the values of the scholar

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• The social group agrees on what their theory of
  reality is, whatever the situation is
• Two people who say they are in love know what
  the theory of being in love is
• The social group recognizes what love is and
  may confirm or disconfirm the relationship
• These set theories are called structured
  templates
• set meanings attached to certain sequences of
  events
• Ex Brokeback Mountain

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The Self and Mass Com SCR

• The concept of self is also structured by
• our own personal theories
• (It is your private idea of who you are)
• the concept of the person
• is the publicly visible being the theory of
  what a person is created by the culture
• SO..
• There is a tension between our theory of self and
  the theory of personhood created by the culture

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• DUDE!