Theorists Quiz

Which theorist came up with Representation Theory and Reception Theory?

Answer explanation

Stuart Hall is the theorist behind Reception Theory and Representation Theory! You can use him to talk about how people are represented or viewed in the media.

Which theorist talks about feminist theory and representation of gender?

Answer explanation

Liesbet van Zoonen talks about the patriarchy and how women are presented stereotypically in the media. You can use her theory to talk about representation of women.

What about Gender Performativity? Which theorist is that?

Answer explanation

Judith Butler talks about how gender is "performative", that our actions make our gender and that it is a social construct. You could use this to talk about how masculinity and femininity, or gender as a whole, are presented in media.

And how about Genre Theory? Which theorist covers that?

Answer explanation

Steve Neale's Genre Theory talks about how different genres have strong conventions, i.e that a Western would have cowboys and a 'damsel in distress'. You can use this to talk about media texts with a strong sense of genre.

Which theorist covers Identity Theory?

Answer explanation

David Gauntlett talks about Identity Theory, the idea that people shape their identities around others who are similar to them. You can use this to talk about characters that people identify with in media texts.

And who covers Fandom Theory?

Answer explanation

Henry Jenkins' Fandom Theory is the idea that people form entire communities around the texts they love. You can use this to talk about the audiences of popular texts, like Peaky Blinders.

Nearly there! Can you name the theorist behind binary opposites/structuralism?

Answer explanation

Claude Levi-Strauss is the theorist behind 'structuralism'. He believes everything is made up of binary opposites (light/dark, life/death) and that is how we understand meaning.

Lastly, who talks about Semiotics? e.g denotation and connotations?

Answer explanation

Roland Barthes uses his Semiotics Theory to talk about how things have a literal meaning (denotation) and an implied meaning (connotation). You can use this to talk about symbolism like colour or language in media texts.