Media Studies Key Terms

Fill in the blank: The literal meaning of a sign is known as _______.

• denotation

• connotation

• implication

• symbolism

Fill in the blank: Everything in the scene, including lighting, costume, and setting, is known as _______.

• design

• composition

• choreography

• narrative

Fill in the blank: A category of media based on shared conventions is called _______.

• genre

• format

• style

• type

Fill in the blank: Stories follow a structure: equilibrium → disruption → resolution, according to _______.

• Todorov

• Aristotle

• Freytag

• Campbell

Fill in the blank: Conflicting ideas create meaning, such as hero vs. villain, are called _______.

• Binary Opposites

• Aristotle

• Plato

• Nietzsche

Fill in the blank: When a media text references another media text, it is called _______.

• intertextuality

• parody

• satire

• allusion

Fill in the blank: A simplified, often exaggerated, representation of a group is known as _______.

• stereotype

• archetype

• prototype

• caricature

Fill in the blank: A very typical representation, such as the ‘hero’ character, is called _______.

• archetype

• stereotype

• prototype

• cliché

Fill in the blank: A representation that challenges stereotypes is known as _______.

• countertype

• stereotype

• bias

• prejudice

Fill in the blank: Media often presents women from a male perspective, objectifying them, known as _______.

• male gaze

• female gaze

• neutral perspective

• feminist view