COMM 1307 – Introduction to Mass Communication – FINAL EXAM

1. Media scholar Howard Gans famously studied new stories. He was looking for bias in news coverage.  Gans studied the actual news stories themselves, in order to find out what values (or biases) news organizations might actually have.  Look at the list of Gans’ values in the media. It is covered in your text and in the lecture notes.  Gans notes that both liberal and conservative groups charge the media with bias.  The question is: WHY do both groups charge the media with bias?  What is it about the characteristics on his list (of eight enduring news values) that causes liberals and conservatives charge each other’s news organizations with bias? Our opinion matters.  What do you think?

2. CENTRAL QUESTION: Describe the history of the break-up of the studio system.  NOTE: the following sub-questions are here in order to help you answer the central question.  Think of them as a word-bank for this essay.  You do not have to address them all—they are here to help you think.  Sub questions for question 2: What Supreme Court ruling finally cut into the power of the studio system?  What did the Supreme Court decide?  How was the United Artists studio (with Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford) a model for studios today—after the power of the studios declined?

3. CENTRAL QUESTION: Discuss the history of the Hollywood Blacklist.  NOTE: the following sub-questions are here in order to help you answer the central question.  Think of them as a word-bank for this essay.  You do not have to address them all—they are here to help you think.  Sub questions for question 3: How did the blacklist get started?  What happened to the blacklisted talent?  How (and why) did the blacklist come to an end?
4. In the Long and Wall material on representation in the media, we looked at the idea that the media presents ethnicity in such a way that characters (from a particular race) are shown as possessing qualities that give them “the full range of being human.” The central question is:  Have we now arrived at a place in culture where additional ethnicities/cultures are also depicted in the media that give them “the full range of being human?” Give examples and discuss how these characters are depicted as complex individuals (i.e. how they are shown as having both “good” or “not-so-good” qualities.)
5. In both the article about Monty Python (that I posted in a recent announcement), and in the lecture material, we looked at ways in which (when thoughtfully and carefully applied) that stereotyping (when used in specific situations and ways) can have some potentially beneficial effects in society. [I have some examples of this type of humor in an announcement with video postings.  See the videos in the recent announcement). The question is:  Do you agree with this idea? Discuss why you agree or disagree.  Give examples of carefully used stereotyping in humor working/pulling people together.  OR—if you disagree with this idea, give examples of stereotyping not working (and pulling people apart) in the media.  You cannot “answer wrong” in this question.  I am simply looking for a well-informed opinion.       Make sure and discuss your answers in detail.  Two thirds of a page to a page will get the job done—but feel free to include more!