Part 2: Language and Mass Communication

Overview & Learning Outcomes

In Part 2: Language and Mass Communication, we focus on the way language is used in mass media, including: newspapers, magazines, advertising, political campaigns, social media, and speeches. We consider how both the production and reception of texts is shaped by its medium of delivery

Throughout this part of the course, we will: 

• Examine different forms of communication within the media.
• Show an awareness of the potential for educational, political or ideological influence of the media.
• Show the way mass media use language and image to inform, persuade, or entertain.

The Language of Persuasion

Advertisements

A:View the advertisement and respond to the following questions.

1. What is the text type?
2. What is the story?
3. Who created it?
4. What is the purpose?
5. Who is the target audience?
6. How is the audience expected to react/respond?
7. Where is the text coming from?
8. What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented in this media text? Who or what is missing?
9. How effectively does it represent reality?
10. What techniques are used to construct this text and its message? How effective are they?
11. Who might benefit from this advert?
12. Who is disadvantaged?
13. Is the advert realistic…unrealistic,humorous…serious, light…dark).

B: Write 3 paragraphs analysing the commercial above. Think Specslims.

C: View the OLD SPICE  commercials below and respond to the questions below.

 

1. Who is in this advertisement? Who is missing? Whose point of view is represented here? Whose is missing? Nour
2. What is the message in this advertisement? How do the unique features of this ad/text influence its impact and message? Saif
3. Who is the target audience for this advertisement? Why do you think this? What evidence can you find to  support your answer? Does this ad make sense? What prior knowledge is needed for the audience to understand this advertisement? In what different ways might people understand this advertisement? Wael
4. Who is the creator or producer of this advertisement? What does the creator or producer of this
   advertisement want the intended audience to think? How do you know this? What elements of the ad support your response? What strategies (technical and/or symbolic) are used to influence the audience in this way? What alternative meanings might someone make from this ad? MT
5. What would an alternative advertisement look like? What other perspectives might be included? How would this new advertisement change the way I think? Imbaby/Youssef

From Think Literacy: Cross Cultural Approaches

D: Create and advertisment. DUE MAY 5TH   Go to this link. Capture the target audience

 You are a marketing expert. You have been asked to sell a new breakfast cereal to three different audiences: –

• children aged 7 - 11
• teenagers aged 14 - 17
• women aged 25 +

1. In a group, create an advertisement for each audience. What would be different? Which language features would each advertisement contain? What key messages, words and images would you use for each? Allocate each team member a role eg. recorder, spokesperson etc. Group 1 Wael, MT. Imbaby. Group 2 Nour, Saif, Youssef.
2. Each team chooses one of its new advertisements to present to the class to evaluate for effectiveness, for the age group chosen.

E: Reflective Statement.(200-300 words) Due Thursday 14th May

1. What was your aim?
2. How did you specifically plan and try to achieve your aim?
3. What sort of language and register did you choose to use for your task, and why?
4. How was  your FOA relevant to Part 2? Which subtopic did you address.
5. How did you demonstrate your understanding of the subject matter?
6. How did you structure your analysis and why?
7. You must also attach a properly formatted bibliography with both primary and secondary sources, including supporting images.(not part of the word count)