Presentation-Media-and-reality

ThemediaandrealityReflectionorconstruction?Traditionalthinkingonmediaandreality•Scholarshavelookedathowwellthemedia‘reflect’reality–Thefocushasbeenonthenewsandhowgoodajobitdoesinpresentingacorrectpictureoftherealworld–Thoseexposedtoatruepicturearethenexpectedtorememberitastheysaw/hearditandusethatfaithfulrecreationintheirownlives,especiallyinpoliticaldecision-makingWhatisitthatisrepresented?•The‘realworld’asitis•Realtime,geographywithunrealcharactersandevents•Aplausibleimaginaryworldandcharacters•Afantasyworldwithplausiblecharacters•Afantasyworldwithfantasticcharacters•ConceptsthatdonotfitournotionsofpeopleandplacesWhatkindsofclaimstorealismdowefindinmediatexts?•Anaccuratedepictionofanexistingreality–News–Documentary•Anaccuratedepictionofanartificiallycreatedreality–RealityTV•Aplausibleexplanationofevents–JFK•Apresentationthatcouldhappen—realisticfiction•Anhistoricalaccountthathasfilledinthespaces•Afantasyworldwithrealisticcharacters–StarTrek•Purefantasy–ExcaliburMediaartistsoftengotogreatefforttomaketheirtextsrealistic•Hirehistorians,cops,membersofgroups•Continuity•Pre-testingChandler’sfeaturesofthevisualthatrelatetorealism•Formalfeatures–3D-flat•Renaissancedevelopmentofperspective–Detailed-abstract•Shading•Imperfect/stylized–Colour-monochrome–Edited-unedited•Naturalismv.enhancement/selection–Moving-still–Audible-silent•Naturalsoundsv.constructedaudio•Contentfeatures–Possible-impossible–plausible-implausible–Familiar-unfamiliar–Current-distantintime–Local-distantinspaceRealistpresentations•Representationissupposedto‘standin’fortheactualeventsandobjects•Workofrepresentationhiddenfromview–Third-personnarration–Cameraworkeditedtobeunobtrusive–Actors,etc.neverdirectlyaddressaudience•“Fourthwall”•Treatmentofactionsasdisplayingcertainty—nodiscussionoflikelihood,probability,etc.•AudienceomniscienceEntertainment•Fictionalmediacontentwasexpectedtobediscountedasasourceofinformationforuseinlife–“Everyoneknowsit’sjustastory”•Therealandthefictionalwerethoughttobekeptentirelyseparateinpeople’smindsandonlytherealwastoprovideguidanceforpeopletomakelifedecisionsSoapOperas•Thefirstsignificantcrackinthisviewcamewithstudiesof“daytimeserialradioprograms”carriedoutbytheLazarsfeldgroupatColumbiauniversityinthe1930sand1940s–StudybyHertaHerzogfoundthatmanywomenlistenedtoradiosoapoperasforguidanceintheirdailylives–Theysawthecharactersasfacingrealisticpersonalchallengesandusedtheiractionsasguidesfortheirownbehaviorwhenfacingsimilardecisions/problemsintheirlivesParasocialInteraction•HortonandWohl,inthelate1950s,wroteaboutaninterestingphenomenonwhereradiolistenersandtelevisionviewersdevelopedemotionalbondswithmediapersonas–Oftenencouragedbythemediapersonalitiesthemselves•The“LonelyGirl”CognitiveInformationProcessing•Informationprocessingstructuresandactivitiesarenotlikethoseenvisionedbyoverly‘optimistic’theorists•Anumberofbiases,limitationsandsimplemistakesarecommonininformationprocessing•Limitedcapacityandsatisficingaretherule•Overcomingtheselimitationsusuallydemandsattention—theallocationofprocessingefforttoaparticularportionofsensoryinput,rememberingandreasoningWhatinformationprocessingtellsusaboutmediaandreality•Peopletendtoprocessstories,information,etc.insimilarwayswhethertheyexperienceitfirst-orsecond-hand•Sourceinformationisnotalwaysencodedwiththeinformationorrecalledwhenrememberingtheinformation–ImpactofinformationonjudgmentsofrealityisreducedifpeopleareremindedthattheysawsomethingontelevisionSuspensionofdisbelief•Scholarshavetalkedaboutthereader’simplicitagreementtoconspirewiththeauthor/directortosetasidequestioningoftherealityofamediaproductandacceptitasrealforthetimebeing–ImpliesaconsciousdecisiontodosoRealityjudgments•Themoretheexperienceofmediaresemblestheexperienceoftherealworld,themore‘realistic’themediaexperience–However,somehavediscussedtheconceptofthe‘hyperreal’—themorerealthanreality•Enhancedgraphics,sound,accessthroughmultiplecameraangles,etc.maketheexperienceseemmorerealthanthein-personexperiencewouldbeSpectatorship•Conflictingviewsoverwhethertheaudiencecomesto“identify”withtheprotagonist(takeontheactualidentityofthecharacter)oractasanobserver(withinorwithoutthepresentationitself)–First-personshootergamesImagination•Theabilitytoimaginewhataplot,person,etc.wouldbelike(eveninafantasticworld)iscrucialforrealismjudgments.–Developmentalchangesmoverealismjudgmentsfromdependencepurelyuponvisual/auralaspectstoconceptualaspectsofpresentationsPlotplausibility•AccordingtoShapiro,Pena-HerbornandHancock,theaudiencetakestheposition:•“IFthisweretohappen,wouldithappenlikethis?”–Therefore,evenfantasycanbe‘realistic’•Moreunlikelybehaviors,etc.aretoleratedinfantasystories•Eveninstoriesthatarebasedinthefuture,inouterspace,etc.thebehaviorofcharactersismonitoredforits“realism”Limitedcapacityandstoryelements•Peoplecanonlyprocesssomuchcontent/thoughtatagiventime•Action,emotion,etc.canoverwhelmtheprocessingcapacityofaudiencememberssothattheycannot“devote...Mentalcapacitytothinkingaboutwhetherastoryseemsunrealatthatmoment”Hall’sdimensions