Media studies

The purpose of these questions is a) to help you to understand the key points of each chapter;  b) to help you to think about the content (Do you agree or disagree? How do points made apply to the media in Japan?...); c) to provide material for discussion in class; and d) to give you opportunities to practice your paraphrasing and summarizing skills.  Preparing and submitting your answers is therefore an important part of your work for this course, including your preparation for classes.

Please write your answers in English, and be ready to submit them at the end of the class. You do not have to write whole sentences except in the case of summaries. However, you must always try to use your own words. Do NOT just copy from the text.

Chapter 1

1. Explain the meaning of the following key words/phrases/sentences:

a) communication tool (p.3) (give examples)

b) [The media] has been portrayed more as a monster than as an angel. (p.3)

c) interactive (p.4)

d) convergence (p.5)

e) conventions (p.7)

f) media language (p.7)

g) The woman on the front cover of Glamour is not...a real woman, but an image used to represent a woman. (p.6)

2. How does the book answer the question 'Is the media a good thing or a bad thing?' on p.3? Explain your answer to this question.

3. Summarize what Peter Wall says about how the world of the media is changing.