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Media and Society

Chunho Yim

BISMCS 333 A

2020/10/6

Meaning, Representation and Power

The definition of meanings in the context of media and society is complex. Carah and Louw (2015) define meanings as the resources used by people to create their identities. Meanings are the resources people use to create their identities, communicate with others and place themselves in the society. They can take different forms like language, gestures and images. This shows that meanings are not static and neither are they stable nor fixed as people show them to show their intent or feelings. Meanings are made through personal negotiations with each other where people are able to create social bonds that can be shared for life. Meaning is made in production houses like television studios, newsrooms and institutions. Therefore, everybody plays a role in the creation of meanings as they also play an important role in the distribution and communication of meanings. Power is defined as the ability to influence others.

Meaning is used in gaining more power as people are able to position themselves in a position of power. This is done through making and controlling systems meaning production. This is why those who are in power have the ability to make and circulate meaning. In every society there are those in power and those who are able to wield it. There are various theories that try to explain the relationship between power and social elites. In all those theories social elites have access to power. However, it does not necessarily imply they have control over communication. Power can be achieved through taking control of institutions especially those that are able to produce and circulate meaning. These institutions include education institutions, the media, political settings like the parliament and courts.

Representation involves the exchange of meaning. Representation in media tries to show how people think and act in the society. Representation is able to provoke the various emotions like passion and anxiety. Representations work circumlocutory and they are difficult to exercise control over like meanings. Those in power have the means of controlling the media and other technologies. The various advancements in technology are able to demonstrate how representation works as a social process. Internet memes are used to show representation at work.

Reference

Carah, N. & Louw, E. (2015). Meaning representation and power.  In N. Carah & E. Louw, Media and society: production, content and participation. Sage publications, Ltd. (pp.44-83)