Communication Theory

 Yeah, I hated this lecture.

















Lasswell's maxim
'who says what to whom in what channel with what effect.'

Two models apply to 7 theories

1. Transmission - (informational) examines the process of sending and recieving messages. The limitations of this model is that communication signs can be perceived differently by different people.
2. Constitutive - process of production and reproduction of shared meaning.

1. Cybernetic (transmission)

Useful for researching effective communication, however it is a linear model. There are 3 potential communication problems...

1. Technical - accuracy, compatibility of systems.
2. Semantic - precision of language
3. Effectiveness - does the message affect the behaviour how we want

Systems therory and BARB (Broadcasters Audience Research Board)... I have no idea what these are or how they apply to this to cybernetic as I don't even know what cybernetic is.

2. Semiotics (constitutive)

There are 3 basic concepts of semiotics

1. Semantics - what a sign stands for
2. Syntactics - the relationship between signs
3. pragmatics - the practical use and effects of signs

Syntactics shown clearly through road signs.

3. Phenomenological Tradition (constitutive)

The process of knowing through direct experience. Communication seen as an extension of the nervous system. It starts with an awareness of the body. Unlike the semiotic tradition, where interpretation is separate from reality, in the phenomenological tradition we are interested in what is real for the person. Apparently the reason we use A4 and how the layout works is down to the similarities with our face.

Facial expressions.

4. Rhetoric

Often used in propoganda, but also bypublic speakers to communicate more effectively. A more theatrical and performative approach to communcation is adopted. Rhetoric lacks good empirical evidence that its persuasive techniques actually work as intended.

RMS Lusitania was sunk and 1,200 people dies, 100 being American. America took this loss of life and used one part of this disater to create recritment posters using rhetoric.

'Enlist' poster created from the Lusitania disaster by Fred Spears.

5. Sociopsychological Tradition

The study of the individual as a social being. 3 main areas are...

1. Behavioural
2. Cognitive
3. Biological

Psychological communication - Communication as the act of sending a message to a receiver, and assessing the feelings and thoughts of the receiver upon interpreting the message and how these will effect an understanding of the message.

Gestalt psychology - the structure, configuration or layout can have a profound effect on the meaning of information. For example...

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

PSYCHO THE RAPIST

Colenso BBDO advertising campaign for 'Prison Break'

6. Sociocultural Tradition

Cultural identity through putting yourself in groups... catholic, student, yorkshire etc.

Social constructionism - investigates how human knowledge is constructed through social interaction and argues that the nature of the world is less important than the language used to name and discuss it.

Sociolinguistics - the study of language and culture.

Sociocultural groups.

7. Critical Communication
Useful to use when examining the ways the media produce encoded messages, the ways audiences decode those messages, and the power base apparent in these processes.
Feminist studies - examines, critiques and challenges the assumptions about experiences of gender that pervade all.
Postcolonial theory - the study of all cultures affected by the imperial process.