Media Studies - Theses

Nationalism on the Net: Exploring the ideology of India's Bharatiya Janata Party

Adrienne Lee Atterberry — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:54:36 PST

India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) created the first political website in India during the year 1998 and continues to maintain an active online presence. The two most popular places for computer and Internet usage are college campuses and offices--places frequented by members of India’s growing middle class. As the BJP’s supporters have traditionally come from middle-class, upper-caste social backgrounds, this group has particular importance to the BJP’s political success, thus the BJP’s online publications may establish hegemony of the middle class and its ideals. For these reasons, studying the BJP’s online group-identity and political message has salience.

May 2004 to May 2009 marks the first point in the 21st century that the BJP did not form the national government. Research shows that when a political group lacks the power it seeks to attain it will work harder to expose its opponents’ weaknesses and gain political support, which may involve an enhanced communications campaign and use of mass media. Thus, this thesis textually analyzed 62 documents published between May 2004 and May 2009 related to how the BJP constructs its group identity and its political message from the “About Us” and “Speeches” section of www.bjp.org.

From conducting this research, this author found that the BJP constructs their political opponents as inherently bad for India because of their poor national security, development, and social policies. Meanwhile, the BJP constructs themselves as the political party best able to help India reach success through nurturing an “integrated” society that cares for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, development initiatives, and a strong national security policy.

The Internet enables the BJP to control the content, distribution and discussion around their ideas in the construction of their own version of social reality that has the potential to reach those living in India and those Indians living abroad. This is a troubling idea in as far as the ground-reality of life in India differs from the messages presented by the BJP and the Internet serves as a silencing device for those who lack the material means to speak out against the BJP’s messages.

Hard-Knock Life: Exploring Prisoner Perceptions of Media's Influence on Society and Crime through In-Depth Interviews and Q-Methodology

Savannah R. Overton — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:29:36 PST

Crime and violence are rampant across all forms of media, and audiences are increasingly exposed to this type of content. With the U.S. prison population continuously rising, it is vital to recognize the fundamental dynamics of what leads to crime and violence; past research indicates mass media are worthy of investigation in this area . The purpose of this study is to unearth and reveal the perceptions of media's influence on society and crime of incarcerated persons as well as their individual behavior and lifestyle choices. This study of perceptions uses Q-Methodology as well as in-depth interviews with 15 incarcerated persons at three correctional facilities regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. The focus is grounded in how these convicted persons perceive the effects media have had on their individual behaviors, both criminal and non-criminal in nature. From social psychology, anomie and strain theories help to contextualize the individual's position in society and their relationships; in the field of mass communications, social learning theory, social cognitive theory and cultivation theory, help to offer explanations of media effects as well as have strong influence on participant responses of their experiences. Results indicate that there are two primary factors from the Q-data sorts by the inmates: media's influence over the individual and over society. The results and themes from the in-depth interviews reveal four major themes: (1) gap between media and society, (2) familial influence and environment, (3) the dichotomy between individual choice and the third person effect, and (4) media's relationship with crime and violence.

Pocket Full of Jesus: Evangelical Christians' Use of Religious iPhone Applications

Wendi R. Bellar — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:04:28 PST

Mobile phone applications are providing users many different choices in how they go about their everyday lives, including their spiritual lives. This research explores the factors Evangelical Christians consider when choosing an app, how they actually use the app, and how their app expectations compare with their app experience. Modified diary reports, using the iPhone Voice Memo app, and in-depth interviews were used in order to examine the research questions. The Uses and Gratifications theory, as well as the Religious Social Shaping of Technology theory, were used as lenses for the study. After navigating the process of finding an appropriate app, users were most concerned with using the app for spiritual impact, encouragement, and as a sort of spiritual toolbox that, for the most part, resulted in helping them navigate their own spirituality and religious practice.

Parenting Blog Coverage of the Autism-Vaccine Controversy

Aidan Bryant — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 07:22:14 PST

This study examines source type, citation accuracy, and anecdotal reliance in parenting blog articles about the autism/vaccine controversy. Existing literature on common errors and shortcomings of traditional health journalism, in conjunction with existing guidelines and suggestions for optimal health journalism practices, were used to synthesize a content analysis code structure. The code structure was used to examine 122 parenting blog posts from 18 different blogs, spanning a time period from June 22, 2005 to January 9, 2012, for details including the following:

author demographics (gender, profession, parenthood, vaccination patterns)

type of blog the article appeared in

author stance of the autism/vaccine link (support, reject, or conflicted)

inclusion of cited sources in the form of hyperlinks, whether links were cited correctly, and which sources the links represented (blog, news article, medical research, etc)

inclusion of anecdotal evidence

whether sources and anecdotes were used to support or refute the autism/vaccine link.

Two coders (intercoder reliability 0.80 or higher for all variables) were used to analyze the blog sample. A statistical analysis including frequency descriptives, Pearson's correlation coefficient, one-way ANOVA, and independent t-tests were used to analyze the data.

A demographic overview of the blogs revealed that the majority of the sampled authors were mothers with no health or science background, and that most did not believe that a relationship between vaccines and autism exists. An examination of the sources revealed that while most sources were cited correctly, the incorrectly-cited sources mirrored traditional journalism flaws. The statistical analyses revealed significant relationships between blog type and number of statements that supported the autism/vaccine link; and between the author's opinion on the autism/vaccine link and the number of "neutral" hyperlinks (not used to support or refute the autism/vaccine link).

While the realm of parenting blogs as medical information source merits further research, the results of this study indicate that parenting blogs, an important resource to parents, should be treated with caution as a health authority. Parents find great value in being able to discuss their fears and concerns with other parents, and blogs can serve as a way for parents to hear about breaking news that is quite relevant to them. However, a lack of credible sources indicates that parents should seek in-depth health formation from health outlets other than blogs

Facebook Ruined My Marriage: Digital Intimacy Interference on Social Networking Sites

Lynessa Marie Williams — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:31:06 PST

This study employed a mixed method approach to understand how Facebook interferes with romantic relationships. The methods included a qualitative textual analysis of 53 Facebook interest groups about marriage dissolution as a result of Facebook. The text consisted primarily of wall comments. However, images, links, and Facebook likes were also analyzed. Concepts were organized into themes that detailed how Facebook contributes to computer-mediated relationship dissolution, a concept dubbed digital intimacy interference (DII). The textual analysis also unveiled how and why individuals use Facebook groups to discuss DII. The textual analysis was then used to inform a quantitative study of individuals' Facebook behavior and feelings about Facebook's role in romantic relationships. The survey measured participants' Facebook behavior and whether their behavior related to their feelings about Facebook and it's role in romantic relationships. Correlation and independent sample t-tests were run to establish whether there is a relationship between certain Facebook behaviors and feelings about romantic relationships. The two methods were designed to generate a holistic understanding of the phenomenon of digital intimacy interference on social networking sites.

History and Memory in Gettysburg

Jeffrey M. Parrotte — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:54:53 PDT

Media productions have often turned to history as a source for a narrative. Wars have been refought, kingdoms have risen and fallen, and significant moments have been replicated for documentaries, films, television shows, radio productions, and other live mediums. These presentations give audiences access to moments in history that might have otherwise been forgotten. With this access, research suggests audiences will actually learn from the presentations available. This study focuses on the types of information available in a historical film.

The study is a textual analysis the 1993 film Gettysburg, one of the most well-known and best remembered films about the American Civil War. Gettysburg is a piece of historical fiction that contains many dramatic inventions, yet is also full of depictions of war that attempt to be realistic. Through character dialogue and actions, the film's three main themes emerge. The first main theme is the idea that Gettysburg was the American Civil War's decisive moment. The second main theme is that war is a test of manhood- a test some men pass and some men fail. The third main theme is that all of the battle's participants, both North and South, are heroes. These factors seem to encourage the audience to view the Civil War as an important struggle that helped shape the United States as it is today.

Terra Nova, An Experiment in Creating Cult Televison for a Mass Audience

Laura Osur — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:48:21 PDT

When it aired in Fall 2011 on Fox, Terra Nova was an experiment in creating a cult television program that appealed to a mass audience. This thesis is a case study of that experiment. I conclude that the show failed because of its attempts to maintain the sophistication, complexity and innovative nature of the cult genre while simultaneously employing an overly simplistic narrative structure that resembles that of mass audience programming. Terra Nova was unique in its transmedia approach to marketing and storytelling, its advanced special effects, and its dystopian speculative fiction premise. Terra Nova's narrative, on the other hand, presented a nostalgically simple moralistic landscape that upheld old-fashioned ideologies and felt oddly retro to the modern SF TV audience. Terra Nova's failure suggests that a cult show made for this type of broad audience is impossible. However, as ratings continue to drop yearly, programmers' definition of what constitutes a mass audience adjusts accordingly. Inevitably, and in the near future, any distinction between mass and fragmented audiences will be moot and, when this happens, the cult audience will be synonymous with the mass audience.

Exploring Consumers' Attitudes and Behavior toward Product Placement in Television Shows

Eun Seon Kwon — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:22:22 PDT

In recent years, many studies have investigated consumers' attitudes toward product placement in media content such as movies and television shows. However, few studies have used systematic framework to assess influence of social structural variables and socialization agents on consumers' product placement attitudes and purchase intentions for product placements in television shows. Based on Consumer Socialization framework and agenda-setting, cultivation theory, current study investigates product placement attitudes and behavioral intentions among college students. The results show that peer communication, one of the socialization agents, has strongest relationship with for both placement-related attitudes and purchase intentions. Findings also show the associations between different demographic variables and consumers' attitudes and purchase intentions.

How Did Nike Get the Swoosh into Skateboarding? A Study of Authenticity and Nike SB

Brandon Gomez — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:50:34 PDT

Skateboarding is widely regarded as a subculture that is highly resistant to any type of integration or co-option from large, mainstream companies. In 2002 Nike entered the skateboarding market with its Nike SB line of shoes, and since 2004 has experienced tremendous success within the skateboarding culture. During its early years Nike experienced a great deal of backlash from the skateboarding community, but has recently gained wider acceptance as a legitimate company within this culture. The purpose of this study is to examine the specific aspects of authenticity Nike was able achieve in order to successfully integrate into skateboarding. In order to investigate the case of Nike SB specifically, the concept of company authenticity within skateboarding must first be clarified as well. This study involved an electronic survey of skateboarders. This survey examined the various aspects of authenticity that are most important for skateboard companies, as well as skateboarders' attitudes about Nike SB as a skate shoe company. Through this research, a better overall understanding of the concept of authenticity within the skateboard culture was developed.

Thank You For Being a Friend: Women's Self-Disclosures and Social Support on Facebook

Emily A. Dolan — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:29:03 PDT

This study focused on women's self-disclosures on Facebook and how they functioned to both gain and give support on the site. After employing 17 textual analyses of participants' Facebook pages and 17 in-depth interviews, a variety of themes emerged in regards to how and why women give and seek support on the site, the types of information disclosed, and the benefits of self-disclosing to gain support on the site. More specifically, results indicate that gender role expectations, which for women include exhibiting behaviors that convey warmth, kindness and politeness, play a large role in giving and receiving support on the site. Furthermore, the public nature of Facebook created a supportive and positive environment for women to both receive and give support. It is suggested that future research explore the ways in which others contribute to one's self-presentation. Future research should also explore the themes related to this study using survey methodology.

Lived Lyrics: How Teen Girls Use Music to Create Identity

Teressa Leigh Del Rosso — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:23:29 PDT

This qualitative study of teenage girls uses social cognitive and social identity theory as the analytical lenses to determine how, if at all, the girls use music to create their identities. Conducting in-depth interviews with teen girls (N=17), the findings suggest that girls listen to music to build relationships (with music, the artist, and family and friends) and create expression. These two themes influence how the girls interpret the world and their role in that world.