Final Exam| Page 1 of 6 Michelle Lei S.

Victorino Part A:

1. The theories about media that we studied, with the exception of one or two, are not only borrowed from other academic disciplines; they are also western, which puts into question their applicability to the particular circumstances and contexts of Filipinos, Asians, the so-called Third World, and the (formerly) colonized. Critique the usefulness of Post-colonial

theories to an understanding of the media in the Philippines. Expound on the limitations of the theories, if any. : Post colonialism deals with the aftermath of colonialism.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postcolonial_literature) As a country that was taken over for a very long period of time we already adapt western values, customs, beliefs, language and of course, technology. We are already influenced by these changes especially in our literature and media. Post colonialism attempts to restore our own history of media in a local setting and tries to generate our own theory that is applicable in local phenomenon and not borrowed from western theories. It also helps to debunk western residual effect of colonialism and as language left prominent legacy. This significance placed on language raises the great debates. For example the English language, should it be rejected, embraced, or perhaps subverted? Does writing in English suggest the betrayal of the mother tongue or the assumption of a new post-colonial identity? Or has it evolved to fit the need of its speakers in the postcolonial world? But no one can deny the socio-economic advantages that the knowledge of English brings. Even in the literary world, English bears the mark of socio-economic distinction. "The English language is a tool of

Final Exam| Page 2 of 6 power, domination and elitist identity and of communication across continents" (Kachru. "The Alchemy of English", Post-colonial Studies Reader, p. 291). 2. To generate homegrown theorizing about the particular media

experiences of Filipinos, Asians, the so-called Third World, and the (formerly) colonized, one strategy is to craft a research agenda and work out the research questions that will respond to that agenda. What research questions would you ask to contribute to this effort? What

methodology would you use to figure out the answers? What preliminary assumptions, if any, will you start with? A point to consider: Can we find in the various postcolonial models,

particularly those conceptualized by scholars from the formerly colonized countries, a way to understand and critique our particular media structures, texts and audiences/readers? What additions/revisions to the theories will you make to adapt them better to our specific conditions? Are these theories useful to us? In what way? Will they help us develop a framework that has a better fit? : If I will make a research, I would like to know particularly about the usage and gratification of Filipinos on social media networking sites in safe dating perspective. Nowadays, dating is just a click away and as the trend of social networking sites increases it changing the way we communicate, it changed the way we connect to each other. The first thing I would ask about is their socio demographic profile and followed by series of question that will be ask on how much consumption or usage of particular media and websites. Then I will ask situational questions wherein media played important factor to persuade or influence their safe dating decisions. The

Final Exam| Page 3 of 6 methodology that I will use would be narrative research approach, a focus group discussion with a help of FGD guideline questionnaire. I read one of post colonial models about hybridity. It is defined as the creation of new transcultural forms within the contact zone by

colonization. (http://uwm.academia.edu/DerekBCounts/Papers/452564/_Exploring_Cultu res_in_Contact_Postcolonial_Models_and_Votive_Religion_in_Ancient_Cypru s_in_R._Bol_K._Kleibl_and_S._Rogge_eds._Zypern__Insel_im_Schnittpunkt_interkultureller_Kontakte._Adaption_und_Abgrenzu ng_von_der_Spatbronzezeit_bis_zum_5._Jahrhundert_v._Chr._Symposium_ Mainz_7.8._Dezember_2006._Schriften_des_Instituts_fur_Interdisziplinare_ZypernStudien_8_Munster_Waxmann_Verlag_2010_33-47) As we inevitably adapt western cultures, we are open for changes and transformation within the grounds of our own culture like in the perspective of dating.

Part B:

1. Using Marxist and/or neo-marxist theories, comment on the globalizing trend of the media today, which is aided by the globalization of the media industry, its conglomeration with other industries, and the digital technologies. : Marxists view capitalist society as being one of class domination; the media are seen as part of an ideological arena in which various class views are fought out, although within the context of the dominance of certain classes; ultimate control is increasingly concentrated in monopoly capital; media professionals, while enjoying the illusion of autonomy, are

Final Exam| Page 4 of 6 socialized into and internalize the norms of the dominant culture; the media taken as a whole, relay interpretive frameworks consonant with the interests of the dominant classes, and media audiences, while sometimes negotiating and contesting these frameworks, lack ready access to alternative meaning systems that would enable them to reject the definitions offered by the media in favour of consistently oppositional definitions. (http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/marxism/marxism01.html) The globalization of media causes the decline in quality and not in choice. In Marxist view, it restricts the local media and the culture is being replaced by global culture which is dominant by powerful few and these powerful few are the media leaders. Owners make money through advertisers and audiences, so they need to promote what facts, ideas and values of dominant advertisers and audiences instead of presenting the truth. Audiences expect the news to be impartial and only hard facts but since news reporter are employed by the networks, they try to filter what issues to discuss and what should be avoided. I also observed that there is less time presenting truth news because there is a commercial pressure; it needs to promote advertisers and rarely see serious news reporting. 2. There is an increasing discussion among scholars and critics about the relationship between the media and the formation of identity. Moreover, class is no longer the only marker of identity that is investigated in relation to the media. Gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, culture, age,

religion, etc. have become significant categories as well.

Final Exam| Page 5 of 6 Applying the different theories, including feminism and LGBTQ theories, that may explain the relationship between the media and identity formation; discuss the possible impacts of the media on identity.

: Media is indeed ubiquitous that provide a wide-ranging source of cultural opinions and standards to young people as well as differing examples of identity. Young people would be able to look at these and decide which they found most favourable and also to what they would like to aspire to be. The meanings that are gathered from the media do not have to be final but are open to reshaping and refashioning to suit an individuals personal needs and consequently, identity. In society today the

construction of a personal identity can be seen to be somewhat problematic and difficult. Young people are surrounded by influential imagery, especially that of popular media.

(http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/klh9802.html) The media really plays a major part in the social construction of gender roles. Back then the representation of women in the society is viewed as sex objects and gays and lesbians are morally unjust or have unnatural practices. However, things are changed or should I say, still changing. Today, there are examples of more positive images that reflects the cultural change in womens and homosexuals positions in society. But still, we cannot take the fact that marketing and advertisements still feed us these negative notions and whether or not it has profound effect on how we view women and homosexuals. For example, how women view their own body. Women are fragile to what media projects; usually they want to feel good and boost up their confidence but when media portrays

Final Exam| Page 6 of 6 beautiful women in thin or skinny females than the average size women, it knocks off their self esteem. Obviously, the media affects all facets of a females life. If a woman starts to become overtly depressed due to her feelings of failure of herself then it can have a vast impact in other areas of her life such as, sexual orientation, sexual awareness, comfort of ones own self, sexual arousal patterns, intimacy, delinquent behavior, clothing choice, drug addiction, tolerance of stress, and how they interrelate with their environment (Fisher 1998).