Concepts

Discussion Items

1. Hall says, "Representation is the production of meaning through language." (16) Note that the claim here is that meaning is not found, given, or discovered. It is produced. How is that possible? How does Hall explain the production of meaning? Is his explanation plausible?
2. Describe Hall’s two system theory of representation. Use an example of your own to illustrate hoe the theory is supposed to explain representation in everyday life.
3. Hall claims that cultures can be thought of as conceptual maps. Explain.
4. What are the three theories of representation? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each theory? Which theory do you favor? Why?
5. Summarize briefly Saussure’s theory of language.
6. What is power and how is it related to discourse? What does this have to do with the analysis and understanding of cultural objects?

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