Media Theories

The Hypodermic Needle Model

This is meant to give a mental image of the direct, strategic, and planned infusion of a message into an individual. It is also known as the "Magic Bullet", it assumes that the media's message is a bullet from the "media gun" into the viewers "head". The phase "Hypodermic neele" is meant to give a direct, strategic and planned infusion of a message into an individual. But as research methodology became more highly developed, it became apparent that the media had selective influences on people.

Barthes Code

Barthes code consisted of 5 different codes that could be applied to most narratives. These include;

• The Hermeneutic Code

This refers to any element in a narrative where the story is not fully explained, this then becomes and enigma for the audience, this can be done in several ways. For example;

• Snares (avoiding the truth) Snares 
• Equivocations (partially complete answers) or 
• Jamming's (in which there is no answer to a question

• Proairetic Code

This builds tension, referes to an action that may happen somewhere in the narrative. The Hermeneutic and Proairetic Coes work as a pair to develop story tensions and keep the reader interested.

• The Semantic Code

This takes the use of hidden signs throughout the narrative that may contribute toward its progress. These signs can be applied to;

• Text 
• Images
• Dialogue

• The Symbolic Code

Similar to the Semantic Code but acts at a wider level and usually with a deeper meaning. It is typically done in the use of antithesis, where a new meaning arises out of opposing and conflicts.