Theory in Communication Studies
Theory Application
Throughout my time in the communications studies major I have had the opportunity to learn about various theories that can be applied to different forms of human communication. Theory is a way to comprehend and make sense of reality when trying to understand human communication processes. To learn theory has expanded my knowledge and allowed me to think critically about human communication processes. It is also a crucial part of learning and expanding thought.
Theory is useful in helping us understand human communication processes. When I think about what makes theory so powerful the one thing that comes to mind is empowerment. Think about a time you sat in class and learned about a theory that you were truly intrigued by; you were probably forward leaning, with your head slightly tilted as you listened intensely to what was being said. For whatever reason it resonated with you at your core. I have had plenty of these moments where I could not break away from what was being said because it opened my eyes up to a new concept that helped me understand something that I had never thought about. Theory is useful for that exact reason. It helps us understand communication processes and expands our minds to other possibilities. It empowers us to think independently and formulate our own ideas on how we could internalize and apply theory into our own lives regarding human communication processes. It helps us make sense of reality and gives us the words to describe and explain phenomenon that occurs around communication.
One theory that I learned and applied to human communication in my persuasion course was Foucault’s Theory of Power. Foucault’s theory of power is information dense that simplifying it to four main points makes it easily digestible and relatable. The first main point in the theory is that relationships are everywhere. Meaning that everyone has a relationship to everyone. For example, you may not know the strangers you pass by on your way to class, but you have a relationship to them through the institution that you attend. The second main point of the theory is that there is power in every relationship. This can be described by comparing a relationship a child has with their parents. Parents have power in that they can control what their child gets to do, but a child also has power over their parents because it is their duty to provide for their child. The third main idea is that power can always be resisted or renegotiated. One does not need to submit themselves and follow orders. However, consequences may apply to such resistance. The last and final point to be made about this theory is that sometimes power is communicated to us in ways we do not fully understand or recognize, but it still influences us.
How can this be applied to human communication? Well let’s use the example of a panopticon. A panopticon is a structure that was designed for a prison. There is a tower in the center and all the jail cells face inward so that guard in the tower can see everyone in the cell. This caused prisoners to self-regulate themselves because the fear of being seen. This structure is effective in communicating where power lays. Even when there is not a guard in the tower overlooking prisoners, the prisoners still behaved for fear of being seen. In one assignment I analyzed the last main point in Foucault’s theory of power by observing underlying messages in Disney movies. Power is communicated to us in ways that we may not always understand or recognize but it still is sending a message. Some Disney movies have underlying messages that sometimes are overlooked. There are messages about racism and sexism that are not seen simply because the idea is that the movie is for children. The fact that these messages are being showed to young minds shows that there is a certain level of power working in the background. This power is not obvious, but it does still have an effect in the sense that children are consuming sexist racist subliminal messages without even knowing it.
The goal of analyzing this theory was to build an understanding on how this theory shows up in real life. I chose to investigate Disney movies, whereas others decided to research propaganda and political figures. To analyze how this theory shows up in our current world caused me to spiral into thought about where else this might be seen in real world examples.
Theory is empowering. It is important in understanding how human communication processes work. If it were not for theory and shared knowledge it would be a difficult world to live in; it would be hard to understand how and why the world functions the way it does. Theory is knowledge and knowledge is power. In the end theory is a way to look at reality; it is also a tool that enables us to approach life with an awareness we did not have before. Theory helps shape our understanding of reality, and human communication processes that in itself is empowering.
Photo Source: Personal Photo
Throughout my time in the communications studies major I have had the opportunity to learn about various theories that can be applied to different forms of human communication. Theory is a way to comprehend and make sense of reality when trying to understand human communication processes. To learn theory has expanded my knowledge and allowed me to think critically about human communication processes. It is also a crucial part of learning and expanding thought.
Theory is useful in helping us understand human communication processes. When I think about what makes theory so powerful the one thing that comes to mind is empowerment. Think about a time you sat in class and learned about a theory that you were truly intrigued by; you were probably forward leaning, with your head slightly tilted as you listened intensely to what was being said. For whatever reason it resonated with you at your core. I have had plenty of these moments where I could not break away from what was being said because it opened my eyes up to a new concept that helped me understand something that I had never thought about. Theory is useful for that exact reason. It helps us understand communication processes and expands our minds to other possibilities. It empowers us to think independently and formulate our own ideas on how we could internalize and apply theory into our own lives regarding human communication processes. It helps us make sense of reality and gives us the words to describe and explain phenomenon that occurs around communication.
One theory that I learned and applied to human communication in my persuasion course was Foucault’s Theory of Power. Foucault’s theory of power is information dense that simplifying it to four main points makes it easily digestible and relatable. The first main point in the theory is that relationships are everywhere. Meaning that everyone has a relationship to everyone. For example, you may not know the strangers you pass by on your way to class, but you have a relationship to them through the institution that you attend. The second main point of the theory is that there is power in every relationship. This can be described by comparing a relationship a child has with their parents. Parents have power in that they can control what their child gets to do, but a child also has power over their parents because it is their duty to provide for their child. The third main idea is that power can always be resisted or renegotiated. One does not need to submit themselves and follow orders. However, consequences may apply to such resistance. The last and final point to be made about this theory is that sometimes power is communicated to us in ways we do not fully understand or recognize, but it still influences us.
How can this be applied to human communication? Well let’s use the example of a panopticon. A panopticon is a structure that was designed for a prison. There is a tower in the center and all the jail cells face inward so that guard in the tower can see everyone in the cell. This caused prisoners to self-regulate themselves because the fear of being seen. This structure is effective in communicating where power lays. Even when there is not a guard in the tower overlooking prisoners, the prisoners still behaved for fear of being seen. In one assignment I analyzed the last main point in Foucault’s theory of power by observing underlying messages in Disney movies. Power is communicated to us in ways that we may not always understand or recognize but it still is sending a message. Some Disney movies have underlying messages that sometimes are overlooked. There are messages about racism and sexism that are not seen simply because the idea is that the movie is for children. The fact that these messages are being showed to young minds shows that there is a certain level of power working in the background. This power is not obvious, but it does still have an effect in the sense that children are consuming sexist racist subliminal messages without even knowing it.
The goal of analyzing this theory was to build an understanding on how this theory shows up in real life. I chose to investigate Disney movies, whereas others decided to research propaganda and political figures. To analyze how this theory shows up in our current world caused me to spiral into thought about where else this might be seen in real world examples.
Theory is empowering. It is important in understanding how human communication processes work. If it were not for theory and shared knowledge it would be a difficult world to live in; it would be hard to understand how and why the world functions the way it does. Theory is knowledge and knowledge is power. In the end theory is a way to look at reality; it is also a tool that enables us to approach life with an awareness we did not have before. Theory helps shape our understanding of reality, and human communication processes that in itself is empowering.
Photo Source: Personal Photo
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