Encoding/decoding model of communication: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:30, 19 September 2024

Revision as of 16:20, 4 May 2025

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Hall explains this when he states "decoding within the negotiated version contains a mixture of adaptive and oppositional elements: it acknowledges the legitimacy of the [[Cultural hegemony|hegemonic]] definitions to make the grand significations (abstract), while, at a more restricted, situational (situated) level, it makes its own ground rules- it operates with exceptions to the rule".<ref name="Encoding and Decoding" /> Basically, this means that people understand the dominant position, they generally believe the position, but they are in a situation where they must make up their own separate rules to coexist with the dominant position. Hall provides an example involving an Industrial Relations Bill. In his example, he shows how a factory worker may recognize and agree with the dominant position that a wage freeze is beneficial. However, while the worker may recognize that the wage freeze is needed, they may not be willing to partake in a wage freeze since it will directly affect them rather than others <ref name="Hall"/> His example demonstrates that people may negotiate a code to work around their own beliefs and self-interests. This code is very much based on context.

Once more, Castleberry demonstrates the negotiated code at play in a modern-day television show. In ''Breaking Bad'', protagonist [[Walter White (Breaking Bad)|Walter White]]'s wife [[SkylarSkyler White|SkylarSkyler]] leaves him after she discovers that he is a [[methamphetamine]] cook, and many viewers had negotiated "an acceptance of Walter's sins, while communicating negative discourse concerning SkylarSkyler". This negative discourse, according to actress [[Anna Gunn]], who portrayed SkylarSkyler, was because her character did not fit what was expected of a wife. This expectation could be seen as a dominant code. In addition, Walter's actions were against the dominant code. Because of these conflicting dominant codes, Castleberry implies that many viewers negotiated their own code where Walter's actions were acceptable due to SkylarSkyler's role as a non-traditional wife.<ref name="academia.edu"/>

===Oppositional position===