- Paradigm – A paradigm is a set of signifiers and/or signifieds.
- Syntagm – A syntagm is the combination of signifiers into a meaningful sequence.
- Diegesis – The communication of a story from inside the world being represented.
- Simulacra – Representations that are simulation or copies of ‘reality’ that hold more meaning for the audience than the reality represented itself.
- Hypodermic needle theory – media messages are injected directly into the brains of passive audiences.