Media Culture How did the liberal principle of ‘freedom of the press’ come about? Does it function to hold government in check? Critically assess the liberal understanding of the 4th estate’. How might Gramscis’ theory of hegemony be applied to the mass media and popular culture? Discuss how Gramsci’s notion of creating a counter-hegemony using the arts and culture was revolutionary. Are the ideas of the Frankfurt School outdated? Or can they still be applied to today’s popular culture and forms of media? Outline Baudrillard’s theory of simulacra and simulation Is Baudrillard right? Are we amusing ourselves and losing a sense of political and social reality? Critically accesses the work of Adam Curtis in Hypernormalisation.