Application Assignment #2: The Help
This assignment requires that you identify and briefly explain the application of
numerous theories in the movie The Help.
Several communication theories are demonstrated in the movie The Help. After
watching the movie, please briefly explain (6 sentences or less) the application of
each of these theories. Writing counts!
Media Theories:
 Spiral of Silence theory
 Media Systems Dependency Theory (this is optional; I can see it clearly, but if
you can’t see it, that’s okay).
Interpersonal Theories:
 Expectancy Violations Theory
 Relational Dialectics Theory (identify any dialectics you see; you may end up
with more than 4 sentences on this theory)
 Social Penetration
 Politeness (and by extension, Face Negotiation)
 Communication Accommodation
Culture Theories:
 Standpoint Theory (this can be longer if you so desire and it’s okay)
Note: If you find a theory that applies that I’ve not listed, feel free to add it. If you do
well with it, I’ll forgive a different theory listed here that you may not have done so
well on. (with the exception of Standpoint theory, which you must get right and
which will be worth more points than the others.)
A sample answer might look like this:
Narrative Paradigm – This theory is really the whole idea of the film. The premise of
the film is based upon the power of storytelling and its influence not only on a
community, but on an entire nation in helping to shape public policy. The experiences of
the maids could not be told if not for their storytelling abilities, and their stories hold
large amounts of fidelity and coherence in the eyes of many of those who read experience
that relates to the events they have seen in their own town. The stories hold fidelity
because those who read Skeeter’s story understand exactly how the system works and it’s
very real to them. The stories hold coherence largely for the same reason; they are very
raw and real for the audience.