Communication Theory in Art or Media: Symbolic Interactionism in Squid Game

Locate a movie, television show, or novel that presents either a storyline or a specific scene that can be explained using communication theory.

Organize your paper about the movie into four sections:

A. The first part of your paper should describe the character(s) who take part in the communication event(s) you will be analyzing. Provide descriptive detail so that the reader has an idea what the characters are like. You might describe how the characters are introduced, what they do, who they are, etc. This section does not need to be too long (note how many points it is worth compared to section 3).

B. The second part of your paper should describe the communication event(s) that you intend to explain (e.g., a conversation, a speech, a relationship, a broadcast, etc.). As with your description of the character(s), make the communication event(s) clear to the reader. You do not have to describe everything that happens in the movie, show, or novel; describe only the event(s) that you will analyze with theory.

C. Provide a theoretical analysis of the communication event(s) depicted using communication theory as a guide. How does the theory account for what happened? Your analysis should highlight both events in the movie, show, or novel that were consistent with your theory, and events (if any) that were inconsistent with your theory. You may draw from multiple theories or apply a single theory. Your goal is to provide an understanding of the communication events in the movie, TV show, or novel that can be explained by the theory or theories you selected. Although you will need to refer to events in the movie, show, or novel as you make your arguments, this section should not simply reiterate your summary of the events that you provided in section B

D. Conclude by commenting on the utility of the theory. Was it able to explain the communication events that you chose? How well did your theory “fit” the events you were trying to explain? Make an argument to support whatever position you take on the usefulness of the theory.

NOTE: Someone who reads your paper should be able to determine where the four sections begin and end. Using headings is a useful way to accomplish this (HINT: use the words printed in bold for your headings).


Includ a reference page at the end of your paper in which you provide a citation to your movie, TV show, or novel, formatted according to APA 7th edition format. You are not required to cite any other sources in your paper, but if you do, they must be included in your reference list as well.