The culturalist theory emphasizes the role of what in media interpretation?

The culturalist theory highlights the significance of individual perspectives and meanings in the interpretation of media. This theory posits that individuals come to media with their own cultural backgrounds, experiences, and social contexts, all of which play a critical role in shaping how they interpret and understand media messages. By focusing on these personal perspectives, the culturalist approach emphasizes the subjective nature of media consumption, acknowledging that different audiences may derive varying meanings from the same media content based on their unique cultural and social frames.

In contrast, other theories and concepts, such as those emphasizing technological advancements, media monopolization, and government regulation, focus more on the structural or systemic influences on media rather than the individual experiences and interpretations. Hence, while important in their own right, they do not capture the essence of how personal and cultural backgrounds fundamentally influence media interpretation, which is at the core of the culturalist theory.