Frames, Framers & Framing

erin o’brien 2013

University of Massachusetts Boston Academic Support Programs

Storytelling and construction of knowledge

To create and share stories is to be human

Stories:

• convey a

culture’s

memories

• entertain

• teach

• inspire

• What else?

Stories – any type of narrative -can also be called “frames”

Think of frames as narrativesNot all stories are fiction

“Once upon a time…”

Most stories are Framed

They do not include every

detail or possible detail of

a real or imagined event

(information)

The have a particular

point to make that is part

of the criteria for what is

included & excluded from

a story

We are all framers!

They are

constructe

d by and

for

people…

like us!

Frames ---- “As”Tom Brady as

successful athletedefeated athletehusband fatherWhat else?

Select/choose from a larger source or pool of reality and representations about:

what stayscentral focus peripheryWhat goes

Framers make decisions

December 17 2003

Click icon to add picture

Osmani Simanca

Simanca is a

Cuban-born

cartoonist

working in Brazil

for A Tarde

Newspaper. His

cartoons are

syndicated

internationally by

Cagle Cartoons.

S. Hussein AS bin Laden

S. Hussein & bin Laden

Apply our frame theory to this cartoonWhat is the artist

doing?What is the point the

artist is making by constructing this particular frame?

What’s the ‘story’?Does the cartoon’s

publication date reveal or suggest anything important about public knowledge of

“I had a great day at work.” Bumper stickers & T-shirt logos,

slogans etcHigh school yearbook picturesAdsNews reportsPhotosWhat else?

Some types & examples of everyday frames

“I had a great day at work.”

What do I exclude?What do I include?

What kind of info? Factual

Interpretive?

Compared to real life, we can easily see how this film is systematically framed to be a fast-moving fantasy-adventure:

What’s framed in

What’s framed out: sleeping, meals, personal hygiene–

Why these omissionsCompressions: time, journeys

Pirates of Caribbean as frame

Legitimate selections compressionsLegitimate gaps in knowledge and

informationSome compressions do not distort in ways

that ‘damage’ the quality of the frame

Its ok to frame because it is inevitable

Why bother? We make our decisions based on frames

How assess?Based on what criteria? On its own terms? Other frames ?What counts as distortion?When is distortion “too much” or too little”?We presuppose there is other relevant

information including frames that would compensate

Evaluating frames

To communicate & express: facts, feelings, ideas– everything!

To form judgmentsTo organize & coordinate with others

To accomplish tasks

We use frames everyday

To interpret and re-interpret info

To make decisions about our actions and utterances

To justify our decisions and judgments

Frames- job description (partial)

They don’t convey every possible fact or detail (framer probably doesn’t know the entire reality)

They choose what to include/exclude

How to include/exclude

Essential ingredients

More than one possible version of same ‘event’Different versions can all have some credibility/accuracyOften no single person or version can account for all that is true and real

Stories and people are complex!

Notice what is or could be omitted= whisper & shouts

What is /could be compressed How these add up to distortionsraise objections to specific distortionsJuxtaposing multiple frames to enhance

accuracy rather than cancelling each other out

Careful Reading & Critical thinking

Sales pitch AS9-11 AS

Our essays = FRAMES !

Three of his claims we’re using as anchors:

1) ”… all representations are selective.”(26)

2)“The very process of compression” (26) necessitates distortions. ”

3)… it would be humanly impossible to avoid framing.”(29)

Schudson on Framing

My 2 centsSome claims are better

than othersVirtually no frame is

“perfect” i.e., 100% complete

All lies are framesNot all frames are liesBuilding on and

juxtaposing frames is a valid way to deal with the inherent limitations

“Consequently frames are inherently problematic types of knowledge. As human persons, we need to critically analyze problematic knowledge and continually seek out new information/frames.”(erin, 2012)

Frames- can’t live without them!