Hesmondhalgh: Cultural INDUSTRIES Flashcards
Why are cultural industries ‘a risky business’?
There’s no guarantee of a creative media product being successful.
How do cultural industries offset the risk that a media product may not be successful?
Creatively & through business structure.
Creatively - stars, sequels & well-known genres.
Business - horizontal integration & diversification.
What do media companies do if a media product is successful?
Give an example.
Reuse the recipe.
Example = ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise.
It is very _________ for __________ companies to _________ into this __________ and _______.
a) difficult
b) independent
c) integrate
d) environment
e) compete
What must media companies do in order to be successful?
Minimise risk and maximise profit.
Media companies minimise risk and maximise profit by:
________ or _________ integrating.
Take ________ of different _________ and media _______ (___________ ___________).
Take ________ of what’s ________ and _______ (____ and _____).
Control _______ schedules - different _______ ______ could lead to _______ but also lead to ____ people _______ it.
Vertically or horizontally integrate.
Take advantage of different technologies and media platforms (technological convergence).
Take advantage of what is successful and popular (tried and tested).
Control release schedules - different release dates could lead to pirating but also lead to more people wanting it.
Why must media companies control release schedules to minimise risk and minimise profit?
Different release dates could lead to pirating but also lead to more people wanting a product.
What’s happened to web-based production?
It’s been colonised to a large extent by a limited number of providers.
What is commodification?
Turning everything into something that can be bought or sold.
What does commodification in cultural industries do?
Create problems on the consumption & production side.
For production, certain areas of cultural industries don’t fairly reward people.
What does Hesmondhalgh question about diversity in the media?
(2)
Do cultural industries truly reflect the diversity of people and society?
Are they dominated by a narrow range of values and ideologies?
What characterises societies with profitable cultural industries (e.g. USA, UK)?
(3)
Dominated by large companies
Minimal government regulation
Significant class inequality
