Industry Theory Flashcards
HESMONDHALGH - What is the primary goal of cultural industry companies?
To minimize risk and maximize audiences
This is achieved through strategies like vertical and horizontal integration, as well as formatting cultural products.
Outline Hesmondhalgh’s Cultural Industry theory
- the idea that cultural industry companies try to minimise risk and maximise audiences
through vertical and horizontal integration, and by formatting their cultural products (e.g.
through the use of stars, genres, and serials) - the idea that the largest companies or conglomerates now operate across a number of
different cultural industries - the idea that the radical potential of the internet has been contained to some extent by its
partial incorporation into a large, profit-orientated set of cultural industries
HESMONDHALGH - What strategies do cultural industries use to format their products?
Use of stars, genres, and serials
These formatting techniques help attract larger audiences.
HESMONDHLAGH - What trend is observed among the largest cultural companies?
Operate across a number of different cultural industries
This indicates a shift towards conglomeration within the cultural sector.
HESMONDHALGH - How has the radical potential of the internet been affected?
Contained by its partial incorporation into profit-oriented cultural industries
This suggests that the transformative aspects of the internet have been limited by commercial interests.
Outline Curran and Seaton’s Power and media industry theory
- the idea that the media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by
the logic of profit and power - the idea that media concentration generally limits or inhibits variety, creativity and quality
- the idea that more socially diverse patterns of ownership help to create the conditions for
more varied and adventurous media productions.
CURRAN AND SEATON -What is the idea that the media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by?
Profit and power
This concept highlights the influence of corporate interests on media content and distribution.
CURRAN AND SEATON - What is a consequence of media concentration according to the discussed ideas?
Limits or inhibits variety, creativity and quality
Media concentration can lead to homogenized content that lacks diversity.
CURRAN AND SEATON - What helps to create conditions for more varied and adventurous media productions?
More socially diverse patterns of ownership
Diverse ownership can lead to a broader range of perspectives and content in media.
Outline Livingstone and Lunt’s regulation theory
- the idea that there is an underlying struggle in recent UK regulation policy between the
need to further the interests of citizens (by offering protection from harmful or offensive
material), and the need to further the interests of consumers (by ensuring choice, value
for money, and market competition) - the idea that the increasing power of global media corporations, together with the rise of
convergent media technologies and transformations in the production, distribution and
marketing of digital media, have placed traditional approaches to media regulation at risk
LIVINGSTONE AND LUNT - What is the underlying struggle in recent UK regulation policy?
The struggle is between the need to further the interests of citizens and the interests of consumers.
Citizens seek protection from harmful or offensive material, while consumers seek choice, value for money, and market competition.
LIVINGSTONE AND LUNT - What factors have placed traditional approaches to media regulation at risk?
The increasing power of global media corporations and the rise of convergent media technologies.
This includes transformations in the production, distribution, and marketing of digital media.
