Pop Culture Flashcards
NATURE OF POP CULTURE
Associated with commercial products
paraphernalia: all merch products created by the pop culture
NATURE OF POP CULTURE
Develops from a local to a global level
- globalisation has allowed for increased trade and tourism
- gains global acceptance through mass media and tech
NATURE OF POP CULTURE
Achieves widespread consumer access
-must be able to adapt to variety of societies so that it meets the needs of a global audience
NATURE OF POP CULTURE
Constantly changing and evolving
-world events, innovations and economic and political climates can influence consumer demand
RTV
Increase in Technology
> people spend 43% of their media time with TV
> on-demand
+consumers who work unusual hours
-reduction in free-to-air decreases discoverability E.G. conversation- “prime-time audiences are down almost 5% amid competition from internet streaming services”
> Interactive tech
+Transformed way TV communicates with the audience so consumers are able to generate their own content and be more invested (websites, apps, text SMS) E.G. American Idol has actively engaged with viewers since its inception in 2002
+Social media created a more accessible means of communication using outlets such as Facebook E.G. Carat study found that 66% of viewers found Twitter to be the most trustworthy outlet when deciding how to vote
Contestants and judges are also able to reach out to viewers thus increasing engagement.
RTV
Adoption of Western Values
> ACMA regulate broadcasting services in Aus thus determine what type of content is aired and the accessibility
> The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 has an objective to encourage diversity in the control of the more influential broadcasting services
> Globalisation has allowed for formats to be bought
+ability to take what is successful from the formats and alter it to appeal to a significant culture (achieves widespread consumer access)
-cost of $2.5 billion to buy rights for a talent elimination competition such as American Idol
RTV
Different Perceptions of RTV
> One of the most stigmatised genres
> Acceptance
+reflects society E.G. Herald Sun article ‘RTV shows the true face of Australia’- “in particular talent programs display the true face of modern Australia with its multitude of colours, creeds and races. For example, The Voice, X Factor, etc, successfully present the varied backgrounds of the contestants. Not only is every skin colour represented but the backstories often reveal the rich diversity and interracial backgrounds of those taking part”
+Genre used for educative purposes, opportunity to discuss important emotional and ethical issues E.G. Love Island Casa Amor episodes opens up discussions about loyalty and trust
> Rejection
-erodes our values E.G. The Apprentice celebrates and encourages ruthleness, ego inflation and sychophancy
Thus viewers argue that it should be more idealsitic and promote the high levels of morals and honesty
(+however entertainment is the main reason people watch RTV thus it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t reflect outr values
-Low behavioural standards of contestants E.G. Big Brother was nominated as one of the biggest shows causing concerns relating to sexual behaviour, nudity and adult themes. 55% agreed that RTV exploit people who participate in them
RTV
Consumption/Access
> Access is widespread and appeals to the majority of the pop as producers want as many viewers as possible, however this means some people such as ethnic or sexual orientated minority groups have trouble accessing it
+ACMA aims to increase diversity of broadcasting services and provide audiences with better access thus increase range of people to access and identify with television
+This has led to RTV deliberately representing people from different minority groups which is seen as a positive step towards a unified nation. E.G. RTV franchise the Bachelor casted its first openly bi-sexual Bachelorette in Aus. SMH article, Hilary Innes, Tens Executive producer for the Bachelor states that- ‘the franchise needs to be brought into the now, to our contemporary world, whatever that means”
-Cynics suggest it is only for the purpose of increasing the number of viewers E.G. stereotyping minority groups, according to BBC article ‘Equality Matters’- on the US version of the RTV show Survivor, Phillip Sheppard, a 62-year-old African-American says his portrayal on screen was very different to how he perceived his actions and he was shown as aggressive- “i realised that the way it was edited, it was like… everything i did was delusional or crazy or didn’t have a purpose”.
> Location- those in rural areas experience significant geographical restrictions when attempting to access this pop culture
-poor reception diminishes the quality of the product
+Fed gov has used funds form Telstra to fund part of the Black Spots Program where some communities have been provided with upgraded services or an ability to watch free-to-air television for the first time
