The Media Landscape 6

Question 1

Media Globalization

Answer 1

Shift toward a media industry that crosses…
-The limits of time & space
De-massification of audiences
Instantaneous communication
-The limits of cultural boundaries
1. Traveling of products to distant/unintended markets
2. Exchange of elements among different cultures
3. Mixing of elements from different cultures into new
genres

Question 2

Cultural Imperialism

Answer 2

Media products of “the West” might dominate the rest of
the world
-Western media companies’ head-start
-Cheap exports to foreign markets
* Risks Western economic & cultural dominance
Dominance of U.S. values?
* But 4 oversimplifications
Film/TV versus print; diversity within media products; local media’s
continued popularity; and media effects
individualism
consumerism
libertarianism

Question 3

Net Neutrality

Answer 3

Principle that Internet Service Providers treat all internet content equally

Question 4

Principles of Public Service Broadcasting & Critiques

Answer 4

Funding: license-fee, government subsidy, some advertising; mixed
models, but not commercial/private
* In exchange, several core principles:
1. Inform ourselves and others, increase understanding of the
world
2. Reflect and strengthen cultural identity through high-quality
programming
3. Stimulate interest in/knowledge of the arts, science, and history
4. Support a tolerant and inclusive society, encourage
understanding of different cultures/perspectives
5. Facilitate public engagement & participation/citizenship

Critiques
public should have the choice to pay, or not
* Risk of government influence/lack of independence
* Paternalistic: why should PSB decide what’s ‘good’ for the
audience?
content is out of touch with mainstream audiences
“Quality” as subjective, and elitist
Reinforces idea that access to elite social
circles is based on cultural capital
§Cultural capital = having ‘the right’ cultural tastes, knowledge,
experience

Question 5

Cultural Capital

Answer 5

Refers to having ‘the right’ cultural tastes, knowledge,
experience

Question 6

The cultural exception

Answer 6

Something unique about cultural products; shouldn’t be traded freely

Question 7

4 Agreements about content restrictions

Answer 7

1. Offensive content
2. Pornographic content
   Indecency v. obscenity, & more ‘benign’ objectification?
3. Violent content
   For younger audiences, especially medium-specific
4. Copyright-violating material

Question 8

Culture & social order

Answer 8

Alternative to cultural imperialism & “culture clash” lenses
“Asymmetrical interdependence” as better lens
Heavy influence of “West”, but strong local market priorities
* =contemporary culture as mix of differing influences
* Response of media conglomerates to
local resilience?
1. promote Western artists as ’global superstars’
2. invest in local talent, promote regionally / globally

Question 9

3 questions for big tech

Answer 9

1. Should they be gatekeepers of these cultural
   products?
2. How transparent is their decision-making?
3. How accountable are they, and to whom?

Question 10

Adam’s smith’s invisible hand

Answer 10

The success/failure of products/ideas should be
determined by supply & demand