A film blog for students of my classes at Santa Clara University. Use this blog to discuss the films we are studying, classic films, current releases or production issues you encounter while making your own films.
Friday, January 02, 2015
The Industrialization of Culture Framework
What does it mean to study the media with "the industrialization of culture framework?"
To study media with the industrialization of culture framework means to look at the different industries and areas that influence the media industry. Culture influences all aspects of media. Culture includes the social practices and values that shape what people wish to see in the media. Within culture there are multiple frameworks including social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, and public that also effect media. This framework is multidirectional: they all influence one another and they are all equally influenced by culture. The industrialization of culture frame can be used to understand different media industries in different contexts. Rather than studying media as a single entity it is important to look at all the possible influencers that led to the production of that piece of media. Because of the current American culture and social trends I would not be surprised if another films similar to The Interview suddenly made it’s way into production. When future generations study media from this time period with the industrialization of culture framework they will look at the conditions, mandates, and current social trends that led to the popularity and success of the film.
I believe to study the media with the industrialization of culture framework means to look at how media is influenced by three central factors: the mandate (or goals) of the media outlet, the conditions the media industries operate under, and the day-to-day practices of the people and organization working on the project. There are also three other parts to the framework, which are social trends, tastes and traditions, texts, and the public. Each part of the industrialization of culture framework shapes the media that circulates within a society. Each part within the framework has a cause-and-effect relationship with the other aspects, changing and being changed by the other parts.
A media mandate is the primary goal or reason for being in the media industry, which greatly impacts the type of media, created and produced. For example a for-profit mandate with produce vastly different content than a noncommercial mandate. Conditions the media industries operate under cover factors like available technology, regulations, and economic structure. For example, the heavy conglomeration of the past few years has greatly altered the conditions of media industries. The practices of media industries cover the many professional roles, duties and activities of media industry workers. Branching from creative practices, to distribution and exhibition as well.
A societies culture can be used to explain why certain mandates, practices and organization methods exists. Understanding the culture that exists and how it impacts the societies media mandates, practices and organization is key to understanding how media functions in different societies. Navigating the industrialization of culture framework is critical to succeeding in the media industry.
To study media with the industrialization of culture framework means to examine how mandates, conditions, and practices all influence media. Mandates are the primary goals or reasons for being in the media industry. These could be monetary or creating content to serve the citizens. Conditions are things that affect how media industries operate. These are things like available technology, regulations within the country, and economic conditions within the country. Practices is an all encompassing term that means the people who are responsible for the day to day operations of media industries and the content that they produce. Mandates, conditions, and practices all influence each other. All of these levels are also influenced by culture. This means that whatever concepts or ideas are currently popular will be more prominent in media. Ideas like the hero saving the day while the bad guy gets punished, the guy and the girl who didn't really like each other are getting married, and the person who everyone least expected is the murderer are some of the popular themes in American films. Mandates, conditions, practices, and culture are all important aspects to look at when studying media. They all influence each other and are key to figuring out how to make something that has the potential to be successful.
I think that studying media with the industrialization of culture framework means that you don't just observe one aspect of influence, but multiple aspects of influences on the media industry that we are exposed to every day. A lot of media is created based on what is popular in our culture. This doesn't just involve movies either. This involves television shows, popular bands, the books we read, the news we read, everything plays into the industrialization of culture framework. For example, a massive record company may observe popular culture and then try to create an artist that fits the popular culture mold, or they may try their hand at creating a popular trend and influencing pop culture. Referencing back to what Lauren stated about The Interview, I wouldn't be surprised either if films similar to that one made their way into cinemas or production studios within the next few months. The same thing happens with fairy tale stories. At the time when Snow White and the Huntsmen, the version staring Kristin Stewart and Charlize Theron, was released, another version with a different twist on the story was released just weeks after, starring Julia Roberts, Lily Collins and Armie Hammer. Studying the industrialization of culture framework means that we need to study various conditions and trends that create what essentially becomes popularized by our culture.
In order to study the media with the industrialization of culture framework we need to examine and analyze how social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, public response, and culture are related. The content of the media, as seen in television, films, radio, music, video games, news, etc. is a reflection of dominant societal beliefs and values. Content can also be tracked using historical timelines to reflect the prevalent issues and events. Following September 11, 2001 thriller television shows following terrorists such as 24 and Homeland have become huge hits. Many other shows have been made to try to follow this trend. It should be noted, however, that the media content has a strong ability to influence the ideas and attitudes of the prevailing culture. Blue Mountain State, a raunchy television comedy, largely depicts stereotypes about the college party scene and collegiate athletics. Since culture is fluid, the media industry changes to adapt to the dominant culture(s). Thus, content will be contingent upon culture and vice versa. In order to study the media, the cultural context needs to be examined to fully understand the mandates, conditions, practices, and texts.
In order to study the media with "the industrialization of culture framework" you must consider many different components of the media that all influence one another. These components are the social trends, tastes, and traditions, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, and finally the public. Cultures range globally and this creates different genres and traditions that media producers draw on when creating media text. However, it is important to note that there are two definitions of culture when referring to the media. The first is the aesthetic sense, referring to the texts that the media industry produce, ranging from films, newspapers, television shows, and radio productions. The second type of culture is that of the anthropological sense, referring to specific social practices, values, and hierarchies associated with a specific group of people.
I believe this anthropological culture is superior to the aesthetic culture. This is because professionals who work in media industries are constantly going through a shaping process. They are being shaped by their culture, this is shaping the texts they produce, and therefore they are shaping the audiences they engage.
Therefore, this anthropological culture is truly the root of the values and traditions that people believe, or the dominant ideology becomes the root of production.
However, it is also important to recognize that media producers may have another agenda in mind. They may be purely producing text of the culture that they have been shaped with, or they may have a separate corporate agenda in which they are trying to feed a separate ideology to their audiences.
Regardless, media would be absolutely nothing without people who contribute in shaping the culture, the professionals in the media industries who produce texts that convey this culture, and the audiences that are engaged by those texts.
In studying media with the "industrialization of Culture Framework" in mind, one must consider all factors of societal cultures when arriving at concluding thoughts and analyses. In the framework used to study media and the industry, three specific influences (mandate, conditions and practices) are noted and must be acknowledged for a better understanding of how the industry operates, and why it operates how it does. Another aspect of studying the media via this framework includes taking a closer look at what creators draw from for inspiration of their medium; social trends, tastes and traditions provide a resource pool that allow producers to create based off of. In understanding these components, like the purpose of a creation and its goals (mandate), the conditions that either provide opportunity or limitation, and the practices of the creators coupled with the knowledge of the ways of the society, like its trends, tastes and traditions, one is more likely to grasp a better understanding of the industry, and media in particular.
It is also important to note that this framework works in a way that makes all components equal. By that, I mean, that no single aspect is more important or higher than the other, but that they all affect the other in a linear way. Because of this, it is essential to study and understand each factor of the framework rather than just focus on one.
Media industries can be studied using the Industrialization of Culture Framework, which is influenced by mandates, conditions and everyday practices. Culture is in the background for the framework and influences each part of the model. Each part of the model in turn influences each other. Social trends are different in every culture, and so media workers looks at these trends when creating texts. The social trends affects the mandates (goals) of the media outlet, which affects the conditions and the practices that are used in the various media industries. The texts that media industries produced need the public to consume them. If nobody cares about the texts, then the media workers need to go back and re-examine society's trends and practices.
When studying the Industrialization of Culture Framework, it is important to examine the influence of ideologies. Ideologies are world views that are shared between groups of people; and dominant ideologies are belief systems that are widely shared in society. Strong agency is what creates new genres and new dominant ideologies. When non-dominant ideologies become dominant, those ideologies lose their power because they have become the norm. Non-dominant ideologies start off as big fish in a small pond because they challenge popular culture, but when those ideologies become accepted and gain popularity within society, they become dominant (small fish in a big pond).
I think it is very important to study the industrialization of culture because media is such a huge part of culture today. Media has so become globalized. An current example of the impact of globalization is Sony scandal concerning the release of The Interview (2014). Sony halting the release of the movie only made people want to see it more, and the movie has made over $31 million online, and is Sony's highest-grossing online film.
Considering the industrialization of culture framework to study media consists of aesthetic taste and anthropological sense of culture. Cultural norms, values, and practices fall under the category of anthropological sense which are constantly changing which explains the fluidity of mandates, conditions, and practices that different demographic groups of people address. The audience of these media could range anywhere from political groups to normal citizen media consumers who bend the framework into the most up-to-date social trends, tastes, and traditions. Examples of this could include the rise of popularity in political shows and movies such as West Wing, House of Cards, etc. And who could forget the short-lived, but very popular vampire adoration which was a result of popular books which led to movies and television shows. The up and coming social trends, tastes, and traditions may start from non-dominant ideologies that through the industrialization of culture framework may lead to a dominant ideology. Independent artists such as Macklemore and Mac Miller starting creating music as a passion and they very quickly sky rocketed to be some of the most popular artists due to the constantly changing ideologies. When social trends shift, so do all of the other aspects of the framework in order to keep media, an intangible product, alive and well.
Studying the media with “the industrialization of culture” framework requires us to take into account various aspects of our global society and culture that influence not only the production of texts, but also how media industries function as a whole. We must consider the three concepts of mandates, conditions, and practices, which essentially dictate the operation of media industries. Through these, we are able to examine an organization’s motivations and goals for operation as well as the technologies, regulations, and economics that contribute to identifying which texts are deemed appropriate for society and consumers, and profitable for the production companies. Along with these factors, the public and their social trends, tastes, and traditions heavily shape the industry and the texts created, but we must understand that culture ultimately reflects the foundation upon which the framework is built, guiding and changing every other aspect of the model. The industrialization of culture framework gives us an understanding that these various factors are interdependent, influencing each other, rather than being hierarchical or linear. Using this framework to study the media means that we must be aware of these critical ideas and key concepts and how they relate to media industries’ functioning and success.
To study the media with "the industrialization of culture framework" means to understand that media is created by culture, and different media forms create popular culture. It is crucial to understand that this mutual influence happens because of social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, and the general public. Anything can be created as media, but the industrialization of culture framework can dictate what is allowed and what prospers. Each step in the framework is equally influenced by culture, and culture has two definitions used in order to explain the industrialization of culture. The first definition is culture in the aesthetic sense, to refer to the texts that the media industries produce, such as films, newspapers, etc. The second definition is in the anthropological sense, which refers to the specific social practices, values, mores, and hierarchies associated with a particular group of people. Exploring all of the above topics would be studying the media with "the industrialization of culture framework.
The structure of culture and how it impacts media text and visa versa is nominalistic, which means that each and every component of the cultural framework in accordance to the media industry is subjective and holistic—the outcome of such a framework isn’t easily interpreted because each variable interacts with the next. Social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts and the public all influence each other in interconnectivity. This is the framework under which the media industry operates and how it impacts culture. Media at once influences and is influenced by culture. It is important to understand the industrialization of culture not only because as consumers and constituents of culture we are directly impacted by it, but because this framework illustrates the very dynamic and difficult-to-quantify-nature of the media industry.
To me, I believe that, to study the "industrialization of culture framework" is to analyze how social trends, mandates, practices, conditions, text, and public response influence culture as a whole. This began to click with me during our class discussion on wed, when we discussed all the connecting factors involved in the culture framework. To study media by itself as a macro/overarching entity doesn't do it justice because of all the nuts and bolts that come into play and how they work together. These factors are constantly moving and changing as society and culture changes, which is why this is such fascinating topic to study. For example, actress laverne cox, who portrays Sophia Burset on Orange is the New Black, is the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy. The shift in our culture and the contributing factors is what has made this possible over time, and why it wasn't "accepted" historically. To appreciate this we have to examine the wide scope of factors that have come into play to make this possible including social trends, mandates, practices, conditions, text, and public response.
Studying media with the industrialization of culture framework means considering three different levels of influence; mandate, conditions, and practices.
Mandates are the organization's goals or reasons for operating - usually profit. Conditions are the things that impact how the industry operates, (i.e. technology, regulations, and economic structure. Practices are the small details and day-to-day actions of the individuals within various media industries.
This model is not arranged in a top to bottom hierarchy. No one level is more significant than another. Rather, all of the levels influence one another back and forth.
For example, consider The Hunger Games movies. Lionsgate decided to split the three books into four movies in order to gain profit (i.e. mandate), and this led to viewers disliking the third film due to a lack of content and action. The practice of splitting book trilogies into more films is common (consider Harry Potter and Twilight) and the fact that the third film of The Hunger Games is unpopular may lead Lionsgate to change their practices in the future.
The culture framework is unique because of the flexibility of the model and the fact that it influences all of media. It begins with the mandates which is why the media outlet is in business. The conditions are the technological, economic, and regulatory aspects and the practices are how the media is actually made. When studying these things, it is important to realize that there is no direct relationship but rather the relationship with all the aspects of the culture model move back and forth. If the conditions or practices change, it could influence the texts or what the public wants. On the other hand, considering what the public wants, like movie releases of concerts as we discussed in class, can also have the same impact on things such as the conditions, and thus the model works backwards. Shifts in culture will always impact the media industry, so it is important to consider how media is made from both ends of the spectrum.
To study the media with "the industrialization of culture framework" means to take into account the different context of the media- the way it is written, produced, distributed, etc. As the authors point out, there is variation between media industries and they are ever changing. Understanding the context is important so that we, as consumers, can understand motive and possible influences that outside factors have on media. It is important for us to understand the creation process even before a writer creates a text. There are multiple players in the game with different motives. By understanding all facets of the media, we can become conscious consumers. This framework requires complete understanding at all levels - it is not enough to study one part. The success of a text is dependent on the publics' reception. If it fails, media entities must back pedal to fix the problem, or scrap the project. By studying all facets, consumers can understand the different levels in which the industry operates.
By using the industrialization of culture framework to study media, we are able to look at the many aspects of the media industry simultaneously, rather than just focusing on one. This allows us to look at the media industry as a whole, and how these aspects relate to each other. The framework is split into the levels of mandates, conditions, and practices, and than further looks at social trends, tastes, and traditions, the actual texts, and the public. One of the most important aspects of this framework is that it is flexible and multidirectional. All of the levels have effects on each other, and aren’t exclusively functioning in a particular order that gives more importance to one aspect over another.
17 comments:
To study media with the industrialization of culture framework means to look at the different industries and areas that influence the media industry. Culture influences all aspects of media. Culture includes the social practices and values that shape what people wish to see in the media. Within culture there are multiple frameworks including social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, and public that also effect media. This framework is multidirectional: they all influence one another and they are all equally influenced by culture. The industrialization of culture frame can be used to understand different media industries in different contexts. Rather than studying media as a single entity it is important to look at all the possible influencers that led to the production of that piece of media. Because of the current American culture and social trends I would not be surprised if another films similar to The Interview suddenly made it’s way into production. When future generations study media from this time period with the industrialization of culture framework they will look at the conditions, mandates, and current social trends that led to the popularity and success of the film.
I believe to study the media with the industrialization of culture framework means to look at how media is influenced by three central factors: the mandate (or goals) of the media outlet, the conditions the media industries operate under, and the day-to-day practices of the people and organization working on the project. There are also three other parts to the framework, which are social trends, tastes and traditions, texts, and the public. Each part of the industrialization of culture framework shapes the media that circulates within a society. Each part within the framework has a cause-and-effect relationship with the other aspects, changing and being changed by the other parts.
A media mandate is the primary goal or reason for being in the media industry, which greatly impacts the type of media, created and produced. For example a for-profit mandate with produce vastly different content than a noncommercial mandate. Conditions the media industries operate under cover factors like available technology, regulations, and economic structure. For example, the heavy conglomeration of the past few years has greatly altered the conditions of media industries. The practices of media industries cover the many professional roles, duties and activities of media industry workers. Branching from creative practices, to distribution and exhibition as well.
A societies culture can be used to explain why certain mandates, practices and organization methods exists. Understanding the culture that exists and how it impacts the societies media mandates, practices and organization is key to understanding how media functions in different societies. Navigating the industrialization of culture framework is critical to succeeding in the media industry.
To study media with the industrialization of culture framework means to examine how mandates, conditions, and practices all influence media. Mandates are the primary goals or reasons for being in the media industry. These could be monetary or creating content to serve the citizens. Conditions are things that affect how media industries operate. These are things like available technology, regulations within the country, and economic conditions within the country. Practices is an all encompassing term that means the people who are responsible for the day to day operations of media industries and the content that they produce. Mandates, conditions, and practices all influence each other. All of these levels are also influenced by culture. This means that whatever concepts or ideas are currently popular will be more prominent in media. Ideas like the hero saving the day while the bad guy gets punished, the guy and the girl who didn't really like each other are getting married, and the person who everyone least expected is the murderer are some of the popular themes in American films.
Mandates, conditions, practices, and culture are all important aspects to look at when studying media. They all influence each other and are key to figuring out how to make something that has the potential to be successful.
I think that studying media with the industrialization of culture framework means that you don't just observe one aspect of influence, but multiple aspects of influences on the media industry that we are exposed to every day. A lot of media is created based on what is popular in our culture. This doesn't just involve movies either. This involves television shows, popular bands, the books we read, the news we read, everything plays into the industrialization of culture framework. For example, a massive record company may observe popular culture and then try to create an artist that fits the popular culture mold, or they may try their hand at creating a popular trend and influencing pop culture. Referencing back to what Lauren stated about The Interview, I wouldn't be surprised either if films similar to that one made their way into cinemas or production studios within the next few months. The same thing happens with fairy tale stories. At the time when Snow White and the Huntsmen, the version staring Kristin Stewart and Charlize Theron, was released, another version with a different twist on the story was released just weeks after, starring Julia Roberts, Lily Collins and Armie Hammer. Studying the industrialization of culture framework means that we need to study various conditions and trends that create what essentially becomes popularized by our culture.
In order to study the media with the industrialization of culture framework we need to examine and analyze how social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, public response, and culture are related. The content of the media, as seen in television, films, radio, music, video games, news, etc. is a reflection of dominant societal beliefs and values. Content can also be tracked using historical timelines to reflect the prevalent issues and events. Following September 11, 2001 thriller television shows following terrorists such as 24 and Homeland have become huge hits. Many other shows have been made to try to follow this trend. It should be noted, however, that the media content has a strong ability to influence the ideas and attitudes of the prevailing culture. Blue Mountain State, a raunchy television comedy, largely depicts stereotypes about the college party scene and collegiate athletics. Since culture is fluid, the media industry changes to adapt to the dominant culture(s). Thus, content will be contingent upon culture and vice versa. In order to study the media, the cultural context needs to be examined to fully understand the mandates, conditions, practices, and texts.
In order to study the media with "the industrialization of culture framework" you must consider many different components of the media that all influence one another. These components are the social trends, tastes, and traditions, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, and finally the public. Cultures range globally and this creates different genres and traditions that media producers draw on when creating media text. However, it is important to note that there are two definitions of culture when referring to the media. The first is the aesthetic sense, referring to the texts that the media industry produce, ranging from films, newspapers, television shows, and radio productions. The second type of culture is that of the anthropological sense, referring to specific social practices, values, and hierarchies associated with a specific group of people.
I believe this anthropological culture is superior to the aesthetic culture. This is because professionals who work in media industries are constantly going through a shaping process. They are being shaped by their culture, this is shaping the texts they produce, and therefore they are shaping the audiences they engage.
Therefore, this anthropological culture is truly the root of the values and traditions that people believe, or the dominant ideology becomes the root of production.
However, it is also important to recognize that media producers may have another agenda in mind. They may be purely producing text of the culture that they have been shaped with, or they may have a separate corporate agenda in which they are trying to feed a separate ideology to their audiences.
Regardless, media would be absolutely nothing without people who contribute in shaping the culture, the professionals in the media industries who produce texts that convey this culture, and the audiences that are engaged by those texts.
In studying media with the "industrialization of Culture Framework" in mind, one must consider all factors of societal cultures when arriving at concluding thoughts and analyses.
In the framework used to study media and the industry, three specific influences (mandate, conditions and practices) are noted and must be acknowledged for a better understanding of how the industry operates, and why it operates how it does. Another aspect of studying the media via this framework includes taking a closer look at what creators draw from for inspiration of their medium; social trends, tastes and traditions provide a resource pool that allow producers to create based off of.
In understanding these components, like the purpose of a creation and its goals (mandate), the conditions that either provide opportunity or limitation, and the practices of the creators coupled with the knowledge of the ways of the society, like its trends, tastes and traditions, one is more likely to grasp a better understanding of the industry, and media in particular.
It is also important to note that this framework works in a way that makes all components equal. By that, I mean, that no single aspect is more important or higher than the other, but that they all affect the other in a linear way. Because of this, it is essential to study and understand each factor of the framework rather than just focus on one.
Media industries can be studied using the Industrialization of Culture Framework, which is influenced by mandates, conditions and everyday practices. Culture is in the background for the framework and influences each part of the model. Each part of the model in turn influences each other. Social trends are different in every culture, and so media workers looks at these trends when creating texts. The social trends affects the mandates (goals) of the media outlet, which affects the conditions and the practices that are used in the various media industries. The texts that media industries produced need the public to consume them. If nobody cares about the texts, then the media workers need to go back and re-examine society's trends and practices.
When studying the Industrialization of Culture Framework, it is important to examine the influence of ideologies. Ideologies are world views that are shared between groups of people; and dominant ideologies are belief systems that are widely shared in society. Strong agency is what creates new genres and new dominant ideologies. When non-dominant ideologies become dominant, those ideologies lose their power because they have become the norm. Non-dominant ideologies start off as big fish in a small pond because they challenge popular culture, but when those ideologies become accepted and gain popularity within society, they become dominant (small fish in a big pond).
I think it is very important to study the industrialization of culture because media is such a huge part of culture today. Media has so become globalized. An current example of the impact of globalization is Sony scandal concerning the release of The Interview (2014). Sony halting the release of the movie only made people want to see it more, and the movie has made over $31 million online, and is Sony's highest-grossing online film.
Considering the industrialization of culture framework to study media consists of aesthetic taste and anthropological sense of culture. Cultural norms, values, and practices fall under the category of anthropological sense which are constantly changing which explains the fluidity of mandates, conditions, and practices that different demographic groups of people address. The audience of these media could range anywhere from political groups to normal citizen media consumers who bend the framework into the most up-to-date social trends, tastes, and traditions. Examples of this could include the rise of popularity in political shows and movies such as West Wing, House of Cards, etc. And who could forget the short-lived, but very popular vampire adoration which was a result of popular books which led to movies and television shows. The up and coming social trends, tastes, and traditions may start from non-dominant ideologies that through the industrialization of culture framework may lead to a dominant ideology. Independent artists such as Macklemore and Mac Miller starting creating music as a passion and they very quickly sky rocketed to be some of the most popular artists due to the constantly changing ideologies. When social trends shift, so do all of the other aspects of the framework in order to keep media, an intangible product, alive and well.
Studying the media with “the industrialization of culture” framework requires us to take into account various aspects of our global society and culture that influence not only the production of texts, but also how media industries function as a whole. We must consider the three concepts of mandates, conditions, and practices, which essentially dictate the operation of media industries. Through these, we are able to examine an organization’s motivations and goals for operation as well as the technologies, regulations, and economics that contribute to identifying which texts are deemed appropriate for society and consumers, and profitable for the production companies. Along with these factors, the public and their social trends, tastes, and traditions heavily shape the industry and the texts created, but we must understand that culture ultimately reflects the foundation upon which the framework is built, guiding and changing every other aspect of the model. The industrialization of culture framework gives us an understanding that these various factors are interdependent, influencing each other, rather than being hierarchical or linear. Using this framework to study the media means that we must be aware of these critical ideas and key concepts and how they relate to media industries’ functioning and success.
To study the media with "the industrialization of culture framework" means to understand that media is created by culture, and different media forms create popular culture.
It is crucial to understand that this mutual influence happens because of social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts, and the general public. Anything can be created as media, but the industrialization of culture framework can dictate what is allowed and what prospers.
Each step in the framework is equally influenced by culture, and culture has two definitions used in order to explain the industrialization of culture. The first definition is culture in the aesthetic sense, to refer to the texts that the media industries produce, such as films, newspapers, etc. The second definition is in the anthropological sense, which refers to the specific social practices, values, mores, and hierarchies associated with a particular group of people. Exploring all of the above topics would be studying the media with "the industrialization of culture framework.
The structure of culture and how it impacts media text and visa versa is nominalistic, which means that each and every component of the cultural framework in accordance to the media industry is subjective and holistic—the outcome of such a framework isn’t easily interpreted because each variable interacts with the next. Social trends, mandates, conditions, practices, texts and the public all influence each other in interconnectivity.
This is the framework under which the media industry operates and how it impacts culture. Media at once influences and is influenced by culture. It is important to understand the industrialization of culture not only because as consumers and constituents of culture we are directly impacted by it, but because this framework illustrates the very dynamic and difficult-to-quantify-nature of the media industry.
To me, I believe that, to study the "industrialization of culture framework" is to analyze how social trends, mandates, practices, conditions, text, and public response influence culture as a whole. This began to click with me during our class discussion on wed, when we discussed all the connecting factors involved in the culture framework. To study media by itself as a macro/overarching entity doesn't do it justice because of all the nuts and bolts that come into play and how they work together. These factors are constantly moving and changing as society and culture changes, which is why this is such fascinating topic to study. For example, actress laverne cox, who portrays Sophia Burset on Orange is the New Black, is the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy. The shift in our culture and the contributing factors is what has made this possible over time, and why it wasn't "accepted" historically. To appreciate this we have to examine the wide scope of factors that have come into play to make this possible including social trends, mandates, practices, conditions, text, and public response.
Studying media with the industrialization of culture framework means considering three different levels of influence; mandate, conditions, and practices.
Mandates are the organization's goals or reasons for operating - usually profit. Conditions are the things that impact how the industry operates, (i.e. technology, regulations, and economic structure. Practices are the small details and day-to-day actions of the individuals within various media industries.
This model is not arranged in a top to bottom hierarchy. No one level is more significant than another. Rather, all of the levels influence one another back and forth.
For example, consider The Hunger Games movies. Lionsgate decided to split the three books into four movies in order to gain profit (i.e. mandate), and this led to viewers disliking the third film due to a lack of content and action. The practice of splitting book trilogies into more films is common (consider Harry Potter and Twilight) and the fact that the third film of The Hunger Games is unpopular may lead Lionsgate to change their practices in the future.
The culture framework is unique because of the flexibility of the model and the fact that it influences all of media. It begins with the mandates which is why the media outlet is in business. The conditions are the technological, economic, and regulatory aspects and the practices are how the media is actually made. When studying these things, it is important to realize that there is no direct relationship but rather the relationship with all the aspects of the culture model move back and forth. If the conditions or practices change, it could influence the texts or what the public wants. On the other hand, considering what the public wants, like movie releases of concerts as we discussed in class, can also have the same impact on things such as the conditions, and thus the model works backwards. Shifts in culture will always impact the media industry, so it is important to consider how media is made from both ends of the spectrum.
To study the media with "the industrialization of culture framework" means to take into account the different context of the media- the way it is written, produced, distributed, etc. As the authors point out, there is variation between media industries and they are ever changing. Understanding the context is important so that we, as consumers, can understand motive and possible influences that outside factors have on media. It is important for us to understand the creation process even before a writer creates a text. There are multiple players in the game with different motives. By understanding all facets of the media, we can become conscious consumers. This framework requires complete understanding at all levels - it is not enough to study one part. The success of a text is dependent on the publics' reception. If it fails, media entities must back pedal to fix the problem, or scrap the project. By studying all facets, consumers can understand the different levels in which the industry operates.
By using the industrialization of culture framework to study media, we are able to look at the many aspects of the media industry simultaneously, rather than just focusing on one. This allows us to look at the media industry as a whole, and how these aspects relate to each other. The framework is split into the levels of mandates, conditions, and practices, and than further looks at social trends, tastes, and traditions, the actual texts, and the public. One of the most important aspects of this framework is that it is flexible and multidirectional. All of the levels have effects on each other, and aren’t exclusively functioning in a particular order that gives more importance to one aspect over another.
Post a Comment