Media Studies Theories COMP. 1 - SECTION B

Who came up with the Theory of Power and Media Industries?

Curran and Seaton

What did Curran and Seaton say about their theory?

• Media is con trolled by a small number of companies driven by the logic of profit and power

• Media concentration limits variety, creativity and quality

• More socially diverse patterns of ownership help to create the conditions for more varied and adventurous media productions

Who came up with the Theory of Cultural Industries?

David Hesmondhalgh

What did Hesmondhalgh say about his theory?

• Compoanies minimise risk and maximise audiences via Horizontal/vertical integration

• They maximise audiences by formatting their cultural products with 3 things:

  • Stars (celebrities)

  • Genres

  • Serials (sequels)

• Says that large media conglomerates operate across a number of cultural industries

• Says 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

What is a Conglomerate?

A company that owns lots of other companies in various mass media likt TV, Radio, publishing etc.

What is a Media Conglomerate?

A conglomerate that strives to for policies that allow their control over global markets

What is Vertical Integration?

When a conglomerate’s corporations operate at different stages of the same process

These 3 stages are:

1. Production - making the product

2. Distribution - advertising it

3. Exhibition - showing it in select places like streaming or cinemas

How does Disney use Vertical Integration?

Disney own multiple companies like Marvel, Sky and has its own streaming service, Disney+

When making a Marvel film:

• Marvel handle the production

• Sky handles the distribution (launch Sky superheroes channel for a limited time, advertise the film on their channels etc.)

• Disney does the exhibition by showing it on Disney+

What is Horizontal Integration?

When a conglomerate’s corporations operate at the same stages of the same process

This helps eliminate competition

What happens when you Maximise Audiences?

Maximise Audiences → Maximise Profit → Maximise Power

This has become the logic in the media industry

Who came up with Regulation Theory?

Livingstone and Lunt

What did Livingstone and Lunt say about their theory?

• Says there’s a struggle in recent Uk regulation policies between the further interests of citizens (by giving protection from indecent material) and the need to further interests for consumers (by ensuring choice, value for money and market competition)

• So there is a balance to the safety of the consumers and consuming films

Who regulates films in the UK?

The BBFC - British Board of Film Classification

What’s makes the BBFC reliable?

• They’re funded by the government

• Are an independent regulator

  • So it removes potential corruption (bias) to make a film a certain age rating

What age rating allows conglomerates to maximise audiences?

12A

• 12A = means of profit + freedom (of target audience) = actual profit

What is Traditional Regulation?

Asking for ID or Age to access certain content

Such as going to the cinema

What is Digital Convergence?

All our media being easily accessible next to each other

How does Digital Convergence make traditional regulation hard to do?

Due to media becoming more easily accessible, new technologies and convergent media

What is Convergent Media?

When multiple medias can be accessed from a single place at any time

Such a smartphones