Intro to Communications & Media

POST MIDTERM

Critical Theory and Constructivism

• Constructivists argue that technology is socially

  constructed and shaped by social forces

• Philosophies of Technological Development.

  • Instrumentalism

  • Determinism

  • Substantivism

  • Critical Theory/Constructivism

• Communication policy is established by international regulatory bodies and national and regional governments to ensure that media serve not only their owners and content creators but individual citizens and society as a whole

Canadian Media Policy

• Most government interventions guided by idea that media should “promote” the nation

• Challenged fiscally, tech, philosophical

  • Fiscal: can we afford to promote cultural activity?

  • Technological: with powerful communication networks, is it possible to intervene?

  • Philosophical: Should gov be involved in cultural production?

• Formation of communication policy balances individual, collective needs, universal principles

  • How to accommodate needs?

  • Public inquiries

• Aird Commission

  • 1920s, powerful US radio stations overpowering Canadian waves

  • Rendered radio a gov institution

  • Conclusions:

    • Radio is an instrument of national purpose, therefore should be subsidized

    • Programming should be predominantly Canadian & educational

  • 2 Major themes

    • relationship between media & commerce

    • US as a cultural threat

  • Critical of commercialization of radio

• Massey-Lévesque Commission, 1949-1951

  • This commission is the most sweeping study of the cultural field in Canadian history, a study that was to include within its scope museums, libraries, archives,

    historical sites, monuments, scholarship, voluntary societies, crafts guilds, and the mass media

  • Occurred post war, reorganizing gov

  • Investigated government role in many areas including national & international agencies

  • Broadened state jurisdiction in cultural sphere

• Fowler Commission

  • insisted that “the broadcasting and distribution of Canadian programmes by a public agency shall continue to be the central feature of Canadian broadcasting policy”

  • Asserted that the broadcasting and distribution of Canadian programs by a public agency should remain the central feature of Canadian broadcasting policy

• Applebaum-Hebert Committee

  • Emphasized that the broadcasting and distribution of Canadian programs by a public agency should remain central to Canadian broadcasting policy

FINAL:

• Chapters 7-9, 11-12

• 4 Sections: mc, t/f, short answer, essay question 300-500 words (choice from 2)

• To study:

  • Major policies, Canadian content net neutrality

  • forms of ownership, importance of capital

  • Myth of meritocracy, Great Gatsby

  • Globalization, media imperialism, internodal communities

  • How American media dominance affects trade agreements