Final (Revised) Flashcards
(28 cards)
Economics & Blockbusters
How do economic factors shape U.S. media content?
High production costs → need big revenue to break even
Risk aversion: fewer experimental projects greenlit (a project has received official approval to move forward into production)
Advertising dependence: content designed for broad demos to sell ads
Global markets: stories tailored for international audiences
Economics & Blockbusters
What is the blockbuster strategy?
Investing big money in a few major productions to maximize profits.
Massive marketing budgets to build hype worldwide
Franchise focus: spin-offs, crossovers maximize existing fanbases
Risk mitigation: blockbuster hits offset potential flops
Economics & Blockbusters
What’s the impact of the blockbuster approach?
Big studios spend so much on blockbusters that there’s no room left for smaller, more creative projects.
Because they want to play it safe, they keep making the same kinds of stories over and over.
This makes it hard for new or different voices (like queer, Black, or immigrant creators) to get a chance.
Even good shows can be removed or canceled if they don’t make enough money or views.
Blockbuster Examples & Legal Factors
Give film & game examples of blockbuster spending.
Marvel’s Avengers: multi-film arcs, huge VFX budgets
Barbie (2023) & Oppenheimer (2023): wide appeal, global box office
Elden Ring (2022) & Call of Duty: AAA studios pour $$ into graphics, multiplayer servers
Streaming consolidations: Disney+ absorbed Hulu content; HBO Max cut Westworld
Blockbuster Examples & Legal Factors
What legal factors govern U.S. media production?
FCC regulations: require broadcast licenses, limit indecency during “safe harbor” hours
Ongoing debates: misinformation vs. free speech on social platforms
Copyright Clause (Article I, Section 8): gives creators exclusive rights but can limit fair use
Self-regulation: MPAA, ESRB ratings to avoid government censorship
Blockbuster Examples & Legal Factors
Name legal case studies affecting media.
Mickey Mouse (Steamboat Willie) entering public domain in 2024—opens classic IP
TikTok ban proposals (2023–24)—national security vs. platform access
Getty Images vs. Stability AI: whether AI can train on copyrighted pics without permission
MPAA vs. indie games: rating disputes over violent or sexual content
Internet Tech Uniqueness
How is the Internet unique vs. prior media? (C.A.D.I)
Convergence: text, audio, video all in one network
Accessibility: low entry barrier—anyone can publish
Decentralization: no single gatekeeper, but algorithmic curation
Interactivity: users can comment, remix, share in real-time
Internet Tech Uniqueness
What are the Internet’s key social benefits?
Real-time communication: Zoom classrooms, live COVID dashboards
Grassroots movements: #MeToo, Black Lives Matter spread globally
Citizen journalism: on-the-ground videos from Gaza/Ukraine bypass old media filters
New communities: support groups, niche fandoms flourish online
Internet Tech Uniqueness
What are the Internet’s main social concerns? (D.O.M.S.)
Digital divide: uneven access by region/income
Online harassment: trolling, doxxing, hate speech
Misinformation & rapid rumor spread
Surveillance capitalism: personal data harvested for ad targeting
Ideologies in Media
How does media promote class ideologies?
Luxury lifestyles shown as aspirational (e.g., Selling Sunset)
Consumerism tied to happiness in ads and reality TV
Underrepresentation of working-class struggles
Sponsorship deals reinforce brand-friendly images
Ideologies in Media
How does media shape race ideologies?
Historical stereotyping in early Hollywood
Counter-narratives: Black Panther, Everything Everywhere All at Once celebrate diversity
Casting debates: authenticity vs. tokenism
Audience decoding varies by viewer’s racial background
Ideologies in Media
How does media influence gender & sexuality ideologies?
- In the past, queer characters were usually shown as tragic, dangerous, or doomed (e.g., dying or being shamed).
- Now, shows like Heartstopper and Pose give positive, joyful, and realistic portrayals of queer lives.
- Casting matters: Halle Bailey playing Ariel (a Black actress as a classic white Disney character) brought both praise (for inclusion) and backlash (some racist).
- People interpret media differently depending on who they are—this is called decoding.
A queer viewer might feel seen in a scene that a straight viewer doesn’t notice much.
Reception & Uses & Gratifications
What is decoding in Stuart Hall’s model?
Encoding: producers embed preferred meanings
Decoding: audiences interpret based on culture, identity
Dominant vs. negotiated vs. oppositional readings
Example: viewers of The Idol debate its portrayal of gender/power
Reception & Uses & Gratifications
What are the main uses & gratifications?
Entertainment (fun, relaxation)
Information (news, learning)
Self-expression (sharing art, opinions)
Social connection (group chats, fandoms)
Status seeking (likes, followers)
Reception & Uses & Gratifications
Provide examples of uses & gratifications:
BeReal (2022–23): authentic sharing—gratifies realness need
TikTok/Instagram for news: blends info + entertainment (Gen Z trend)
Art activism: BLM, Roe v. Wade protest art on TikTok as self-expression & mobilization
Structure vs. Agency
Define structure in media contexts.
Industry constraints: ownership consolidation, regulations
Platform algorithms that shape what we see
Economic systems: ad models, subscription tiers
Cultural norms embedded in production
Structure vs. Agency
Define agency in media contexts.
Individual choices: what to watch, post, remix
User-generated content challenging mainstream narratives
Activism: hashtag campaigns, online petitions
Audience feedback can reshape content
Why balance structure & agency?
Change requires both: platforms provide tools (structure) & users must act (agency) to be balanced.
Examples:
➡️WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes (2023) — writers & actors used collective agency within union structures
➡️#BookTok turned reader agency into real-world bestseller shifts
Limits still exist: shadow-banning, ban proposals
How is family life often portrayed on U.S. television?
Mostly white, middle-class families with high-status jobs.
Shows like The Brady Bunch vs. rare examples like Good Times (a poor Black family).
What type of lifestyle do U.S. ads often promote?
Consumerism—buying things = happiness.
Ex: Ads for luxury cars, cosmetics, or home baking with brand-name products.
How the Everything Everywhere All at Once movie breaks those stereotypes?
Asian Leads: Michelle Yeoh (Evelyn) plays the main hero, not a sidekick. The cast is almost entirely Asian or Asian American.
Strong Emotions: The characters laugh, cry, scream, love, and fight—just like everyone else. They are messy, real people.
Family Struggles: The movie shows a very real relationship between a mother and daughter, including arguments about: Cultural pressure, Queer identity, Feeling misunderstood.
What does the “uses and gratifications” approach focus on studying?
It studies why and how people use media to meet personal needs.
Ex: Watching a comedy to feel happy, or scrolling Instagram to stay updated.
Why does the author of the reading “Everything Everywhere All at Once Is a Deeply Asian American Film” consider the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once to be so important?
The movie breaks harmful stereotypes and shows complex, realistic, and leading roles for Asian
Ex: Everything Everywhere All at Once is important because it does NOT follow the usual stereotypes of Asian characters in Hollywood like these:
* Asians are shown as perfect, quiet, smart, hard-working, but emotionless.
* Even if they were born in the U.S., Asian characters are shown as outsiders, with accents, weird habits, or ancient traditions.
In the 20th century, how did U.S. media often portray homosexuality?
What do media scholars consider to be concerning?
What is an example of a recent piece of popular media that is consistent with or counters these portrayals?
Portrayal: Homosexuality was usually shown as negative or a problem.
Concern: These portrayals made LGBTQ+ people seem dangerous or shameful, contributing to stigma and discrimination.
Ex of Concern: In a 1974 Marcus Welby episode, a gay man was shown as a child molester, sparking major backlash
Positive shift: In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres and her character both came out as gay on national TV—marking a big step forward.
