MIT2100 Final Exam Review (Final) PDF

MIT2100 - Final Exam Review (Final) Readings: Week 4: hardy, chapter 5 Hardy, Johnathan 2014, Chap. 5 “Political Economy of the Internet and Digital Media,” Critical Political Economy of the Media: An Introduction, New York: Routledge, pp. 108-134. The internet is part of a wider transformat...

MIT2100 - Final Exam Review (Final) Readings: Week 4: hardy, chapter 5 Hardy, Johnathan 2014, Chap. 5 “Political Economy of the Internet and Digital Media,” Critical Political Economy of the Media: An Introduction, New York: Routledge, pp. 108-134. The internet is part of a wider transformation in communities in which microelectronics based information and communication technologies provide the basis for the distribution and combination of digital data, ranging from traditional ‘mass media’ to interactive, social networked communication Broader pol econ context of internet ○ Marketization ○ Privatization ○ Liberalization ○ Deregulation Claims made for changes in media and communications relate to broader claims that the internet provides a dynamic open environment which favors innovative network operations that bring together supply and demand so that forms of (relatively) more perfect competition can be realized The work of the CPE scholars such as Mansell shifts from either technological or social determinism in favor of examining how the internet enables certain social possibilities and impedes others ARPANET - 1969 ○ Earliest formation includes the US government and military; businesses (initially mainly in science, computing and telecommuting): academics and scientists; a counter cultural influence of mainly US students and graduates and hackers, key advocates of the open architecture of the internet. Institutional change and adaptation, market conditions, emergent market and nonmarket actors Digital media continued to see the greatest audience growth, with other platforms falling, yet television remains the mains the main news source for most Americans A key theme for radical political economics is that the internet is a vital resource which has been allowed to develop according to corporate interest as a commercial medium with minimal consideration of public interest, democratic accountability or supervision For digital pluralism, for a networked public sphere - then we must pay attention to vertical structures of power not least the dominance of media and communications conglomerates that continue to structure and shape its development-=[] Week 5: C Happer” Financialization” Paul benedetti, James Compton Happer, Catherine 2017, “Financialisation, media and social change,” New Political Economy, 22 (4), 437-449. (12 pages) Hedge fund financialization of news  The material culture of finalciasisation, which provides the foundation to this symposium rests on an undateradnoing that marletail processes and structure are crucially interdependent on the systems of meaning and beliefs which support (or contest) them. Further these meanings develop throughout the workings of the financial system and are responded to by audiences in different ways such as collective support for or resistance to policy moves ‘The financialization of the state’, politicians have progressively moved away from public debt related decisions to behaving as coactos in a marketplace’ As a general rule the activities of these collective groups are beyond the reach of the media and public debate, but public relations (pr) agencies for global finance feed directly into the production of media which publics receive in unprecedented numbers of way Journalist operate within a system whci is answerable to the pressures of ownership, editorial imposition and financial intranet but ultimately the commercial imperative of delivering audines ○ A further factors is the norms and ethics of journalism, such as adherence to balance and neutrality and the need to challenge decision making although these are open to shifting content and interpretation The arguments presented here provide evidence for the material culture of financialization as seen through the 10cs, not least through their integration with the circuit of information supply which operates to promote and legitimate the system A key element therefore in the way in which fincen is construed is the lack of available alternatives explanations and a lack of coherence between media, politcal and corporate objectives can aprtally and temproliy cincide to contest promotion of hegomonic interest Benedetti, Paul and James Compton 2015, “The sounds of silence: Postmedia buys Sun Newspaper chain and no one heard a thing,” Rabble.ca, March 31, https://rabble.ca/economy/sounds-silence-postmedia-buys-sun-newspaper-chain-and-no-one-heard- thing/ Post media has a heavy price to pay to survive A corporation whose largest shareholder is a giant, multinational hedge fund with little or no interest in quality journalism or the information needs of canadians Media mergers always raise concerns about loss of diversity, of editorial perspective and fairness in news coverage due to the rationalization of news resources that are part od the reason for these mergers” Robert Hackett The competition bureau said their review showed “there would not be significant anti-competitive effects for readers or advertisers arising derom the proposed transaction” Week 6: bennediti “labour” Compton, James and Paul Benedetti 2010, “Labour, New Media, and the Institutional Restructuring of Journalism,” Journalism Studies, 11 (4) 487 – 499. (12 pages) Exploiting labour power ○ Pressure labour costs down ○ Rationalizing production ○ Key: “tendecy to separate conception from execution” AI nightmare  Media Labor and Industrial Restructuring ○ Examines the relationship between new media technologies and the restructuring of journalism. ○ Focuses on how labor practices in journalism are shaped by these changes. ○ Highlights the tension between traditional journalistic values and economic pressures. Impact of New Media ○ Shift from legacy media (newspapers, television) to digital platforms. ○ The rise of "digital-first" strategies prioritizing online publication. ○ Influence of audience metrics (e.g., clicks, shares) on journalistic content and priorities. Economic Pressures and Precarity ○ Declining advertising revenues for traditional media organizations. ○ Journalists face job cuts, increased workloads, and precarious employment conditions. ○ Rise of freelance journalism and its implications for job security and journalistic autonomy. Convergence Culture ○ Convergence of media platforms, roles, and tasks. ○ Journalists are expected to perform multiple roles (writing, filming, editing, and social media management). ○ Impact on the quality and depth of reporting. Social structure ○ Marco = society ○ Meso = organization ○ Mirco = individuals Rationalization of of news production ○ Reliance on bureaucracies ○ Authorized knowners (elite opinions) ○ News values  Technology , ideology and journalistic labour ○ Key contradiction: Media capitals imperative to accelerate the production, distribution and consumption In conflict with cultural traditions and professional standards Journalistic labour undergoes change - liquid moderns ○ Stability (e.g., long-term employment, clear ethical standards) is rare. ○ Flexibility, adaptability, and constant reinvention are necessary. ○ Journalists must navigate precarious working conditions, evolving technologies, and shifting audience expectations. Economic Restructuring of Journalism ○ Media companies prioritize cost-cutting measures to maintain profitability. ○ This often leads to reduced journalistic staff and reliance on less experienced or underpaid labor. Role of Technology ○ New media technologies are a double-edged sword: Enable faster, broader dissemination of news. Undermine traditional revenue streams and reporting depth. Labor Practices in Transition ○ Increasing expectation for journalists to multitask across platforms. ○ Contributes to burnout and a decline in investigative reporting. Audience-Driven Content ○ Rise of algorithmically-driven news prioritizing entertainment over critical analysis. ○ Diminished role for journalism as a public service. Implications for Journalism ○ Ethics and Standards: New labor dynamics challenge adherence to traditional journalistic ethics. ○ Democratization vs. Professionalism: Debate over whether new media enhances public participation or erodes professional journalism standards. ○ Future Trends: Uncertainty about sustainable models for quality journalism in a digital-first world. Week 7: roy shuker “every eyes” Shuker, Roy 2001, Chap. 2 “Every I’s a Winner,” in Understanding Popular Music (2nd edition), Routledge: New York. (pp, 27 - 49) The music embrace a range of institutions and associated markets: the recording companies (my main focus in this chapter) and the retail sector, producing and selling recordings in their various formats: the music press; music hardwear, including musical instruments and sound recording and reproduction technology; merchandising (posters, t-shirts, etc) and royalties and rights and their collection or licensing agencies Course themes and music ○ Use of AI to replace skilled labour ○ Loss of creativity and authenticity ○ “Tendency to separate conception from execution” ○ Homogenization of cultural production ○ Quality vs quantity  ○ Struggle over property rights - copyright Dialectical tension in pop music production - commodification vs creativity Modified pol econ - antonio Gramsci ○ Hegemony theory: Music is a site of ongoing political struggle Struggle over popular common sense The discussion of subsequent trends in the music industry emphasizes vertical and horizontal integration at work with a general tendency towards consolidation First coined by Adorno, as a descriptive term ‘cultural industries’ refer to those institutions in our society which employ the charatierc modes of production and organization of industrial corporations to produce and disseminate symbols in the form of cultural goods and services, generally though not exclusively as commodities Week 8: jules boycott, ‘sports washing’ Compton, “spectacle” - taylor swift, superbowl, mustangs game (horse and band!) Taylor swift and spectacular integration Boycoff, Jules 2022, “Toward a Theory of Sportswashing: Mega-Events, Soft Power, and Political Conflict,” Sociology of Sport Journal, 39 (4) 342-351. (9 pages) Compton, James 2016, “Mega-events, Media, and the Integrated World of Global Spectacle,” in Mega-Events and Globalization: Capital and spectacle in a changing world order, Eds. Richard Gruneau and John Horne, London/New York: Routledge. Sports washing refers to the practice of using sports events, teams or individuals as a means to improve a country or organization's reputation on the global stage. While on the surface it may seem harmless it often serves as a calculated strategy to divert attention from human rights abuses political repression or any other controversial actions Rise of sportswashing in the 21st century due to the rise of the global popularity and media coverage of sports Sports washing also diverts attention and resources away from addressing the underlying social, political and economic issues plaguing these regions; below Countries and organizations employ sports washing to enhance their image, attract tourism and secure economic investment ○ Hosting major sports events like olympics, FIFA world cup or races Russia Sochi: the russian anti-doping agency systematic manipulation of drug testing results created doubt on the integrity of Russian athletes achievements (sanctions against Russian Teams and altheas Saudi Arabia: employed sports washing as part of its broader public relation efforts. The kingdom has invested heavily in hosting major sports events including high-profit boxing matches and motorsports events. Arbias human rights record, concerning women's right freedom of expression. China: hosting major sporting events, the 2008 summer olympics in Beijing and the 2022 winter olympics in beijing. Well these events showcase chains economic and technological progress critics argue that they divert attention from the issues such as human rights abuses, lack of media  freedom and the oppression of ethnic minorities. Caused the reassessment of the selection progress of hosting major sport events. By rewarding contieres with questionable records of human rights, all political freedoms the international sports community inadvertently legitimizes their actions Boxing as manufactured integrated spectacle: an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention, interest, or disapproval ○ Jake paul (youtube start) vs Mike Tyson (Boxing start) Jake Paul won Netflix got hate for lag in livestream of the fight Speed, circulation and accumulation: the elimination of space through the acceleration of time continues today with investments in internet and social media technologies ○ In both a cause and effect of mega spectacles Sportswashing can also emerge in putative democratic, where sports mega events distract the public from unjust processes like gentrification, homelessness, and hyper-policing, and are used as a rationalization for addressing these hot-button social issues. And, of course, human rights violations happen daily in Western democracies, too. Sports mega-events provide the host with a rare chance to rewrite its history, reshaping narratives that bolster extant power relations. But there is also an under discussed knock-on effect of sportswashing: how it can smooth the path for war. First, sportswashing is not just the domain of autocrats; it can transpire in putative democracies where elected officials vow to leverage social change through hosting mega-events. Sportswashing, in other words, does not oblige Western exceptionalism. Second, domestic audiences are crucial to understanding the political complexities of sportswashing, but are often overlooked. With a focus on international relations, Nye (2004, p. 4) writes that soft power is “getting others to want the outcomes that you want.” And yet, an examination of sportswashing shows that it is not quite that simple. Domestic audiences, often overlooked by theorists using the soft-power approach, are central to understanding sportswashing and its knock-on effects. When people inquire as to whether sportswashing works, they often turn a blind eye to the dynamics in the homeland. Third, sports washing can set the stage for military intervention, albeit not in oversimple causal fashion. Nye (2004, p. 9) contends, “Soft power does not depend on hard power.” However, sportswashing can certainly pave a path for military intervention or its intensification. The relationship between soft power and hard power remains underexplored. Fourth, new forms of sportswashing are in emergence, with controversial authoritarian regimes funding teams, leagues, and events in democratic states, flinging new factors into play when it comes to both the roles of fandom and athletic laborers who get caught in the sports washed crossfire. McChesney, Robert and John Nichols 2021 “The Local Journalism Initiative: a proposal to protect and extend democracy,” Columbia Journalism Review, November 30, https://www.cjr.org/business_of_news/the-local-journalism-initiative.php Structure of capitalist media systems: ○ Waged labour ○ Commodity production and exchange  AI “The best thing the government could do to save the media is to stop trying to say the media”: Neoliberal argument; ○ Consumer sovereignty ○ Market should be free from government interference Local journalism initiative Mega-Events and Media: ○ Compton examines the interplay between mega-events (like the Olympics or World Cup) and media, highlighting how these events act as global spectacles. ○ Media are integral to the production, dissemination, and consumption of these events, transforming them into spectacles that influence global perceptions of culture, power, and capitalism. ○ He frames mega-events as a site of "integrated spectacle" (drawing from Guy Debord’s concept in The Society of the Spectacle), where consumerism and entertainment merge. Global Capitalism and Mega-Events: ○ Mega-events are tied to the logic of global capitalism, serving as tools for economic and cultural dominance. ○ These events are commodified experiences, produced for consumption on a massive scale, both in physical spaces (stadiums) and mediated spaces (broadcasts, social media). ○ Compton critiques the neoliberal economic policies underpinning these events, such as public-private partnerships that often exploit public funds while prioritizing private profit. Media’s Role in the Global Spectacle: ○ Media corporations act as gatekeepers, amplifying the event’s global reach while shaping narratives to align with political and corporate interests. ○ Broadcast rights for mega-events have become a lucrative industry, reflecting the increasing integration of media and global capital. ○ Social media’s role as a decentralized, yet highly commodified, platform introduces new dynamics to the spectacle by amplifying audience participation while generating vast revenue streams for tech corporations. Cultural and Political Dimensions of Mega-Events: ○ These events often serve as platforms for soft power, showcasing the host nation’s modernity, economic success, or cultural heritage. ○ However, they also expose inequalities and power imbalances, as marginalized communities may be displaced or overlooked during preparation and execution. Contradictions in the Spectacle: ○ Compton identifies contradictions: while mega-events celebrate global unity and diversity, they reinforce divisions such as economic inequality and geopolitical dominance. ○ They propagate a sanitized image of the host location, often ignoring or erasing local struggles and conflicts. Integration of Technology and Surveillance: ○ Technological advancements, like high-definition broadcasting and social media, have deepened the integration of media into these spectacles. ○ Surveillance technologies employed during mega-events (e.g., for security) often persist afterward, raising concerns about privacy and state power. Key Terms: New Deserts: in the US 200 countries do not have a local newspaper. Half of all counties 1,540 have only one newspaper usually weekly A news deseret is basically just a place that doesn't have any news media based in that community and serving that community In past there was many local news provided to them communities this has charged due to advertising markets growth/change most have disappeared ○ Social media now produces all media Copyright: the exclusive right to copy and publish one's own work Legal right to produce, reproduce, sell nor license, publish or perform an original work or substantial part of it ○ Permission, prodive payment Taylor Swift didn't have master recording ownership of previous release.. Due to contract with record label ○ Underlying composition, melody has nothing to do with sound recording (this is why we hear the same lyrics/melodys in many different songs) ○ Recoding agreement ○ Artist pay labels back “owning the artists” Taylor Swift at the time didn't own these master recordings so she resigned to a new record label, set up her own expectations and re-recorded her own compositions.. Now owns those massive recordings (Taylors version) Talyors version… connection to mega events/sports watching and spectacles Spectacle: an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention, interest, or disapproval Food meets video reviews Coming out of instagram post before telling mom The integrated spectacle - Guy Debord ○ Rated bureaucracy and state ○ Diffuse - market control Specere = to look at ○ Showing something, presenting something that is to be looked at, presenting something that is to be looked at Show business, its an economic or socio-political framework which is based on showing, on staging, on making something seen In the sense of the mass media yet border for instance with the emergence of brands; all goods have a certain show element to them that is more important than the mere commodity itself What is marketed is primarily the image of the thing “The whole life.. Presents itself as an immense accumulation of spectacles” “the spectacle is capital accumulated to the point where it becomes an image ○ Life is a show, this show is for profit, its a business “Is a social relationship between people that mediated by images”  ○ The spectacle as a notion of life as show business is a socio-political and not an aesthetic or not even in a strict sense a media theory concept Debord says that mass media are the most suppress superficial manifestation of the spectacle and call news or propaganda, advertising and entertainment that specific manifestations of the spectacle as well A theory of a mode of production of social life and power The society of the Spectacle1967: ○ Guy Debord's The Society of the Spectacle (1967) is a seminal Marxist critique of modern society, where Debord examines how advanced capitalism turns social relations, culture, and even reality itself into mediated representations—what he calls the spectacle ○ Rated bureaucracy and state ○ Diffuse - market control Found in liberal democracies, where consumerism and entertainment dominate. Example: Advertising-driven mass media in capitalist societies. He examines how advanced capitalism turns social relations, culture and even reality itself into mediated representation Within the society of the spectacles products real function is not its actual use but how it makes us appear (we find fulfillment in being associated with certain products) ○ Example; sport cars. No one buys a sports car cause they want to get to work faster they buy it so they are seen in it, have associated values (having money) Spectacles are images detached from reality, but which represent an aspect of life. These images are deceptive, they are designed to alter our own perception of reality A way of manipulating how we relate to one another through imagery Images which is the spectacle encourages us on a subconscious level to passively accept the world as it is Manipulation… produces alienation on a mass scale Sportswashing: Sports washing refers to the practice of using sports events, teams or individuals as a means to improve a country or organization's reputation on the global stage. While on the surface it may seem harmless it often serves as a calculated strategy to divert attention from human rights abuses political repression or any other controversial actions Rise of sportswashing in the 21st century due to the rise of the global popularity and media coverage of sports Sports washing also diverts attention and resources away from addressing the underlying social, political and economic issues plaguing these regions; below Countries and organizations employ sports washing to enhance their image, attract tourism and secure economic investment ○ Hosting major sports events like olympics, FIFA world cup or races Russia Sochi: the russian anti-doping agency systematic manipulation of drug testing results created doubt on the integrity of Russian athletes achievements (sanctions against Russian Teams and altheas Saudi Arabia: employed sports washing as part of its broader public relation efforts. The kingdom has invested heavily in hosting major sports events including high-profit boxing matches and  motorsports events. Arbias human rights record, concerning women's right freedom of expression. China: hosting major sporting events, the 2008 summer olympics in Beijing and the 2022 winter olympics in beijing. Well these events showcase chains economic and technological progress critics argue that they divert attention from the issues such as human rights abuses, lack of media freedom and the oppression of ethnic minorities. Caused the reassessment of the selection progress of hosting major sport events. By rewarding countries with questionable records of human rights, all political freedoms the international sports community inadvertently legitimizes their actions Financialization: in the political economy of the media refers to the increasing dominance of financial motives, markets, actors, and institutions in shaping how media organizations operate and how cultural products are produced, distributed, and consumed. This process reflects broader trends in global capitalism, where financial strategies take precedence over traditional concerns like public service, journalistic integrity, or cultural enrichment. Opinion - context (what is written… not liking the perspective of writer in comparison to the perspective of the company) As the political and business elites of a hundred years ago began demanding information they could rely on creating one sort of pressure - a process of industrialisation of the news was underway. Economics of scale meant that daily newspaper in smaller markets could not afford to put off potential readers just because they supported different political parties or took different views of say free trade The financial industry converts any work product physical assets or service to an exchangeable financial instrument that can be traded speculated upon and ultimately managed through the financial system Horkheimer, adorno 1947 - dialectic of enlightenment - what does it say abt the culture industry?: In Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer critique the culture industry, a concept they use to describe the mass production of culture under capitalism. Their analysis is rooted in their broader critique of Enlightenment rationality, which they argue has led to domination and the commodification of all aspects of life, including culture. ○ The culture industry refers to the mass production and commodification of cultural goods (films, music, books, art, etc.) by large capitalist enterprises. ○ It is not merely about providing entertainment but about enforcing social conformity and maintaining the status quo by shaping public consciousness. Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer - two jews who fled germany moved to california just to show how bleak american culture is , ○ Media generates homogene, same sameness in every product in mass production Mass media produces a loop of mass production… every other aspect of the culture industry The culture industry as a mechanism of psychosocial control… american capitalism, it plays the role of dictator over taste and opinion Stimulates pleasure