Final Review
Communication Arts 250 with Biddinger at University of Wisconsin - Madison
About this deck
By: Anonymous
Textbook:
American Cinema/American Culture
Created: 2010-05-15
Size: 87 flashcards
Views: 241
Textbook:
American Cinema/American CultureCreated: 2010-05-15
Size: 87 flashcards
Views: 241
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Nixon-Kennedy Debates, 1960
Nixon looked bad and refused make up, JFK looked good.
TV viewers: landslide opinion for JFK
Radio listeners though Nixon won
Visual power
TV viewers: landslide opinion for JFK
Radio listeners though Nixon won
Visual power
Why is film important for 1950s TV?
1. it can be edited
2. it can be syndicated; opportunity for reruns
2. it can be syndicated; opportunity for reruns
Quiz Show Scandal
They were popular but rigged
Charles van Doren, Today Show host, was being fed the answers, confessed in court.
They disappeared for ~20 years
Charles van Doren, Today Show host, was being fed the answers, confessed in court.
They disappeared for ~20 years
How did networks adjust to 1950s TV audiences? (2)
1. Lowest Common Denominator
-appeals to everyone
-lowest level of comprehension necessary
2. Least Objectionable Programming
-offends no one
-appeals to everyone
-lowest level of comprehension necessary
2. Least Objectionable Programming
-offends no one
Ethnic Humor TV
Amos & Andy, Beulah
Racist TV
Stop, leads to period called the All White World, instead of negative representation, there is no representation
Racist TV
Stop, leads to period called the All White World, instead of negative representation, there is no representation
Early 70s New American Cinema
Director's had more control over art and became famous for their styles
Bonnie and Clyde
Targeted college-age viewers
Exploitation and Violence
Exploitation and Violence
Easy Rider
Targeted college-age viewers
Glamorized the counterculture
Glamorized the counterculture
Jaws
First Blockbuster film
Dir. Spielberg, 1975
First film to break $100mil at box office in first year
First film in wide release
Dir. Spielberg, 1975
First film to break $100mil at box office in first year
First film in wide release
Concept Films
1. Specific topics
2. Not daring or experimental
2. Not daring or experimental
Horizontal Integration
Emerges because of the blockbuster
-Realized different ways to make money
-Franchising, i.e. with licensed merchandise
SYNERGY
-Realized different ways to make money
-Franchising, i.e. with licensed merchandise
SYNERGY
Conventions of the Blockbuster
1. simple stories
2. very sensationalized and extreme
3. emphasis on big visual effects
4. blend genres
5. massive ad campaigns
6. saturation distribution
7. franchises with star power
2. very sensationalized and extreme
3. emphasis on big visual effects
4. blend genres
5. massive ad campaigns
6. saturation distribution
7. franchises with star power
Anthology Drama
1950s TV genre
Westinghouse Studio One
Live TV
-limited settings
-like theater
Westinghouse Studio One
Live TV
-limited settings
-like theater
Camel News Caravan
1948, one of NBC's first news shows
Newsreel Model
-15 minute primetime format
-"stringers" or film crews in major world cities
-"hopscotching for headlines"
-"stringers" or film crews in major world cities
-"hopscotching for headlines"
Today Show
1952-present
style > substance
created by Pat Weaver
reporting + interviews and entertainment
style > substance
created by Pat Weaver
reporting + interviews and entertainment
Limitations of Newsreel Model
1. sparse coverage
2. images triumph words
3. pseudo-events
2. images triumph words
3. pseudo-events
Edward R. Murrow
"New" News
-Hear It Now (WWI)
-See It Now
-Person to Person
McCarthy challenged him, Murrow won
-Hear It Now (WWI)
-See It Now
-Person to Person
McCarthy challenged him, Murrow won
TV Western
Bonds film and TV
Cold War sensibility, masculinity
Gunsmoke (1955) CBS
Cold War sensibility, masculinity
Gunsmoke (1955) CBS
Quiz Show Boom
Cheap and easy to produce
RIGGED
RIGGED
Consequences of the Quiz Show Scandal
-betrays public trust
-division of high and low
-ends sponsor created content
-FCC takes a more active role in regulating
-division of high and low
-ends sponsor created content
-FCC takes a more active role in regulating
Vertical Integration
networks assume control over all aspects of TV planning, production, exhibition, and distribution
Changes in Nightly News (1963)
1. NBC and CBS expand to 30 minute slots
2. Development of videotape and portable cameras
3. Telstar launches in 1962
2. Development of videotape and portable cameras
3. Telstar launches in 1962
Newton Minnow
FCC chair under JFK
Calls TV a "vast wasteland" (1961)
concerned with violence
doesn't change much because of 1st Amendment protection
Calls TV a "vast wasteland" (1961)
concerned with violence
doesn't change much because of 1st Amendment protection
Programming Strategies
-Block programming
-Hammocking
-Counter-programming
-Hammocking
-Counter-programming
Network Control allowed them to demand...
-lower prices
-more ownership of shows
-creative input/control
-more ownership of shows
-creative input/control
World Watching/Televising Unrest
Civil Rights Movement: Selma, AL, 1965
Anti-Vietnam Movement: Democratic National Convention, Chicago (1968)
Anti-Vietnam Movement: Democratic National Convention, Chicago (1968)
Burstyn v. Wilson
1952, Supreme Court rules film protected by 1st Amendment
Geoffrey Shurlock
1954, Replaces Breen in MPPDA, more lenien
Otto Preminger
made films throughout the 50s that challenged the Code, especially with sexuality
Rating System
Replaces the Code in 1968
Stan Brakhage
Directed art films
Roger Corman
-Low brow director
-exploits subjects
-worked with Dennis Hopper, FF Coppola, G. Lucas, Scorsese
-exploits subjects
-worked with Dennis Hopper, FF Coppola, G. Lucas, Scorsese
Blaxploitation
praised for giving blacks more voice BUT criticized for reproducing violent, hypersexualized stereotypes of blacks
Ex: Melvin van Peeble's Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1972)
-Cheap but made a lot of money
-X-Rated
Ex: Melvin van Peeble's Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1972)
-Cheap but made a lot of money
-X-Rated
Blending High and Low
"B" + Art
Taxi Driver (1976), Scorsese
-exploitation in serious social commentary
Taxi Driver (1976), Scorsese
-exploitation in serious social commentary
Star Wars
1977, George Lucas
broke $100mil in less than 3 months
BECAUSE, teen audience, esp. boys, saw it multiple times, bought licensed merchandise, word of mouth buzz
broke $100mil in less than 3 months
BECAUSE, teen audience, esp. boys, saw it multiple times, bought licensed merchandise, word of mouth buzz
Mary Tyler Moore
Produced "relevant" TV shows about gender equality
-The Mary Tyler Moore Show
-Rhoda
-Phyllis
-The Mary Tyler Moore Show
-Rhoda
-Phyllis
Norman Lear
Produced "relevant" TV shows about race, class, and realism
-All in the Family
-Maude
-Good Times
-All in the Family
-Maude
-Good Times
Chico and the Man
One of the only shows to represent a race other than black or white
(Hispanic)
(Hispanic)
Jiggle TV
While CBS turned to relevance, ABC turned to sex
-Charlie's Angels
references liberal feminist ideas BUT mostly objectifies the women
-Charlie's Angels
references liberal feminist ideas BUT mostly objectifies the women
1980s "Quality" TV traits
-strong creative vision
-complex writing
-generic mixing
-self consciousness
-realism and controversial material
-"Blue Chip" target
-critically acclaimed
-struggles between creative and commercial interests
-complex writing
-generic mixing
-self consciousness
-realism and controversial material
-"Blue Chip" target
-critically acclaimed
-struggles between creative and commercial interests
Whither Sitcoms
NOT "quality" TV exactly
critics said the sitcom died in 1982
but it didn't... it continued and was similar to "quality" TV
-Ex: The Cosby Show
critics said the sitcom died in 1982
but it didn't... it continued and was similar to "quality" TV
-Ex: The Cosby Show
Mark Fowler
FCC Chair under Reagan
Responsible for...
-Deregulation
-Repeal of the Fairness Doctrine
...supported free market policies
Responsible for...
-Deregulation
-Repeal of the Fairness Doctrine
...supported free market policies
Conglomeration
Broadcasting networks owned by large multimedia corporations
-rise of SYNERGY
-rise of SYNERGY
Fox
4th network
-Rupert Murdock applies narrow-counter-casting/boutique methodology to network TV
-targets underserved populations
-Married With Children
-Rupert Murdock applies narrow-counter-casting/boutique methodology to network TV
-targets underserved populations
-Married With Children
1979 Midwest Video Case
-Supreme Court says it's the right of cable providers to dictate the content, "electronic publishing"
-FCC can't mandate channels
-Improves local opportunities for franchising
-FCC can't mandate channels
-Improves local opportunities for franchising
1992 Cable Act
Commercial broadcasters had to choose guaranteed carriage OR give retransmission consent and charge cable providers
1996 Telecommunications Act
-Cable fully under Federal Rules
-allows phone companies, long distance providers, and cable companies to enter one anothers markets
-ended FCC regulation of cable rates
-GOAL: to promote competition BUT markets still monopolized
-allows phone companies, long distance providers, and cable companies to enter one anothers markets
-ended FCC regulation of cable rates
-GOAL: to promote competition BUT markets still monopolized
Cable/DBS
NOT alternative to but expansion of broadcast TV
-logic of repetition
-improved reception, more frequent airings and marathons
-logic of repetition
-improved reception, more frequent airings and marathons
TV Boutiues
what Cable/DBS operate as
-off-network syndication
ex: TV Land and "vintage" TV
-off-network syndication
ex: TV Land and "vintage" TV
American Public Media
Nonprofit institution that
1. provides forum for discussion
2. alerts public for gov't
3. produces fictional representations
...with intent of promoting national, state, or local interests or and values
1. provides forum for discussion
2. alerts public for gov't
3. produces fictional representations
...with intent of promoting national, state, or local interests or and values
Convergence
marketing of a text across various platforms
emphasis on "shelf life"
emphasis on "shelf life"
Convergence and media owners
DECLINE in media owners in US as a result of convergence
Conglomerations are encouraged by...
-deregulation
-profit maximization
-technological developments
-profit maximization
-technological developments
Consequences of conglomeration
-profit over public interest
-favor and fear in the newsroom
-segmented audiences are produced for BUT not by the members of the target demographic
-favor and fear in the newsroom
-segmented audiences are produced for BUT not by the members of the target demographic
Foolproof conglomerate
AOL Time Warner
Repurposing
Allows a series to earn more revenue during its original run
-multiple airings on 1 channel
-plus airing episodes on multiple channels with slight delay
-multiple airings on 1 channel
-plus airing episodes on multiple channels with slight delay
Reallocation
Shifting a series from network to cable
New Line Cinema
-independent distributor founded in 1967
-distributed many John Waters films
-bought by AOL Time Warner
-distributed many John Waters films
-bought by AOL Time Warner
Miramax
-independent distributor founded in 1979 by the Weinsteins
-acquired sex, lies, and videotape in 1989, it ended up winning Sundance and making $26mil more than it cost, proving viability
-Disney bought in 1993 for $80mil, Pulp Fiction
-2010, Weinsteins buy back
-acquired sex, lies, and videotape in 1989, it ended up winning Sundance and making $26mil more than it cost, proving viability
-Disney bought in 1993 for $80mil, Pulp Fiction
-2010, Weinsteins buy back
Globalization
New technology allows greater FLOWS of meda across cultures
-often conceptualized to have consequences of cultural imperialism or homogenization
-often conceptualized to have consequences of cultural imperialism or homogenization
Flow Model of TV
1952-2002
-show/commercial/show/commercial/show/end
-commercials match demographic of audience
-show/commercial/show/commercial/show/end
-commercials match demographic of audience
What (7) factors brought on the late 60s/early 70s Hollywood Renaissance?
1. low attendance
2. big budgets for profit films was no longer working
3. Code lifted in 1968
4. shifting social values (i.e. civil rights and hippies)
5. influence of European Art Cinema
6. birth of American avant garde (experimental)
7. exploitation
2. big budgets for profit films was no longer working
3. Code lifted in 1968
4. shifting social values (i.e. civil rights and hippies)
5. influence of European Art Cinema
6. birth of American avant garde (experimental)
7. exploitation
first national run syndication
first time an episode is aired on the network that owns it
first run syndication
episode still aired on same owning network but aired again at a time when they have nothing else to air
second run syndication
can be on any channel
FIN/SYN points (3) and goal
1971, enforced 1977
-prohibited networks from having financial interest after first run
-prohibited creation of in house syndication arms
-limited amount of programming networks could produce themselves
GOAL: increase diversity by breaking up vertical integration
-prohibited networks from having financial interest after first run
-prohibited creation of in house syndication arms
-limited amount of programming networks could produce themselves
GOAL: increase diversity by breaking up vertical integration
1980s Indie Cinema, WHY? (2)
1. rise of home video, can make and distribute a movie for much cheaper
2. places to send films: FESTIVALS
2. places to send films: FESTIVALS
Characteristics of the Indie film
-different source of funding (third party)
-low budgets
-different modes of dist., ex: can buy one film stock and distribute it different weeks in different places
-SECOND generation film school grads
-low budgets
-different modes of dist., ex: can buy one film stock and distribute it different weeks in different places
-SECOND generation film school grads
Aesthetic differences of indie films
-focus on dialogue and character, conversations
-playing with visual style, camera experimentation
-stories are more personal
-playing with visual style, camera experimentation
-stories are more personal
Female Viewer Demographics
-daytime soap strategy
-primetime shows for working women
-primetime soaps
-working women shows
-primetime shows for working women
-primetime soaps
-working women shows
CATV
Community Antenna TV (1949)
-relay service for broadcast, first possibility for cable TV
-relay service for broadcast, first possibility for cable TV
1973 Third Report and Order Regulation
Makes room for cable TV
1984 Cable Communications and Policy Act
Won't regulate cable TV because people pay for it
HBO
1972, taken advantage of after 1984
Home Box Office
air of "quality"
Home Box Office
air of "quality"
TBS
1976, Turner Broadcasting Station
"super station"
"super station"
Cable's 2 programming strategies that undermine the networks
1. narrow casting: casting for a certain demographic/audience
2. counter programming: broadcast alternative to network-style programming
2. counter programming: broadcast alternative to network-style programming
Reality TV characteristics
1. unscripted
2. non-actors
3.BUT it's usually staged
2. non-actors
3.BUT it's usually staged
cryptofeminism
late 50s/early 60s when women began reexamining gender roles and how they'd been dictated to perform
-idea that women may have other roles besides the housewife
-idea that women may have other roles besides the housewife
Betty Friedan
author of The Feminine Mystique
Pre-feminist Agitation
-the inclination of the way things should be
-ex: Bewitched, Samantha has powers but uses them for domestic purposes
-not fully feminist, nor fully subservient
-ex: Bewitched, Samantha has powers but uses them for domestic purposes
-not fully feminist, nor fully subservient
Herman Gray
argues that representations of race are indicative of the culture they are produced within
THE CORRECTIVE: every representation of blacks in TV history is reflective of the culture at the time
THE CORRECTIVE: every representation of blacks in TV history is reflective of the culture at the time
in house syndication
-when a network contracts a company to make a show
synergy
-multiple interests work together to promote each other, save resources, and maximize profits
-effects are hard to measure
-effects are hard to measure
Blue Chip
-audience "quality" TV is made for
-wealthy, cultural, savvy
-what do they want? what do we want them to buy?
-people who may actually buy that car
-wealthy, cultural, savvy
-what do they want? what do we want them to buy?
-people who may actually buy that car
Classic Network Era
-tight vertical integration
-GOAL: biggest/most general audiences, LCD and LOP
-GOAL: biggest/most general audiences, LCD and LOP
Pat Weaver
-Significant TV exec in the 1950s
-pioneers and pushes for magazine sponsorship
-makes networks more responsible/in control of content
-pushes forward after quiz show scandal
-pioneers and pushes for magazine sponsorship
-makes networks more responsible/in control of content
-pushes forward after quiz show scandal
About this deck
By: Anonymous
Textbook: American Cinema/American Culture
Created: 2010-05-15
Size: 87 flashcards
Views: 241
Textbook:
American Cinema/American CultureCreated: 2010-05-15
Size: 87 flashcards
Views: 241
About StudyBlue
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Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next.
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