cultural industries

1) What does the term 'Cultural Industries' actually refer to?

The term ‘cultural industry’ refers to the creation, production, and distribution of products of a cultural or artistic nature.


2) What does Hesmondhalgh identify regarding the societies in which the cultural industries are highly profitable?

These societies tend to be dominated by large companies with minimal government control and large large gaps between rich and poor. 
3) Why do some media products offer ideologies that challenge capitalism or inequalities in society?

It provides a balance of opinions, meaning there's a healthy debate going on. It offers something for everyone.

4) Look at page 2 of the factsheet. What are the problems that Hesmondhalgh identifies with regards to the cultural industries?

•Risky business
•Creativity versus commerce
•High production costs and low reproduction costs
•Semi-public goods; the need to create scarcity


5) Why are so many cultural industries a 'risky business' for the companies involved?

There is a certain unpredictability when it comes to Audience and their reaction. For example, The Cats musical bombed despite having lots of star power and a high budget. 

6) What is your opinion on the creativity v commerce debate? Should the media be all about profit or are media products a form of artistic expression that play an important role in society?

Commerce films obviously appeal to a large audience, so therefore cannot be inherently bad. However, more niche films and media are needed to take risks and stretch artistic creativity.

7) How do cultural industry companies minimise their risks and maximise their profits? (Clue: your work on Industries - Ownership and control will help here) 

Vertical integration
horizontal integration
Diversification   

8) Do you agree that the way the cultural industries operate reflects the inequalities and injustices of wider society? Should the content creators, the creative minds behind media products, be better rewarded for their work?

I agree that whenever we make positive changes in representation there should be positive responses. There is too much praise for representing groups right in media though. It shouldn't be a great thing, it should just be the norm. 

9) Listen and read the transcript to the opening 9 minutes of the Freakonomics podcast - No Hollywood Ending for the Visual-Effects Industry. Why has the visual effects industry suffered despite the huge budgets for most Hollywood movies?

The visual Effects industry is receiving little money because companies often bid into jobs and get a locked fee, no matter what happens during production. 

10) What is commodification? 

Buying or Selling.

11) Do you agree with the argument that while there are a huge number of media texts created, they fail to reflect the diversity of people or opinion in wider society?

Not all media texts fail to reflect society, some force diversity to seem more reflective, and some don't bother trying to get across the general opinion of wider society.

12) How does Hesmondhalgh suggest the cultural industries have changed? Identify the three most significant developments and explain why you think they are the most important.

-Technology companies diversifying into cultural industries mean they now have even more competition.
-Digitisation means there are new ways of engaging with media
-Huge increase in spending on adverts and marketing