Media is a huge, money-making industry, not just a cultural communication form.
Media Production Process
Decision Making in Film:
Movie directors face various decisions: originality of the script, choice of writer, studio collaboration, casting, location, CGI, distribution, and advertising.
Each decision is influenced by personal experiences, preferences, and financial motivations.
Purpose and Focus of Media
Purpose:
Media is created to entertain, inform, or persuade.
Advertisements are straightforward in purpose (e.g., selling a product).
Movies can entertain but also provoke thought on societal issues (e.g., "Inside Out" on emotions, "Get Out" on racism).
Focus:
What is included or excluded in media reflects its focus.
Examples of focus manipulation: soda ads not mentioning sugar content, government reports highlighting job creation without mentioning job quality.
Representation in Media
Impact of Representation:
Media affects perceptions of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation.
Dominantly produced by straight white males, leading to skewed stereotypical portrayals.
Stereotypes like the "gay BFF" in TV shows reinforce limited representations.
Economics of Media Creation
Financial Influence:
Media creation requires funding, often from those who already have money.
This creates a cycle that limits diverse voices in media production.
Cultural Theories:
Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer critiqued mass media for promoting sameness and consumerism.
Social Media and Change
Role of Social Media:
Social media challenges traditional media and amplifies diverse voices.
Campaigns highlight negative/absent representations in media.
Conclusion
Understanding media creation is crucial as it shapes our daily experiences.
Media is consciously created by humans, often influenced by economic motives.
Upcoming episodes will explore the role of advertisers in media.
Production and Support
Filmed at Dr. Cheryl C. Kinney Studio, Missoula, MT.
Crash Course is supported by Patreon, allowing it to remain free for everyone.