Production Context Criticism Prof. Nick Burnett ComS 169 Television Criticism

Production Context Assumptions—Levels of Analysis Macro level–ownership and programming trends Concentration in the media industry Pressures to cross promote The disappearance of westerns, variety shows Micro level—pressures on television workers Getting “produced”, casting decisions, racial and ethnic issues Mid-range—case studies of organizational dynamics Studio pressures, production companies

Perspectives for Production Context Criticism Dominant perspectives Political/economic perspective—theories of capitalism (often looks at allocative control) Organizational/industrial relations perspective—theories of industrial society (often looks at operational control)

Production Context Assumptions Two strategies to understand context Actional analysis—how do people gain compliance, and strategies in gatekeeping, tends to look at individual influence Structural analysis—constraints in political and economic environments that determine limits—actor wages, sponsorship issues, regulatory studies (FCC), more likely to see decisions as the result of institutional influences

Political Economy Critical Perspective Marxist influence—how does the structure of television support the interests of economic and political elites? Actional analysis—how do corporate strategies effect broader control for elites? Structural analysis—what are the larger societal effects on ideology and markets?

Industrial Relations Critical Perspective Organizational sociology focusing on the social organization of television work Central issues—power, autonomy, bureaucratization, professional norms, and creativity Actional analysis—organizational constraints and tensions between managers and creative personnel Structural analysis—workers’ response to the consumer marketplace

Dimmick and Coit—9 Systems of Influence on TV—A Different Approach to Production Context Criticism Supra-national/Pan-National influence (media imperialism and information flow) Societal Level Influence (govt. licensing, regulatory issues, sex/violence on TV) Industry Level and Inter-organizational Influence (relations among networks and affiliates/program suppliers—ownership and concentration issues Supra-organizational influence—corporate and media synergies—cross promotion

Dimmick and Coit, continued Community and market influences—community pressure groups, boycotts Interorganizational influences—org. structures, polices, goals, actor and writer unions Formal or informal group influences—often studied with interviews or ethnographic observations Dyadic communication influences—personal relationships and TV production, Bochco Intra-individual or cognitive level influences—(sounds like auteur)

NATPE Experience Size Dollars At conference publications Promotion from within (Pitch camp) Some examples of programming Cooking is a Drag Atomic City Redneck Hunting