Chapter 10 Entertainment Copyright © 2011, Oxford University Press, Inc. Converging Media A New Introduction to Mass Communication

Introduction Guitar Hero was a huge hit … until it wasn’t

Introduction Then it was Call of Duty … then Angry Birds … then … what?

Entertainment Convergence Convergence Social video games Social video games Pressure to make news and other information more entertaining Pressure to make news and other information more entertaining Peer-to-peer (P2P) Peer-to-peer (P2P)

Functions of Entertainment Entertainment (obviously) Entertainment (obviously) Cultural transmission Cultural transmission Mobilization Mobilization

History of Entertainment Developed after basic needs addressed Developed after basic needs addressed Banquets with live entertainment Banquets with live entertainment Plays Plays Sports Sports Races Races Combat as entertainment Combat as entertainment

History of Entertainment Books (fiction, nonfiction) Books (fiction, nonfiction) Recorded music Recorded music Films Films Radio Radio Television Television Video games Video games — MMORPGs

Television Borrowed genres from radio and theater Borrowed genres from radio and theater “Golden age of television”: 1940s through 1960s “Golden age of television”: 1940s through 1960s

Television The Monday Night Football gamble The Monday Night Football gamble Roots Roots All in the Family All in the Family — Challenged social assumptions

The Rise of Cable Gritty, tough police drama Gritty, tough police drama MTV MTV — Music videos — Real World — Jackass — The Osbournes

Cable Comes of Age HBO HBO — 2002: The Sopranos becomes the most watched show in HBO history — Six Feet Under — Sex and the City

Public Service Broadcasting Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) launched Sesame Street in 1969 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) launched Sesame Street in 1969 Award-winning programs Award-winning programs Based on BBC model Based on BBC model Threatened by governmental oversight and cutbacks Threatened by governmental oversight and cutbacks

Types of Programming Soap operas Soap operas Quiz/game shows Quiz/game shows Talk shows Talk shows Nighttime game shows Nighttime game shows

Types of Programming Sports Sports — Blockbusters — Innovations

Types of Programming Reality TV Reality TV — User-generated content — “Reality”?

Movies Still strong despite television Still strong despite television Provide social experience Provide social experience Movies on television Movies on television Created from original scripts, books, television programs, games, etc. Created from original scripts, books, television programs, games, etc.

Movies Movie moguls Movie moguls — Warner brothers — Walt Disney — Samuel Goldwyn — Marcus Loew — Louis B. Mayer

Movies Film genres Film genres — Action/adventure — Comedy — Romance — Science fiction — Suspense — Others

Movies Technological influences on film genres Technological influences on film genres — Special effects — Animation — DVDs, videotapes — Netflix

Video Games PlayStation, Wii, Xbox, etc. PlayStation, Wii, Xbox, etc. MMOGs MMOGs Mods Mods Game-based discussion groups Game-based discussion groups Serious gaming Serious gaming

Video Games Social gaming Video games, computer games, Facebook games Video games, computer games, Facebook games Players interact with each other Players interact with each other Attractive for advertisers Attractive for advertisers

Music Guitar Hero today Guitar Hero today Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley — Irving Berlin Rock and Roll Rock and Roll MTV MTV

Books and Magazines Still strong among young people Still strong among young people Entertainment and social behavioral guide Entertainment and social behavioral guide Paper, cell phones, etc. Paper, cell phones, etc.

Entertainment Ethics and Law Stereotypes Stereotypes Sex and violence Sex and violence Censorship Censorship The Hays Code The Hays Code Movie rating system Movie rating system

Business of Entertainment Television ratings Television ratings Numerous jobs and roles Numerous jobs and roles High costs High costs

Careers in Entertainment Accounting, business Accounting, business Public relations, marketing Public relations, marketing Computer programming, design Computer programming, design Wide range of salaries Wide range of salaries

Discussion Questions Chapter 10 Copyright © 2011, Oxford University Press, Inc. Converging Media A New Introduction to Mass Communication

Discussion Questions If you have ever met a celebrity, how did you feel? How did your perception of that person change?

Discussion Questions Think about your favorite TV shows. Are they remakes of older shows? What influenced them?

Discussion Questions Are you willing to play a video game numerous times? Why? Would you read a book that many times?

Discussion Questions Is this the “Golden Age” of Internet entertainment? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions As the Internet shifts increasingly toward commercialization, what will be the impact on Internet entertainment?

Discussion Questions Do you play any online games with other people? How does that experience differ from playing games in real life?

Discussion Questions Many movies, video games, and other forms of entertainment focus on violence. Is that acceptable — or is it harmful to our society?

Chapter 10 Entertainment Copyright © 2011, Oxford University Press, Inc. Converging Media A New Introduction to Mass Communication