The Politics of TV How Distribution Platforms Affect Cultural Ideology By Lilia Hadjiivanova California State University, Los Angeles
The Politics of TV
How Distribution Platforms Affect Cultural Ideology
By Lilia HadjiivanovaCalifornia State University, Los Angeles
Distribution Platforms: Broadcast Network vs. On-Demand Subscription
o Broadcasting networko Relies on advertiserso Importance of ratingso Broad audience
o On-demand Internet subscription-based streamingo Relies on # of subscriberso Importance of ‘quality’ contento Niche audience
Research Questions
Does the medium influence the message?
Is dominant American cultural ideology reinforced or challenged?
How are the following represented: gender (fixed gender roles, masculinity is dominant, femininity is submissive), race (racial stereotypes, whitewashing, symbolic annihilation), class (prevalence of middle- and upper-class characters), American dream (individualism, pursuit of happiness, upward social mobility, “having it all”)
The Shows
VS.
Similarities
one-hour political dramas which combine melodrama and violence depict issues of power, loyalty, marriage, and political back-stabbing
have diverse casts and strong female leads
innovative
Differences: Broad vs Niche
o Melodrama / Soap opera feel
o Emphasis on romance
o Fast-paced editing
o Outrageous plot twists
o Weekly ‘amnesia’
o “Guilty pleasure”
o ‘Quality’ / Cinematic feel
o Emphasis on politics
o Slow pace
o Plausible plot twists
o Episodic ‘memory’
o Literary references
Differences: Gender
o ‘Livvie’ goes from being outspoken, independent (S1) passive, emotional mess (S2)
o Heterosexual, romantico Family-oriented
Her happiness is contingent on love
o Egalitarian marriageo Ambiguous sexuality, aromantico Not family-orientedo Open relationship
Her happiness is contingent on power
Differences: Race
o Assimilationist (colorblind)
o Black Boss Lady, Scary Black Man tropes
o Multicultural (diversity)
o Representation of otherwise symbolically annihilated populations e.g. Native Americans
Gray, H. (2000), “The Politics of Representation in Network Television” in Newcomb, Horace. Television: The Critical View. New York: Oxford University Press
Differences: Social Class & the American Dream
o Middle- / Upper-class characters
o Pursuit of happiness / Desire to “have it all”
o Reinforces the American Dream
o Working-class characters in main roles
o Pursuit of power / Not wanting “it all”
o Attacks the American Dream
Conclusion
o Goal to sell a product (other than the show itself)
o Lowest common denominator
o Reinforces dominant values
o Does not address racism / class inequality
o reaches more people, but represents a limited part of the population
o Goal to sell the show
o Niche
o Challenges hegemonic ideals
o Addresses racism / class inequality
o reaches fewer people but represents a broader, more diverse population