Politics of Hollywood - Test 3 (Key Terms)

Start Studying!

Review for 3rd test (Final) of the Semester.

Terms

undefined, object

copy deck

Power of the Purse: Refers to the Constitutional power that Congress can raise and spend money. Such power means that Congress could cut the FCC budget and it would go away. Congress can also pass certain laws that the FCC must abide by. **This is important because '_____' gives Congress power over the FCC and, therefore, power over what is broadcasted.
Kidvid: "_____" is industry jargon for any television programming aimed at children. **This concept is important because, in the current political battle over children's entertainment, we have not just the industry lobbyist, but also the children's interest groups. These groups combined have created a symbolic politics that the news and Congress could not resist.
Marian Rees (Risky Business): An independent producer specializing in motion pictures for television. Despite having an unusually harsh work schedule, _____ maintained a strong connection with many political organizations and was very involved with political activism. **_____ illustrates the growing presence of industry workers trying to be ideal democratic citizens by working with groups and causes inside and outside of the entertainment industry.
VOD (Video On Demand): Technological strategy to combat TiVo. True _____ would give instant access to any movie and any TV show episode ever. This is stalling because companies disagree over giving licenses for product or starting their own "_____ services" to retain revenue. It also arouses piracy concerns. **_____ reinforces how technological advances can create new problems for the industry.
Breakup the Big Media Companies (The Other Parent): The first of Steyer's 'ten proposals that would go a long way in making media a far more positive force in society if enacted by government." **Steyer believes we must restore public interest, access, and direct public accountability to media environment (especially for children); the most effective way to do that, is to _____ into smaller pieces.
Colorization: Using computer technology to turn a black and white film into a color film. A prevailing argument was, when you add color to a film, you change it and turn it into something else. Films could also be changed in this way without getting the artists' "permission" first. **_____ raised questions of artists' rights and copyrights, and whether studios could change product without artist consent.
NAB (National Association of Broadcasters): Politically-active trade association of television and radio station owners that gives money to congressional candidates through the TARPAC political action committee. People who belong to _____ often get appeals for volunteering TARPAC contributions. **This illustrates lobbying groups' using money to rent influence: Because members of Congress want good TV coverage, they are 'nice' to the _____.
Tibet: Chinese province in the Himalayas trying to become its own country. Richard Gere founded LA Friends of _____ in the 1990s, modeled after the EMA, which held Pro-_____ seminars; however, movies about _____ failed at the box office. **This demonstrates failed propaganda: studios didn't want to annoy Chinese government. Further, this shows artists must have executive support for political initiatives.
(Tele) Communications Subcommittee: A House of Representatives subcommittee (of the Committee of Energy and Commerce). It watches information transmitted by broadcast, radio, satellite and other modes of communication. It also watches the FCC: and if it (FCC) does something the subcommittee doesn't like, it can cut off FCC funding. **This illustrates the big influence Congress has over the FCC because Congress controls the purse strings.
Marketplace of Ideas (The Other Parent): Idea that freedom of expression relies on "diversity of voices and ideas". When ownership of all distribution is controlled by few, that diversity is in question. **Steyer argues that, the fewer the sources of entertainment or information, the less we have an unfettered marketplace; and this creates a disconnect between media and the public on what media's purpose should be.
Economic Liberalism (Risky Business): Individuals in modern society who favor the lower classes and support government activity that equalizes wealth and power or access to them. Amongst other things, _____ favors graduated income taxes and regulation of business. _____ creates a confusion in American ideology discussion, because liberals endorse government activity in the economic sphere, but oppose it in the social.
The Creative Coalition: A lobbyist group of artists founded in 1989 in DC; it acts as a clearinghouse and tries to educate people of Hollywood about important issues, such as 1st Amendment rights. **Ultimately, when Republicans are in power, _____ has less power; but when Democrats have power, _____ has much more power.
All in the Family (Risky Business): 1970s Norman Lear TV show that people thought endorsed the bigoted opinions of its main character, Archie Bunker. **This demonstrates that, if a message that seems as clear as the one in "_____" can be misinterpreted in such a way, it is impossible to make assumptions about the meaning of other entertainments, most of which have much more ambiguous messages.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Actor who became Governor of California. Back in 1995 when Bob Dole was campaigning, he said Hollywood undermined morality of American youth. But because _____ supported him, Dole presented _____ as the 'exception' who made pro-family movies (like "True Lies"). **This shows that celebrities willing to use their fame on politicians' behalf can effect what the candidate does and says.
ClearPlay: Company whose software allowing parents to remove scenes they don't want their kids to see from movies. Artists objected, saying the software allowed parents to re-cut films; courts ruled for _____, and _____was further protected by the 2005 Family Entertainment and Copyright Act. **This illustrates that, when new technologies come along, they cause conflicts over artists' rights.
Joost (Pogue article): Program providing free on-demand access to many TV shows and web videos; however, its video quality is poor and it has a lot of junk. Further, _____'s content is only viewable online and can't be downloaded. **_____ illustrates how the TV industry is trying to avoid being swamped by the Internet, by streaming entertainment online for free. (It is still unclear if this attempt of the TV industry will be enough to keep the Internet from damaging the networks and TV).
DeCSS: 1999 software program that defeats copyright protection codes built into DVD software. When _____ was launched, studios reacted the same way they did to VCRs, claiming it threatened copy written art. When studios took the issue to court, the court upheld the DMCA and struck down _____. **This illustrates how advancing technology and new distribution systems prompt new copyright laws.
Federal Communications Committee (FCC): The _____ was established by the 1934 Communications Act, to allow government to regulate media. It grants licenses to broadcast based upon whether or not stations are broadcasting in "the public interest." **This is important because the _____ is potentially very powerful and is politically influenced; the _____ also reinforces that radio and TV airwaves 'belong to the people'/are owned by the public.
The Canadian model (The Other Parent): The fourth of Steyer's "ten proposals that would go a long way to making media a far more positive source in our society." Under this model, the CRTC (Canadian version of FCC) uses tax credits and subsidies to invest in quality kids' programming. **If Canada can do it, SURELY the U.S. government can use its power to improve children's TV.
Kevin J. Martin (Lowry article): FCC Chairman who succeeded Michael Powell. According to Lowry, _____ "brought people together against him by pushing for deregulated media-ownership". **This reinforces that conservative FCC Chairmans often advocate deregulation policy that allows corporations to grow, monopolizing the industry. It also shows, an aroused public can unify against a political voice (here, _____), regardless of ethnic or ideological differences.
Vivendi: A French media company who bought Seagrams (who owns Universal Studios) in 2001. **_____ presents an example of globalized convergence, which may become a possible trend for media companies in the future.
SuperBowl 2004: During their _____ performance, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson had a "wardrobe malfunction". People were outraged: the FCC received over a million indecency complaints. The FCC adopted more strict regulations and Congress increased FCC fine amounts. **This shows that FCC policy and enforcement on the indecency question can change in a major way because of public pressure.
Hollywood primary: '80's term used to describe when Democratic candidates who are seeking nominations, go to activists in Hollywood and try to get their support (money); such an effort is often employed for the Democratic presidential hopefuls. **This dependence on money from the _____ forces Democrats to become more liberal than they would otherwise be to get support.
Dorothy and the Tornado (Politics and Film): What (name) believes The Wizard of Oz would be called if it were modern. (name) argues **films don't translate to small-screen because story and talent has been replaced by visual effects in modern movies. Advanced technology presents this new problem: "when modern directors are forced to choose between spending money on quality script or special effects, they choose the latter."
Hollywood 9/11: Group formed in Hollywood after September 11, 2001, whose purpose was to create pro-patriotic propaganda; they put out their first PSAs in 2002. **This group is an example of failed propaganda: it was dissolved after America invaded Iraq because industry people were furious with the Bush administration and felt they had been used to push for something that was wrong.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Politics and Film): 1981 hit about an archaeologist racing the Nazis to steal The Ark of Covenant. **(name) considers Raiders "analogous to its era": in the 1980s, the United States "faced down the evil regime of the Soviet Union, a feat lead by a handsome, swashbuckling president (Ronald Reagan)." This illustrates film can be used as spectacle to indirectly reflect the times.
Michael Powell: Bush-appointed FCC Chairman who was an anti-regulation conservative activist. In April 2001, _____ relaxed FCC regulations, saying people could own all stations if they wanted to. _____ also went around making speeches saying that the companies could make more profit through deregulation. **This illustrates how the Chairman's politics can influence FCC policy; under his administration, everyone is struggling.
Bloodworth-Thomasons: TV producer couple who are close friends with the Clintons. In 1993, _____ got Bill a $200 haircut when he had to leave abruptly. Republicans helped media blow this out of proportion, forcing the couples to distance themselves from one another. **This illustrates how celebrities draw attention to media: inheriting the reputation of "having gone Hollywood" can hurt you politically.
MoveOn.org: Liberal organization formed in 1998 to oppose impeachment of President Clinton. Later, it became active in politics and brought in Hollywood people that wanted to create pro-liberal commercials. In 2004 _____ created a series of TV commercials attacking the Bush administration. **This demonstrates how organizations created to address one single issue can evolve to addressing party politics as a whole.
Ellen: 1993-1998 TV sitcom starring Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres played a single woman in LA until the April 30, 1997, episode, in which she came out publicly on the show. The script wasn't sent to GLAAD because DeGeneres co-wrote it. **_____ demonstrates effective propaganda: it was entertainment that addressed issues and had a strong yet vulnerable character people wanted to see. (_____ also raises the question of, is it ok for Hollywood to put political messages into entertainment).
The Maltese Falcon: 1941 detective film originally in black and white that was colorized in 1987. John Houston, the director, opposed colorization and videotaped a testimony, claiming the film didn't look the way it was intended because of different lighting standards. This testimony was also played before Congress during colorization legal battles. **This illustrates one of many arguments directors used against colorizing films.
Robert Bork: Conservative nominated for the Supreme Court in 1987 by President Reagan. People for the American Way launched a national advertising campaign telling people to contact the Senate and ask them to reject _____; and, ultimately, the Democrat-controlled Senate DID vote _____ down. **This illustrates effective propaganda: People for the American Way manipulated the public opinion so the Senate would reject _____.
Reed Hundt: Clinton-appointed FCC Chairman who focused on children's media. He wanted enforce the Children's Television Act and demanded networks show 3 hours of 'educational and informational programs' a week; this increased the weekly showing of kids' programs on TV. **This illustrates how the Chairman's political ideology can influence FCC policy; under _____, quality children's media was a top priority.
Saawariya: 2007 movie made by Sony Pictures (an American film company) that was filmed in India, made use of an Indian cast, and was completely in the Hindi language. **_____ demonstrates an example of globalization going full stride: all the planning goes on in Hollywood, but the characters and filming is done in another country (in this case, India).
MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America): Trade association of the studios. The _____ shows congressmen sneak previews of movies for coming and hearing out what the _____ wants Congress to do. **Because the _____ has money (from rich studios) and power (control over what's shown, so control over what people see about congressmen), it is more influential than other interest groups.
Neo-Hollywood: The new emerging Hollywood that (ironically) resembles the old "studio system," in that it's going to be vertically integrated and then oligopolized. Basically, a few companies will own everything, and this is including ALL media, not just Hollywood. **This is important because _____ is expected to lead the way into Media Globalization.
WLBT-TV: Mississippi TV station that applied for FCC license renewal in the 1960s. Black citizens took _____ to court over racist employment practices; the court ruled the FCC could not renew _____'s license because of these practices. **This illustrates how courts can get involved and change the way the FCC operates. Further, this changed who could attend FCC hearings for renewals.
Symbolic Politics: The use of simple, often personalized appeals to create interest in the general public. _____ involves the public in what Congress does, and employs two types of dramatic conventions: villains and victims; and heroes and villains. **_____ illustrates when the public gets involved, you can't tell who will win in Congress; it might not be interest groups (who usually win when an issue isn't publicized).
Turn off the TV Week (The Other Parent): The ninth of Steyer's "Ten Steps for Citizen Activists," this is a community-wide event held every April nationwide. **This is important because these events draw attention to the issues, spark awareness, and can especially make us think about the huge role media plays in children's lives. In addition, _____ can encourage reading, exercise and many other activities.
Jane Fonda: Oscar-winning actress and political activist who was against Vietnam War. In 1972, she visited North Vietnam and made supportive broadcasts for North Vietnamese. People think she committed treason, and millions of servicemen have never forgiven her. **_____ is an example of how the celebrity resource can be an anti-resource, depending on who it is and what they are known for.
Mark Fowler (The Other Parent): FCC Chairman appointed by Reagan in 1981. He felt that the 'public's interest defines the public interest' ("public's interest" = marketability and sales success from programs), and _____ removed regulations requiring stations to air educational and informational programs. **Steyer believes _____ is responsible for children's viewing going downhill, especially since more commercials and war-related toys/cartoons came about under his administration.
Celebrity: A person that millions of people feel they know (even though they've never met them) because they've encountered them in media. Media puts us in personal contact with _____, so we're excited when we meet them; but seeing them in person exposes us to their ordinariness. **_____ are important because they create interest, politicians know interest created by _____ is a resource.
Moral Rights: A modification of copyright law, the notion that artists should have some control over their work after it is produced and distributed. **During the argument over colorization (whether companies have the right to add color to black and white films) artists and directors claimed they had _____ over their work, and therefore it shouldn't be colorized.
Processory Credits: Notice at beginning of movies saying "a film by (director)". This essentially says that the directors are owners of a film; but the writers believe screenwriters are the authors of the films, and writers wanted these _____. In 2000, writers threatened a strike because of this. **This was another example of continued copyright debate over who 'owned' movies.
Shareholder Democracy (The Other Parent): Refers to comments made by Bush's chief technology adviser, Floyd Kvamme: whoever wants something from the government is expected, in return, to give money to politicians to which they are making demands. **We think we have equal say in what goes on; but if you don't have money to make requests, you don't have any say in what goes on. (This also leaves the large majority of the general public out of the democratic process)
The Great Empowering American Myth (Corn article): According to David Horowitz, "_____, is the individual against the system." **Horowitz believes this is a prevalent Conservative Hollywood archetype that is continually present in many films, such as Star Wars. This is also a nod to the role that myth plays in popular Hollywood trends in movies.
America's Image Among Civilizations (Woody Allen article): Term coined by Woody Allen in his testimony against colorization. Even though there's money in colorization, "surely people could see the deeper value to America of its film treasury." **Allen offers to the colorization debate that not only artists, but _____ as a whole, will be disrespected in pursuit of profit/money.
Copyright: Exclusive right granted by law for a number of years to make and dispose of (and otherwise control) copies of a musical, literary, or artistic work. _____ laws decide who owns art. **_____ demonstrates that, when new technologies arise about how to distribute and alter this art (such as colorization and DeCSS), conflict raises over artists' rights and _____ laws.
VCR (Video Cassette Recorder): A new technology introduced in late 1970s. It was created by Americans, but when Japan adopted it and brought it in, Hollywood got upset about potential for copyright violation. Congress refused to stop it, and the _____ (ironically) became the most profitable thing that ever happened to Hollywood. **This illustrates that changes in technology always bring up new problems, especially about copyright. (It also shows political conflict in Hollywood, between America and the rest of the world).
Children Now: National organization that does research and policy analysis about children and keeps track of Affirmative Action in Hollywood. The organization's 2003 survey found that slow progress has been made in terms of ethnically updating the faces on screens, but not as much behind the camera. **_____ illustrates efforts in the industry to increase diversity and accessibility to everyone.
Joseph Biroc: Cinematographer of classic films like It's a Wonderful Life. During the controversy over colorization, _____ announced he preferred colorization, and even colorization of his own films. This was extremely embarrassing to the directors who had been pushing against colorization. **_____ illustrates the conflict within Hollywood over artist's rights, and presents one case of a director who wasn't against colorization.
Red Lion Broadcasting v. FCC (The Other Parent): 1969 case involving a Pennsylvania radio station criticizing an author and not allowing him to defend himself on air. The man appealed to FCC, and when FCC granted him airtime, they went to the Supreme Court. The Court unanimously upheld the FCC decision under the "Fairness Doctrine." **This meant media had to honor listeners' right to hear opposing political viewpoints.
Wretched of the Earth (Risky Business): Idea that people within the industry associate themselves with the "_____", because their jobs cause feelings of paranoia, resentment, and can produce stronger feelings of being exploited and abused. Showing solidarity between stars and other groups is a genuine expression of psychological truth for Hollywood artists. **This exemplifies the artists' individual struggle rather than a social struggle.
Social Liberalism (Risky Business): _____ often opposes government intrusion into personal life. Members favor legalized abortion and gay rights while opposing prayer in public schools. **_____ creates a confusion in American ideology discussion, because liberals tend to endorse government activity in the economic sphere, but oppose it in the social sphere.
Virtual Integration: Concept of studios to contract other smaller companies rather than actually owning facilities and directly hiring personnel. Major studios still distribute and make decisions, but the little companies are legally independent to do the work. **_____ is allows big companies to utilize smaller companies in order to avoid labor contracts.
HDTV (High Definition Television): After finding out about new 1100-line TV technology in Japan and Europe, the U.S. panicked. In 1988, FCC ruled all technology must be compatible with modern technology. Once the U.S. produced its own _____ system in 1993, the FCC ordered all broadcasting be switched over to _____. **This shows how the FCC will regulate the industry to protect American interests (they kept foreign competition out until the US market was ready, and are now using their power to mandate a changeover to _____).
Captain Blood (Roger Mayer article): Errol Flynn movie who Mayer argued, "has been enjoyed by multimillions of TV viewers for the MONTHS it has been colored," many more those who viewed the film "for DECADES in black and white." Mayer thinks colorization makes viewers more likely to watch 'classics.' **This shows another argument in the colorization debate: public appeal should influence colorization of films.
TiVo: Technology introduced in 1999 that was considered "the first smart VCR" when NBC and _____ partnered. _____ offered groundbreaking features like programming to record shows and ability to pause live TV. **_____ illustrates how advancing technology can present new problems for the industry (_____'s particular problem was, how would networks pay for TV entertainment when viewers could fast-forward through commercials?)
Steve Bing: American real-estate developer, film producer, and philanthropist. He is the biggest celebrity contributor to the Democratic Party; _____ gave more than $10 million to politics with about 90% going to the Democrats. **_____ reinforces how Hollywood is extremely important for the Democratic Party: it's an industry dominated by rich Democrats, and Democrats have greater chance of getting support there.
Indecency Ruling: 1955 federal appeals court ruling, which upheld a law requiring FCC to forbid indecency broadcast between 6 AM-10 PM. It distinguished between ****ography (which arouses and disgusts) and indecency (which disgusts and offends, but doesn't arouse). **This ruling gave the FCC the power to regulate indecency, ****, and obscenity on TV (although the political parties are split on regulation viewpoints).
Piracy: The unauthorized copying of copyrighted material. _____ is a huge problem in East Asia, where technology advances help the industry. The MPAA is constantly lobbying Congress to somehow make China enforce its copyright laws. **This is important because _____ will undoubtedly be a focus in political battles in the future.
Miracle on 34th Street: 1947 black and white Christmas movie about a girl who doesn't believe in Santa. The film was colorized in 1986; upon release in 1993, the colorized film made $22 million more than what the black and white film made. **This illustrates the economics "bonanza" of colorization, and shows how our generation doesn't want to see black and white films.
EMA (Environmental Media Association): Hollywood organization founded by Norman Lear in 1990, who aim to affect TV and motion pictures. They hold seminars where scientists speak about environment problems and writers learn how to incorporate environment problem-solving in writings. In the early 90s, _____ shows began to appear in TV and movies. **_____ is effective propaganda that raises Hollywood concern about environmental issues.
Comcast Corporation: A communications company (internet/phone/cable provider) who is the biggest contributor to Democrats for their election campaigns (65% of _____'s total donations go to Democrats). **This illustrates the sheer amount of money available in Hollywood for political parties; because Hollywood tends to lean to the left, the Democrats cater to people in Hollywood to get the most money from them.
Public Interest, Convenience, and Necessity: Belief that the FCC is charged with making sure that broadcaster do what they do according to the public interest. When stations get licenses, they have an obligation/necessity to broadcast "in the _____." **This is important because granting a license is like saying someone is going to get rich; therefore, lots of people want to get licenses.
Viacom: A corporation that owns production networks, broadcasting networks (CBS), broadcasting stations (19 TV stations in US), a cable company (TCI), cable networks (MTV, Nickelodeon), motion picture exhibition (theaters in 12 countries), publishing (Simon and Schuster), and DVD rental/sales (Blockbuster), as well as various websites. **_____ is considered the way of the future, and represents an example of the new neo-Hollywood.
People for the American Way: Organization best known for mobilizing against Supreme Court hopeful Robert Bork in the late 1980s. _____ waged a successful ad campaign encouraging citizens to call their Senators and ask them to reject Bork. **This reinforces how groups can influence public opinion and government policy through effective propaganda.
Columbine High: Refers to a widely-publicized April 1999 high school shooting that caused national panic and outrage. Democrats blamed guns, GOP blamed Hollywood. Congress tried to have it both ways, passing tougher gun laws and ordering inquiry into the entertainment industry. **_____ demonstrates that, if issues are publicized and get into the national discussion, Congress will be more likely to take action.
BitTorrent: Internet filesharing program in which pieces of files are stored on many people's computers, increasing downloading speed. _____ permits and makes piracy easier. Warner Brothers recently announced a deal with _____. **This is important because the entertainment industry is trying to figure out what to do with _____, and the program will undoubtedly be a big issue in the future.
Fahrenheit 9/11: 2004 Michael Moore documentary that attacked and criticized the Bush administration. The film was picked up by Miramax, then dropped because Disney thought it would antagonize politicians. However, New Market Films picked it up and distributed it, and it made about $350 million dollars. **This raises concern of what will happen when there are NO more small distributors left. (will antagonistic opinions still be welcomed in the market?)
Brand Integration: When a product is written into the storyline of a TV show rather than having traditional advertising. It has become common on shows like American Idol and Desperate Housewives. **This is important because the amount of money invested into _____ grows every year; it is also the solution to the "how to advertise without commercials" TiVo problem.
YouTube: Website launched in 2005 where users can upload video clips and others can download them. It was purchased by Google in 2006; and in 2007, Google introduced ads on the website. **This is important because some people believe that _____ presents the new face of entertainment, and that someday there will be no concentration of wealth or superstars in Hollywood.
VHF and UHF (Very High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency): Wavelengths on TV airwaves. Originally, the FCC only assigned channels on the VHF frequency, creating artificial scarcity of channels and artificially inflated profits. Hence, in 1946, the FCC divvied up the broadcast spectrum into _____. **This illustrates how the FCC uses policy to create desirable results for themselves in the market.
Jones Cable (Risky Business): Denver company which, in 1988, dropped the USA Network, in which it had no financial interest, and added Turner Network Television, in which it was part owner. **_____ demonstrates cable companies vertically integrating, in an effort to have their own production and distribution. Hollywood felt networks would force them to give up control of product just to reach consumers.
Regulation in the Twenty-first Century: It can't be predicted. The Republicans are split: economic conservatives want little regulation while social conservatives want more regulation. The Democrats are also split: Hollywood-oriented Democrats are pro-freedom of expression, while Democrats like Steyer and parents' groups want vigorous regulation to protect children. **This shows it doesn't matter who is in power because both parties are internally conflicted about regulation.
Charlton Heston (Risky Business): American actor who is a political conservative and Republican. _____ is notable for rallying senators in Washington in 1986 against a tax bill that would have hurt actors' wages. **_____ shows not only that the the Conservative presence rare in Hollywood; but he also shows that celebrity influence, especially that with close political ties, can be helpful in controlling policy.
DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act): Refers to the 1998 _____, which says it is illegal to traffic in any service designed to circumvent encryption systems. The _____ was introduced especially to combat new and advancing technology that might allow for copyright decryption of product. **_____ demonstrates that with advancing technology and new distribution systems will prompt new copyright laws.
Convergence: The combination of phones, cable, and internet into one technological whole. **This is important because, with the continually advancing technology, _____ may be a popular trend for media companies in the future.
Wednesday Morning Club (Corn article): Set up by David Horowitz and Lionel Chetwynd, the morning after Bill Clinton's presidential victory in 1992. The _____ pulls together a couple of hundred conservatives from the entertainment industry to "schmooze and listen" once a month. **The _____ shows how conservatives and Republicans are trying to create a place for themselves in predominantly liberal Hollywood.

Start Studying!

Deck Info

Number of cards 79