1. Production Context Criticism
Prof. Nick Burnett
ComS 169
Television Criticism

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

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