Media and Culture Essay
America’s Got Talent (AGT) show is watched not only in the United States but all over the world. For 5 straight summers, 12 out of the 13 years that AGT has been aired, the program has been the most watched to only losing the top spot only once to the first season of the Under the Dome series (Fitzgerald 2018). Based on the Nielsen L+ playback rating, the American Got Talent show makes the top 10 and takes the first spot of the most TV shows watched during the summer (Fitzgerald 2018). The fact that no other show, including the populous American Idol, means that AGT has remained at the top for 12 consecutive seasons similar to has further substantiated the dominance of the program (Fitzgerald 2018). An analysis of AGT in relation to the circuit of culture and the identification of a range of issues of the show provides a basis for appreciating the program as a form of widely accepted culture all over the world.
The government of the United States regulates the production of airing of the AGT talent program. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rates and regulates films and shows in the United States based on age appropriateness. Rather than approving, disapproving, or censoring any media production, the core mandate of MPAA is to help the audience determine their appropriateness (Kellner 2011). In this case, it is the responsibility of families as opposed to MPAA to regulate the media content that their children consume (Kellner 2011). Whereas there is the taming of a majority of acts in AGT, a few of them, which contain insensitive jokes, sexualized actions, offensive behaviors, and sneaky remarks, are not appropriate for kids. Furthermore, the incorporation of potentially harmful sharp objects, weapons, and props may not be suitable for underage viewers. Eventually the core responsibility of managing some TV shows lies squarely on viewers rather than the government’s regulation.
Cultural and multicultural sensitivity is fundamental to media production. Embracing a comprehensive approach, for example audience research, political economy, and textual analysis, to provide a critical and political perspective to enable people to dissect the message of the dominant culture is essential to media production (Kellner 2011). The production of AGT is not absolutely cultural or multicultural sensitive albeit having a significant viewer base. MPAA has not censured Syco Entertainment to ensure that AGT’s and its other productions seasons are appropriate for their viewers. On the other hand, the cultural and multicultural sensitivity perspective introduces a challenge in relation to production. The incorporation insensitive jokes, sexualized actions, offensive behaviors, and potentially harmful weapons during AGT performances raise a question of the film’s cultural sensitivity. Insomuch as the production company is not obliged to ensure AGT is age-appropriate for kids, the fact that the show is populous means that it is significantly watched; in this case, there is the need for the consideration of the cultural sensitivity.
There is a relationship between film production and globalization. The production company influences the American society and other societies across the globe. The Syco Entertainment with the corporation working with the ER productions to produce the 11th series of the program directs the production of AGT show (America’s got talent 2016, n.d.). Syco Entertainment is a global renowned music, television, and film production entity that has produced some of the most successful entertainment franchises worldwide (Syco Entertainment n.d.). Syco Entertainment is a joint venture owned by Simon Cowell and Sony Music and has a music division that is associated with multiple internationally renowned recording artists such Little Max, Ella Henderson, and One Direction (Syco Entertainment n.d.). While the two producers mainly operate in the United States, the significant global influence of their production both in local and distant cultures reveals ER productions’ dominance and globalization’s impact.
Furthermore, the aspect of cultural imperialism and its association with globalization is evident in various ways. The production of AGT and other music and film production by Syco Entertainment allude to the cultural imperialism phenomenon. The production company fosters melodramatic imaginations to provide pleasure to its cultural diverse clients as a major recipe for success (Tomlinson 2012). The ideology of the mass culture is also closely associated with AGT’s production. Although those conversant with the culture that a media promotes may have a right attitude towards the show, audiences from other cultures may feel the need to justify their enjoyment, for example embracing an ironic perspective towards the culture (Tomlinson 2012). While a majority of Syco Entertainment’s works are based on the American culture disapproved by other cultures, the ability of the company to promote the enjoyment of its productions, including AGT, is an apparent indication of cultural imperialism.
In terms of representation, the application of the semiotic analysis technique will bolster one’s understanding of the AGT show. The semiotic approach encourages an audience to execute an analysis of a text in a given detailed manner. Nevertheless, I would like to have a brief elaboration of the activities and performances in AGT as a form of sign. Semioticians play a prompts an understanding of bodily language, gestures, facial expressions, and the manner in which people use their voices to express themselves (Berger 2004). Through such signs, we can assess actors and gain an insight into their personalities, virtues, and temperaments. The participants in the AGT show are individual with exceptional capabilities depending on how they express their feelings and beliefs portrayed to the audience based on the manner they communicate through words and their body language.
An analysis of AGT’s representation using the semiotic approach certainly reveals that the semiotic of the show is an extraordinary population. Individuals that have been voted on the show have had outstanding performances. Susan Boyle is one of the actors whose angelic performance in 2019 enabled her to advance straight to the finals. The lady initially came to the limelight 10 years ago after her unforgettable performance (Dailymail.com reporter 2019). With the current show embracing top performance from various parts of the globe, it is without a doubt that AGT is not just focused about talent in the United States but rather worldwide and hence a representation of the best of the best individual capability.
Concerning consumption, I would denote that AGT is one of the most populous TV shows. Briefly aforementioned, AGT has been the most watched TV show in the US for 5 straight summers and 12 out of the 13 years that it has been aired (Fitzgerald, 2018). Furthermore, AGT has remained on the top spot as the most watched program losing the position only once to the series Under the Dome (Fitzgerald, 2018). Tay and Turner (2010) articulate that the entire broadcasting program is on the verge of collapsing as the entertainment industry increasingly shifts to the digital platform. Nevertheless, the tremendous popularity of the AGT show indicates that a significant number of the United States citizens concurrently are glued to their television each Tuesday and Wednesday of every week to watch the program, which, in turn, implies that people have embraced the nature of the broadcasting model of the media.
AGT’s enduring appeal is related to the huge talent base in the United States as well other parts of the world. While cable and streaming services have had a significant impact on broadcasting, the fun associated with the show has played a tremendous role in growing the program viewership. During the 2017 summer, AGT was ranked the top summer series with 16 million viewers globally (Lawler 2018). The deaf singer who employed vibrations on the floor as her guide for her notes in the 2017 season and the 71-year-old dancer that amazed judges in 2018 are some of the unique acts that keep people glued to their screen when the program is being aired. Therefore, the genuinely heartwarming stories coupled with audience curiosity have been fundamental to attracting viewers. Besides, the fact that the show is a competition with participants competing for an ultimate price of $ 1 million makes the program seem like a marathon race. As such, each participant gives his or her best rendering the show worth watching.
Identity is the final aspect of the circuit of culture that I wish to explore. AGT’s success is associated with the identity of the show. Kellner (2003) argued that while media identity are relatively fixed and limited, the boundaries of new possible identities continues to expand. In the modern consumer and media society that commenced after the Second World War, the traditional identity that was a function of tribe or a group has been increasingly replaced with style, image, and how one looks (Kellner 2003).The argument is indeed true as globalization and technological advancement have played a significant role in the success of the AGT show. While traditionally the AGT program could have mainly been identified with the American culture, the significant globalization and advancement in technology has not only made the show’s viewership global but also brought participants from different parts of the world.
The trans-local phenomenon is the other major approach that can assists in comprehending the tremendous success that AGT has achieved regarding viewership. Hepp and Couldry (2010) articulated that viewing culture from a trans-local perspective signifies that all the present cultures are more or less hybrid, translated, or they have changed their identities. From the AGT perspective, it can be argued that the significant globalization that the world has experienced in recent years has enabled different cultures from various parts of the world to become more interlinked with others. The immediate outcome is translating and changing of people’s identities thus rendering the world a large global village. In fact, although different parts of the world have varied cultures, their interaction because of the increased globalization has played a pivotal role in creating a unique global culture identity to foster the success of the show.
In essence, the paper has provided an in-depth exploration of the American Got Talent show in relation to the various aspects of the circuit of culture. The analysis has outlined and addressed fundamental issues concerning media and culture. Several significant findings are notable. The circuit of culture provides a premise for understanding media and culture and provides various grounds upon which the former can be built on the later. In that way, the circuit of culture approach enables us to comprehend the delineation of media, culture, and power. By showing how AGT fosters cultural imperialism, an enduring appeal, and identity among other others, I firmly believe that I have profoundly elaborated the delineations in the research.
Job Advert Analysis
The advert I have chosen for the current assignment is the EM/global macro strategist in the Bloomberg News Company (https://careers.bloomberg.com/job/detail/74717). The role of the position involves supporting Bloomberg to venture into emergent markets and foster economic development that will be beneficial to the company’s investors. The candidate that will be selected to the position will be required to monitor the major emerging marketing economies and the global aspects behind their development to aid the corporation design strategies to boost its market coverage and expansion (EM/Global macro strategy 2019). The successful candidate will be required to join Bloomberg’s live team in London and his or her responsibility will include undertaking written commentary for the company’s cross-asset blog (EM/Global macro strategy 2019). I found the position advertised intriguing especially given the fact that the significant globalization that the world has faced in recent years has made it necessary for media corporations to comprehend emerging markets for them to effectively venture into the global media landscape.
Different approaches to analyzing the advert in light of the global media aspect exist. I would like to assess the advert in relation to the need for an understanding of the emergent markets for a news media to effectively expand its market. Livingstone (2012) indicated that with the tremendous globalization being witnessed in the world comparative research is no longer a choice but rather a necessity. With the emergence of different markets being driven by distinct cultural aspects, an organization with the desire to venture into the global landscape engages in various undertakings. Meanwhile, an entity takes time to assess and understand the theoretical, political, and methodological underpinnings of the new markets. Eventually, analyzing the circumstances under which an advert impacts the audience allows the advertisement organizations to rethink their strategies to prevent the case of cultural challenges that may arise resulting from the cultural differences in different regions.
The growth of transnational media implies that having a strategy to understand emergent markets is critical for an organization to succeed in its entrance to potential markets. The decision by Bloomberg to develop the position of the EM/global macro strategist shows that the company means business in its desire to enter developing markets and expand its customer reach. The candidate for the position will be required to possess a strong grasp of markets interconnections and their financial aspect as well as analytic skills for identifying the underlying trends (EM/Global macro strategy 2019). Therefore, the position is important for Bloomberg to successfully venture into new markets in the current globalization era. In the end, it remains to be seen the way an ad can reach a wider target to impact them in a significant manner.
Reference List
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