The International Scene

Electronic Media Has improved communication Allows Information to reach even

remote areas▪ Instantly

Impacts the way people & Govt’s act

Is different outside of U.S. than within U.S.▪ However, common elements exist

France▪ Lumiere brothers▪ Short movie, film projection system

▪ French films experimented with new elements▪ Dream effects, slow motion,

distortion, etc▪ Rene Clair – “The Crazy ray”

Uses Frozen Motion technique

Germany Introduced film techniques in the 1920’s▪ Subjective camera use▪ Showing different character viewpoints

▪ Expressionistic lighting▪ Highlights, Shadows

Russia▪ Also contributed to early film techniques

Sergei Eisenstein▪ Developed editing techniques▪ Shot Sequencing▪ Rhythmic variety of shots ▪ Long shots from bottom to top▪ Close-ups of faces with emotion▪ Moving shots

Radio broadcasting experiments Occurred around the world in the 1920’s

▪ Some countries had private control approach▪ In others the Govt. took the lead

▪ Middle East was particularly slow to embrace▪ Due to skepticism of wireless technology

3 Broadcasting structures developed Private – U.S. Model▪ Radio stations owned by private businesses

Public – British Model (closely aligned to govt.)

▪ Supported by license fees from public citizens▪ Collected by post office, from those who owned

radios

Authoritarian – Russian Model▪ Closely supervised by the govt.▪ Usually in countries with dictatorships▪ Supported by tax dollars

British Style Encourage British subjects to use radio▪ To preserve and enhance local culture

Set up by British citizens▪ Then Natives were trained to operate them

French Style Radio used to tie colonies to the

motherland Set up and operated by French citizens▪ Most programming was also French

Propaganda Promoted through use of radio▪ Mussolini’s Italian army▪ BBC World Service▪ British propaganda service

▪ VOA – Voice of America▪ AFRS – Armed Forces Radio Service▪ Later AFRTS – Armed Forces Radio/TV service▪ U.S. propaganda services

Propaganda Promoted through use of radio▪ Radio Moscow▪ Russian propaganda service

▪ German system - After Hitler’s rise to power

▪ Taken over and tightly controlled by Nazis▪ Content & programming regulated by Nazi Govt.▪ Decentralized after the war

▪ Japanese System▪ Privatized before the war▪ (NHK) State run during the war – to control

programming▪ Re-privatized after the war

Including state run NHK

TV developed earlier in U.S. ▪ Other countries still recovering from WWII▪ More expensive than Radio

South Africa▪ TV delayed by Apartheid Rulers▪ Trying to avoid cultural imperialism

Muslim countries▪ Delayed by religious beliefs ▪ Preventing the creation of graven images

British TV Developed throughout colonies & aligned

countries▪ Included TV in already set up radio structures▪ After WWII citizens more aware and bought TV’s

Latin American Progress These countries able to start TV early▪ Not as much damage from WWII▪ U.S. media companies invested in Latin media▪ Looking for profits

Pirate stations Developed in England to play programming▪ That was not offered by BBC▪ Popularity led to 4th BBC station for Rock Music

Commercials▪ Eventually broadcast through British TV▪ To help fund Television (license fees not enough)

Canadian TV Started with Cable before Broadcast▪ Brought in U.S. Programming▪ Canadian officials disliked U.S. programming▪ Felt it was a U.S. cultural invasion

Eastern European▪ Continued with Authoritarian system▪ Not as strict as USSR

Latin America▪ Cast off U.S. companies in 60’s▪ Built strong media markets

Ethiopian TV▪ One of poorest countries▪ Developed national TV service▪ Hardly any TV sets to view programs

Middle East▪ Discovery of oil led to vast wealth▪ Built broadcast systems▪ Very few people to run system or create programs

Indian Film▪ India industry produced more films than

Hollywood▪ Homegrown movies▪ Stars became celebrities▪ Bombay Hollywood = Bollywood

Electronic colonialism▪ Many poor countries needed programming▪ Many TV/Shows & Films came from U.S. ▪ Fear of cultural imperialism▪ Citizens would embrace American Values▪ Materialism, Money, etc

Free flow vs National Identity▪ Free Flow▪ Developed countries felt information should be freely

shared between countries

▪ National Identity▪ Developing countries felt information flow to citizens

should be controlled

Debate continues because Radio/TV signals▪ Don’t stop at the borders

Intelsat▪ Formed in 1964 to handle satellite needs for many

countries▪ 1973 ownership under consortium of countries▪ Each paid a fee based on use for broadcasting events

Olympics, soccer matches, etc.

SITE – (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment)

Used for farm, health, hygiene & family programs▪ Also for entertainment shows▪ To 2400 villages in rural India▪ Shown in communal areas due to lack of TV’s

CNN Started as cable network▪ Signal was subscribed to or bootlegged▪ Today most countries air CNN

STAR – Satellite Television Asia Region

▪ Broadcast music videos, movies, soap operas, sports, etc▪ From Egypt to Japan

Rampant in the 80’s Many systems adapted to the U.S. format▪ Private owned funded by advertisements▪ Initially illegal and fought by many govt.▪ Popularity led to them becoming legal

Affected the public systems Private companies had▪ Small staffs, new technology, more programs

& ads▪ Drew the mass audiences

Piracy▪ Problematic in developing countries▪ Due to little or no copyright laws▪ Developing countries persuaded better copyright rules

Censorship▪ Tapes allowed normally censored material▪ To be distributed (underground industry began)

Popularity▪ Ability to select content led to immense

popularity▪ Of legal and illegal tapes

Programming ▪ Initially purchased from developed countries

▪ Advances and cheaper equipment▪ Allows countries to create more local programs

Franchises▪ Game shows▪ Same format with local hosts

U.S. Imports▪ Us imports more foreign programming ▪ To appeal to ethnic/minority audiences

Internet▪ Allows information access to EVERYONE▪ Few gatekeepers to censor content▪ E-mails, Chatrooms = instant communication

Cellular Phones▪ Spreading through poor countries▪ Allows communication where none was before

▪ TV, Radio, DVD’s Digital technologies are increasing the▪ Speed, Depth & Breadth of communication