Hesmondhalgh and the cultural industries

Overview

Hesmondhalgh's first key idea, hesmondhalgh's second key idea and hesmondhalgh's third key idea, about the internet.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Whose theory explains how cultural industry companies minimise risk and maximise audiences?

   Model answer

   David Hesmondhalgh's theory of the cultural industries explains this. Hesmondhalgh examines how companies manage the risk built into cultural production.

2. 2

   State Hesmondhalgh's first key idea.

   Model answer

   Hesmondhalgh argues that cultural industry companies work to cut risk and widen audiences. Integration up and down the chain, and the formatting of products, are the means.

3. 3

   What does Hesmondhalgh mean by formatting a cultural product?

   Model answer

   Formatting is the use of familiar features that make a product's appeal predictable. Stars, genres and serials are Hesmondhalgh's three named examples.

4. 4

   Why does the use of stars minimise risk?

   Model answer

   A star brings an existing audience and a known brand to a new product. The company reduces uncertainty about whether anyone will turn up.

5. 5

   How does genre reduce risk for a producer?

   Model answer

   Genre tells an audience in advance what kind of pleasure to expect. A product that fits a proven genre is easier to market and to sell.

6. 6

   How does the serial form reduce risk?

   Model answer

   A serial keeps an audience returning to the same characters and world. Each instalment inherits the audience the last one built.

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