by tomtenney on March 29, 2010
Jenkins, Henry. “The War between Effects and Meanings.” Fans, Bloggers, and Gamers: Exploring Participatory Culture. New York: NYU Press, 2006. 208-221. Print.
Abstract
In a reaction to a 2002 court decision ruling that video games are not constitutionally protected, it is argued that games, and even the violence in them, can be a meaningful form of expression. There is a speculation that the fallacy of the court ruling lies in the lack of differentiation between “meanings” (interpretations) and “effects” (spontaneous reactions that cannot be examined.) The “effects model” – that games “condition” children for violence – is refuted by the argument that it relies on a (discredited) behaviorist model that excludes the element of “conscious cognitive activity,” ignores motives for learning, and dismisses the faculty of gamers to distinguish fantasy from reality. Instead, a “meanings model” that argues for the value of games as learning and problem-solving tools that allow children to experience the world from different perspectives, is advocated. It is demonstrated that video games, even violent ones, allow children to map their own goals onto “game space,” explore their environment, and make interpretations that can be applied to the real world. It is maintained that violence in video games, can be “meaningful” in that it tells a story that provides a context for gamers to think about the meaningless violence presented in the game. A belief is expressed that games, by design, allow gamers to reflect on their values because they are the ones making the choices in the game environment and exploring the consequences of those choices. The conclusion is that game literacy, and reframing the question of violence from effects to meanings, can foster a more critical viewpoint of games, and provide an environment for children to explore their heritage, ideas, and experiences.
Tagged as:
Abstracts,
Media Effects,
Video Games
by tomtenney on March 29, 2010
Gripsrud, Jostein. “Broadcast Television: Its Chances of Survival in a Digital Age.” Television After TV: Essays on a Medium in Transition. Eds. Lynn Spigel and Jan Olsson. Durham: Duke University Press, 2004. 210-223. Print.
Abstract
The extent to which broadcast television has the ability to survive as a medium in the current climate of rapid digitization of media is questioned by examining the medium in the context of contemporary social structures. The meaning of broadcasting is explored from its etymological roots to its larger societal meaning as a medium that benefits both centralized governments and the needs of its citizens. Whether the conditions for these 2 meanings still exist is questioned and the hypothesis is that they do, as governments are still centralized, and a “shared cultural menu” still critical to the basic social and psychological needs of the citizenry. The effects of digitalization are divided into 3 main consequences: convergence (the merging of the Internet and broadcast TV into a single delivery system), increased capacity for transmission, and interactivity. Commonly expressed views that these effects will segment audiences to such an extent that the centers of cultural power and community will be fragmented and lost are downplayed, as is the concept of a “digital revolution.” Given as evidence are the low number of channels actually used by average viewers vs. the several hundred offered, and a prediction is made that traditional broadcast channels will remain the most popular. The belief that time shifting won’t alter viewing habits is expressed, as viewers are habitually tied to the scheduling of certain shows, and value their immediacy; that video-on-demand can be less convenient than walking to your local video store, and that there is an “experiential & social difference” between watching a show on a computer vs. on a TV set. It is postulated that simply having more choice will not result in greater viewing, as this is determined by psychological, cultural and social factors. The conclusion is a prediction of the survival of traditional broadcast TV, citing the continued existence of the preconditions of the medium: concentration of power, mobile privatization, and the need for shared experience.
Tagged as:
Abstracts,
Television
