Identity and the Media

1. Identity and the Media Quote of the Day: Benedict Anderson “ Modern identities are inseparable from the structures of the media” CC: 391 Spring 2007

2. The Search for Identity • Early history of media associates the emergence of newspapers and radio with Nationalism • Most regimes have strongly nationalistic or nationally oriented and local media content and systems • Through the media, like education, citizens build self, social and political identities Spring 2007

3. Identity • Defines the In group or out group • Defines me versus them • Us versus them • What is the same: • sameness, oneness,shared values • Boundary setting for inclusion • What is different: ‘other’ • Differences, distinctions: boundary setting for exclusion Spring 2007

4. Identity Politics • Favouritism towards one’s own group: ethnocentrism • Prejudice against other groups: racism Spring 2007

5. Layers of Identity Self Identity Social Identity Political Identity Spring 2007

6. Self Identity • Your life history • Explains why you do something, who you want to be, and what you can do about advancing your interests • May be personal style, personal peer and family identity ( notion of primary group) • Commercial systems good at delivering consumer identity menus • Role models, ideals, lifestyle aspirations Spring 2007

7. New Ideas about Identity • Refute notion of identity as fixed, universal or essential • Sees TV as a major resource for the construction of cultural identities within the lived experience of everyday life • Accessible to virtually everybodySite of popular knowledge • Identity in continual contest and construction Spring 2007

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9. Social Identity • Associated with the rights,obligations and sanctions you enjoy in your social roles • Usual markers are age, sex, race ( immutable social markers) • Primordial realms: immediate community of work or living • Increasingly involving social causes/missions • Media are resources in finding social identities: • eg role assimilation—some systems recognize this and compel private broadcasters to monitor guidelines for social portrayal Spring 2007

10. National Political Identity • Deutsch: • A nation must interact more often internally than externally to remain politically cohesive • Media flows should promote national ID • Contribute to the sharing of basic values and beliefs ( cognitive and rational) • A Sense of Attachment to Place( emotional) Spring 2007

11. Media and Political Identity • Central to political socialization ( learning to be a citizen) • Convey information about basic citizen’s rights and responsibilities • Provide data on which to base democratic decisions • Transmit /Promote basic national symbols Spring 2007

12. Political Identity cont’d • Create climate of political trust/alienation: • political and consumer confidence in the economy, in foreign policy • Now an arena where political controversy is channeled: • representative presence in media is key to political enfranchisement • The Paradox: never more media, but never more decline in voter engagement Spring 2007

13. Media and Political Identity 2 • Most systems regulate election broadcasting due to the importance to political choice and identity building • Only public broadcasting systems make explicit the role of the CBC in promoting political identity: a national consciousness Spring 2007

14. Nationalist Politics • Nationalism/Chauvinism Defined • Nationalism: devotion to one’s nation; an ideology • Synonym: patriotism • The doctrine that national interests are more important than international interests • The desire for or advocacy of national independence or autonomy • Chauvinism: excessive, narrow or jingoistic patriotism • Militant, unreasoning and unqualified devotion to one’s country • Fanatical devotion with contempt for others Spring 2007

15. Nationalism 2 • Focuses on the special/different/ history • BUT Tendency to seek ‘true’ ‘Aryan’ character: true ‘American’ or true ‘Canadian’ character may be fascist in orientation ( essentialism is to be distrusted) • Nationalism/19th century tied identity to mobilization of empire and mercantilism– economic and political expansion • Tendency to see ID as singular, homogenous, stable and monolithic • But this undercuts modern immigrant reality and the political economy of nationalism Spring 2007

16. Canadian National Identity • Political Culture • Political Communication Spring 2007

17. Political Culture • Historical Fragment Theory • Hartz: posits a political culture grows out of the fragment which leaves the imperial centre • In Canada: a tory fragment: not a revolutionary past • Settled by United Empire Loyalists • Emphasis on “Peace Order and Good Government” Spring 2007

18. Political Culture 2 • Linguistic: Official History of Quebec and the Rest of Canada • Waves of Constitutional Reconciliation: a Distinct Society of language and culture? • Reflected in Canada’s Official Languages Act Spring 2007

19. Political Culture 3 • Racial: aboriginal: constitutional right to autonomy, and land claims ceded after a century: Delmanuukw • and then white; white euro then other/people of colour in waves of immigration • Recognized by Canada’s Multiculturalism Act Spring 2007

20. Political Communication • Two solitudes of media systems: • Radio Canada and CBC rarely collaborate on news, and subtitles not wide ( breakthrough Tough Cop Bon Cop?) • English elite press rarely cover French news or vice versa • But, Quebec media system is hotly competitive and rich: francophones outside of Quebec struggle to get access to their stories in the media • Third Language Media: private sector, not well known or state supported: third solitude Spring 2007

21. Myths about Canadian Cultural Identity • Defined against the US/ British or French fragments • Seen as ‘hybridized’, ‘hyphenated’: French Canadian, English Canadian, Immigrant Canadian, Aboriginal Canadian • Seen as ‘regionalized’– Western, Eastern or central Canadian • Increasingly seen not as bicultural but more as multicultural Spring 2007

22. Other Defining Markers • NOT American ( the ‘rant’) • NOT nationalistic ( no anthem in schools) • MORE deferential to authority (Garrison versus Frontier mentality) • MORE public enterprise culture (rail, universal health care, education, CBC) • GO BETWEEN: • international peace-keeper, trusted intermediary,--history of land mines treaty: self image of a kinder, gentler peoples • Not Mono cultural: bilingual and multicultural( mosaic versus melting pot) Spring 2007

23. Jokes • As Canadian as possible under the circumstances • Not nationalistic enough: • An American, a Scot and a Canuk were in a terrible car accident. They were all brought to the same emergency room, but all three of them died before they arrived. Just as they were about to put the toe tag on the American, he stirred and opened his eyes. Astonished, the doctors and nurses present asked him what happened. • "Well," said the American, "I remember the crash, and then there was a beautiful light, and then the Canadian and the Scot and I were standing at the gates of heaven. St. Peter approached us and said that we were all too young to die, and that for a donation of $100, we could return to the earth." • He continued, " So of course, I pulled out my wallet and gave him the $100, and the next thing I knew I was back here." • "That's amazing!" said one of the doctors, "But what happened to the other two?" • "Last I saw them," replied the American, "the Scot was haggling over the price and the Canadian was waiting for the government to pay for his.” Spring 2007

24. Jokes 2 • How many Canadians does it take to change a lightbulb • A : None. Canadians don't change light bulbs, we accept them as they are Spring 2007

25. Multiculturalism • Defined as fact: • 50% today claim non British non-French ancestry; • 12% visible minorities • As Ideology: Multicultural Act, equality rights in Charter: notion of inclusiveness, unity in diversity; cultural differences not disparaged: tolerance valued ( Hate criminalised) • As Policy: Human Rights legislation, affirmative action or equity rights in employment in public agencies: funding of ethnic cultural practices; celebrating diversity • As Critical Discourse: criticised as bandaid measure which keeps white majority dominant ( eg: Fleras, Tator and Henry et al) • Rationalised in a coherent whole Spring 2007

26. Race and Identity • See Film by Stuart Hall: a prominent British cultural analyst, and leading thinker in international cultural studies. Spring 2007

27. New Theories of Identity • Multiple ( as citizen, buyer,as Cbinese, as Canadian, as university student, as worker) • Hybrid ( fusion of generational identity of immigrants) ( not simple assimilation) • Rationalised in a coherent whole Spring 2007

28. Media and Racism • Framing of race • Stereotyping of race • Exclusion of race in board rooms and senior management • Ghettoization of race: ethnic broadcasting ( third language TV for a fee and pay per service basis unlike aborginal TV etc) Spring 2007

29. Stereotyping • Having no individuality: as though cast from a mold • Literally: in printing, the development of a type metal cast for multiple reproduction • Socially: a mental pattern or ‘image label’ which simplifies and generalises about a people or minority or trait • Short hand: a way of simplifying complexity Spring 2007

30. Stereotyping 2 • Categorical: ignores differences among individuals of the ‘out group’ • Found to be more prevalent among those or with: • No interpersonal relationships to refute stereotypes • Those with less formal education • Less travel, less gregarious “out group” experimentation ( some studies suggest related to low self esteem, conservative/authoritarian personalities) Spring 2007

31. Types of Stereotyping • Overt: few faces and characters on screen are visible minorities • Of those represented, mostly in news, low budget genres • Where represented: Kung Fu ( the Bruce Lee syndrome)– presented in narrow, cliché roles • Covert: exclusion is interpreted to reflect lack of power: minority status • “affirmative action” now 30 years behind feminist movement Spring 2007

32. Dimensions of Cohesive National Identity • Sense of belongingness-isolation • Inclusiveness-exclusiveness • Participation-non-participation • Recognition-rejection • Legitimacy-illegitimacy Spring 2007

33. Theoretical Problems I • Collective identities are not natural but constructed • See Custom Courseware, 392 • Thus, they reflect particular power relations in a given epoch • Globalization threatens national identities: the Fragmentation of popular media threatens collectivism Spring 2007

34. Theoretical Problems @ • If the primary vehicles for identity or the formation of cultural tastes are the media and popular culture ( say music) • They feature distinction-- difference--but strip it of social and political meaning to sell CC 390 Spring 2007

35. Theoretical Problems II • Assimilation or Diversity? • Unity in Diversity? • Community of Communities? • What provides the ‘glue’ for a disparate peoples? What provides the ‘glue’, the ‘code’ or ‘protocol’ for peaceful co-existence? • The Media both reflect and produce this ‘glue’ • Conversely the media control stereotypes of reputation/cultural character which may include or exclude Spring 2007

36. Canadian Popular Culture • National popular culture increasingly mediated through a global one • ‘ Mondo Canuck’: Rant Spring 2007

37. “Travelling Canadians” • 1 in 2 Canadians have passports in 2007 ( 2 X the number of Americans) • Canada has one of the highest rates of immigration: 250 K a year ( adding a mid size city the size of Calgary every 4-5 years) • 7-10% of students study out of province • Born out of province”: 33% in ‘have’ provinces Spring 2007

38. ‘Canadian Values’ • Levels of attachment to Canada increasing • Highest level of belonging in world values study • Economic and cultural security the biggest predictors of positive sense of belonging • Except in Quebec: • Strongest sense of belonging: • Family (95%) • Canada (81%) • Community (74%) • Ethnic Group (55%) Spring 2007

39. Values cont’d Where belong first: • Country • Pride: unchanged in 15 years • Cosmopolitan ID increasing: local decreasing • Canadians support (70%) principles of multiculturalism, even higher majority supports Hate legislation Spring 2007

40. Canadian identity Cont’d • Strongest sense of attachment is in older, less secure anglophones who mourn a past Canada • Weaker among secure,younger and agile portions of society • Views on government interact with identity • Elites attach more value to economic- material factors in ‘conditional’ identity than do general public ( checkbook nationalists) Spring 2007

41. STUDY TIP • Look up the rant: • http://www.coolcanuckaward.ca/joe_canadian.htm • Decode I Am Canadian • Custom Courseware 364-370 Spring 2007

42. Perceptions of National Identity • World Values study • Book entitled How Canadian Connect(1998) • There is a distinct Canadian identity • 47% agree • 40% disagree– there is no majority view of an “imagined Canadian community” • Paradoxically, 83% agree Canadian culture is something we can take pride in Spring 2007

43. Cultural Industries and Canadian Identity • Strong sense of awareness, pride and attachment to: authors, popular musicians, local news ,CBC radio etc • Low awareness and cultural preference for Canadian TV drama • 2/3 of french viewing is to Canadian shows • 1/3 of english viewing is to Canadian • 12% of all entertainment • 18 of top 20 shows all American • English Canada is the only TV market in the world where local citizens do not prefer local product Spring 2007

44. Canadian vs. US TV Practices • Watch 30% less TV • 5 times more likely to watch a public/non-commercial broadcaster • Higher tolerance for complex info • Watch more news: less infotainment • West wing/Law and Order:SVU high end US shows • Watch Canadian first in • News • Sports • Comedy • Greater Participation: phone ins etc. Spring 2007

45. Canadian Creators • Protected through legislation • On the assumption we need to protect freedom of Canadian expression if the market cannot provide it Spring 2007

46. The Broadcasting Act (1991) • The Canadian Broadcasting System will serve to safeguard enrich and strengthen the cultural, political social and economic fabric of Canada • Each element will contribute to the creation and presentation of Canadian programs • Each.. Make Maximum use and no less than predominant use of Canadian creative resources Spring 2007

47. Canadian Content Quota • Requires 60% overall and 50% CANCON in prime time • Quota is a Make Jobs program: • Its definitions revolved around citizenship of the writer, producer, technical crews etc. shooting the series • The Quota is not a qualitative one: requiring distinctively creative stories Spring 2007

48. Other Regulations • Restrict foreign ownership • Disallow spending on ads in US border media • ALL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CANADIAN ‘CHOICES’/VVOICES/ PRODUCT ON SHELF SPACE Spring 2007

49. Track Record of TV in CANCON • Internationally recognized news, sports • Animation/sci fi and special effects • Kids • Documentaries and Docudrama • Popular MOWs ( Anne of Avonlea, Sheldon Kennedy Story) Spring 2007

50. Track Record Cont’d • Still no Home Run series internationally ( CSI) • Still no star system • Domestically: DaVinci’s, Bob and Margaret , Corner Gas among the best • But less than 12% of drama we watch is Canadian ( versus 66% in most other countries) Spring 2007