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Thread: Way off topic - article in The Australian

  1. #16
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    "Just as an example, how many of you can name our head of state, head of goverment and leader of the opposition? I can name your President, Vice President, majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate."
    These reason you can and most of us cannot is that in comparison to the US posts you mentioned, the Canadian posts are not as important to the rest of the world.

    I wouldn't be suprised if there are people in countries around the world who don't even know the name of their own national leader, but know the US Presidents name.""
    Now that's a political and media reason, not one of importance.

    The less popular politicians always attract more media attention, its sells newspapers.

    The reality is America is a super power and as such wants to doninate and influence the rest of the world affairs to suit its own ends and tends do do this on the basis on maintaining world peace . The real problem is its more relient on the rest of the world for resources like oil that they are on it.

    Who said this thread was about political statements?


    Ian




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  2. #17
    Webmaster Don McRitchie's Avatar
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    The question I want to know, is why would you be inundated with American media, unless there is a Canadian market for it?
    Of course there is. But I can trump your question with another question - why does that market exist? The answer has to do with differences in scale between our economies and population. For example, on its own, the Canadian market could not afford to mount an effort like CNN. We try, with a channel called Newsworld, but it has no where near the resources in staff and bureau offices. That's why when the Iraq war broke out, most tuned to CNN to catch the latest news on that event. The same applies to enterainment shows. Network dramas have budgets as high as $200 million per season in the US. Here it was news when one Canadian network set a record budget of $6 million for one season of a new series. The result is that Canadian programming has nowhere near the production values of US programming.

    Obviously, from a market perspective, there is nothing wrong with this. If that is your only perspective on the media, then this is the end of the story. However, most recognize that media goes beyond the marketplace to define and promote culture (see the Nov 2 election for evidence), and many find the innundation of US media creates issues.

    For years, there have been minimum Canadian content standards for indigenous media. However, technology, and the ability to directly access American signals has circumvented this. It has led to a renewed debate on how to deal with this. Most of the efforts have been in the area of fostering local content as opposed to restricting foreign access. However, the results can best be described as mixed. Personally, I believe it is an issue that is affecting our culture, but I don't pretend to have a solution. I don't believe in censorship, but I also don't believe it is in our interests to have the indigenous Canadian media dissappear.
    Regards

    Don McRitchie

  3. #18
    Dis Member mikebake's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Don McRitchie
    Of course there is. But I can trump your question with another question - why does that market exist? The answer has to do with differences in scale between our economies and population. For example, on its own, the Canadian market could not afford to mount an effort like CNN. S media creates issues.
    Then according to your answer, the market exists because a) Canada is smaller than the U.S. and b) the Canadian consumer prefers to watch the larger U.S. media more than Canadian media. We can't moan about lack of ($) resources, because that argument doesn't stop. There is always someone/something with less resources.

    I prefer the products of larger countries myself; I'd rather fly on Boeing or Airbus than some other brands!

    I understand the idea of pervasiveness of culture as transmitted by mass media. Good luck trying to stop that train.
    I can't think off-hand of any succesful attempts, given that people have preferences. In the marketplace of entertainment and ideas, people will make their choices (if they are permitted choices) as they please. (BTW, I don't really watch much TV at all; some college sports, Cleveland Browns (losers), the Weather Channel now and then, and the random mating insect documentary. I think most Hollywood stuff is garbage, most pop music vapid, most TV shallow and worthless; I don't consume much of the product, and try to instill that idea in my family)

    No matter what anachronistic approach one may take, it would seemed inevitably doomed.

    BTW, I am also highly sympathetic to losing both culture and historical values. I get filled with a sense of sadness sometimes when visiting places of historical interest that are lost to us. But, I'm wandering off here....

    If you don't like the cultural message, then I suppose there are some avenues; try to change it, try to dampen its affect on the recipient via education, reduce demand, and offer alternatives that express the viewpoint/message you endorse.

  4. #19
    RIP 2011 Zilch's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Don McRitchie
    Personally, I believe it is an issue that is affecting our culture, but I don't pretend to have a solution.
    This relates directly to the original point here. Imagine, if we will, that the culture in question is a truly different one, an Eastern one, with deep seated structure and belief systems that are fundamentally undermined by such pervasive Western influences, i.e., Occidental secular modernism.

    What is the answer for THEM? Kick everybody out, shut off all communication with the outside world, and install a 12th-century authoritarian regime to thwart the insidious "invasion?" Strangle the West to make it stop, as they propose? How many Afghanis want the Taliban back, now?

    Ultimately, in one credible view, it's what brought down the Iron Curtain. People wanted freedom and the Rolling Stones. It's insidious, indeed....

  5. #20
    Webmaster Don McRitchie's Avatar
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    I don't believe that it does. There are two issues being conflated here that I believe should be distinct - cultural values and the marketplace. My point is not to restrict the diversity of opinions and viewpoints. A problem occurs when one message has far greater resources for its dissemination than another. In this case it regards both quantity and quality. There is far more American programming on the airwaves than Canadian and at a much higher production value.

    As I said, if you believe that the marketplace trumps everything, then there is no argument. However, I am not a strict libertarian and believe that there are some endevours of mankind for which the marketplace is neither the sole nor best arbiter. This is as true in your country as in mine. Whether you agree with it or not, the issues of culture and values have been a part of your political landscape for as long as your country has existed. Hell, you just fought a presidential election over it.

    Cultural issues and the media are debated on a near daily basis in America. It has resulted in such diverse media issues as v-chips, foreign ownership restrictions, ratings systems, and most recently, direct intervention by the FCC. The question I have is why is it okay for your nation to hold this debate, but other nations must restrict their culture and values to the marketplace as you define it?
    Regards

    Don McRitchie

  6. #21
    hector.murray
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    Nods In Dons' direction

    Don , In response to earlier comments about Canadians knowing more about American leaders I find that to be quite true, however we are also blissfully ignorant of many places in our own country. I can say this as an American ( born and raised) son of Canadian immigrant parents.
    In my border crossings - both as a child and as an adult, I see that Canadians' as a whole have good grasp of our governmental structure and many US natives are completely clueless - both of ours and Canadas'. And ( forgive me) I've even visited Australia, but am clueless of your structure of Government ( a thousand pardons on my miserable soul)
    I only recently learned that Paul Martin was the Canadian PM because my childhood hero was named Minister of Social Development (Ken Dryden) and heard his name mentioned somewhere.

    My recently deceased Canadian grand mother, who at 99, sharp as a tack, allways with her nose in a newspaper, insisted on voting every year. She would inform me of events happening in my own country that I was not aware of - factual events and what not. Only recently have Americans rediscovered the vote and just because of a scandal. Many did not know who to vote for, just that they should ( mind you - bring the body and the mind will follow) .

    Just my 2 cents worth.

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