cultural industries

1) What does the term 'Cultural Industries' actually refer to?

The numerous companies that manufacture, distribute, advertise, or sell goods that categorically fall under the creative arts are referred to as the "cultural industry."

2) What does Hesmondhalgh identify regarding the societies in which the cultural industries are highly profitable?

he sees these as societies that help support big companies financially as well as maintaining a healthy relationship with the government.

3) Why do some media products offer ideologies that challenge capitalism or inequalities in 

Media products often target other products that challenges inequality  and capitalism as they will always need to have an opposition to ensure they have enough of an audience.

4) Look at page 2 of the factsheet. What are the problems that Hesmondhalgh identifies with regards to the cultural 

-risky businesses

-creativity vs commerce 

-difference of production costs

-semi public goods

5) Why are so many cultural industries a 'risky business' for the companies involved?

Because consumers use cultural products in unpredictable ways and because they aspire to be different from one another, many cultural industries are risky businesses.

6) What is your opinion on the creativity v commerce debate? Should the media be all about profit or are media products a form of artistic expression that play an important role in society?

As bad as it sounds i feel as though ultimately the majority of products should be made for commerce as it is pretty much the main factor that this world revolves around in our current day and age. For example if a company was to make something that was more aimed creatively sure it could be a trend but after a while it could almost be useless and have close to no purchases. however if they were to make a product with commerce in mind they would be able to create a product that will and has a higher chance to sell well for a longer duration which won’t lead their company to bankruptcy.

7) How do cultural industry companies minimise their risks and maximise their profits? (Clue: your work on Industries - Ownership and control will help here) 

By having a high division between fixed expenses to variable costs, businesses are able to reduce their risk and increase their profitability. Cultural industries are also able to assure that major blockbusters are extremely profitable.

8) Do you agree that the way the cultural industries operate reflects the inequalities and injustices of wider society? Should the content creators, the creative minds behind media products, be better rewarded for their work?

In contrast to the media, when a group of individuals worked together to generate a piece of work, I think that content creators should have more authority and should be compensated better by earning more money and having a big, well-known name. This applies to content creators that are in groups however i think this applies even further to individual content creators as they have worked hard for the product they have made individually and is technically classified as a job.