PB4 Annotated Reference – Institutions:
Guglielmo, Letizia. (2013) ‘MTV and Teen Pregnancy: Critical Essays on 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom’, Scarecrow Press, Maryland United States, Print.
Guglielmo in MTV and Teen Pregnancy: Critical Essays on 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom challenges through his academic texts why shows with controversial portrayals of teenagers mothers have received ongoing media attention. Discussing the contradicting nature of the shows as some argue that the programs could be a factor in reducing the number of teen pregnancies America has each year (the US being #1 in the world for unplanned teen pregnancies), Guglielmo questions whether the shows are beneficial education or just an exploitation of young women. Discussed are the social and cultural power structures used when creating such programs, and the influence and control each actor has in the making and projection of the show (directors, producers, social workers, audience, the family and the teenagers themselves). The book also provides a large collection of pieces of critical discourses, allowing for a diverse range of opinions and facts to discuss these suitability of such programs on American in home TV.
Overall, the text was suitable and beneficial as it broaden my ideas surrounding what the term ‘insitutions’ really means today. Its discussion on whether ‘having abortions are not uncommon, but talking publicly about it is’ exposed how even though MTV as an institution itself, it doesn’t hold complete control over what it produces as it has to compliment societal ideals and legal guidelines. This challenged by ideas of how and why an institution is developed, as I had previously referenced the term with a degree of defying dominance e.g. jails, schools etcs. Instead this academic text discussed the power relationship an institutions has, expanding the previous linear transmission model and now stating that there is a much more post-modern interrelating actor factor to look at.
Hodgson, M. Geoffrey (2006) ‘What are institutions?’ in Journal of Economic Issues Vol XL’ , available ; accessed on 26th April 2016
In the same way Robert McKee broke down an approach to textual analysis, Hodgson breaks down our traditional idealism towards the ‘institutions’ and its connotations. He approaches the term as a wide spread sociological meaning that over the course of history has reflected many different things, and thus there is no unanimity in the definition of its concepts. Therefore, when thinking of the term ‘institutions’ one needs to try and avoid bias caused by relevant or not relevant characteristics presented to us today. In the age of ‘the second modernity’, the requirements of the term have become abstract, with the only relevant characteristic being governance over a certain collectivist community. He set fourth 5 areas of study: 1) institutions, conventions and rules, 2) concerning function and how they interact with individual agents, their habits and beliefs, 3) differences between organisation and institution and what creates a formal rule, 4) excessive bias in discussion of institutions toward those of the self organising type (they are a special case (social media)), and 5) differ in degree of sensitivity the institution has towards individual actors.
Hodgson’s descriptive texts creates a whole centred argument that exposes a lot of holes in Jones’ previous article. Hodgson’s addressed audience is academic students whom he is trying to steer away from bias that’s usually connoted to the ideas of institutions. As his topic talks about the attributes of institutions rather that institutions as a whole it allows for a more analytical and wide spread understanding of how we should look and thus view our topic. Hodgson’s article was one of the first extracts I read so I didn’t notice at first how well structured his argument is in comparison to other academics discussions. Coming back from my other bibliographies, Hodgson is the only author that i have found thus far that clearly demonstrated steps and approaches to understanding and analysing institutions. He deconstructs all connotations and stereotypes surrounding what is means to be an institution, but more importantly what it means to be that institution, allowing us to create a more objective understanding of our subject.
Ingyu, Oh. & Park, Gil-Sung. (2013) ‘The Globalization of K-Pop:Korea’s Place in the Global Music Industry, The “Miracle” Narrative of the Korean Cultural Industries: Perspectives from the Middle East’, Print.
Ingyu and Park explain Korean pop and what is behind the unique cultural phenomenon that rests of the concept of cultural hybridity or Pop Asianism. As South Korean pop music is usually derived from Western locations like Europe, and then modified into Korean to then globally distribute, we see a surge in their music industry that mirrors the definition of an industrial globalisation. K-Pop represents an effort tonetwork global talent pools and social capital in the formerly disconnected music industry rather than an effort to emulate and slightly modify Japanese pop culture.As such, within the global music industry, Korea occupies a structural hole that exists between Western and East Asian music industries. Thus, we see an international surge in Korean Music exemplified through the 2014 song Gangnam Style that has ” ranked number onein YouTube click counts, reaching more than 1.4 billion hits as of March 17, 2013. Denuded and destroyed of whatever South Korean culture, K-Pop is a commercial combination of globalisation and the export business.
Whilst Ignyu and Park’s article of K-POP is interesting it does not specifically go into the area of K-Pop as an institution. However, one can derive from reading this article the close relationship of K-Pop’s globalisation with international recognition, that perhaps is an institution of global awareness. K-Pop would not have been able to achieve the success and international growth it has without the help of modern technology, thus we can associate K-Pop as an example of the 21st Century’s international institution of the internet. Therefore, whilst the article focused on K-Pop as a business and an international enterprise, we can still collect some valid points ideas surrounding the definition of an institution and it’s medium.
Jones, Steve (2005) ‘MTV the Medium was the Message’ Critical Studies in Media Communication Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 83–88. Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, Oxford Print.
Jones’ article surrounding MTV and MTV’s evolution and developments over generations focusing on it’s proven impact on societal youths. As MTV was started up in the U.S. in the 1980s it’s ambition and styles were matched by degree America’s cultural formation. By making available to those of us who were seeking something new they used theoretical tools to construct understandings of music, image, and popular (particularly youth) culture in a progressive era.
Jones’ article is a paramilitary introduction into MTV and it’s effect on society. Although, he does raise some good facts that surround the globalisation of MTV within the last fifty years as it has created subheading genres that became so popular they now have their own channel. Contemplating also MTV’s reflection of time and what needed to be in the entertainment sector to equate the changing societal views of post 60’s-80’s, you can use this article as Hodgson second area of study concerning function and how institutions interact with individual agents, their habits and beliefs. Furthermore, as MTV is a entertainment medium it is impossible for anyone to study it without being subjected to it’s obvious messages and curriculum. Thus, every academic article that is written denotes an individual’s perception of societal values which contribute to the larger idea of institutions and their formal rules.
Jones, Timothy (2016) ‘Safe Schools Coalition: What is the Christian Right Afraid of?’ The Conversation, available ; accessed on 26th April 2016.
In summary this article discusses the Safe School Coalition within primary and secondary school institutions. Jones exposes how the program’s effectiveness and ambitions aren’t being carried out due to conservative and influential actors abuse of social and official power. The source significantly shows a controversial element of institutions; institutional thinking. It’s exposing nature initially reminds us that when we study institutions we must study not only their aims, but also the individual actor’s whom make up the community.
However, when critically analysing this text we see that Jones’ uses an analytical approach with a political agenda that persuades his audience to view the Turnbull government in a certain (disapproving) way. He is appealing to the 75%+ people in Australia that believes not only in gay marriage, but marriage equality. He deplores the governments protection of democracy by conspiring that official influences determine affairs areas where they shouldn’t. In doing so, he creates a internal commentary in the mind’s of his audience, (the general public of Australia), which makes them questions whether their own rights are being protected if the LGBT ones are not. His assumption that the Safe Schools reform made in March are due tampering conservative hands creates a foundation of scepticism within the reader that leaves them questioning the current elected government on the brink of a double dissolution.
Rook, Lauren. (2006) An Economic Psychological Approach to Herd Behavior, Journal of Economic Issues, 40:1, 75-95, accessed on 27th April 2016
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00213624.2006.11506883
Lauren Rook’s article rationalises the what and why of herd behaviour. Her approach to herd behaviour focuses on singular actor’s more than the institution of convention, reasoning the behaviour’s conformity in the choices an actor produces. Referencing Hodgson, Rook agrees with his philosophy that “the essential aspects of human personality and motivation are conceived as independent of social relations with others” (236) meaning an individual’s relationship with personal ambition is usually formed through their relationships with others. Thus, Rook states we must ask why and when to understand how herd behaviour and therefore the dependance on institutions and imitation arises.
Although Rook raises some good points in her descriptive article, especially her introduction to the idea and terminology of ‘herd behaviour’ she lacks a concluding convicted. Her discussion of ‘frames of reference’ (where social norms emerge as a collective response in groups facing new and ambiguous situations), gives us a good foundation to understanding institutions and the actors within them, but lacks her own examples using Theodore Newcomb’s, but none of her own to show her true understanding and depth. This source was useful as it was engaging and easy to read so it broke down concepts that I can now use as foundation knowledge. Within the reading there was also good research that I could research further to grab a more precise concept of how institutions are created and why they work.
