Tag Archives: Institutions

Final touches to PB4.

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Today in workshop my group finalised the script for our audio and video essay. Our approach is to capitlise on the video essays visuals and thus use that essay as a more informative overview of what an institution is and means today, and how K-POP follows Hodgson’s modernised appropriation of the term. In the audio however, we will take a more personalised approach using the medium as an education forum, structuring the arguments for and against K-POP being an institution as a debate.

Attached is the video essay’s script. It is structured in a way that reflects the video’s visual progression and theme.

Geoffrey Martin Hodgson (1946-present), a Research Professor of Business Studies in the University of Hertfordshire, discusses through his descriptive text ‘What are Institutions’ 2006, that the term ‘institution’ is a sociological definition that is in urgent need for A modernized revamp. The term nowadays transcends its traditionalist connotations and requirements, instead reflecting areas of study that inherit society with the rise of Media 2.0.  His 1) requirement states that institutions must have conventions and formal rules and 2) that these rules must concern the interaction and function of their agents’ habits and beliefs. His 3) point exemplifies why the term needs a cognitive shift, as be aware technological mediums transcending previous tangible platforms. We must focus on the way these platforms promote certain societal behavior and conduits governance over collectivist communities.

Thus, K-POP, “(an abbreviation of Korean pop; Hangul: 케이팝) a musical genre originating in South Korea that is characterised by a wide variety of audiovisual elements” exemplifies how institutions can become abstract within our contemporary world. Following its liberation in 1945 from Japanese occupation, South Korea had continued presence of the U.S. military. As America’s political regimes spread throughout South Korea, so did its music and arts that was gradually accepted and interpreted by Korean culture. By the new millennium, K-POP music emerged from chrysalis to the k-pop we know today. Through the introduction of cable TV, catalyst to the post-broadcast transition, Korea along with other countries sold content over seas to create the hundreds of channels we now have at our fingertips daily. This flourished K-POP’s success through its global stage that due to it’s unique take on pop-culture has had repeated appearances on the Western music charts such as Billboard and South Korea’s cultural exports. In 2008, (including television dramas and computer games) South Korea’s cultural exports rose to US$2 billion, maintaining an annual growth rate of over 10%.

Now, we can interpret K-POP as a media institution that follows the platform of Media 2.0’s globalized network, however it is it’s institutionalized practices and governance of ‘idols’ that really affirms its title as an institutions within Hodgson’s modern world. Due to its unique stylisation and product, K-POP has attracted millions of followers around the world. As followers/ fans of ‘idols’ – a term actually used by K-POP that references their chosen celebrities – most of us only noticed the glamourous and entrancing appearance of these elevated individuals. However, under this hypnotic vial there are lots of harsh requirements that concern the success of individuals, governing by a selected few that interprets the institutions habits and function of enterprise and cultural appropriation.

 

DONE!

 

Before k-pop ‘idols’ are qualified and ready to ‘debut’, they go through a tough selected process ranging from personal interviews to dancing auditions. The successful few, out of competitors of the thousands, are chosen off looks and talent and then asked if they are able to enter the entertainment industry and start their training. Now, training goes beyond our Western ideas of voice coaches and reality TV programs, as K-POP trainees get taught how to survive being a celebrity, and thus a figurehead for K-POP’s institution and Korea’s cultural ambition. Signing, dancing and acting are the basic skills that an idol are required to know, however, they are also taught how to walk/sit, laugh, introduce themselves, how to show their talent etc. Now, this is all unpaid meaning that for the amount of time this individual is in training for, which by the way can be for years — example of K-POP idol who has been since kid— isn’t recognised as progressive unless they qualify for a once in a lifetime achievement of being debuted. There isn’t a limit time for training maybe one year maybe ten years, we can always hear from the idol’s interview, they say trainers’ life are hopeless and drawn-out, because there isn’t an endline for them to count on. A girl in idol group ‘twice’ is called Jihyo, who has stayed in the JYP entertainment for 10 years as a trainer, on the day of her debut showcase she was tearing up for the whole song which caused Jihyo couldn’t sing properly. She said she dreamed this moment almost every night, but she cannot believe herself when this moment has arrived.

 

conclusion

Reaching millions and with many more avid followers,  the supremely refined musical stylings of kpop- whether you love or hate it- echo across the globe.

 

Having powerful influence through fashion, make up, dance etc South Korea has become the encompasses Asian pop culture, spilling into Western culture catalyst to Media 2.0’s globalisation. K-POP’s pursuit and false obtanity of utter perfection upholds well established ideals, but it comes at a cost. K-POP’s promotion of Idols that transcend societal norms and reality, which are then embodiment in fans’ dreams and desires, masking how the shrouded climb to stardom is arduous and often cruel.

The star factory process behind the scenes that dictates the export of talent, following formulaic and precise set of  rules and regulations. Exposed to girls through the media however is plain advocacy that doesn’t address this insitution’s omnipresent training and fixation on perfection. K-POP’s institutions are not just what we can see upon first glance. To identify a modern institution, we must closely analyse the true nature of an establishment. Adroit in the art of the mastering the media kpop is (PROFOUND STATEMENT LINKING TO MEDIA)

PB4 Development

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Today in class we had to do a presentation about institutions (my upcoming PB4 topic). This was a good exercise as it expanded my knowledge and ideas about the topic because I had to discuss my knowledge about it so far. What we really focused on during the presentation was the idea surrounding institutions and why the appear. An institution appears only when there is resistance or societal push on a subject, and citizens need somewhere to unite and share values. Thus, by looking at MTV and KPOP we see how and why each culture has developed their institutions, adding culture value and knowledge in the international media spectrum.

Making Public Television – José van Dijck & Thomas Poell

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Van Dijck and Poell discuss making public television and the approaches revolving institutions, professional practice and content in the new age balance of social and public broadcasts. They explore how public broadcasters are dealing with social media. Social media’s infiltration … Continue reading →

PB4 Annotated Reference – Institutions

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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.