From going through this week’s readings about Popular Culture I started to wonder if the focus on the future of technology would really be a good idea. In the Baran and Davis section, "Research on Popular Culture in the United States," McLuhan says, "Unlike British critical theorists, most have no links to social movements. They focus much of their attention on television and, now the internet as the premier media of the electronic era." (217)
This article looks into the purpose that Blockbuster served and now the fact that they are going out of business.
http://www.esquire.com/the-side/hollywood/blockbuster-going-out-of-business-091510
After reading about what Popular Culture has done to America it got me thinking about how when I was growing up the place that everyone wanted to go was Blockbuster to get the newest videos out. There was a time when I'm sure everyone in this class can recall going to Blockbuster with their parents and friends so they could be the first ones to get their hands on the new movies.
Basically because of the internet and new popular culture, there are so many websites like Netflix that really impacted this once profound and very useful industry. You can go on Google nowadays and type in free movies and I guarantee you that you will find sites that you can download and watch for free. Cultural imperialism as defined by Tomlinson is the practice of promoting a more powerful culture over a least known or desirable culture. It is usually the case that the former belongs to a large, economically or militarily powerful nation and the latter belongs to a smaller, less powerful one. (McQuail, 223)
The way I looked at this was the in the society that we live in today, the internet is by far the most powerful tool to accessing anything in this World at any time you want. The way I looked at cultural imperialism in this way was that Blockbuster is now a third world country and the internet and Netflix. It’s sad to think that there was once a time where Blockbuster was the place to go to get your movies. So while new popular culture seems like it would be a really good idea, there is also some flaws to the system.
Take a look at this to check out the old Blockbuster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JWP1mTItD4
My questions to you are, do you think that because of the new popular culture in terms of the internet, will this ruin older businesses like Blockbuster? Do you think because of the way our society is today (lazy, sheltered) that this is part of the reason people don’t go to these businesses anymore? If you were Blockbuster what would you have done to keep the company going?
I do remember a time when I was all about Blockbuster. Usually, me and my friends would go and even rent up as many as 4 movies. We'd stay in all night and watch them until we fell asleep. Unfortunately, I do not feel that Blockbuster will be around much longer without making significant changes. I do fully agree that "popular culture" and the internet has something to do with Blockbusters fall. However, there are other factors, such as On Demand and RedBox that play a big role. “The main cluster of issues arising out of the disclosure of media imperialism has to do with the way in which domination is said to occur” (McQuail 225). Due to that “domination”, now, whenever I want to rent a movie, On Demand or RedBox are usually one of ways I do it. With Redbox, you can get the DVD itself, but only pay $1 for it per day as opposed to the $4 per movie (not to mention late fees etc...) at Blockbuster. There are free movies you can get via the internet, but I do not feel that it is as popular of a way to watch movies as On demand or RedBox is. I feel that people want and enjoy the comfort of watching a movie on their televisions laying on the couch or in bed rather then sitting around a smaller computer screen. I do not feel that laziness is as a factor as much as convenience is. The internet, On Demand, Netflix, and even RedBox I feel is easier and more convenient then a trip to Blockbuster, where you need a Blockbuster card and more money etc. “Technology determines experience” (Baran and Davis 220). I think that Blockbuster needs to take this advice. They have not seemed to make changes in a while. If I was Blockbuster, I would figure out a way to adjust to the times and fast. I would maybe set up something similar to RedBox, lower my prices, or even go to another company for help. I could cut a deal with Comcast or another big cable company like Cox or Att and maybe join together for a Blockbuster On Demand channel. Whatever they do, they need to do it fast because time is running out for them and fast.
ReplyDeleteThis post brings up a fresh transition occurring in the media world today that our generation is primarily effected by.
ReplyDeleteKyle brings up a good discussion point by tying in this current shift with cultural imperialism. However, I think the post falls short of full understanding within the relation of such media shifts to cultural imperialism. As a metaphor, this issue can be seen as cultural imperialism. However, this issue specifically deals with media within and around a culture. Tomlinson states that "Media Imperialism the, as I understand it, is a particular way of discussing cultural imperialism," (Tomlinson, 225). This is to say that Media is but one viewpoint on cultural imperialism. This view assumes that media weighs heavily on culture. Now, examining cultural imperialism through the lens of media imperialism, one can note than media does have quite an influence on various aspects of our culture. The economy is particularly effected in this case. Such domineering by companies such as Netflix and internet movie providers is shutting down small rental businesses all over the country. In this age of instant gratification, internet movies are becoming the norm. But as with all shifts, the obsolete are killed off. A good friend of mine worked for Hollywood Video for over three years and saw the company go through its liquidation and closing in the blink of an eye this summer. I know he personally was effect, as well as those above him (with the exception of the liquidation company of course).
Another argument made in this post that I believe slightly misses the mark is in regards to the comparison of imperialism within media. Kyle uses an analogy that equates these new-age internet movies to the dominant culture and Blockbuster to the less known or desirable culture. However, I would like to propose that desire is merely the secondary effect of the true core issue at hand. In his central thesis, Shiller states that "The far-ranging activities of essentially stateless businesses undercut local decision-making everywhere," (Shiller, 1). This rise of the "stateless" business is the general trend known as globalization. This is where the issue lies. Companies such as Netflix can offer on-demand movies worldwide. Location, or "state," have no restriction over their progress. Since this convenience is the expectation of our post-modern society, the social norm for movies is changed to reflect this instant gratification. Thus, our desire to go to blockbuster is secondarily lessened by adopting to new cultural norms.
It is important to note that Blockbuster was actually not a victim in this case. Yes, the stores have gone out of business. However, unlike Hollywood video, Blockbuster lives on. Much like consumers have, Blockbuster adapted to this new norm. The imperialism of this new media on our culture was apparent to both Blockbuster and their consumers. They now offer an online, on-demand service rivaling Netflix. In addition, their on-demand service was recently signed into an exclusive agreement with the Android mobile operating system. Much like Darwin would have theorized: adaptation leads to survival- and Blockbuster isn't going anywhere.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI too as a kid LOVED going to blockbuster. Not only was I able to get any movie or video game I wanted (unless they were checked out, in which case I would have the workers check the drop box to make sure it wasn't really in the store) but I always seemed to run into friends there, or even see the cute girls from class. It was almost like the cool place to be seen when in middle school. However, with all this new technology, I think the last time any of us went to Blockbuster were during the early years of high school, forcing us to leave the memories of scopin' out the hot chicks in the drama isle behind.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Baran and Davis,"changes in communication technology inevitably produce profound changes in both culture and social order,” (Baran and Davis 219). And I see Blockbuster as a minor effect in the entire scheme of things. Not only did we stop going to blockbuster, but we stopped going to the movies. Who wants to pay 10 dollars to see a movie now when we can just get it for free on the internet?
However, it doesnt end at movies either. This whole idea of new technology spreads to all entertainment industries, especially music. The internet has completely changed the way we live, and it makes me nervous to think about whats to come.
I'd actually like to go off on a little bit of a tangent and discuss a similar topic.
ReplyDeleteWe're talking about how pop culture influences popular technology and therefore alters the way we do things, correct? Well, going off of that, I've had kind of a stigma against touch screens lately.
Pop culture is OBSESSED with this new, futuristic technology. These days, everything is touch screen, from our phones to the credit card machines at Stop and Shop. I've always had an issue with touch screen phones. I used to have one. My biggest problem with these phones is that you can't do anything without actually looking directly at the screen. Whereas before, you might easily be able to punch in a phone number without ever looking down at what buttons you were pressing.
At some point or another, most of us are going to need to either make or answer a phone call while driving. Even if we keep our phones on speaker to practice proper safety habits, that doesn't change the fact that, on an iPhone, you can't answer a call without actually LOOKING at your phone to press "answer," since you can't feel where that button is.
That's a big enough problem, but now even CARS have touch-screen systems installed. My 2010 Toyota Prius is mostly touch-screen, and I can't even change my radio station without using the touch screen to change the channel. Yes, touch screen is "cool" and "futuristic" and all, but isn't it just a little bit dangerous to replace actual buttons when the driver is expected to keep their eyes on the road at all times?
Sorry for going off on a tangent, but I felt it was relevant to the discussion. McLuhan's theory of technological determinism has proven itself true so far, but I feel like this example just proves it even more, because even though it's an advancement in technology, people have adopted it EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT NECESSARILY MORE EFFICIENT (Baran 219).
I think this may be because, "in the United States, despite a seemingly thick network of organizations and social groups that make up a rich civil society, the voice of the corporate speaker has succeeded in dominating the national discourse" (Schiller 6). We have adopted touch-screen technology because, essentially, the corporations that create them have told us to. Touch screens are a way of inspiring large groups of people to buy new, more expensive phones, and probably purchase large data plans to take advantage of the phone's capabilities.
Even as a staunch opposer of touch-screen technology, even I am feeling the pressure to buy a touch-screen phone simply because of how "cool" they are. But the question remains: will your decisions be made based on what is more practical, or what is "cool?"
As a kid I was also very much into just going to Tommy K's, Video Haven, and Blockbuster (each had their own unique selection) after school to just browse around and pick up and movie that caught my intrest. With the disappearance of these stores I agree that some important process is now gone. I would rely on the advice of those who worked there, get their recommendations, and often stumble across movies that were out of print so there would be nowhere else to view them.
ReplyDeleteHowever, while this culture of the video store is now gone, the technological advances that wiped them out have created a culture that, in my opinion, provides the same benefits to people like myself. Now you can browse and extensive back catalog of movies and television ranging from classics to forgotten cult films from childhood through Netflix and Netflix instant cue (through your computer or video game console), you can find out every minute fact about the film through IMDB, and then you can see how people feel about it on Rotten Tomatoes. This essentially provides the same, if not somewhat enhanced, services of the video store culture without leaving your home. The only thing missing is the fun in the physical act of going to the video store, which is more of a nostalgic argument rather than one of quality or functionality.
As for the same technological shift in terms of music... that would be a whole separate debate being that I get a great deal of music off the internet, but I still go to my local record store at least once a week to hang out. And if you're interested in the topic further check out Brendan Toller's documentary "I Need That Record" (http://www.ineedthatrecord.com)
I don't know if popular culture killed Blockbuster so much as technological progression did. Video rentals have always been a commodity, and eventually the Internet just rose up and replaced the need to travel somewhere to borrow a movie.
ReplyDeleteAlternate video rental sources also revealed huge flaws in Blockbuster's business model. Late fees had always been a bane of modern existence, hated by all but the companies who benefitted from their overinflated greed. Netflix opted instead to abolish this practice altogether, making a remarkable step forward in customer service.
In the reading McLuhan calls the internet the premier media of the electronic era. Its use as a media platform is unparalleled--the end result of driving to Blockbuster and picking up a movie is the same without any physical media involved. Again, video rentals are something of a commodity. They occupy such temporary time in our lives and are purely a diversion. Why waste extra time in the process of acquiring them? Even if one hasn't made the all-digital leap yet, adding Redbox DVD rental kiosks in grocery stores was a substantial nail in Blockbuster's coffin. People could stop in a grab a movie for a dollar even if they didn't necessarily plan on watching one when they walked in. In the end, convenience reigns.
It's appropriate that technology begets technology in this case. Video rentals offered a very specific service at a time when they were needed. Now, it simply just isn't the case. On page 220 of the Baran & Davis text McLuhan also says that "new forms of media transform our experience of ourselves and our society, and this influence is ultimately more important than the content that is transmitted in its specific messages-technology determines experience." The act of being able to receive movies digitally is transformative to both the consumer and the entire industry and, in many ways, should be looked at more closely than the content of the movie itself. Instead of thinking of it as tragic that Blockbuster is going out of business, it's remarkable that another form of media was able to usurp it completely and render rental stores obsolete.
It seems that after reading peoples comments that almost everyone who posted on this one had similar childhood memories of Blockbuster. I recall going to a local friendly’s after school every Friday. The Friendly’s was right next to the Blockbuster. It was known for a few years that all the older kids who wanted to be cool went to Friendly’s then right after browsed around the Blockbuster until our parents came to pick us up. Usually we would pick up a movie or video game and play it when we got home. Even though us kids would still go to the movie store, it seemed like everyone else was downloading movies online or ordering them in the mail. I remember when that Blockbuster closed and changed our plans as well as kids for years to come.
ReplyDeleteI think that with recent advancements in technology people are becoming much lazier and much less personable. I never used to have a phone when I was a kid. If I wanted to talk to my friend I would ride my bike over to his house. Now, kids seem to be uncomfortable talking on the phone to make an order for some pizza so they need to do it online. It is a shame to see because businesses look for personable people who can work well with people and clients. It is an advantage to those who still make phone calls or personal appearances and not simply text messages and facebook messages. I think that this is what Schiller is saying here by "in the United States, despite a seemingly thick network of organizations and social groups that make up a rich civil society, the voice of the corporate speaker has succeeded in dominating the national discourse" (6).
Unfortunately I think that successful businesses like Blockbuster are becoming obsolete. Why would someone who is un-motivated want to go out and “waste” money on a movie when they can get it for free on a website. I hope that movie theaters never run out of business because I enjoy going to an occasional movie with my friends or taking a girl out instead of being a bum and just watching it on my couch. I think that if I were Blockbuster I would start catching up with technology. i think that there is just no way to be able to run a successful store unless it becomes an online store. I would turn my stores into local warehouses where people can still come rent movies but for the most part it just ships out videos like net flix.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKieran Wheeler
ReplyDeleteI used to go to Blockbuster all the time when I was younger to rent movies and video games. It is definitely sad to see them go out of business. However, I am basically a small part of the reason that they have gone out of business, since I have been streaming movies online for free and ordering them On Demand for years now. Not only are these methods cheaper, but they are much more convenient. You do not have to risk going to Blockbuster and having the movie that you want to rent unavailable. Also, you do not have to worry about returning the movie to the store on time after you are done watching it. Although Blockbuster was great for renting movies, the internet is simply too powerful to compete with.
The internet has turned the world into Marshall McLuhan’s idea of a “global village.” In Chapter 8 of the Baran and Davis reading, the term “global village” is defined as, “the new form of organization that would inevitably emerge as instantaneous electronic media tied the entire world into one great social, political, and cultural system” (220). It is crazy how we are all so linked to this one medium. Whenever I stream movies on a certain website, the site often displays that there are thousands of other people on that same website streaming movies.
When referring to media literacy in Chapter 11 of the Baran and Davis reading, it states, “From a cultural studies perspective, we all need to develop our ability to critically reflect on the purposes media and media content serve for us. We need to be able to decide which media to avoid and which to use in ways that best serve our purposes” (339). In a way, although it may not be the most ethical way of watching movies, streaming them on the internet is the best way for me to watch movies that are not available to me On Demand or on HBO, Starz, etc.
I do think that the internet is going to ruin businesses such as Blockbuster, because we have already seen companies like Virgin Records fall as a result of countless people downloading music for free off of the internet rather than going out and purchasing an artist’s CD. I do not think that people are downloading music and movies online because they are lazy. I think that they do so because it is free and much more practical. It is difficult to say what I would have done had I been one of the executives of Blockbuster. Blockbuster had tried strategies such as “no late fees” on rental returns. However, the internet is simply too powerful to compete with when it comes to movie viewing.
As many others have commented already, frequent trips to Blockbuster as a young kid with my family brings back so many nostalgic memories. These trips would have me and my sister spending the better part of an hour searching up and down the aisles for the “perfect” movie for the whole family to watch that night.
ReplyDeleteIt can definitely be argued and I understand how the newer innovations of Netflix and On Demand movies are much more convenient than actually leaving your home to make a trip to your local video store. This mindset is reflected in McLuhan’s point regarding how new forms of media transform “our experience of ourselves and our society” and that this is more important than the actual content itself (Baran and Davis 220). As Jess detailed her comment to this post, our culture is in love with new technology and new media and is very quick to adapt and change to whatever is new and popular at the time.
Tomlinson delves into the topic of “media imperialism” and one thing he stresses about the theory is that the notion of the term ‘domination’ should not be underemphasized in any way (McQuail 224). This makes a lot of sense when you consider the first terms that come to mind when you consider imperialism in any regard are power and domination. In many ways Blockbuster and the few remaining video stores of its nature are and has been a victim of a new form of media imperialism when it comes to the movie industry. Netflix, Red box, and On-Demand options have stormed in and since dominated the movie industry. As Ryan points out the company will have to continue to adapt and keep with the trend if they want to survive.
Most Friday and Saturday nights, I help run and plan events at Quinnipiac. Last year, after every event, on the way I would stop by Blockbuster to pick up the latest movie that came out. When I came back this August to see that the Blockbuster in Hamden was closing I Was very devestate and wondered how I would survive with out Blockbuster. However, I've realized it really isn't a problem. But I don't think Pop Culture ruined Blockbuster. I think the natural progression technology did.
ReplyDeleteRemember when the firs LG Camera Phone came out at the start of high school? It was revolutionary at the time and LG kept popping out feature phone after feature phone. Than the iPhone came out and now LG has very bad, failing mobile industry. It wasn't because their phone were low quality or were bad..its just that the iPhone made people's lives easier. Driving to Blockbuster at some point became an unnecessary nuisance to watching a movie. I myself own an Apple TV and it just takes a few clicks on the remote before I am watching my favorite movie.
McLuhan states in the Baran and Davis text "new forms of media transform our experience (240)". This could not hold more true. Blockbuster is gone because they could no longer offer us the cheaper, most affordable experience. Watching Digital Movies is easier, and pop culture or not, was where the world was going.
When Blockbuster started closing their stores and filed for bankruptcy I was a little surprised because it was the place people went for more than just new movies. Blockbuster offered a wide selection of new releases (DVD, VHS, Blu-ray), classic movies, and video games for multiple different stations. To answer your question, I do think that popular culture shaped a more lazy society. People are constantly looking for a shortcut if it’s available.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that Redbox and Netflix are more convenient. I’ll go to the store without the intention of renting a movie, but when I see a Redbox I think why not? It’s only a dollar and you can return them at any other Redbox. You can’t only blame the video-on-demand sites for Blockbusters slump, because as Kyle said, the internet is a powerful tool in finding almost any movie, tv show or music clip. In the Baran and Davis text, McLuhan explains how the medium is the message - “new forms of media transform (massage) our experience of ourselves and our society, and this influence is ultimately more important than the content that is transmitted in its specific messages – technology determines experience.” (220)So whether we choose to go out and rent a movie and watch it on our television screen or we sit at home and download it on our computer screen, majoritity of us will choose the easiest and most modern option.
As a kid, Blockbuster was the place to go, it settled the debate about what your friday night/ saturday day was going to look like. The biggest question then to ask, was should we get a movie or rent the new video game that came out? Either way, my friends and I were big consumers of the Blockbuster business. As I got older, however, the relationship I used to have with Blockbuster started to fade.
ReplyDeleteIn my youth, I would go to Blockbuster all the time. In high school, I would say I went to Blockbuster a couple of times. In college, I don't think I ever went. In fact, if I went to the Blockbuster in my town today, I would imagine it would feel very foreign, and bring back childhood memories. Whats the cause of this change? Technology. "For example, the telephone and telegraph permitted even more effective control over larger geographic areas. Thus the development of media technology has gradually given centralized elites increased power over space and time" (Baran and Davis, 219). The effect of efficiency that technology has brought to us makes everything easier. Now a days we don't have to get in our cars and drive to Blockbuster to pick out the movie, we just have to turn on our computers. It is similar to what happened in the music industry with CD's. If you download Napster, Morpheus, etc then the likeliness of you going to the store to purchase that same album is going to drastically decrease.
So what does Blockbuster need to do? They need to keep up. Any business that is not willing to keep up with technology and the way things are changing are going to get left behind.
I absolutely agree that convenience killed Blockbuster. I cannot tell you how many times this month however, I have wanted to watch a film on television through my DVD player and been like, "uhhh, what do I do?!" It really bothers me.
ReplyDeleteMarshall McLuhan discusses the idea of "global village." This global village where anything you need is instaneously handed to you electronically, is starting to emerge. Unfortunately though like any new invention, pop culture based society is having some technical difficulties. The economy and this new life-style are clashing, and there have been some victims such as Blockbuster.
To answer your question about what I would have done had I worked for Blockbuster is interesting. I've actually considered this question before. For a while Blockbuster was evidently experiencing warning signs, and kept changing rules, memberships and prices. None worked. I do feel that adopting this "global village" leaves particular industries out of luck, mixed with our economical issues. I feel that awareness about this change, should be promoted more.