10.24.2005
148-2
Happy United Nations Day. Not sure exactly what this holiday is all about, but my calendar tells me that it is a US holiday. To ring in the cheer, consider the following: the US and lackey Israel were the only countries to vote against a Unesco convention "on cultural diversity designed to combat the homogenizing effect of cultural globalization."
The plan was put forward by Canada and France, countries that are concerned about losing their national culture. France, for example, wants to create its own internet and block Google, and Canada has restrictions on what percentage of its television programming must feature Canadian actors and musicians. The US argued that the convention represented an effort to block Hollywood movies abroad, which represent 85 percent of ticket sales worldwide.
It's a bit of a conundrum: how do you promote local artists without blocking Hollywood blockbusters which the locals, in most cases, want to see. First of all, I think that Americans should have more foreign films available to them. If you don't live in a major metropolitan area, good luck in finding any foreign or independent films.
For example, I almost pissed myself laughing a few weeks ago at a NY film festival watching "Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story," a British flick. You'll have to see it for yourself, but I am certain that this sort of film would have broad appeal among Americans, but they won't see it simply because it isn't showing in the local multiplex.
However, I don't offer any apologies for Hollywood. The demand is there all over the world, and as horrible as many blockbusters are, I don't think that restricting access to these popcorn movies will accomplish much. I remember being in a remote part of Chile a few years ago where the youngsters, who were all very poor, were eagerly awaiting the release of the second Star Wars movie, which they planned on watching on a bootleg tape at one of the only TVs in the town.
The movie had already been out for months in Chile, and it would eventually make its way to Puerto Saavedra. When you're a kid, whether you're in a peasant village in Thailand or a member of the Latin American elite, you're going to want to see the latest Harry Potter, and multilateral conventions should not prevent this. Let's also continue to use Unesco to increase funding for local artists.
The plan was put forward by Canada and France, countries that are concerned about losing their national culture. France, for example, wants to create its own internet and block Google, and Canada has restrictions on what percentage of its television programming must feature Canadian actors and musicians. The US argued that the convention represented an effort to block Hollywood movies abroad, which represent 85 percent of ticket sales worldwide.
It's a bit of a conundrum: how do you promote local artists without blocking Hollywood blockbusters which the locals, in most cases, want to see. First of all, I think that Americans should have more foreign films available to them. If you don't live in a major metropolitan area, good luck in finding any foreign or independent films.
For example, I almost pissed myself laughing a few weeks ago at a NY film festival watching "Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story," a British flick. You'll have to see it for yourself, but I am certain that this sort of film would have broad appeal among Americans, but they won't see it simply because it isn't showing in the local multiplex.
However, I don't offer any apologies for Hollywood. The demand is there all over the world, and as horrible as many blockbusters are, I don't think that restricting access to these popcorn movies will accomplish much. I remember being in a remote part of Chile a few years ago where the youngsters, who were all very poor, were eagerly awaiting the release of the second Star Wars movie, which they planned on watching on a bootleg tape at one of the only TVs in the town.
The movie had already been out for months in Chile, and it would eventually make its way to Puerto Saavedra. When you're a kid, whether you're in a peasant village in Thailand or a member of the Latin American elite, you're going to want to see the latest Harry Potter, and multilateral conventions should not prevent this. Let's also continue to use Unesco to increase funding for local artists.
# posted by Juanson : 9:06 AM
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Christian,
From an Indian perspective it is interesting to see how other countries fear "Hollywoodization." Why? Because Hollywood has hardly any impact in India. The only people who watch movies in English are the elites. Even so, most of the elites prefer Hindi movies.
As you may know, the Hindi movie industry, in terms of volume of movies produced, makes more than 3 times the movies that Hollywood produces. If you count other cinemas (e.g. Tamil, Malayali, Kannada, Bengali, etc.), the Indian movie industry completely dwarfs Hollywood.
India has shown me that Hollywood does not necessarily have to dominate a country's cultural film landscape.
What I like about India is that the people have nothing against Hollywood or American culture (in fact, many Indian very much enjoy U.S. culture) -- and these people are not threatened by Hollywood. It's ironic that so many Latinos and Europeans simultaneously deride American movies/influence as they line up to watch them.
Part of the reason why the film industries are so undeveloped outside of the U.S. and India is because of lack of investment monies. If you watch a Brazilian movie, for example, the beginning will mention that Banco do Brasil, Petrobras, etc. provided the funds for the movie. In Bombay, it's simply a lot easier to get lots of money (until recently the Mumbai mafia provided the funding).
I don't really know where I am going with this comment, but my main point is that it is possible to have a vibrant film industry in a country instead of simply importing movies from Hollywood.
From an Indian perspective it is interesting to see how other countries fear "Hollywoodization." Why? Because Hollywood has hardly any impact in India. The only people who watch movies in English are the elites. Even so, most of the elites prefer Hindi movies.
As you may know, the Hindi movie industry, in terms of volume of movies produced, makes more than 3 times the movies that Hollywood produces. If you count other cinemas (e.g. Tamil, Malayali, Kannada, Bengali, etc.), the Indian movie industry completely dwarfs Hollywood.
India has shown me that Hollywood does not necessarily have to dominate a country's cultural film landscape.
What I like about India is that the people have nothing against Hollywood or American culture (in fact, many Indian very much enjoy U.S. culture) -- and these people are not threatened by Hollywood. It's ironic that so many Latinos and Europeans simultaneously deride American movies/influence as they line up to watch them.
Part of the reason why the film industries are so undeveloped outside of the U.S. and India is because of lack of investment monies. If you watch a Brazilian movie, for example, the beginning will mention that Banco do Brasil, Petrobras, etc. provided the funds for the movie. In Bombay, it's simply a lot easier to get lots of money (until recently the Mumbai mafia provided the funding).
I don't really know where I am going with this comment, but my main point is that it is possible to have a vibrant film industry in a country instead of simply importing movies from Hollywood.
Gomez, Interesting post.
First, a couple of clarifications:
Reed: Gomez alleges that it is France, not Canada, which wants to block Google.
Gomez: I had heard about France's attempts to deal with Google's rapid expansion, but haven't heard anything about "blocking" Google. Here's an article that sums up some of the France/Google issues:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27282-2005Apr5.html
On a separate note:
In Canada, about 50-60% of TV programming is slated for national content; and about 30-40% of radio programming has to be domestic product.
A lot of these national programs are crap because they are underfunded. At the same time, many equally crappy American programs are far more popular because they are well funded, well produced, well marketed, and well distributed.
For this reason, I believe the Canadian government is right in trying to promote diversity and multiculturalism by offseting this monopolizing trend. However, providing quality Canadian programming remains a challenge which can only be solved with greater funding.
As Vikrum points out, India is an exceptional case. Unfortunately, the Canadian market, like most other countries, isn't large enough on its own to sustain an import-substituting entertainment industry.
All of this being said, some of my favourite shows and movies are American, and I am glad that they occupy at least half of the Canadian marketplace (and probably around 90% of the cinema market).
In case anyone is interested in knowing what "successful" Canadian content is like, check out the following clips from a program which "quizzes" Americans about their knowledge on Canadians:
http://home.comcast.net/~wwwstephen/americans/
First, a couple of clarifications:
Reed: Gomez alleges that it is France, not Canada, which wants to block Google.
Gomez: I had heard about France's attempts to deal with Google's rapid expansion, but haven't heard anything about "blocking" Google. Here's an article that sums up some of the France/Google issues:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27282-2005Apr5.html
On a separate note:
In Canada, about 50-60% of TV programming is slated for national content; and about 30-40% of radio programming has to be domestic product.
A lot of these national programs are crap because they are underfunded. At the same time, many equally crappy American programs are far more popular because they are well funded, well produced, well marketed, and well distributed.
For this reason, I believe the Canadian government is right in trying to promote diversity and multiculturalism by offseting this monopolizing trend. However, providing quality Canadian programming remains a challenge which can only be solved with greater funding.
As Vikrum points out, India is an exceptional case. Unfortunately, the Canadian market, like most other countries, isn't large enough on its own to sustain an import-substituting entertainment industry.
All of this being said, some of my favourite shows and movies are American, and I am glad that they occupy at least half of the Canadian marketplace (and probably around 90% of the cinema market).
In case anyone is interested in knowing what "successful" Canadian content is like, check out the following clips from a program which "quizzes" Americans about their knowledge on Canadians:
http://home.comcast.net/~wwwstephen/americans/
Block is probably the wrong word. You get the picture though.
I think that America is hurting itself by looking so inwardly - from the major news media to entertainment, there is nothing from other countries. That is why the average American is ignorant of other cultures and speaks one language.
Furthermore, if you travel to Europe or Cancun, turn on your hotel television and watch MTV, ESPN and HBO, you might think that there is no local culture. As a kid, those are the only channels I wanted to watch when I was in Colombia.
Now, I love it when I get to see movies like Y Tu Mama Tambien, Ciudade de Deus, Maria Full of Grace, Tristam Shandy, etc. And it's great when they hit a larger audience. But there is much, much more than can be done. Is Unesco the forum to accomplish this? Maybe not. Maybe Vikrum hits a key point when bringing in the private sector.
I think that America is hurting itself by looking so inwardly - from the major news media to entertainment, there is nothing from other countries. That is why the average American is ignorant of other cultures and speaks one language.
Furthermore, if you travel to Europe or Cancun, turn on your hotel television and watch MTV, ESPN and HBO, you might think that there is no local culture. As a kid, those are the only channels I wanted to watch when I was in Colombia.
Now, I love it when I get to see movies like Y Tu Mama Tambien, Ciudade de Deus, Maria Full of Grace, Tristam Shandy, etc. And it's great when they hit a larger audience. But there is much, much more than can be done. Is Unesco the forum to accomplish this? Maybe not. Maybe Vikrum hits a key point when bringing in the private sector.
Plus don't forget the inverse - the Michael Moore fallacy.
Michael Moore loves to come to college campuses and find a Canadian and ask him who the President of the US is, who the VP is, etc. He'll then pick out an American and ask him who the Prime Minister of Canada is. Predictably, the American does not know, thus somehow proving how dumb Americans are.
Well Mr. Moore, news about Bush is sitting on the front page of every newspaper in the world, most of it virulently Anti-W. (for good reason, for the most part.)
Michael Moore loves to come to college campuses and find a Canadian and ask him who the President of the US is, who the VP is, etc. He'll then pick out an American and ask him who the Prime Minister of Canada is. Predictably, the American does not know, thus somehow proving how dumb Americans are.
Well Mr. Moore, news about Bush is sitting on the front page of every newspaper in the world, most of it virulently Anti-W. (for good reason, for the most part.)
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