Spectacle and Diversity

This book shows how transnational media operate in the contemporary world and what their impact is on film, television, and the larger global culture. Where a company is based geographically no longer determines its outreach or output. As media consolidate and partner across national and cultural boundaries, global culture evolves. The new transnational media industry is universal in its operation, function, and social impact. It reflects a shared transnational culture of consumerism, authoritarianism, cultural diversity, and spectacle. From Wolf Warriors and Sanju to Valerian: City of 1000 Planets and Pokémon, new media combinations challenge old assumptions about cultural imperialism and reflect cross-boundary collaboration as well as boundary-breaking cultural interpretation. Intended for students of global studies and international communication at all levels, the book will appeal to a wide range of readers interested in the way transnational media work and how that shapes our culture.

Lee Artz (Ph.D., University of Iowa), a former machinist and union steelworker, is Professor of Media Studies and Director of the Center for Global Studies at Purdue University Northwest. Artz has published twelve books and fifty book chapters and journal articles on media practices, social change, and democratic communication. He speaks regularly on global media, popular culture, media hegemony, and the political economy of the media.