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5. Michael Curtin, “On Edge: Culture Industries in the Neo-Network Era”

Summary

In order to maintain their relevance in the post-Fordist economy, the broadcast television networks evolved into neo-networks that have what Curtin called “edge” to appeal to narrower audiences, instead of a unified mass audience.

Questions

1. What is Fordism? and Neo-Fordism (or post-Fordism)?
2. How did corporations form the mass, national audience in the middle of the twentieth century?
3. How was the audience fragmented in the late 20th century?
4. What is “edge” and how does it make a fragmented audience?
5. How is “edge” distinct from mass culture? How does it share a common purpose?