Director: John Walker
National Film Board of Canada. 1990. $39.95
Length: 55 minutes
Audience: High School, Post-Secondary
Topics: cultural sovereignty, globalization of culture, the business of entertainment
Why is it cheaper for TV executives to buy episodes of American programs than to produce their own dramas? How does this affect local culture and traditions? Shot in North America, Europe and Africa, Distress Signals probes the frontiers of television's brave new globalized world. From showcasing the world's largest television show marketplace to a penetrating behind-the-scenes look at CNN, this video explores the forces that work to shape what audiences around the world see on their television sets. Distress Signals has obvious applications in upper-level courses in media studies and cultural studies.
Distress Signals can be ordered online from the National Film Board.
