Type: Compulsory
Curriculum: Mass Media
Semester: D
Description
The course introduces to the social, economic, and political dimensions of the production of symbolic forms in terms of the production of culture perspective and focusing on the basic concepts about the cultural and creative industries.
It presents and examines the multifaceted systems of cultural production and management of creativity, as well as their operation and development in an environment where the boundaries among different industries are blurred as communications, technologies, entertainment, education, knowledge and information management, merge and acquire new forms. The course analyzes the development of the notion about the cultural industry into the concept about the creative industries, the debate on this development as well as its economic and political aspects, and the multifaceted importance of the various approaches. It also outlines the main features of the cultural and creative industries as well as the peculiarities of the goods and the services they provide.
Furthermore, the course analyzes the different models and types of the cultural and creative industries. In this context, it outlines the construction and development of the audiences by these industries as well as their relations with authors and artists, being a par excellence modern system for managing creativity and innovation by producing and circulating symbolic forms.
Access to the course materials, the suggested literature, etc., is provided through the e-learning platform of the AUTh.
Objectives
Upon successful completion, students to be able to identify, comprehend, and analyze:
- The fundamental features and qualities of the cultural and creative industries, as well as of the symbolic forms they produce.
- The economic, political, and ideological functions of the cultural and creative industries as well as the relevant approaches.
- The developments and most recent changes in the system for the production of culture.
- The main dimensions of policy in the fields of culture and creativity.
- The social roles and statuses of those involved in the cultural and creative industries.
- The institutional dimensions of the system for the production of culture and creativity management.
Topics – indicative syllabus
A more detailed outline of the course and the PowerPoint files used during the lectures may be found in elearning.auth. A username and a password are required to get access to this system. Information is available at the Department library.
- The transition to cultural and creative industries.
- The system for the production of culture: main aspects.
- The features of cultural goods and services.
- Peculiarities of the cultural and creative industries.
- Producers and labor in the fields of culture and creativity: social roles and status.
- Cultural intermediaries and the audiences of culture.
- Development and change in the fields of the cultural and creative industries.
- Politics and the cultural industries: local, international, and global level.
Required readings
- Avdikos, V. (2014). The cultural and creative industries in Greece. Epikentro Publications.
- Vernikos, N. et al. (Eds.) (2005). Cultural industries: processes, services, goods. Kritiki Publications. The book is available in several copies in the School library (call no. NX634.P655). Chapters:
- Bounia, A.: The museums as cultural industries: issues and reflections - a preliminary debate (pp. 39–58).
- Bantimaroudis, F., & Pitsaki, E.: The Greek book industry (pp. 109–125).
- Boubaris, N.: The music industry in transition (pp. 225–247).
- Peterson, R. A., & Anand, N. (2004). The production of culture perspective. Annual Review of Sociology, 30, 311–334. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.30.012703.110557
- Course slides/notes (available on the e-learning).
Supplementary literature
A. In Greek
Albarran, A. B. (2004). Media economics: Understanding markets, industries and concepts. University Studio Press.
Avdikos, V., Michailidou, M., & Klimis, G.-M. (2017). Mapping the cultural and creative industries in Greece (Research Report). Hellenic Ministry of Culture. http://ep.culture.gr/el/Pages/meletes.aspx
Baltzis, A. (2019a). Critical theory in the new context of cultural production. Polyphony, 33-34, 28–41.
Baltzis, A. (2019b). “Technomythology”, culture, and heteronomy. In A. Theodosiou & E. Papadaki (Eds.), Cultural industries and technoculture: Practices and challenges (pp. 127–147). Nissos.
Baltzis, A., & Pantazis, P. (2016). Recession and cultural labor: An exploratory research. In V. Avdikos & A. Kalogeresis (Eds.), Texts on creative economy: markets, labor, policies (pp. 143–168). Epikentro Publications.
Baltzis, A., & Tsigilis, N. (2020). Living and working conditions of visual artists in Greece [Research Report]. The Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (MOMus), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. https://www.momus.gr/news/ereuna_web
Delveroudi, E. A., & Potamianos, N. (Eds.). (2020). Working in the show industry: Working in the Spectacle: Theater and Cinema in Greece, 19th-20th Century. University of Crete, Faculty of Philosophy. https://elocus.lib.uoc.gr/dlib/a/7/1/metadata-dlib-1608543160-454243-27500.tkl
Emmanouil, D., Kaftantzoglou, R., & Souliotis, N. (2016). Introduction: social classes and cultural consumption – a highly contested relationship. The Greek Review of Social Research, 146, 3–37. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.10642
Karakioulafi, C. (2014). “It is art as well as a profession”: Conceptions of artistic work – the case of actors in Greece. The Greek Review of Social Research, 137, 113–140. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.19
Karakioulafi, C. (2023). The art workers: The profession of actor in Greece during times of crisis. Papazisis Publishers.
Lazaretou, S. (2014). The smart economy: Cultural and creative industries in Greece. Can they be a way out of the crisis? (Working Paper No. 175). Bank of Greece, Directorate of Economic Studies – Department of Special Studies. https://www.bankofgreece.gr/Publications/Paper2014175.pdf
Pachaki, K., Aggelidou, F., Anstasakou, Z. N., Dedeyan, V., Kounaris, E., Lerta, S., … Cheimoniti-Terroviti, S. (2000). Culture as a sector of economic activity. KEPE.
Smyrnaios, N. (2018). The Internet oligopoly: How Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft took control of our digital lives. Metamesonykties Ekdoseis, Advanced Media Institute.
Vidali, M. (2012). The art of the love of art. Social Sciences, 1, 18–63.
B. In English
Albarran, A. B. (2004). Media economics: Understanding Markets, Industries and. Concepts. University Studio Press. [Ιδιαίτερα τα κεφάλαια 2-4, σελ. 29-79]
Bourdieu, P. (1983). The field of cultural production, or: The economic world reversed. Poetics, 12 (4-5), 311–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-422X(83)90012-8
Flew, T. (2012). The creative industries: Culture and policy. SAGE Publications.
Hesmondhalgh, D. (2018). The cultural industries (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Negus, K. (2002). The work of cultural intermediaries and the enduring distance between production and consumption. Cultural Studies, 16(4), 501–515. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502380210139089
O’Connor, J. (2010). The cultural and creative industries: A literature review (2nd ed.). Creativity Culture & Education. https://www.creativitycultureeducation.org/publication/the-cultural-and-creative-industries-a-literature-review/
Peterson, R. A., & Anand, N. (2004). The production of culture perspective. Annual Review of Sociology, 30, 311–334. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.30.012703.110557
Evaluation
Performance is evaluated through an exam on the readings announced each semester and through the e-learning system. The exam is a test including multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions that cover all topics discussed during the lectures. To familiarize themselves with the various types of question and this system, students are invited to try the mock test available in the folder "Exams". Information about the next exam session, exam dates and essay due-dates can be found in the announcements page (provided that the exam dates have been announced).
