Henry Jenkins Argues That, While Any Piece of Media Could

question 87

Multiple Choice

Henry Jenkins argues that, while any piece of media could become the object of textual poaching, some are far more likely to do so. Specifically, he argues that textual poaching is most likely when there is a prolonged relationship with a particular narrative universe that is rich and complex enough to sustain interest over time. This encourages the media to be more attentive to audiences and use the Internet to solicit feedback, as well as to monitor unsolicited fan responses to products. Which of the following is an example of the media using feedback?

• A) Intellectual property, which has proven popular with mass audiences, has enormous economic value, and companies seek to tightly regulate it in order to maximize profits and minimize the risk of diluting their trademark.
• B) The real action online comes from access to the writers, directors, actors, and staff of the shows. Not every creator goes online, of course, or posts online. But when they do-as with Freaks and Geeks, where creators responded regularly to fans on the official website during the show's run-it's a jolt of electricity.
• C) They're creating a social system in which the part of their lives that matters isn't the part that stresses over a PowerPoint presentation, but the part that charges into battle and does great things.
• D) Fan fiction ticks off some professional authors. Legal action has been taken by Anne Rice to deter fanfic of her vampire books and by J.K. Rowling to stop "adult" takes on Harry Potter. Fanfics often lead with disclaimers that their writers don't claim to own the characters or seek profit from their "fair use" extensions.
• E) The First Amendment protects free speech, but there is also a copyright clause in the Constitution. These two legal rights are often in conflict, so the rights of fan fiction writers to write and speak freely and the rights of the copyright owner must be balanced.

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Definitions:

Homeostatic Mechanism

A process by which biological systems maintain stability and balance in response to external changes.

Incentive

Something that motivates or encourages an individual to take action or to perform a behavior.

External Goal

An objective or target that an individual aims to achieve, which is set outside of themselves, such as career achievements or material possessions.

Motivate Behaviour

The process of influencing or stimulating an individual to act in a certain way or pursue particular goals.