And the Making of a Media Event

1
Television Vectors
And the Making of a Media Event
Brian Kehoe
Steve Thompson
2
Introduction
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• This essay examines the intersections of
  television technology with the construction of
  national culture through an analysis of the
  ultimate all American event of television of the
  1990s the televised freeway chase of O.J.
  Simpson in June 1994.

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
3
Main Points
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• 1. creates shared identity
• 2. complex elements
• 3. creates cultural memories

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
4
Identity
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• media viewers as global citizens
• tv as american cultural imperialism
• creates homogenized audience
• citizenship through national experience
• diana british
• gulf war american

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
5
Live Television
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• aim to establish commonality
• creates immediacy and urgency
• trivial acquires meaning

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
6
Geography
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• living room as virtual space
• fading boundaries
• power of media
• determines newsworthiness

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
7
Ability
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo

• more affect than witness
• sharp focus of tv lens
• omniscient point of view
• creates desire
• oj fans on side of highway
• bumped NBA finals
• national and local participation achieved

Ability
Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
8
Helicopter
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• capacity to link space
• vietnam war
• rescue and release
• power and failure of american technology
• police vehicle
• traffic reporter

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
9
Re-writing the Freeway
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• seen as divider
• rich/poor
• white/non white
• road rage rodney king
• o.j.

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
10
Talking the Nation
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• role of cell phone
• role of talk radio
• o.j.

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
11
Media Event
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• sporting event
• history
• aftermath

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
12
Reenactments
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• court tv
• television memory

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
13
Criticisms
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• too ambitious
• not generalizable
• not clear

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
14
Conclusion
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• 1. creates shared identity
• 2. complex elements
• 3. creates cultural memories
• 4. o.j. did it

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions
15
Questions
Intro
Identity
Live TV
Geo
Ability

• Do you agree?
• Is it Relevant?
• What is our generations o.j. moment?

Helicopter
Freeway
Talk
Event
Criticisms
Conclusion
Questions