Core Post #5 - Abby

 

In the chapter, “Thinking Globally: From Media Imperialism to Media Capital”, Curtin discusses the principles of media capital that shape media. One of these principles emphasizes trajectories of creative migration. The demand for constant creative innovation “requires maintaining access to reservoirs of specialized labor that replenish themselves on a regular basis.” It is interesting to think about Los Angeles as one such reservoir, especially in the current context of the impending writer’s strike. Curtin’s assertion that artists are drawn to co-locate with fellow creatives who are often mutually influenced by a sense of “spiritual inspiration” to migrate to creative centers is of course ideal for an industry looking to pull employees from a seemingly endless sea of talent. For employees, however, being one small fish in an endless sea of talent can mean stiff competition for jobs and lower wages, often without benefits. The centralization of a pool of talent also brought to mind Marez’s piece we read several weeks ago. As local tax incentives entice productions out of Hollywood and into states like New Mexico and Georgia, what effect does this have on the emerging trajectories of creative migration? Do these states become new centers for creative migration? The reality is complex. Some productions traveling to these states to take advantage of tax incentives travel with their own crew rather than hiring locally. Marez points out what he calls “racial capitalism in place,” which “combines systems of racialized theft and labor exploitation with the production and dissemination of the racist representations that support them.” Furthermore, the wealth generated by the tax incentives and labor exploitation is redistributed back to Hollywood, rather than benefitting the local area where these productions are taking place. It is also interesting to consider how emerging technologies will affect both global and local flows of media capital. Returning to the impending writer’s strike in Los Angeles, one of the issues on the table is the threat AI technology could pose to writers in the near future. What are the spatial logics of this type of technology and what repercussions would it have for capital, creativity, and culture overall?