Latest content added for UNT Digital Library Collection: UNT Theses and Dissertationshttps://digital.library.unt.edu/explore/collections/UNTETD/browse/?fq=untl_institution:UNT&start=70&fq=dc_rights_access:public&fq=str_degree_department:Department+of+Radio,+Television+and+Film2012-05-17T21:47:00-05:00UNT LibrariesThis is a custom feed for browsing UNT Digital Library Collection: UNT Theses and DissertationsAttracted to the Medium: An Analysis of Social Behaviors, Advertising, and Youth Culture in the Emerging Mobile Era2012-05-17T21:47:00-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84172/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84172/"><img alt="Attracted to the Medium: An Analysis of Social Behaviors, Advertising, and Youth Culture in the Emerging Mobile Era" title="Attracted to the Medium: An Analysis of Social Behaviors, Advertising, and Youth Culture in the Emerging Mobile Era" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84172/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis is a reception study that examines potential reasons why the adolescent to college aged demographic of youth culture is embracing communicative and informational mobility. The project attests that the move to mobility is motivated by two major factors, the attraction of being an early adopter of technology and the way social behaviors are made attractive in mobile marketing. Chapter 1 explores the importance of these social behaviors, as they are very much intertwined and contribute to how youth acclimate into society. Chapter 2 demonstrates that creating social distinction and cultural capital is linked to being an early adopter of technology. The remaining portion of the document examines recent mobile advertisements and why youth would be attracted to the aesthetic and thematic elements contained in the advertisements. Chapter 3 examines how Blackberry utilizes the behavior of creating and expressing identity in their advertisements. Chapter 4 focuses on how Apple has worked to create a community centered around their brand. Finally, Chapter 5 looks at how Google/Android has highlighted the acquisition, sharing, and utilization of content through the phenomenon of applications. With this project, I hope to illustrate the rationale why youth would be attracted to communicative and informational mobility.</p>A Dream Lost in Dream: A Love-Hate Relationship of an Alien with America2012-05-17T21:47:00-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84277/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84277/"><img alt="A Dream Lost in Dream: A Love-Hate Relationship of an Alien with America" title="A Dream Lost in Dream: A Love-Hate Relationship of an Alien with America" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84277/small/"/></a></p><p>Exploring the theme of Diaspora, this paper is an accompanying document for the documentary, A Dream Lost in Dream. It sheds light on the purpose, and process of producing this documentary. The main purpose for the production of this documentary has been described as initiation of healthy and casual dialog between diverse populations in America. It emphasizes the importance of creating visual media targeting masses rather than the elite. It is argued that it can act as a tool of awareness, reducing anxiety in the society. It also embarks on the production journey of the documentary A Dream Lost in Dream. The film is a portrayal of an East Indian immigrant struggling between economic survival, family issues and passion to fly.</p>¿Cuándo te Veré? “When Will I See You?”2012-05-17T21:47:00-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84192/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84192/"><img alt="¿Cuándo te Veré? “When Will I See You?”" title="¿Cuándo te Veré? “When Will I See You?”" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84192/small/"/></a></p><p>This film examines the phenomenon of a family divided by the U.S.-Mexico border. Saul, the head of the family, migrated north in search of a better life for his wife and children while they stayed behind in Mexico. Not having the documents to cross the border has resulted in being apart from his family for more than ten years. This is a story about separation, pain, and the ultimate sacrifice a family makes as a means of survival.</p>True Tales of the Atom2012-05-17T21:47:00-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84299/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84299/"><img alt="True Tales of the Atom" title="True Tales of the Atom" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84299/small/"/></a></p><p>True Tales of the Atom documents the creative process in the making of the film of the same name. It describes the intent and result of each step in the filmmaking process, including esthetic, budget and technical decisions. How the inclusion of animation increased the complexity and technical demands on the postproduction. It shows the problems encountered and overcome working on a production alone. Finally, it details the successful completion primarily due to extensive preplanning. The film on which the paper is based is a non-traditional look at several little-known aspects of civilian nuclear power, with a look at the media that could have helped to shape current attitudes in the United States about the technology.</p>Stage and Scream: The Influence of Traditional Japanese Theater, Culture, and Aesthetics on Japan's Cinema of the Fantastic2012-01-09T21:53:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68031/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68031/"><img alt="Stage and Scream: The Influence of Traditional Japanese Theater, Culture, and Aesthetics on Japan's Cinema of the Fantastic" title="Stage and Scream: The Influence of Traditional Japanese Theater, Culture, and Aesthetics on Japan's Cinema of the Fantastic" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68031/small/"/></a></p><p>Although widely viewed in the West, Japanese films are often misunderstood, as they are built on cultural, theatrical, and aesthetic traditions entirely foreign to Western audiences. Particularly in regards to Japan's "fantastic" cinema - including giant monster pictures, ghost stories, and "J-Horror" films - what is often perceived as "cheap" or "cheesy" is merely an expression of these unique cultural roots. By observing and exploring such cultural artifacts as kabuki, noh, and bunraku - the traditional theatrical forms of Japan - long-standing literary traditions, deeply embedded philosophical beliefs, and even more recent developments such as the controversial dance form butoh, these films, including Gojira (1954), Daimajin (1966), Kwaidan (1964), Onibaba (1964), Testuo the Iron Man (1989), and Ju-On (2002), can be placed in their proper perspective, leading to a reevaluation of their worth not merely as commercial products, but as uniquely Japanese expressions of that society's unique place in world culture.</p>It's a Wonderful Business: The Art of Production Sound2012-01-09T21:53:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68016/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68016/"><img alt="It's a Wonderful Business: The Art of Production Sound" title="It's a Wonderful Business: The Art of Production Sound" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68016/small/"/></a></p><p>It's a Wonderful Business: The Art of Production Sound is a documentary film that offers an inside look at what it takes to record the dialog of actors and diegetic sounds on a movie set. This is the job of the production sound crew, in charge of recording the voices of some of the most talented and prominent performers in the motion picture industry. The documentary features interviews with former and current production sound mixers and boom operators from some of the most acclaimed films in the history of cinema. The film also explores the personal demands, the working conditions, and the sacrifices sound crews have endured to succeed in the always challenging, but very exciting, world of film making.</p>Campania In-Felix (Unhappy Country)2012-01-09T21:53:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67970/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67970/"><img alt="Campania In-Felix (Unhappy Country)" title="Campania In-Felix (Unhappy Country)" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67970/small/"/></a></p><p>This documentary film explores the damages produced by the illegal dumping of toxic waste in the environment and the rise in health concerns specific to the Campania region in Southern Italy. The management of waste material in the region is in the hands of the Camorra - a mafia organization with vast economic and political power. Through the narration of personal stories, the documentary reveals the broken emotional and cultural balance between the people from the region and their land.</p>Standing Up to Experts: The Politics of Public Education2012-01-09T21:53:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67944/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67944/"><img alt="Standing Up to Experts: The Politics of Public Education" title="Standing Up to Experts: The Politics of Public Education" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67944/small/"/></a></p><p>In a small room in Austin, Texas, a group of 15 people are single-handedly deciding what is taught to the next generation of American children. The highly politicized 15 member Texas Board of Education is currently going through the once-in-a-decade process of rewriting the teaching and textbook standards for its nearly 5 million schoolchildren. Texas is also unbelievably influential on the standards that textbook publishers use as a basis for their textbooks nationwide. Over the last 10 years, the textbooks adopted by this board found their way in upwards of 65% of American classrooms. My goal is to shed light on this important issue and the key players in this process - I explain their goals, explore the scope of their influence, and delve into the personal motivations behind their actions, which will affect public education throughout the country.</p>Reality Television: Using Para-Social Relationship Theory and Economic Theory to Define the Success of Network Reality Programming2011-05-04T13:11:57-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33144/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33144/"><img alt="Reality Television: Using Para-Social Relationship Theory and Economic Theory to Define the Success of Network Reality Programming" title="Reality Television: Using Para-Social Relationship Theory and Economic Theory to Define the Success of Network Reality Programming" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33144/small/"/></a></p><p>This study seeks to use a dual-theoretical approach, through the use of para-social relationship theory and economic data analysis, to explain the success of reality television since the early 2000s. This study uses both qualitative and quantitative components to understand the growth of reality television. This study includes a literature analysis of both methodologies used. Focus groups were used to seek to find a strong level of para-social interaction in viewers of reality television. Two focus groups were conducted with participants 18-35. There were a total of 16 participants who attended the focus group sessions. The information collected suggested that viewers of reality television formed para-social relationships. It appeared that female viewers were more likely to form para-social relationships than male viewers.</p>Baseball in the Digital Age: The Role of Online and Mobile Content in Major League Baseball's Media Product Portfolio2011-05-04T13:11:57-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33170/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33170/"><img alt="Baseball in the Digital Age: The Role of Online and Mobile Content in Major League Baseball's Media Product Portfolio" title="Baseball in the Digital Age: The Role of Online and Mobile Content in Major League Baseball's Media Product Portfolio" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33170/small/"/></a></p><p>This case study evaluated Major League Baseball's (MLB) media product portfolio to identify how broadcast revenues have evolved over the past decade. This research looked back across baseball's long, dysfunctional history with broadcasters in order to recognize the significance of its ambitious use of online content. While MLB had failed to fully utilize the potential of broadcasting, the league's aggressive online strategy through its Advanced Media (MLBAM) division made it the industry leader in broadcasting live streaming sports video. MLBAM expanded its online streaming video to mobile phones and iPad, further expanding the distribution of its content. This research compared MLBAM revenue to traditional broadcast revenue while analyzing the online division's role in promoting the MLB brand. This case study concluded that while MLBAM had made a number of groundbreaking developments, the league could still improve its use of embedded, shared video clips, archived footage and international marketing in order to further extend the brand equity of the MLB, its thirty individual brands and its media product portfolio.</p>Margaret Dale, Adapting the Stage to the Screen: Aesthetic, Appropriation, and Intimacy in Ballet Programming for Post-War BBC Television2011-05-04T13:11:57-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33148/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33148/"><img alt="Margaret Dale, Adapting the Stage to the Screen: Aesthetic, Appropriation, and Intimacy in Ballet Programming for Post-War BBC Television" title="Margaret Dale, Adapting the Stage to the Screen: Aesthetic, Appropriation, and Intimacy in Ballet Programming for Post-War BBC Television" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33148/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis examines the aesthetic of ballets adapted for BBC Television by producer Margaret Dale, beginning with her entrance to the BBC's training program in 1955 and culminating with her commissioned work Houseparty, which aired in 1964. A historical and organizational framework is discussed regarding the BBC's cultural mission and view of arts programming, as well as general developmental milestones in programming contextualizing Dale's working conditions. Particular focus is placed upon the appropriation of Romantic narrative ballets and their significance in reinforcing an aristocratic and culturally divisive structure in the arts. Textual analyses consider issues of restaging, camera placement, and lighting, as well as television's intimacy and relationship to characterization in ballet narratives.</p>Confronting Convergence: Are Higher Education Administrators Using a Strategic Planning Approach to Mass Communication Curriculum Convergence?2010-09-10T01:20:16-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28433/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28433/"><img alt="Confronting Convergence: Are Higher Education Administrators Using a Strategic Planning Approach to Mass Communication Curriculum Convergence?" title="Confronting Convergence: Are Higher Education Administrators Using a Strategic Planning Approach to Mass Communication Curriculum Convergence?" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28433/small/"/></a></p><p>Professors in mass communications departments of higher education institutions continue to search for the best way to prepare graduates for the ever-changing world of print, broadcast, and online media. Business administration theories have long been used in other areas, including education. While some application of strategic planning has been documented with regards to education, there is not much to reference in this area. The study investigated the use of strategic planning in developing a course of action for curriculum convergence in mass communication programs. The study used a purposive sample to determine if administrators are utilizing this method as a part of curriculum convergence. The results indicated a use of this method among institutions involved in curriculum convergence.</p>Out of Date2010-03-17T11:40:26-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12148/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12148/"><img alt="Out of Date" title="Out of Date" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12148/small/"/></a></p><p>Out of Date chronicles the filmmaker's personal journey as she tries to untangle her mixed feelings on singlehood and romance, and turns to the older generation for advice, tales of love and stories of success or failure. The documentary links and contrasts different generations' experiences in love and dating. Also, the film deals with loneliness, commitment, gender differences, and social and cultural practices of love and dating.</p>Transforming the Predator: Representations of the Child Sexual Abuser in 21st Century American Visual Media2009-11-19T20:18:11-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11031/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11031/"><img alt="Transforming the Predator: Representations of the Child Sexual Abuser in 21st Century American Visual Media" title="Transforming the Predator: Representations of the Child Sexual Abuser in 21st Century American Visual Media" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11031/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis examines the ways American visual media -television and
mainstream/independent cinema- has presented the narrative of child sexual abuse since the beginning of the 21st century. Due to the rise of the counterculture movement and the sexual revolution of the 1960s, a discourse for talking about child sexuality was created. By providing an opportunity to discuss children and sex, for the first time cultural products could deal overtly with child sexual abuse, rather than connotatively. In response to this new discourse, conservative ideals about child sexuality proliferated in the 1970s and 1980s that attempted to return the child to a world of purity and asexuality with all threats to this purity being monstrous. The examples discussed in this thesis highlight the ways that contemporary American visual media has responded to three decades of obsession that created a "master narrative" of child sexual abuse - something that continues to play a significant role in society.</p>Sights and Sounds of the Mysterious Side of Myself2009-11-19T20:17:59-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11050/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11050/"><img alt="Sights and Sounds of the Mysterious Side of Myself" title="Sights and Sounds of the Mysterious Side of Myself" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc11050/small/"/></a></p><p>This film is an autobiographical documentary which tells the story of the process of documenting the filmmaker's trip to his land of heritage. As his plans for his journey and film begin to go awry, he begins to question the entire process of trying to connect with nation and place.</p>Behind the Scenes of The Steve Taylor Story: A Documentary2009-11-19T20:15:32-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc10992/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc10992/"><img alt="Behind the Scenes of The Steve Taylor Story: A Documentary" title="Behind the Scenes of The Steve Taylor Story: A Documentary" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc10992/small/"/></a></p><p>Behind the Scenes of The Steve Taylor Story: A Documentary is the written companion to a 39-minute documentary film entitled, The Steve Taylor Story. The film explores the controversial career of Christian musician Steve Taylor. It also chronicles the ideology of the Christian subculture in America through the hegemony of the dominant Christian culture and Steve's actions in opposition to it.</p>"According to Their Wills and Pleasures": The Sexual Stereotyping of Mormon Men in American Film and Television2009-09-23T14:51:24-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9825/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9825/"><img alt=""According to Their Wills and Pleasures": The Sexual Stereotyping of Mormon Men in American Film and Television" title=""According to Their Wills and Pleasures": The Sexual Stereotyping of Mormon Men in American Film and Television" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9825/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis examines the representation of Mormon men in American film and television, with particular regard for sexual identity and the cultural association of Mormonism with sexuality. The history of Mormonism's unique marital practices and doctrinal approaches to gender and sexuality have developed three common stereotypes for Mormon male characters: the purposeful heterosexual, the monstrous polygamist, and the self-destructive homosexual. Depending upon the sexual stereotype in the narrative, the Mormon Church can function as a proponent for nineteenth-century views of sexuality, a symbol for society's repressed sexuality, or a metaphor for the oppressive effects of performing gender and sexuality according to ideological constraints. These ideas are presented in Mormon films such as Saturday's Warrior (1989) as well as mainstream films such as A Mormon Maid (1917) and Advise and Consent (1962).</p>Lowest of the Low: Scenes of Shame and Self-Deprecation in Contemporary Scottish Cinema2009-09-09T14:36:33-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9804/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9804/"><img alt="Lowest of the Low: Scenes of Shame and Self-Deprecation in Contemporary Scottish Cinema" title="Lowest of the Low: Scenes of Shame and Self-Deprecation in Contemporary Scottish Cinema" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9804/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis explores the factors leading to the images of self-deprecation and shame in contemporary Scottish film. It would seem that the causes of these reoccurring motifs may be because the Scottish people are unable to escape from their past and are uneasy about the future of the nation. There is an internal struggle for both Scottish men and women, who try to adhere to their predetermined roles in Scottish culture, but this role leads to violence, alcoholism, and shame. In addition, there is also a fear for the future of the nation that represented in films that feature a connection between children and the creation of life with the death of Scotland's past. This thesis will focus on films created under a recent boom in film production in Scotland beginning in 1994 till the present day.</p>Gods, Have Merced! A Documentary Film2009-09-09T14:31:30-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9763/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9763/"><img alt="Gods, Have Merced! A Documentary Film" title="Gods, Have Merced! A Documentary Film" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9763/small/"/></a></p><p>Gods, Have Merced! chronicles the struggle of Jose Merced, a Santeria priest, with the city of Euless, Texas, where he has been residing for 17 years in an effort to overrule an ordinance that bans the most critical element of his faith: animal sacrifice. As the city officials justify the ban on the basis of public health, Merced thinks he is merely a victim of selective code enforcement aimed a restricting his freedom of religion. Local and national media covered the lawsuit he filed against the City of Euless, and Merced seems ready to take the fight over animal sacrifice to the United States Supreme Court. He wants American justice to give his African-originated religion recognized in a city where people seem uneasy about a practice that brings back the historic fears of Voodoo and its popularly assumed malefic practices. The film explores the complex structure of Santeria, its African roots, its renaissance in the Americas and the very controversial issue of animal sacrifice in the US.</p>The Making of the Documentary Women at Work2009-09-09T14:31:16-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9791/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9791/"><img alt="The Making of the Documentary Women at Work" title="The Making of the Documentary Women at Work" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9791/small/"/></a></p><p>Women have fought for their rights to equal opportunity employment for more than a millennium. Even now, in the 21st century the fight continues. Women at Work explores the experiences of three women who work in male-dominated blue-collar jobs and discuses their struggles and successes within their employment. Their career choices have required each to address their individual views on feminism and femininity, as well as views on education and family.</p>Central American Media: A Comparative Study of Media Industries in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.2009-05-11T20:08:26-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9039/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9039/"><img alt="Central American Media: A Comparative Study of Media Industries in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica." title="Central American Media: A Comparative Study of Media Industries in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica." src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9039/small/"/></a></p><p>The five countries that lie on the isthmus connecting North and South America have endured a past of colonialism, civil war, and natural disaster. As these countries evolve in the 21st century, growing economies and political peace provide a promising outlook for the citizens of these nations. The media industries in these nations have varying levels of development which are explored in this thesis. Using Michael Porter's 1990 framework and a case study methodology, this thesis explores the differences and similarities of media industries in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and what may be done to ensure future success in an increasingly global world.</p>Twinmates2009-05-11T20:08:25-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9040/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9040/"><img alt="Twinmates" title="Twinmates" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9040/small/"/></a></p><p>Twinmates is an inside look at the unique and unusual appeal of border politics in Laredo, Texas through the point of view of identical twin brothers-- A. Jaime Mendoza and B. Javier Mendoza. The documentary chronicles the Mendoza twins for a period of six years as they switch political parties, in order to get elected (Republicans turn Democrats), and use that political exposure to expand their janitorial company to the metropolitan cities of Dallas and Austin. In addition to the Mendoza twins' business and politics, the documentary also captures entertaining interactions with family and friends.</p>The making of the documentary film Women in Red.2009-05-11T20:08:02-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9088/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9088/"><img alt="The making of the documentary film Women in Red." title="The making of the documentary film Women in Red." src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9088/small/"/></a></p><p>Though the remnants of a stereotype created over two millennia ago still thrive in American popular culture today, redheaded women are enjoying a more positive role in society than they have ever seen before. Women in Red explores the experience of the redheaded woman in America today by examining how the stereotypes have affected a small group of them, how these women relate to the stereotypes, and why, given the verisimilitude of the stereotype, a non-redheaded woman would embrace such an identity with the simple act of dying her hair red. This is the story behind the experience that is Women in Red.</p>Snakes Alive!2009-05-11T20:07:57-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9101/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9101/"><img alt="Snakes Alive!" title="Snakes Alive!" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9101/small/"/></a></p><p>On three days in March each year, the sleepy little town of Sweetwater, Texas transforms into the rattlesnake capital of the world. Snake hunters and curious tourists converge on the town of 12,000 for the Annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup. On the outside of the Nolan County Coliseum, the smell of funnel cakes and hot-dogs fills the air as vendors sell snacks and souvenirs. However the real action is inside where snakes collected from all over the state lay in piles by the thousands, waiting to be sexed, milked and ultimately killed. Through interviews and observational footage, "Snakes Alive!" explores the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, those that participate in the event, and the elements that make it an unabashed West Texas tradition.</p>Theoretical and Practical Record of the Making of the Documentary Film, A Native American Dream2009-05-11T20:07:54-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9110/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9110/"><img alt="Theoretical and Practical Record of the Making of the Documentary Film, A Native American Dream" title="Theoretical and Practical Record of the Making of the Documentary Film, A Native American Dream" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9110/small/"/></a></p><p>This textual record of the making of the social issue documentary film A Native American Dream examines theoretical and practical considerations of the filmmaker during the pre-production, production, and post-production stages. It also examines the disciplines of anthropology and ethnography in terms of modern documentary filmmaking and evaluates the film within these contexts.</p>Dangerous, Desperate, and Homosexual: Cinematic Representations of the Male Prostitute as Fallen Angels2008-10-02T16:43:47-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6085/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6085/"><img alt="Dangerous, Desperate, and Homosexual: Cinematic Representations of the Male Prostitute as Fallen Angels" title="Dangerous, Desperate, and Homosexual: Cinematic Representations of the Male Prostitute as Fallen Angels" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6085/small/"/></a></p><p>The purpose of this study is to frame the cinematic male prostitute as a "fallen angel" to demonstrate that the evolution of the cinematic hustler has paralleled historicized ideological definitions of male homosexuality. Because cultural understandings of male homosexuality frequently reflect Judeo-Christian ideological significations of sin and corruption, the term "fallen angel" is utilized to describe the hustler as a figure who has also succumbed to sin due to his sexual involvement with other men. This study constructs an epochal analysis of eight films that explores the confluence of the social understanding of homosexuality with the cinematic image of the hustler from the mid 1960s through the present. In doing so, this study shows that the image of the cinematic hustler is intricately tied to the image of the male homosexual in material cultures and eras that produce them. A filmography is included.</p>Street Chords and the Truth: A Street Level View of Country Music2008-10-02T16:41:16-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6134/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6134/"><img alt="Street Chords and the Truth: A Street Level View of Country Music" title="Street Chords and the Truth: A Street Level View of Country Music" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6134/small/"/></a></p><p>Singers and songwriters come to Nashville, Tennessee because they consider it the center of the country music universe and the best place to perform their songs as they try and break into the music business. Though few ever experience success in this competitive field, artists continue to arrive in Nashville and many don't have the commercial potential that would allow them the opportunity to perform anywhere but on the city's streets. The film, Street Chords and the Truth: A Street Level View of Country Music, focuses on these interesting performers and their music. Country music has been examined by a handful of ethnomusicologists and is often called the music of everyday life. Many recognize its dependence on ordinary singing styles, common phrasings, southern accents and traditional costuming as central to its identity and critical source of its value as a commodity. While many studies have been conducted focusing commercially popular country music singers and the music industry, few studies been conducted on singers who meet all the critical criteria for country music except commercial viability. This documentary examines country music more as a critical element of cultural identity and less as a commodity.</p>24, Lost, and Six Feet Under: Post-traumatic television in the post-9/11 era.2008-10-02T16:41:08-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6137/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6137/"><img alt="24, Lost, and Six Feet Under: Post-traumatic television in the post-9/11 era." title="24, Lost, and Six Feet Under: Post-traumatic television in the post-9/11 era." src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6137/small/"/></a></p><p>This study sought to determine if and how television texts produced since September 11, 2001, reflect and address cultural concerns by analyzing patterns in their theme and narrative style. Three American television serials were examined as case studies. Each text addressed a common cluster of contemporary issues such as trauma, death, and loss.</p>Room 2046: A Political Reading of Wong Kar-Wai's Chow-Mo Wan Trilogy through Narrative Elements and Mise-en-scene2008-05-05T15:01:30-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5482/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5482/"><img alt="Room 2046: A Political Reading of Wong Kar-Wai's Chow-Mo Wan Trilogy through Narrative Elements and Mise-en-scene" title="Room 2046: A Political Reading of Wong Kar-Wai's Chow-Mo Wan Trilogy through Narrative Elements and Mise-en-scene" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5482/small/"/></a></p><p>As ownership of Hong Kong changed hands from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China in 1997, citizens and filmmakers of the city became highly aware of the political environment. Film director Wong Kar-Wai creates visually stimulating films that express the anxieties and frustrations of the citizens of Hong Kong during this period. This study provides a political reading of Days of Being Wild (1991), In the Mood for Love (2000), and 2046 (2004) through analyzing various story elements and details within the mise-en-scene. Story elements include setting, dialogue, character relationships, character identities, thematic motifs, musical references, numerology, and genre manipulation. Wong also uses details within the films' mise-en-scene, such as props and color, to express political frustrations. To provide color interpretations, various traditional aesthetic guidelines, such as those prescribed by Taoism, Cantonese and Beijing opera, and feng shui, are used to read the films' negative comments on the handover process and the governments involved. When studied together the three films illustrate how Wong Kar-Wai creates narrative and visual references to the time and atmosphere in which he works, namely pre-and-post handover Hong Kong.</p>Religious Television and New Technologies: Managing Change in the Broadcast Environment2008-05-05T14:48:32-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5336/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5336/"><img alt="Religious Television and New Technologies: Managing Change in the Broadcast Environment" title="Religious Television and New Technologies: Managing Change in the Broadcast Environment" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5336/small/"/></a></p><p>This study examines the process of technological change in the religious television environment. The study also focuses on managerial response to said change. Through the use of a survey instrument, a quantitative examination is given, illustrating a managerial embrace of change principles, a positive attitude toward the idea of change, and a system of change behavior that matches several previously theorized change models. Also examined is how different station funding types correspond with types and rates of technological change, with the results reflecting that more funding sources for a station generally indicate a greater likelihood of technological change.</p>Beach Drive: Public Rights and Private Property: A Documentary Film2008-05-05T14:48:00-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5345/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5345/"><img alt="Beach Drive: Public Rights and Private Property: A Documentary Film" title="Beach Drive: Public Rights and Private Property: A Documentary Film" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5345/small/"/></a></p><p>The Texas Open Beaches Act states that the public beach extends from the water up to the line of vegetation. Once a privately-owned property is submerged, it transfers into state ownership. Because of severe erosion and the shifting nature of vegetation, the Village of Surfside has lost several rows of houses and streets and, currently, over thirty houses are located on the public beach obstructing public access in violation of the Texas Open Beaches Act. The extreme erosion in this small village on the Texas Gulf Coast puts homeowners, property owners, legislators, and beachgoers in difficult positions and many are at odds with one another. The documentary film is structured around rental property owner Russell Clinton, environmentalists Ellis Pickett and Jeff Hooton, and former State Senator A.R. "Babe" Schwartz.</p>Big Hair and Big Egos: Texan Stereotypes in American Entertainment Media as Formed Through Television Viewing.2008-05-05T14:43:30-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5386/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5386/"><img alt="Big Hair and Big Egos: Texan Stereotypes in American Entertainment Media as Formed Through Television Viewing." title="Big Hair and Big Egos: Texan Stereotypes in American Entertainment Media as Formed Through Television Viewing." src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5386/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis explores the stereotypes of Texans portrayed in American entertainment media, and attempts to identify the reasons for both the existence, and persistence of these images. The study includes a brief history of Texas, and background information on the formulation of stereotypes. Cultivation theory is used to explain the process of stereotypes formed through television viewing. Content analysis of the responses from an on line survey involving 52 participants revealed that people outside the state of Texas have strong perceptions about Texans that are consistent with media representations. As the level of television viewership increased, so did the indelibility of the impressions. Those who watch more television were more likely to perceive the image of Texans as negative, and less likely to change their opinions of Texans after visiting the state.</p>"They Don't Make'em Like They Used To": Cultural Hegemony and the Representation of White Masculinity in Recent U.S. Cinema2008-02-15T16:31:10-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4932/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4932/"><img alt=""They Don't Make'em Like They Used To": Cultural Hegemony and the Representation of White Masculinity in Recent U.S. Cinema" title=""They Don't Make'em Like They Used To": Cultural Hegemony and the Representation of White Masculinity in Recent U.S. Cinema" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4932/small/"/></a></p><p>The purpose of this work is to illuminate how white male hegemony over women and minorities is inscribed through the process of film representation. A critical interrogation of six film texts produced over the last decade yields pertinent examples of how the process of hegemonic negotiation works to maintain power for the ever changing modes of postindustrial masculinity. Through the process of crisis and recuperation the central male characters in these films forge new, more acceptable attributes of masculinity that allow them to retain their centrality in the narrative.</p>Wine & Beer2008-02-15T16:29:48-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4951/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4951/"><img alt="Wine & Beer" title="Wine & Beer" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4951/small/"/></a></p><p>Wine & Beer tells the story of childhood friends Brian and Vic who, after spending some time apart, deal with the tensions of sexual orientation after they attempt to renew their friendship. At the beginning it seems that Vic's sexuality will not be a problem, but after the two friends hang out in a local bar, Brian realizes his hometown is not as tolerant as he is. The couple is faced with family and social concerns, which goes from the argumentative to the violent. As the main characters try to mingle with the conservative town, they soon find themselves looked upon by a small town resistant to change. This 35-minute film explores homophobia and violence in small town USA.</p>REEL NAZIS a propaganda history2008-02-15T16:29:33-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4954/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4954/"><img alt="REEL NAZIS a propaganda history" title="REEL NAZIS a propaganda history" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4954/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis film is an overview of Nazi Germany, primarily told through the use of their own propaganda images, and structured in such a way as to make the viewer question what they think they know about the past, present, and future. This paper is a discussion of the process that went into making the film and some of the ideas connected to it that could not be brought out in the documentary.</p>A Question of Queerness: Case Studies of Contemporary American Television2008-02-15T16:26:50-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4900/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4900/"><img alt="A Question of Queerness: Case Studies of Contemporary American Television" title="A Question of Queerness: Case Studies of Contemporary American Television" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4900/small/"/></a></p><p>This project utilizes a case study approach to explore the various ways in which the portrayals of gay people have changed on American television. Three contemporary programs - Will & Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and The L Word - are examined as examples of how far American television has progressed in terms of treating gay people with respect. Whether those shows move beyond merely presenting gay characters and into a level of actively challenging mainstream views on gay people is also examined. Findings suggest different factors affect the ability of the individual programs to test said views - including the genres to which each belongs, and their presence on network television (Will & Grace), basic cable (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) or premium cable (The L Word). While all three programs show some tendencies toward queerness, they also take steps toward negotiating with mainstream culture, indicating that complete queerness may be an unattainable goal on American television.</p>The future of local television news: Is there a possible strategic planning approach?2008-02-15T16:19:48-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4836/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4836/"><img alt="The future of local television news: Is there a possible strategic planning approach?" title="The future of local television news: Is there a possible strategic planning approach?" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4836/small/"/></a></p><p>This study compared the characteristic of strategic planning as used in the corporate world with the planning process used in a sample of television news departments. The purpose was to determine if commonalities exist; in what circumstances, and whether techniques and approaches used for many years by businesses could advance the process of planning in the fast-paced environment of local television news. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of highly experienced local news managers. The results indicated some similarities in planning approaches but suggested significant differences in how the two industries approach key elements of traditional strategic planning. The primary conclusion drawn from the research suggests the local television news industry has informally adapted strategic planning processes to their needs with heavy emphasis on tactical execution.</p>Education for Education's Sake? Exposing the Arts District of Downtown Dallas2008-02-15T16:17:12-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4876/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4876/"><img alt="Education for Education's Sake? Exposing the Arts District of Downtown Dallas" title="Education for Education's Sake? Exposing the Arts District of Downtown Dallas" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4876/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis discusses the relatively new approach of art education, by paralleling it to Marxist ideology on art. The Dallas Arts District is one example of a city where museum art education is in conflict: being adopted more vigorously by some and with less acceptance by others. In order to provide a glimpse into the museum ideology of downtown Dallas, previous schools of thought regarding the role of curators and the introduction of educators into museums will be detailed, as well as conflicts between these two factions. The following questions will be addressed: Is museum art education truly a movement which strives to infuse the American culture with a greater appreciation of art? Is there a link to overcoming Marx's key issue of class? How is the movement affecting the Dallas Arts District and to what extent is museum art education being utilized within this forum? Is the emphasis toward museum art education greater in Dallas than in other large cities across the United States, and if so, how has that affected the cities' patrons?</p>The Paradox of Creativity and Business in Feature Hollywood Filmmaking: The Relationship Between Motion Picture Production and Budgeting2008-02-15T16:16:41-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4885/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4885/"><img alt="The Paradox of Creativity and Business in Feature Hollywood Filmmaking: The Relationship Between Motion Picture Production and Budgeting" title="The Paradox of Creativity and Business in Feature Hollywood Filmmaking: The Relationship Between Motion Picture Production and Budgeting" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4885/small/"/></a></p><p>This study examines the relationship between movie budgeting and the creative process in Hollywood filmmaking. To understand the effects of this relationship on the creative product, several films are analyzed within the production process where conflicts between the investors and creators are observed. A case study approach is guided by theories of the production of culture, which state that creative products manufactured in the cultural industry must be analyzed in relation to their surrounds society. Findings suggest previous indicators of box office success are becoming primary influences in the filmmaking process. The study also finds that financial standards in Hollywood potentially inhibit innovation among creative participants within a limited Hollywood creative sphere.</p>A shanda fur de Yehudim: Jewishness in network sitcom television.2008-02-15T15:33:28-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4585/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4585/"><img alt="A shanda fur de Yehudim: Jewishness in network sitcom television." title="A shanda fur de Yehudim: Jewishness in network sitcom television." src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4585/small/"/></a></p><p>This thesis is a cultural study of Jewishness in network sitcom television. Sources for the study included: historical film analysis, sociological studies on stereotyping and Jewish culture. The thesis studies how past forms of Jewishness impacted the current depictions of Jewishness on the television sitcom. After an introduction discussing Jewishness in general, the second chapter studies Jewishness in Vaudeville and early Hollywood film. The third chapter studies Jewishness in the first 40 years of network sitcom television. The fourth chapter studies Jewishness in the network sitcoms of the 1990s. The conclusions of the study focus on the state of Jewishness on network sitcom television at present, and ask what must be done within the industry to maintain a viable Jewish identity on network sitcom television in the future.</p>Contemporary Pirates: An Examination of the Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the Technology, Progression, and Battles that Surround Modern Day Music Piracy in Colleges and Universities.2008-02-15T15:32:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4595/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4595/"><img alt="Contemporary Pirates: An Examination of the Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the Technology, Progression, and Battles that Surround Modern Day Music Piracy in Colleges and Universities." title="Contemporary Pirates: An Examination of the Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the Technology, Progression, and Battles that Surround Modern Day Music Piracy in Colleges and Universities." src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4595/small/"/></a></p><p>The pilot study used in this thesis examined the attitudes and perceptions of a small group of students at the University of North Texas. The participants in this pilot study (n=22) were administered an online music file sharing survey, a Defining Issues Test (DIT), and participated in a small focus group. This thesis also outlined the history and progression of online music piracy in the United States, and addressed four research questions which aimed to determine why individuals choose to engage in the file sharing of copyrighted music online.</p>Vieques: Island of Conflict and Dreams2008-02-15T14:59:02-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4436/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4436/"><img alt="Vieques: Island of Conflict and Dreams" title="Vieques: Island of Conflict and Dreams" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4436/small/"/></a></p><p>This written thesis is a companion to a 30-minute documentary video of the same title. The documentary is a presentation of the historical conflict between the United States Navy and the people of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. For over 60 years the island was used by the United States Navy as a military training facility. The documentary attempts to present an analysis of the struggle between citizens of the island and the Navy. This written component presents a summarized history of Puerto Rico, Vieques and the conflict with the United States Navy. In addition, the preproduction, production and post-production process of the documentary are discussed. A theoretical analysis of the filmmaker's approach and technique are addressed and analyzed as well. The thesis's goal is to provide a clear understanding of the Vieques conflict to United States audiences who do not a familiarity with the topic. The thesis is presented from the perspective of a person who grew up in Puerto Rico.</p>No Way Out: A Historical Documentary2008-02-15T14:51:10-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4320/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4320/"><img alt="No Way Out: A Historical Documentary" title="No Way Out: A Historical Documentary" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4320/small/"/></a></p><p>No Way Out: A Historical Documentary is the written companion to a forty-minute documentary film entitled "No Way Out". The film deals with a 1974 inmate standoff at a prison in Huntsville, Texas known as the Carrasco Incident. The film examines the prison takeover through the eyes of those who lived through it. Composed of five interviews, "No Way Out" is a compilation of various points of view ranging from former hostages, members of the press, and law enforcement. The written companion for this piece discusses the three phases of the production for this film. These chapters are designed to share with the reader the various intricacies of documentary filmmaking. The thesis also explores theoretical issues concerning collective memory, coping behavior, and the ethics of historical documentary filmmaking.</p>Just $10 A Month: A Television Advertising Campaign2008-02-15T14:34:19-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4193/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4193/"><img alt="Just $10 A Month: A Television Advertising Campaign" title="Just $10 A Month: A Television Advertising Campaign" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4193/small/"/></a></p><p>This written thesis accompanies three television public service announcement spots. Two of the spots are 60 seconds and one of the spots is 45 seconds in length. I produced this public service television advertising campaign to highlight the issue of child illiteracy in Pakistan and to encourage expatriate and resident Pakistani's to donate to educational charities. A Website created by the filmmaker is promoted in the campaign. This Website provides information about various charities that educate children in Pakistan. Detailed accounts of pre-production, production and post-production of the campaign allow the viewer to comprehend the challenges in producing television campaigns for social causes. Theoretical issues are also discussed, including the causes of illiteracy, the importance and role of social campaigns, the history and uses of propaganda as well as the aesthetic concerns of a public service campaign producer. I discuss the importance of creating the culture of public service campaigns in a third world country like Pakistan, and states that the Pakistani community needs to look inwards to overcome the challenge of illiteracy.</p>Side By Side: Reinventing Mother/Daughter Relationships2008-02-15T14:32:27-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4211/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4211/"><img alt="Side By Side: Reinventing Mother/Daughter Relationships" title="Side By Side: Reinventing Mother/Daughter Relationships" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4211/small/"/></a></p><p>Beginning with mother/daughter film classics such as Stella Dallas (1937) and Mildred Pierce (1945), and moving to consider recent mother/daughter texts, Anywhere But Here (1999) and "Gilmore Girls" (2000 -), this thesis, in both its written and visual components, examines the multiple and often contradictory ways in which mothers and daughters have been represented in popular culture. Challenging the discourses that singularly stress struggle and separation, this research highlights representations that emphasize mother/daughter connection, and examines how such identification empowers mothers and daughters. This project is guided by cultural studies and feminist film theories. The first two chapters outline past and present paradigms of mothers and daughters respectively; the third chapter examines the goals and findings of the visual component.</p>"Time for Teletubbies": Childhood, Child Participation, and the Struggle for Meaning2008-02-15T14:31:09-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4227/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4227/"><img alt=""Time for Teletubbies": Childhood, Child Participation, and the Struggle for Meaning" title=""Time for Teletubbies": Childhood, Child Participation, and the Struggle for Meaning" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4227/small/"/></a></p><p>The children's television program Teletubbies and its concomitant controversies are analyzed along with the media attention surrounding the program. A textual analysis is presented, including the methodologies of narrative theory, semiotics/structuralism, and poststructuralism. The context is also analyzed, using a cultural studies and historical reception approach, in order to chronicle and analyze the show's controversies and elucidate how these arguments have affected reception and interpretation of the show. Following textual and contextual analysis, a social science approach is utilized, reviewing literature and research that supports or refutes the arguments at hand. Finally, the results of a qualitative, ethnographical study are presented in order to include the child's perspectives on the show and inform the larger, cultural issues of childhood.</p>The reshaping of the traditional television advertising model: An analysis of media agency perceptions and decision-making processes regarding the effects of digital video recorders on television commercial effectiveness.2008-01-14T23:19:16-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3906/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3906/"><img alt="The reshaping of the traditional television advertising model: An analysis of media agency perceptions and decision-making processes regarding the effects of digital video recorders on television commercial effectiveness." title="The reshaping of the traditional television advertising model: An analysis of media agency perceptions and decision-making processes regarding the effects of digital video recorders on television commercial effectiveness." src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3906/small/"/></a></p><p>This research analyzes media agency executives' perceptions and strategic decision-making processes when accessing the impact of digital video recorders (DVRs) on the traditional television commercial spot. Strategic decision-making models, as well as major industry research, forms the theoretical framework used to guide the study. The research takes a quantitative approach using a survey in order to obtain the perceptions and decision-making processes of the media agency executives'. The findings are presented while a discussion of the findings is detailed. The thesis concludes with a summary of the overall thesis research as applied to the field of study.</p>Political Agenda-Setting in Cable News as a Possible Technique for Securing an Audience Niche2008-01-14T23:15:24-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3935/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3935/"><img alt="Political Agenda-Setting in Cable News as a Possible Technique for Securing an Audience Niche" title="Political Agenda-Setting in Cable News as a Possible Technique for Securing an Audience Niche" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3935/small/"/></a></p><p>In an effort to better understand the motivations behind perceived biases in the US cable news industry, 72 hours of CNN, FOX, and MSNBC during the week preceding the 2006 congressional election were analyzed. First- and second-level agenda-setting theories are used to examine how long and in what way federal politicians are portrayed. The results indicate distinct differences in political presentations between the three networks.</p>Born in Beirut2008-01-14T23:13:03-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3954/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3954/"><img alt="Born in Beirut" title="Born in Beirut" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3954/small/"/></a></p><p>The film starts with another ordinary day, two elderly men playing Backgammon, cars passing by, children playing in the street; scenes anyone anywhere in the world can relate to. Seemingly without warning, as the sun set on that ordinary day, the audience is taken on a perilous journey through war-torn Beirut. Born in Beirut is a thoughtful and poetic examination of war through the eyes of a child who lived through endless conflict in war-torn Beirut. The film examines the futility of war and the price paid in innocent lives.</p>The Impact of Ownership, Regulation Issues and Technology Adoption on the Introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television: A Comparison of the United States and Mainland China2008-01-14T23:12:21-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3968/<p><a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3968/"><img alt="The Impact of Ownership, Regulation Issues and Technology Adoption on the Introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television: A Comparison of the United States and Mainland China" title="The Impact of Ownership, Regulation Issues and Technology Adoption on the Introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television: A Comparison of the United States and Mainland China" src="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3968/small/"/></a></p><p>This study compares the impact of media ownership, regulation and policy, and technology adoption on the introduction of digital terrestrial television in the United States and Mainland China. Through the use of a case study approach, a qualitative and quantitative examination is given. The results indicate that private group ownership throughout the U.S. digital terrestrial television industry and state ownership in China's television industry lead to the different paths to digital transition. Both governments, however, are deeply involved in respective digital initiatives and play an important role in the implementation from analog to digital. The technical standard adoption in the two countries places the underpinning for the future development of digital television (DTV), which also results in China lagging behind the United States by almost ten years. The differences of technological environments in households and income among consumers in the two countries further predict the intention to DTV adoption.</p>