Question 1

As the author describes, rather than represent a wide range of "real people" who reflect the diversity of the nation, reality TV repackages ______ into comfortingly familiar stock characters and stereotypes.

Accepted Answer

The author specifically mentions "real people" who reflect diversity, which suggests that the missing term is something related to difference or diversity. Option A, "difference," best fits this context because it implies a range of characteristics that can differ among individuals, whereas the other options are more specific categories such as culture, people, or social class.

Question 2

Netflix has moved into territory that sets it apart from familiar structures of production, broadcasting, or branding of television. Netflix does signal a change within ______.

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions a change within the television landscape, which makes option C the most relevant choice. Option A, the digital creator field, is too narrow and does not capture the broader implications of Netflix's impact on television. Option B, the online streaming market, is too specific and only encompasses one aspect of the television industry. Option D, the live entertainment framework, is not relevant to the statement at all.

Question 3

Under post-Fordism, capitalism responds to the global flow of labor and consumption markets within and between nation-states by transforming local and regional ______ into market segments and mobilizing citizens as consumers.

Accepted Answer

Post-Fordism emphasizes the role of culture as an important factor in shaping economic behavior. Capitalism under post-Fordism transforms local and regional cultures into market segments, and mobilizes citizens as consumers through the creation of consumer identities and the use of advertising and media to promote consumerism. This allows capitalism to transcend national borders and create a global market system.

Question 4

According to the author, the networks had the money and the audience to dominate the market as the only buyers of series programming from Hollywood producers and studios.

Accepted Answer

The author states in the passage that the networks had the financial resources and viewer base to be the sole purchasers of television shows from Hollywood producers and studios.

Question 5

While virtues such as discipline and diligence are considered undesirable in the U.S. context, these purportedly "negative" traits can become positive when pushed to excess.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not accurate. Discipline and diligence are generally considered positive traits in the U.S. culture, and the statement implies otherwise. While excessive focus on a single trait can lead to negative consequences, the general concept of discipline and diligence is seen as desirable.

Question 6

At best, Gilmore Girls points to a lack of political commitment on the part of its producers, and at worst, it perpetuates a neoliberal fantasy that glosses over the harsh realities of working-class life in ways that distract from the value of class consciousness. This seemingly class-based show exploits economic disparities in the articulation of ______.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B) a classless neoliberal middle class, as it directly relates to the critique of the show for perpetuating a neoliberal fantasy that glosses over class realities, suggesting an idealized, classless society that aligns with neoliberal values.

Question 7

Television producers, advertisers, and networks know that programs that are too long, too difficult to comprehend, or simply too boring will lead to ______.

Accepted Answer

Viewers switching channels. This is because viewers have many options and limited attention spans, so they will quickly move on from a program that does not capture their interest or attention.

Question 8

When television programs make race an explicit theme, it is usually an appeal to some universal, effectively White, human experience that operates to ultimately reinforce the goals of ______.

Accepted Answer

When television programs make race an explicit theme, they often use a narrative that appeals to a universal, effectively White, human experience. This reinforces the goals of liberal individualism, which values individual freedom and autonomy over social or collective identities.

Question 9

Another factor affecting network decisions on content is the need to produce programming suited to ______ not only in decisions on new series but also in day-to-day decisions producing each episode.

Accepted Answer

Advertising is a major factor in network decisions as it directly impacts revenue, influencing both new series and episode production decisions.

Question 10

Donald Trump is mastering new media as well as dominating television and old media through his orchestration of media events as ______ and his daily Twitter feed.

Accepted Answer

Trump's media events are often staged as spectacles, designed to capture attention and create a memorable image or moment for the media to cover. His daily use of Twitter is also a form of new media that allows him to communicate directly with his followers and generate media coverage.

Question 11

At first glance, representations of female prisoners on contemporary U.S. television may indeed appear as more ______ than those of their male counterparts.

Accepted Answer

The word "sympathetic" suggests that representations of female prisoners evoke feelings of compassion or understanding, which are typically associated with sympathy. This is in contrast to the other options: "violent" suggests aggression or hostility, "helpless" suggests vulnerability or powerlessness, and "pathetic" suggests weakness or inferiority. While representations of female prisoners may certainly include elements of these other characteristics, the wording of the question suggests that they may not be as prominent or prevalent as those of sympathy.

Question 12

Reaching the vast majority of the population for well over half a century and seeping into everyday conversation, ______ has/have made a significant contribution to our culture's attitude toward the man who makes his living with his hands.

Accepted Answer

Sitcoms have been popular for over 50 years and have contributed to the cultural attitude towards blue-collar workers. Many popular sitcoms feature working-class characters and storylines, and their impact on popular culture cannot be underestimated. Sports, reality TV, and documentaries may also contribute to cultural attitudes towards blue-collar workers, but sitcoms have had the most significant and sustained impact.

Question 13

Hung's narrative on Top Chef revealed not only how the trope of being technical but lacking "heart" and "soul" is placed on ______ but also the conflicts that racialized minorities encounter competing in fields of culture that continue to be governed by White privilege.

Accepted Answer

Hung is an Asian American chef, and the passage specifically mentions the conflicts that racialized minorities (such as Asian Americans) encounter in fields of culture that are still governed by White privilege.

Question 14

If one accepts that television narratives articulate normative truths that enter into public discourse and reinforce or resist dominant ideologies, then Gilmore Girls is a poor indicator of and contributor to neoliberal notions of an autonomous individual made in the image of a classless middle-class American.

Accepted Answer

Gilmore Girls, through its portrayal of the close-knit, supportive community of Stars Hollow and the emphasis on individual choice and personal responsibility, actually reinforces neoliberal ideals of individualism and the myth of a classless society, making it a strong indicator and contributor to such notions.

Question 15

Orange Is the New Black's ambition to present a different perspective on prison life appeared to be validated by ______.

Accepted Answer

The sentence mentions "a chorus of television critics," which suggests that the validation comes from reviewers who have written about the show. Therefore, the best choice is D, "a chorus of television critics."

Question 16

Rhimes's blind-casting works to acknowledge difference in ways that will cause the least amount of discomfort to White audiences while providing an illusion that under liberal individualism, the marketplace will do right by historically ______.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "the least amount of discomfort to White audiences" suggests that Rhimes is trying to appeal to a predominantly White audience, and therefore casting marginalized individuals in ways that won't make them uncomfortable. The phrase "under liberal individualism, the marketplace will do right" suggests that Rhimes believes that the market will reward diversity and marginalized individuals, but this is ultimately an illusion. Therefore, the answer is A, as marginalized individuals are the ones Rhimes is attempting to acknowledge through blind-casting.

Question 17

The global success of reality television is attributable to the practice of licensing the format of a show to overseas broadcasters for adaptation to specific markets.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Licensing and adapting formats to specific markets allows for cultural relevance and popularity in different countries, contributing to the global success of reality television.

Question 18

______ are presented as media spectacles and dominate certain news cycles.

Accepted Answer

Dramatic news and events often make for sensational media spectacles that dominate news cycles. This includes events such as natural disasters, mass shootings, and high-profile court cases. While pop culture updates, entertainment news, sports, and political rallies may also receive significant media coverage, they do not necessarily dominate news cycles in the same way dramatic news events do.

Question 19

Neoliberalism, characterized broadly as the "______" for global capitalism, expounds the alleged death of class; according to this mode of social organization, professional success and material security are the responsibility of private individuals.

Accepted Answer

Neoliberalism is an economic ideology that emphasizes free-market capitalism and individual responsibility, and it is often referred to as "ideological software" because it is a set of ideas and beliefs. It is not a secret key or doomsday device, and although it has philosophical underpinnings, it is not solely a matter of "philosophical hardware."

Question 20

While Netflix is accountable to shareholders and its partners in revenue sharing, it tends to be the company that advertises itself to ______ rather than ______.

Accepted Answer

Netflix relies on its subscribers for revenue and therefore primarily advertises itself to them, rather than attracting advertisers. While it may appeal to certain age groups and demographics, such as millennials, it does not exclusively target them, and there is no evidence to suggest that it is more focused on online viewers versus traditional network audiences.

Quiz 7: Women Read the Romance: the Interaction of Text and Context