Out of the theaters and into the streets: A coalition model of the political impact of documentary film and video
Out of the theaters and into the streets: A coalition model of the political impact of documentary film and video
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DOI：
10.1080/10584600490273263
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发表时间：
2004-01-01
影响因子：
7.5
通讯作者：
Whiteman, D
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Whiteman, D
对纪录片和录像的政治影响的调查通常以“个人主义模型”为指导，评估一部完成的电影对个人公民和主导公共话语的影响。然而，Feldman和Sigelman（1985）以及Lenart和McGraw（1989）的研究为创建一个更复杂的联盟模型提供了支持，该模型用于评估纪录片产生政治影响的方式，并提出有助于解释这种影响程度的因素。我认为，一个适当的模型(a)必须将电影概念化，将其作为包含制作和发行的更大过程的一部分；(b)必须全面考虑对生产者、参与者、激进组织和决策者的潜在影响；(c)必须考虑电影在社会运动中创造和维持公共话语的替代领域的作用。联合模式将我们的注意力引向激进组织潜在的重要作用，最初是作为制作过程的参与者，然后更重要的是作为发行过程的催化剂，当纪录片成为激进组织寻求政治影响的工具时。对三个案例研究的分析表明了这一模式的效用，发现除了典型地关注公民个人之外，在两个领域产生了重大影响：动员和教育活动家团体，改变公共政策审议的议程和实质。研究结果有助于我们理解政治传播的战略作用和正在进行的关于媒体效应的辩论。
Investigations of the political impact of documentary film and video have typically been guided by an "individualistic model," assessing the impact of a finished film on individual citizens and within the dominant public discourse. Research by Feldman and Sigelman (1985) and Lenart and McGraw (1989), however, provides support for creating a more elaborate coalition model for assessing the ways in which documentaries have political impact and for suggesting factors that help explain the extent of that impact. I argue that an adequate model (a) must conceptualize films as part of a larger process that incorporates both production and distribution; (b) must consider the full range of potential impacts on producers, participants, activist organizations, and decision makers; and (c) must consider the role of films in the efforts of social movements to create and sustain alternative spheres of public discourse. The coalition model directs our attention to the potentially important role of activist groups, initially as participants in the production process and then more importantly as catalysts in the distribution process, when documentary films become tools available to activist groups as they seek political impact. Analysis of three case studies demonstrates the utility of this model, finding substantial impact in two arenas beyond the typical focus on individual citizens: mobilizing and educating activist groups and altering the agenda for and the substance of public policy deliberations. Results contribute to our understanding of the strategic role of political communication and the ongoing debates over media effects.