Episode 5: Media Theory Project/Money VS Creativity

**Gradient** (0:03)
Good afternoon, or evening, or morning to whoever's listening. It's been a while since the last episode. There's a lot to unpack there, but not in this episode, actually. This episode is being done for a school project. We're going to be talking about the critical political economy.

**Gabe** (0:24)
It's a great topic.

**Gradient** (0:25)
I know, right? Yeah, it's so much fun. But I actually did find this one interesting, because we could have picked from any theory in the class. But this one, I feel like, just relates more to stuff that I'm interested in, especially in terms of like... I have Gabe here with me, by the way.

**Gabe** (0:42)
Hello.

**Gradient** (0:42)
Say hey.

**Gabe** (0:42)
My name is Gabe.

**Gradient** (0:44)
We were just talking about social media and how to grow on social media and things like that. And so I feel like this is sort of relevant, because this theory basically explains how, at least financially, either influencers or big productions like TV shows and movies are funded, and whether or not they'll continue to be funded based on how much money they're bringing in for...

**Gabe** (1:12)
Who would it be?

**Gradient** (1:13)
Like the publishers?

**Gabe** (1:15)
Yeah, the producers, publishers, or if it's an independent content creator, then whatever. They're making off the money. And kind of relating to what you're saying, what we were talking about is that if you want to make it on YouTube or something, when you're starting to build a following, you have to go with what people want before you can really go with what your passion is, because you need to be able to grow a following and make money, because at the end of the day, if you're not making money, the creative stuff you do doesn't really matter because it's not influential.

**Gradient** (1:49)
You can't keep doing it.

**Gabe** (1:50)
Exactly. It's not influential if it's not making money. Right.

**Gradient** (1:54)
And like the examples we were talking about in our class, Gabe's not in this class, by the way. Anyone listening? He's just here for the ride. But...

**Gabe** (2:03)
Here for a good time.

**Gradient** (2:04)
Oh, yeah. The example that stuck with me, that we talked about in our class was, like the example I said about the TV shows, like sometimes TV shows that are really creative and really good and like will be canceled because they're just not getting enough viewership. It's not something that is bringing in them enough money, but shows that suck.

**Gabe** (2:30)
They just... Sometimes they don't make the money.

**Gradient** (2:32)
I'm trying to think of an example of one that sucks that kept going for a lot longer than I had to. Glee, for example. There's no...

**Gabe** (2:40)
Riverdale.

**Gradient** (2:41)
Oh, God. I don't even bring that one up.

**Gabe** (2:43)
I had to watch that because of an ex once. It was terrible.

**Gradient** (2:48)
Well, there's a reason she's your ex, then.

**Gabe** (2:50)
Yes, there is.

**Gradient** (2:51)
She made you watch Riverdale. How many seasons have you said?

**Gabe** (2:54)
Dude, I don't know how many there is, but I had to watch like the first two seasons. So Riverdale, you know, the first couple seasons, there's no one I really like, and, you know, all it does is just rake in the money, and it's target audience is teenage girls, and it makes them happy. They like the show. They watch it. The show gets money. It keeps going.

**Gradient** (3:14)
Yeah.

**Gabe** (3:15)
So other shows like it. That's the first example that pops to my mind.

**Gradient** (3:18)
It really does just come down to taste, though. Like you said, like these, like the teenage girls love it. So even though it's not the most wide demographic, but there are a lot of teenage girls, and it applies to, you know.

**Gabe** (3:30)
And it makes money, so it keeps going.

**Gradient** (3:32)
Yeah. Arrested Development.

**Gabe** (3:35)
Arrested Development.

**Gradient** (3:36)
Well, that's an example of both, I think, actually.

**Gabe** (3:38)
Yeah. So what happened with Arrested Development, from my understanding, is the first three seasons happened.

**Gradient** (3:43)
Phenomenal.

**Gabe** (3:44)
I love it. First three seasons of Arrested Development.
There is always money in the banana stand. If you haven't watched them, please pause this and go watch three seasons of a TV show and then come back, because I know you will. You'll remember to come back. But that show was amazing, but it just didn't make enough money. At the time. At the time. And another show replaced it on the live TV, and it was forgotten about until Netflix came around, and Netflix rebooted it. And that's when the last two seasons came out, which as an avid fan of Arrested Development, I still thought they were good, but they weren't to the level of what they were. So that shows where it got cut, it was a great show, but it just wasn't making enough money, and then all of a sudden, it came back simply for the money, and the quality wasn't there. So it goes to show how money really motivates creativity and people's ideas. If there's no money, they're not going to continue with it, and if there's money, they'll continue with it, even if there isn't anything good.