Sigismondi’s book analyzes “glocalization” of entertainment

Communication professor Paolo Sigismondi wrote a new book that examines the unfolding dynamics of global media and entertainment.

“The Digital Glocalization of Entertainment: New Paradigms in the 21st Century Global Mediascape” analyzes the implications of the global rise of non-scripted entertainment such as reality television and game shows. It explores the impact of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution on the content, delivery platforms and overall business models of the media and entertainment landscape.

The book answers timely questions about digital media in a global context.

“The landscape is undergoing major changes, and I wanted to contribute to shedding light on these phenomena as they unfold,” he said. “I tried to capture some of these changes with a new term – the digital glocalization of entertainment. That can be defined as successful media texts crossing national and cultural borders incorporating global, glocal and local features, enriched by customized elements made possible by the digital media environment.”

One of the book’s distinctive features is that it researches digital media in a global context through an interdisciplinary approach of economics, communication and media studies. It is being published by Springer Science + Business Media in its series “The Economics of Information, Communication, and Entertainment," and released in multiple formats, including printed editions and eBook

Questions raised in the book include:

• Is the ICT revolution an example of disruptive technology for the global media and entertainment industry?
• Is the existing status quo challenged, and in particular Hollywood’s global leadership?
• What are the global entities emerging as Hollywood’s main competitors in this technologically evolving landscape?

Sigismondi argues that as new players are entering the field, new threats to Hollywood’s dominance are emerging. The global leaders in non-scripted entertainment, for example, are European-based global entities operating outside the Hollywood system. Meanwhile, the ICT revolution is modifying the contours and boundaries of the global mediascape. Sigismondi’s approach provides unique insight into how the forces of technology and globalization are transforming television, cinema and online entertainment.

“My goal is to offer a contribution to evolving scholarly conversations, teaching and research efforts on global media,” he said.

Sigismondi’s research and teaching interests focus on the phenomena of globalization forged by new technologies and economic forces such as multinational corporations, especially media, advertising and entertainment conglomerates and their impact on society.

"The Digital Glocalization of Entertainment"
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