I am a medi and cultural studies scholar committed to studying the relationships among media industries, political institutions and cultural practices. My original focus was Brazilian television history, but I have recently broadened my research interests to include studies adopting a transnational and transmedia perspective, ranging from traditional media to the internet and social networks. Such studies examine the circulation of cross media texts and the complex interactions among media producers, new and old global media audiences and local cultural industries.
Despite the substantial on-screen presence of documentary filmmakers in their own productions, th... more Despite the substantial on-screen presence of documentary filmmakers in their own productions, the analysis of filmmakers’ corporeal presence and performance in their own documentary films hasn't yet been fully explored. Following Carl Plantinga's discussion on characterization and character in documentary film (2018, 115–134), the present article proposes to examine documentary filmmakers’ on-screen presence and performance in similar ways to that of other fiction and non-fiction film characters. That is, as created and shaped by their interactions with other characters in the story.
Considered the first fully Hebrew-Arabic bilingual television show on Israeli prime time televisi... more Considered the first fully Hebrew-Arabic bilingual television show on Israeli prime time television, Arab Labor (2007-2013) attracted the attention of critics and scholars for its sharp satire and criticism of the daily dilemmas and discrimination faced by Israeli Arab citizens. Although its success among audiences and critics opened the door for other bilingual television shows spoken in Hebrew and Arabic, it also caused frustration for the series' creator due the limits imposed by commercial television operating in an antagonistic socio-political context. While previous studies on the show have focused on its main narrative conflicts and themes, the present study proposes to examine the televisual spatio-temporal, linguistic and dramatic structures that foster the encounters and conflicts between the two languages spoken in the series.
During the last decade, an increasing number of transnational and multilingual television shows h... more During the last decade, an increasing number of transnational and multilingual television shows have been produced, distributed, and consumed via global streaming platforms. The present study aims to examine bilingual fiction series through the analysis of two high-impact Hebrew-Arabic bilingual television shows, produced by the Israeli television industry: Arab Labor (2007-13) and Fauda (2015-present). While previous studies on these shows focused on the on-screen representation of the Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian population, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the present article proposes a methodology for a quantitative and qualitative analysis of multilingual fiction series. Instead of a linear textual analysis, it suggests focusing on the genre conventions, televisual structure, and linguistic performances that made possible the complex amalgamation of the languages spoken in both series.
In July 1985, in what was promoted at the time as a rebuke of center-periphery relation patterns,... more In July 1985, in what was promoted at the time as a rebuke of center-periphery relation patterns, Brazilian television network Globo, owned by Roberto Marinho, bought Telemontecarlo (TMC), a tiny private television station set in Monaco, with the goal of transforming it into an Italian national television network capable of competing with Fininvest, the leading commercial television group of the time. Encouraged by Italian Christian Democracy leaders, the Brazilian group's presence in Italy provoked legal, political and economic warfare between Globo's owners and the local dominant communications mogul and future Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Throughout this paper, I analyze the various transnational political, economic and cultural links between Brazil and Italy that both encouraged this unorthodox move and also led to its almost inevitable failure.
Produced and released by Netflix in March 2018, The Mechanism (2018-), a web series, fictionalise... more Produced and released by Netflix in March 2018, The Mechanism (2018-), a web series, fictionalised the Lava Jato operation, a series of criminal investigations about corruption in the Brazilian political system that led to the imprisonment of leading Brazilian politicians and businessmen. Analysing the series along with the media coverage in the Brazilian mainstream online and printed press, this article examines the complex and troublesome relationship between an ongoing criminal investigation with ramifications for the political system and its fictionalisation on a worldwide internet television platform. Keywords Netflix, Lava-Jato, Brazil, The Mechanism (O Mecanismo), media imperialism Produced and premiered by Netflix, Brazilian web television thriller, The Mechanism (O Mecanismo) caused enormous public interest and controversy for its depiction of the Lava Jato (Jet Wash) operation. A criminal investigation led by the Brazilian federal police and Judge Sergio Moro, Lava Jato began as a money laundering investigation and evolved into an investigating corruption of the semi-public Brazilian oil company, Petrobras. Provoking an earthquake in Brazilian politics and its economy, the Lava Jato operation led to the imprisonment of leading entrepreneurs and political figures, the most
O presente artigo propõe uma abordagem transnacional histórica com o objetivo de compreender os p... more O presente artigo propõe uma abordagem transnacional histórica com o objetivo de compreender os principais padrões e desafios na produção e consumo de conteúdos televisivos na região latino-americana. Em vez de focar em casos nacionais, como fazem a maioria dos estudos sobre o campo, gostaria de destacar aqui a circulação transnacional da televisão latino-americana por meio das trajetórias e passagens de produtores, empreendedores, conteúdos e tecnologias em toda a região, dos anos 1950 até os dias atuais. O resultante remapeamento da televisão latino-americana nos leva a considerar que os obstáculos e barreiras linguísticas e culturais afetam a circulação de conteúdos televisivos produzidos na região, bem como as consagradas assimetrias e hierarquias de poder entre os países da região.
The present paper proposes a historical transnational approach with the aim of grasping the main ... more The present paper proposes a historical transnational approach with the aim of grasping the main patterns and challenges in the production and consumption of television contents in the region. Instead of focusing on national cases, as most studies on the field do, I would like to focus here on the transnational circulation of Latin American television through the journeys and passages of producers, entrepreneurs, contents, and technologies across the region from the 1950s to the present. The resulting remapping of Latin American television prompts us to consider the linguistic and cultural obstacles and barriers affecting the circulation of television contents produced in the region as well as the established power asymmetries and hierarchies among Latin American countries.
With the rise of television formats in global television, several studies have examined the econo... more With the rise of television formats in global television, several studies have examined the economic, political, and cultural aspects of this media product's production and circulation. This study analyzes the complex path of a television drama series from a local critical and popular phenomenon to a global " quality " fiction format, focusing on the transnationalization process of the format of the Israeli program BeTipul from its arrival in the United States to its adaptation and reception in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Italy. The study emphasizes the cross-cultural dialogic attributes of the quality fiction format, which support a strategy comprising both mutual benefits and competition, as opposed to the allegedly " odorless " or " neutral " features of reality and game-show formats.
This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms, focusing on you... more This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms, focusing on young Israeli adoptees from Brazil, struggling to trace their biological origins, recover (to some extent) their culture of birth and make their plight known. Theoretically speaking, this study is based on the notion of hybridity, understood as a strategy used by individuals to elaborate new social identities (Israeli adoptees organized as online support group, moving to activism, recovering their culture of origin through media and travelling), by media producers to elaborate texts relevant to complex audiences (dramatized documentary, transnational ‘docu-telenovela’, Brazilian prime-time entertainment programme used to expose social problems), and more generally, as a characteristic of the media system that constantly (re)combines technologies, genres and actors. Hybridity, however, should not be confused with equality. Relations between system components are mostly asymmetrical, but are ...
Since its release in February 2015, television drama/action series Fauda has attracted enormous p... more Since its release in February 2015, television drama/action series Fauda has attracted enormous public attention and debate, first in Israel and then abroad, following its global release on Netflix. The story of an Israeli undercover unit chasing an infamous Palestinian terrorist, the series was praised for its ‘realistic’ depiction of the conflict and empathetic portrayal of the opposing sides, as well as for the frenetic rhythm and suspense of the plot. On the other hand, the series has faced criticism for downplaying and obscuring the realities of the Israeli occupation, focusing on a cat and mouse thriller rather than the hardships incurred by a civilian population under military control. Based on a qualitative analysis of media coverage in Israel and abroad, this article analyzes the complex relationship between an ongoing asymmetrical conflict and its representation in fictional television entertainment.
Since the late 1990s, actor Ricardo Darin has been a key figure in the Argentinian film industry,... more Since the late 1990s, actor Ricardo Darin has been a key figure in the Argentinian film industry, and its most recognizable face abroad. With an impressive career that began with " lowbrow " national television and made the leap to prestigious transnational coproduc-tions, Darin's unique journey to international stardom allows us to address important questions regarding current processes of star formation in globalized cultural industries. This article uses the case study as the basis for a broader argument about the main discursive devices and marketing strategies that encourage or impede the reception and consumption of peripheral stars in different geopolitical regions. Stardom beyond the Hollywood system is a multilayered construction of sometimes contradictory discourses regarding national, regional, ethnic, and cultural–historical identities.
Hasta hace poco tiempo atrás, la mayoría de los trabajos históricos sobre este periodo se encauza... more Hasta hace poco tiempo atrás, la mayoría de los trabajos históricos sobre este periodo se encauzaban a desentrañar la violencia política y social que caracterizó esta época, muchas veces bajo el apadrinamiento de la potencias en contienda. 5 Recientemente la relación entre la disputa geopolítica e ideológica de la Guerra Fría y las industrias culturales comienza a ganar visibilidad, a través de enriquecedores trabajos que ponen en relieve las complejas relaciones entre la lógica política y la lógica comercial que orientaba la producción y el consumo cultural en este período.
Since the beginning of the millennium, several Brazilian telenovelas have been produced partially... more Since the beginning of the millennium, several Brazilian telenovelas have been produced partially abroad, incorporating into their storylines ethnically and religiously diverse protagonists, exotic customs, foreign jargon and attractive tourist locations in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries. This paper aims to contribute to the debate regarding the asymmetries in media contents flow from “central” to “developing” countries, by analyzing the production of Brazilian “transnational” telenovelas broadcast during 2001–2012. Rejecting the media imperialism thesis, as formulated in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the more optimistic approaches pointing to the erosion of persistent asymmetries in the production and reception of television contents, this study examines the economic, cultural and political forces driving the production and consumption of television contents outside the Anglo-Saxon axis, focusing on the cooperation, conflicts and negotiations between television producers, national audiences, international publics and private actors.
This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms,
focusing on yo... more This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms,
focusing on young Israeli adoptees from Brazil, struggling to trace their biological
origins, recover (to some extent) their culture of birth and make their plight known.
Theoretically speaking, this study is based on the notion of hybridity, understood as a
strategy used by individuals to elaborate new social identities (Israeli adoptees organized
as online support group, moving to activism, recovering their culture of origin through
media and travelling), by media producers to elaborate texts relevant to complex
audiences (dramatized documentary, transnational ‘docu-telenovela’, Brazilian primetime
entertainment programme used to expose social problems), and more generally,
as a characteristic of the media system that constantly (re)combines technologies,
genres and actors. Hybridity, however, should not be confused with equality. Relations
between system components are mostly asymmetrical, but are constantly evolving,
often unpredictably, offering some manoeuvrability even for weaker actors.
Despite the substantial on-screen presence of documentary filmmakers in their own productions, th... more Despite the substantial on-screen presence of documentary filmmakers in their own productions, the analysis of filmmakers’ corporeal presence and performance in their own documentary films hasn't yet been fully explored. Following Carl Plantinga's discussion on characterization and character in documentary film (2018, 115–134), the present article proposes to examine documentary filmmakers’ on-screen presence and performance in similar ways to that of other fiction and non-fiction film characters. That is, as created and shaped by their interactions with other characters in the story.
Considered the first fully Hebrew-Arabic bilingual television show on Israeli prime time televisi... more Considered the first fully Hebrew-Arabic bilingual television show on Israeli prime time television, Arab Labor (2007-2013) attracted the attention of critics and scholars for its sharp satire and criticism of the daily dilemmas and discrimination faced by Israeli Arab citizens. Although its success among audiences and critics opened the door for other bilingual television shows spoken in Hebrew and Arabic, it also caused frustration for the series' creator due the limits imposed by commercial television operating in an antagonistic socio-political context. While previous studies on the show have focused on its main narrative conflicts and themes, the present study proposes to examine the televisual spatio-temporal, linguistic and dramatic structures that foster the encounters and conflicts between the two languages spoken in the series.
During the last decade, an increasing number of transnational and multilingual television shows h... more During the last decade, an increasing number of transnational and multilingual television shows have been produced, distributed, and consumed via global streaming platforms. The present study aims to examine bilingual fiction series through the analysis of two high-impact Hebrew-Arabic bilingual television shows, produced by the Israeli television industry: Arab Labor (2007-13) and Fauda (2015-present). While previous studies on these shows focused on the on-screen representation of the Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian population, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the present article proposes a methodology for a quantitative and qualitative analysis of multilingual fiction series. Instead of a linear textual analysis, it suggests focusing on the genre conventions, televisual structure, and linguistic performances that made possible the complex amalgamation of the languages spoken in both series.
In July 1985, in what was promoted at the time as a rebuke of center-periphery relation patterns,... more In July 1985, in what was promoted at the time as a rebuke of center-periphery relation patterns, Brazilian television network Globo, owned by Roberto Marinho, bought Telemontecarlo (TMC), a tiny private television station set in Monaco, with the goal of transforming it into an Italian national television network capable of competing with Fininvest, the leading commercial television group of the time. Encouraged by Italian Christian Democracy leaders, the Brazilian group's presence in Italy provoked legal, political and economic warfare between Globo's owners and the local dominant communications mogul and future Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Throughout this paper, I analyze the various transnational political, economic and cultural links between Brazil and Italy that both encouraged this unorthodox move and also led to its almost inevitable failure.
Produced and released by Netflix in March 2018, The Mechanism (2018-), a web series, fictionalise... more Produced and released by Netflix in March 2018, The Mechanism (2018-), a web series, fictionalised the Lava Jato operation, a series of criminal investigations about corruption in the Brazilian political system that led to the imprisonment of leading Brazilian politicians and businessmen. Analysing the series along with the media coverage in the Brazilian mainstream online and printed press, this article examines the complex and troublesome relationship between an ongoing criminal investigation with ramifications for the political system and its fictionalisation on a worldwide internet television platform. Keywords Netflix, Lava-Jato, Brazil, The Mechanism (O Mecanismo), media imperialism Produced and premiered by Netflix, Brazilian web television thriller, The Mechanism (O Mecanismo) caused enormous public interest and controversy for its depiction of the Lava Jato (Jet Wash) operation. A criminal investigation led by the Brazilian federal police and Judge Sergio Moro, Lava Jato began as a money laundering investigation and evolved into an investigating corruption of the semi-public Brazilian oil company, Petrobras. Provoking an earthquake in Brazilian politics and its economy, the Lava Jato operation led to the imprisonment of leading entrepreneurs and political figures, the most
O presente artigo propõe uma abordagem transnacional histórica com o objetivo de compreender os p... more O presente artigo propõe uma abordagem transnacional histórica com o objetivo de compreender os principais padrões e desafios na produção e consumo de conteúdos televisivos na região latino-americana. Em vez de focar em casos nacionais, como fazem a maioria dos estudos sobre o campo, gostaria de destacar aqui a circulação transnacional da televisão latino-americana por meio das trajetórias e passagens de produtores, empreendedores, conteúdos e tecnologias em toda a região, dos anos 1950 até os dias atuais. O resultante remapeamento da televisão latino-americana nos leva a considerar que os obstáculos e barreiras linguísticas e culturais afetam a circulação de conteúdos televisivos produzidos na região, bem como as consagradas assimetrias e hierarquias de poder entre os países da região.
The present paper proposes a historical transnational approach with the aim of grasping the main ... more The present paper proposes a historical transnational approach with the aim of grasping the main patterns and challenges in the production and consumption of television contents in the region. Instead of focusing on national cases, as most studies on the field do, I would like to focus here on the transnational circulation of Latin American television through the journeys and passages of producers, entrepreneurs, contents, and technologies across the region from the 1950s to the present. The resulting remapping of Latin American television prompts us to consider the linguistic and cultural obstacles and barriers affecting the circulation of television contents produced in the region as well as the established power asymmetries and hierarchies among Latin American countries.
With the rise of television formats in global television, several studies have examined the econo... more With the rise of television formats in global television, several studies have examined the economic, political, and cultural aspects of this media product's production and circulation. This study analyzes the complex path of a television drama series from a local critical and popular phenomenon to a global " quality " fiction format, focusing on the transnationalization process of the format of the Israeli program BeTipul from its arrival in the United States to its adaptation and reception in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Italy. The study emphasizes the cross-cultural dialogic attributes of the quality fiction format, which support a strategy comprising both mutual benefits and competition, as opposed to the allegedly " odorless " or " neutral " features of reality and game-show formats.
This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms, focusing on you... more This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms, focusing on young Israeli adoptees from Brazil, struggling to trace their biological origins, recover (to some extent) their culture of birth and make their plight known. Theoretically speaking, this study is based on the notion of hybridity, understood as a strategy used by individuals to elaborate new social identities (Israeli adoptees organized as online support group, moving to activism, recovering their culture of origin through media and travelling), by media producers to elaborate texts relevant to complex audiences (dramatized documentary, transnational ‘docu-telenovela’, Brazilian prime-time entertainment programme used to expose social problems), and more generally, as a characteristic of the media system that constantly (re)combines technologies, genres and actors. Hybridity, however, should not be confused with equality. Relations between system components are mostly asymmetrical, but are ...
Since its release in February 2015, television drama/action series Fauda has attracted enormous p... more Since its release in February 2015, television drama/action series Fauda has attracted enormous public attention and debate, first in Israel and then abroad, following its global release on Netflix. The story of an Israeli undercover unit chasing an infamous Palestinian terrorist, the series was praised for its ‘realistic’ depiction of the conflict and empathetic portrayal of the opposing sides, as well as for the frenetic rhythm and suspense of the plot. On the other hand, the series has faced criticism for downplaying and obscuring the realities of the Israeli occupation, focusing on a cat and mouse thriller rather than the hardships incurred by a civilian population under military control. Based on a qualitative analysis of media coverage in Israel and abroad, this article analyzes the complex relationship between an ongoing asymmetrical conflict and its representation in fictional television entertainment.
Since the late 1990s, actor Ricardo Darin has been a key figure in the Argentinian film industry,... more Since the late 1990s, actor Ricardo Darin has been a key figure in the Argentinian film industry, and its most recognizable face abroad. With an impressive career that began with " lowbrow " national television and made the leap to prestigious transnational coproduc-tions, Darin's unique journey to international stardom allows us to address important questions regarding current processes of star formation in globalized cultural industries. This article uses the case study as the basis for a broader argument about the main discursive devices and marketing strategies that encourage or impede the reception and consumption of peripheral stars in different geopolitical regions. Stardom beyond the Hollywood system is a multilayered construction of sometimes contradictory discourses regarding national, regional, ethnic, and cultural–historical identities.
Hasta hace poco tiempo atrás, la mayoría de los trabajos históricos sobre este periodo se encauza... more Hasta hace poco tiempo atrás, la mayoría de los trabajos históricos sobre este periodo se encauzaban a desentrañar la violencia política y social que caracterizó esta época, muchas veces bajo el apadrinamiento de la potencias en contienda. 5 Recientemente la relación entre la disputa geopolítica e ideológica de la Guerra Fría y las industrias culturales comienza a ganar visibilidad, a través de enriquecedores trabajos que ponen en relieve las complejas relaciones entre la lógica política y la lógica comercial que orientaba la producción y el consumo cultural en este período.
Since the beginning of the millennium, several Brazilian telenovelas have been produced partially... more Since the beginning of the millennium, several Brazilian telenovelas have been produced partially abroad, incorporating into their storylines ethnically and religiously diverse protagonists, exotic customs, foreign jargon and attractive tourist locations in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries. This paper aims to contribute to the debate regarding the asymmetries in media contents flow from “central” to “developing” countries, by analyzing the production of Brazilian “transnational” telenovelas broadcast during 2001–2012. Rejecting the media imperialism thesis, as formulated in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the more optimistic approaches pointing to the erosion of persistent asymmetries in the production and reception of television contents, this study examines the economic, cultural and political forces driving the production and consumption of television contents outside the Anglo-Saxon axis, focusing on the cooperation, conflicts and negotiations between television producers, national audiences, international publics and private actors.
This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms,
focusing on yo... more This is a case study of transnational activism across media genres and platforms,
focusing on young Israeli adoptees from Brazil, struggling to trace their biological
origins, recover (to some extent) their culture of birth and make their plight known.
Theoretically speaking, this study is based on the notion of hybridity, understood as a
strategy used by individuals to elaborate new social identities (Israeli adoptees organized
as online support group, moving to activism, recovering their culture of origin through
media and travelling), by media producers to elaborate texts relevant to complex
audiences (dramatized documentary, transnational ‘docu-telenovela’, Brazilian primetime
entertainment programme used to expose social problems), and more generally,
as a characteristic of the media system that constantly (re)combines technologies,
genres and actors. Hybridity, however, should not be confused with equality. Relations
between system components are mostly asymmetrical, but are constantly evolving,
often unpredictably, offering some manoeuvrability even for weaker actors.
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Papers by Nahuel Ribke
technologies across the region from the 1950s to the present. The resulting remapping of Latin American television prompts us to consider the linguistic and cultural obstacles and barriers affecting the circulation of television contents produced in the region as well as the established power asymmetries and hierarchies among Latin American countries.
suspense of the plot. On the other hand, the series has faced criticism for downplaying and obscuring the realities of the Israeli occupation, focusing on a cat and mouse thriller rather than the hardships incurred by a civilian population under military control. Based on a qualitative analysis of media coverage in Israel and abroad, this article analyzes the
complex relationship between an ongoing asymmetrical conflict and its representation in fictional television entertainment.
5 Recientemente la relación entre la disputa geopolítica e ideológica de la Guerra Fría y las industrias culturales comienza a ganar visibilidad, a través de enriquecedores trabajos que ponen en relieve las complejas relaciones entre la lógica política y la lógica comercial que orientaba la producción y el consumo cultural en este período.
focusing on young Israeli adoptees from Brazil, struggling to trace their biological
origins, recover (to some extent) their culture of birth and make their plight known.
Theoretically speaking, this study is based on the notion of hybridity, understood as a
strategy used by individuals to elaborate new social identities (Israeli adoptees organized
as online support group, moving to activism, recovering their culture of origin through
media and travelling), by media producers to elaborate texts relevant to complex
audiences (dramatized documentary, transnational ‘docu-telenovela’, Brazilian primetime
entertainment programme used to expose social problems), and more generally,
as a characteristic of the media system that constantly (re)combines technologies,
genres and actors. Hybridity, however, should not be confused with equality. Relations
between system components are mostly asymmetrical, but are constantly evolving,
often unpredictably, offering some manoeuvrability even for weaker actors.
technologies across the region from the 1950s to the present. The resulting remapping of Latin American television prompts us to consider the linguistic and cultural obstacles and barriers affecting the circulation of television contents produced in the region as well as the established power asymmetries and hierarchies among Latin American countries.
suspense of the plot. On the other hand, the series has faced criticism for downplaying and obscuring the realities of the Israeli occupation, focusing on a cat and mouse thriller rather than the hardships incurred by a civilian population under military control. Based on a qualitative analysis of media coverage in Israel and abroad, this article analyzes the
complex relationship between an ongoing asymmetrical conflict and its representation in fictional television entertainment.
5 Recientemente la relación entre la disputa geopolítica e ideológica de la Guerra Fría y las industrias culturales comienza a ganar visibilidad, a través de enriquecedores trabajos que ponen en relieve las complejas relaciones entre la lógica política y la lógica comercial que orientaba la producción y el consumo cultural en este período.
focusing on young Israeli adoptees from Brazil, struggling to trace their biological
origins, recover (to some extent) their culture of birth and make their plight known.
Theoretically speaking, this study is based on the notion of hybridity, understood as a
strategy used by individuals to elaborate new social identities (Israeli adoptees organized
as online support group, moving to activism, recovering their culture of origin through
media and travelling), by media producers to elaborate texts relevant to complex
audiences (dramatized documentary, transnational ‘docu-telenovela’, Brazilian primetime
entertainment programme used to expose social problems), and more generally,
as a characteristic of the media system that constantly (re)combines technologies,
genres and actors. Hybridity, however, should not be confused with equality. Relations
between system components are mostly asymmetrical, but are constantly evolving,
often unpredictably, offering some manoeuvrability even for weaker actors.