Discussion Questions:

1 – Are talk shows (and other forms of participatory media) really cathartic or personalized experiences for the involved audience, giving people agency, or are they more a means of pushing the particular agenda of those in control? Relatedly, are they democratizing devices that give voice to audience members or “anti-political” machines as described by Matza in the article?

In other words, are talk shows a platform for the public to voice their frustrations and to subsequently inspire change in the society, or are they simply a distraction that keeps people from taking concrete actions in the real world?

2 – Matza describes the differences between the very personal subject matter of American talk shows and the more distanced nature of Soviet talk shows. Despite these differences, are there parallels between the talk shows he discusses and forms of participatory media we’re familiar with in our own culture?

Bonus Question: Have you ever participated in a radio talk show program? If so, does your personal experience relate to what we have talked about here?

Matza, Tomas                                                                                                                 2009    Moscow’s Echo: Technologies of the Self, Publics, and Politics on the Russian       Talk Show. Cultural Anthropology 24(3): 489-522.

Dean Ward, Beth Penney, (Tony) Meng Zhai, and Jana Mings.