Yukun's questions on political economy

Question about a Propaganda Model

1 The first filter is about size, ownership and profit orientation of the mass media. Authors proposed many evidence to support their opinions. However, for me, their opinions are too static to explain new technology developments. For example, new technology can help individuals or small companies break the monopoly of big media corporations. How can this filter explain the new technologies such as Internet?

2 The last filter is anticommunication. Isn’t it too old fashioned? Why don’t we replace it with the culture difference and government system? In my opinion, though there is no official claim, Muslim and non-democratic countries are the potential threat for United States. Now it is hard to explain the situation through the Anticommunication filter.

Question about Herbert Schiller
3 In the section of Globalism or Corporate Transnationalism, the Author downplayed the effects of sovereign. However, the financial crisis becomes the best evidence to disprove his opinion. Who can print more dollars to stimulate economy? Government. Who will save transnational companies? Government. Who are the members of G20? Governments.

Question about Gendering the Commodity Audience
4 In page 320, “the overvaluing of a male audience reflects the sexism of patriarchy as surely as the overvaluing of an upscale audience reflects the classism of capitalism.”
I am wondering if any scholar did transnational comparative studies. For example, in Japan or Taiwan, the roles of women are more limited by patriarchy. In traditional families in those two countries, women are in charge of housework chore. However, men have to turn in all their salaries. Women are the most important decision maker in consuming. Most manufacturers all focus on female consumers. I doubt if this theory or model could be applied in different countries.

Questions about cultural nobility in from distinction5 and 6 Isn’t cultural nobility too euro-central tendency? I am wondering how it can be applied in North America. It is hard for me to link cultural nobility to North America or other area. In addition, does this article mean there is a overlap between culture studies and political economy?