White paper on creativity - ebla center

Chapter 8changes in political power become afactor of uncertainty, at times alsostrictly economic uncertainty. This isparticularly evident in the field of radioand television, where an imminentchange at the head of the state-runcompany can create situations ofparalysis in decision-making whichoften drag on for months or even years,as has happened in Italy between 2006and 2009.Thirdly, given the financial fragility ofthese particular sectors in the cultureindustry (with the partial exception oflarger companies) another criticalcharacteristic feature is a lack ofinstitutions specialised in the field andcapable of assessing risks andinvestments which might be anomalousin other economic spheres.Lastly, can an industry in which no onetakes the risk of conceiving ideas beforeassessing their sales potential berightfully called “creative”? Contrary towhat is generally thought, for example,US television fiction gives a good dealof room to these kinds of processes,whereas, because of structuralweaknesses and inveterate habits, theItalian model does not.This is arguably an example whosesignificance goes well beyond thespecific case of television fiction andhelps us understand many of theprocesses described in this <strong>White</strong> Paper.WHITE PAPER ON CREATIVITY 207