Mass Media: A Discussion; More Vocab; A Career in Media Studies?

Before we move back to the lab (while we wait for our Chrome books to arrive--hopefully by next week...), let's consider what we read and learned about chapter 1, pages 3-15, Mass Media. Let's begin our discussion with these questions:

• Which form of mass media is most popular with your generation in your opinion? [books, newspapers, magazines, phones, radio, tv, movies, computers, internet, cellphones, etc.] Is this the same form of mass media that your parents (or grandparents) favor? What might account for the change in preference?
• The chapter talks about the cultural context in which the media operates. How have media representation/media narratives impacted our reception of them?
• Do you believe that mass media actually "circulates the culture" of an individual? Can you cite an example that supports your belief?
• Greek philosophers argued between the value of oral vs. written communication (philosophers believing that written communication threatened public debate). With the working class, at the time, being generally illiterate and economic and education gaps so vast, do we see any similar arguments between then and now? Which form of communication is better in your opinion: oral or written expression/debate? 
• The printing press “fostered the modern idea of individuality”, however, it also fostered the rise of capitalism. Does modern print (magazines, newspapers, etc.) promote individuality or commercial conformity? Which is better for our society? Which is better for you personally?
• Do you see any issues in media convergence or cross-platform? Should major corporations (Amazon or Apple or Microsoft or Google or Facebook, for example) have holdings in information broadcasting? What negative factors could arise? What about the positive?
• The chapter mentions media-multitasking and our ability to access multiple different platforms of media and information while simultaneously being able to talk or discuss with others about it. How do you think this plays a role in “cancel culture?”

After our discussion, we will move to the lab next door. In the first 5-10 minutes of our lab time, please revise and/or complete your baseline writing exercise. This is due today along with your vocabulary term google docs. You should keep this vocabulary term list for a future test. We will be using these words throughout the course. Here's more of the same. Please record and take note of these important vocabulary terms.

Important Vocabulary:

• Communication: the creation and use of symbol systems that convey information and meaning (includes languages, codes, motion pictures, etc.)
• Culture (from a media studies POV): the symbols of expression that individuals, groups, and societies use to make sense of daily life and to articulate their values. A process that delivers the values of a society through products and meaning-making technologies. 
• Mass Media: cultural industries (the channels of communication) that produce and distributes songs, novels, TV shows, newspapers, movies, internet services, games, & cultural products to large numbers of people (consumers). 
• Mass Communication: the process of designing cultural messages and stories and delivering them to large and diverse audiences through media channels.
• Convergence: the overlapping process of growth or obsolescence of a media product as it is improved, reused, or rebranded again and again.
• Oral/Written Era: technology mostly delivered through oral/early written traditions (circa 1,000 BCE to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
• Print Revolution: 100CE (China) to about 1045. Development of moveable type (printing press)
• The Electronic Era: the rise of the Industrial Age (1800's) until about 1930's. 
• The Digital Era: 1930's through 1990's (the rise of computers/internet, etc.)
• Social Media: programs (online) that allow people from all over the world to have ongoing online conversations, share stories/experiences, or sharing interests and information.
• Linear Model of Mass Communication: Outdated model of communications. Senders transmit messages through mass media channels to a large group of receivers. Media functioned as a message filter. With more media (primarily the internet/digital sources), gatekeepers cannot regulate or control the spread of media easily.
• Cultural Model: Individuals bring diverse meaning to messages, given factors and differences in their culture (age, gender, education, etc.) to interpret, accept, or reject messages.
• Selective exposure: People seek messages and produce meanings that correspond to their own cultural beliefs, values, and interests.

TASK #1: Similar to last year, our course will also utilize a blog. I would prefer that you use the blog you created last year (you can update/redesign it--or create a new one if you prefer.) It is important that, as a writer, you realize that your words matter and that you can reach out to the world using the tool of mass media. A blog is just one kind of mass media. Today, after your research [see below], please update your blog and complete the blog post tasks (also due as homework by next class).  

A Career in Media Studies?

It's not too early to think about career paths after high school. Mass communication (media studies) is a large field and covers a lot of different careers and professions. The ability to write, research, critically think, and communicate effectively are all important skills for a writer, and important skills for every professional in the workforce today.

Take a look at some college programs in Media Studies/Mass Communication/Journalism from the area. Look at the curriculum, the requirements for admission, and other details for students interested in pursuing a degree program in the field. How might you measure up? What kinds of courses would you have to take? What does the major cover or entail? Research in the lab.

Various College Programs in Journalism/Media Studies:

• University of Rochester
• SUNY Buffalo
• CUNY Queen's College
• MCC
• St. John Fisher
• RIT
• New York University
• And, of course, there are many others.

NOTE: Revisit this project at any time during the year when you are wondering why you are studying this stuff. It may help get you back on track.

Now that you've seen a few examples of college programs in media studies, how likely are you to study Communications, Mass Media, Journalism, or Writing when you leave SOTA? Take the rest of period 8 to research college programs you might be interested in. What field or subject are you interested in pursuing? What course content do these programs cover? What do these programs promise to do for a student? What makes the program unique?

TASK #2: On your blog share your findings with the world. What have you learned about a potential career path in Media? What is your attitude about the media? How might you personally use media as a writer? What career path are you interested in pursuing? etc. Respond to what you've learned about these topics today on your blog. Check the "homework" rubric to see how you will be graded for these two class assignments (task #1 & #2).

TASK #3: (ongoing) Mass Media Slide Presentation Topic. Choose and sign up for one of the following slideshow presentation topics. Use your time in the lab to begin researching the inventor & invention that helped develop mass media. Take notes on your topic. Design your presentation using Google Slides. You will be asked to share your research with the class in an oral presentation. This project is NOT due yet. We will continue working on it next week.

• Oral/Written Era: technology mostly delivered through oral/early written traditions (circa 1,000 BCE to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
• Egyptian hieroglyphs
• Mesopotamian cuneiform 
• Ancient Greek theater & the invention of theater
• Print Revolution: 100CE (China) to about 1045. Development of movable type (printing press)
• Cai Lun & The invention of paper in China
• Rome & the invention of the codex or bound book
• Gutenberg & the printing press (movable type)
• The Electronic Era: the rise of the Industrial Age (1800's) until about 1930's.
• Benjamin Franklin & the Saturday Evening Post (early newspapers)
• Samuel Morse & the telegraph
• Nikola Tesla & The Tesla Coil & the wireless
• Guglielmo Marconi & the long-distance radio 
• Charles Babbage & the "difference engine" (early computer)
• Alexander Graham Bell & the telephone
• Thomas Edison & the phonograph
• WKL Dickson & the Kinetoscope/Kinetograph
• William Friese-Greene & movie cameras & early color film
• George Eastman & film
• The Digital Era: 1930's through 1990's (the rise of computers/internet, etc.)
• John Logie Baird (the mechanical television) & Philo Farnsworth (the electric television)
• Tim Berners-Lee & the World Wide Web
• Martin Cooper & the cell phone
• Vic Hayes & Wi-Fi

Again, this project is not due yet. Rubrics & expectations will be covered next class.

HOMEWORK: Complete tasks 1 & 2 if you did not complete in the lab. Complete any work you did not complete so far in the class (Chp. 1, pg. 3-15; vocabulary notes; blog update, blog posts 1 & 2, etc. See previous posts for details!) Get caught up!