Chapter 1: Mass Media, Part 1:
Let's begin class today with a discussion:
- 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?”
A. Drawing on your experience, list the kinds of media stories you like and dislike. You might think mostly of movies and TV shows, but remember that news, sports, political ads, and product ads or commercials are also usually structured as stories. Conversations on Facebook or Twitter can also be considered narratives. What kinds of stories do you like and dislike on Facebook or another Social Media platform, and why? B. Cite some examples in which the media have been accused of unfairness. For example, in the reporting of the BLM movement, the Me Too movement, or election coverage... Draw on comments youve heard from parents, teachers, religious leaders, friends, news media, and so on. Discuss whether these criticisms have been or are justified. C. Pick an example of a popular media product (books, films, tv shows, radio, music, video games, news coverage, newspapers, social media, internet sites, etc.) that you think is harmful to children. How would you make your concerns known to the masses? Should the product be removed from circulation or banned? Why or why not? If you think the product should be banned, how would you go about it (protests, demonstrations, writing letters, calling your senator, waving a flag, writing an editorial, tweeting, etc.)? D. Make a critical case either defending or condemning the way Media represents Comedy Central’s South Park (or another satirical tv show), a live TV or radio talk show that has a particular poltical bias, a hip-hop or other musical group, or TV news coverage of the ongoing wars in the Middle East or another political issue. Develop and explain your position in your post. E. Although in some ways postmodern forms of communication, such as e-mail, Tik-Tok, Snapchat, smartphones, Facebook, and Twitter, have helped citizens participate in global life, in what ways might these forms harm more traditional world or native cultures?
Make sure you turned in your homework! Also, just a note to remind you to keep your homework in a safe place. The questions you answer will likely appear on assessments throughout the course.
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.
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.
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