Blog post #2
For this week's blog post, we were directed to discuss anything we've read/ talked about in class thus far. Therefore, I will be talking about Harold Innis' bias in communication. His central claims revolve around the medium of communication having a substantial influence on the spread of knowledge over space and over time that is embedded in culture (Innis 33). Regarding organization and control, each medium has a bias. This is interesting to me as it is one of Innis' primary contributions to communication studies. He classifies time-binding media as clay or stone tablets and space-binding media as more modern-day media such as tv, radio etc. It is the literal character of space and time. The purpose of clay and stone tablets is to illustrate stories and messages generation after generation. However, they only reach a limited audience. On the other hand, TV and radio will do the opposite and reach a mass audience, but will not last long in time. For example, look at newspapers and paper. Paper is a space-binding media. Therefore, we can see how newspapers reached mass audiences, displaying information to everyone. But now, in society today, you don't see many newspapers. Due to advancements in technology, the world is becoming paperless. Before, we would have to get the newspaper from the front door and read it. Now, you go on your phone or computer and search whatever news outlet you want to read from. Or we would have to write our discussion posts on paper and hand them in. As I sit here writing this post on my laptop, it is evident that these space-binding media do not last long in time. Another example is television. Before, cable and tv were so widely used. However, now it is becoming less popular. Many of my friends and family have cancelled their cable subscriptions and use streaming services. That being said, Looking at medium theory, do you agree that environments encourage certain types of interaction and discourage others? Can you provide an example of each?
Also just wanted to mention how crazy and hilarious how much Innis looks like Eminem! I would ask if you agree or disagree, but how could you disagree? He is literally his doppleganger lol
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