Blog Post 3:

According to Innis, space and time bias media remains critical for communication channels and the transcendence of information. Innis says that space bias refers to media that has the capacity to be transported over long distances and lasts only a short time. Radio, television, and newspapers fall under this category. On the other hand time bias remains to be culture artifacts and documents, stone tablets, and various communication pieces that cannot be shared across vast distances and can only be viewed and used locally by those in the immediate vicinity. I feel that both the video and online web page incorporate time and space bias media. The video and website remain space biased since anyone in the world is able to view the information and remaining artifacts from Vimy Ridge, allowing them an insight into what happened and its significance. Additionally, it reflects time bias, since the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Monument still has many artifacts intact, including the morning statue of a woman that stands between two tall stone posts (also known as Canada Bereft). The artifacts that remain in France are time biased as they have been situated in France since the end of the Vimy Ridge war. As the memorial was built in 1936, the only way to see it firsthand is to travel to France. Thereby creating a time-biased media and ensuring only those who live locally/travel to the monument can see it first-hand and experience its symbolism (getting to experience the emotion that this memorial holds and continues to represent). Since technology has advanced, I now am able to view this memorial from my living room because photos, videos, and other means of communication (such as the webpage and video viewed) have enabled me to view it from a distance, incorporating aspects of spatial bias.

The memorial is instrumental to shaping Canada's future as the memorial's artifacts (the statues) are strong symbols of grief, mourning, and sacrifice made by Canadian soldiers to preserve peace and freedom. Further meaning and symbolism are also introduced, such as by incorporating space bias, individuals worldwide can experience an aspect of this emotion and see images and videos. Over 11000 soldiers rest beneath this gravestone, and the emotion and detail in these artifacts accentuate the significance of this battle in shaping the Canadian nation and the legacy Canadian soldiers left behind.

The question I have posed based on this week's discussion remains:

  • By incorporating both space-biased and time-biased media, do you think that further awareness and symbolism are created globally, or do you think viewing these images online does not allow you to comprehend the enormity of this memorial's significance?

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