AHSS*2190 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Upper Paleolithic
Week 2: The Media of Early Civilization
How We Communicate
-All human communication is founded upon our ability to stretch the boundaries of
our senses
-Language allows us to think conceptually and extend our thinking
-History of communication is really a story of change
Changes in Human Communication
(1) Becoming Human
(2) Becoming Literate
(3) Becoming Typographic
(4) Becoming Hypergraphic
(5) Becoming Electric
(6) Becoming Cybernetic
Key Terms
-Change:
-Evolution:
-Revolution:
-Communication:
-Culture:
-History:
-Techniques:
-Technologies:
The Study of Human Communication
-Context
-People
-Messages
-Media
-Impacts
-Limitations
Other Important Factors
• Our natural and created techniques are extensions ofsound and sight
• These techniques have increased exponentially
• Language makes it all possible
Early Civilizations
-Characteristics: Early ancestors physically identical to us; Engaged in symbolic
communication; Sophisticated visual signs and symbols used; What does
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Document Summary
All human communication is founded upon our ability to stretch the boundaries of our senses. Language allows us to think conceptually and extend our thinking. History of communication is really a story of change. Changes in human communication (1) becoming human (2) becoming literate (3) becoming typographic (4) becoming hypergraphic (5) becoming electric (6) becoming cybernetic. Other important factors: our natural and created techniques are extensions ofsound and sight, these techniques have increased exponentially, language makes it all possible. Cro-magnon: drew and painted pictures on cave walls; sculpted images on bone and stone and in clay; ability to think and communicate in symbolic structures. Upper paleolithic age humans begin to adapt their tools and weapons. Evidence that neanderthal human could express abstract thoughts. Abstract abilities (1) these signs translated concrete information into abstract markings (2) they removed data from its context (3) separates the knowledge from the knower. Graphic signs bring new ways of recording, handling and communicating data.
