CMN2160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Billiard Ball, Denis Mcquail, Technological Determinism
2 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
The historical and cross cultural study of different cultural environments created by different media of communication. Each medium has benefits and limitations that change your experience. Looks at the technological aspects of the medium and enable/ restricts some functions (separate from content!) The argument that technology significantly shape people"s lives independently from social/ political factors. Social change is happening because of technology. Each technology has a bias to a particular communication form, content, and uses. The sequences of invention and application of communication technology influences the direction and pace of social change. Does not take into account accidents/ unintentional consequences of new inventions. Billiard ball: tech in introduced and knocks society (ricochet effect) We are being distracted by trivial media (by tv!) and it"s placating the public with focus on tv entertainment, shorter attention span! Romanticized american print cultures of the 18th/ 19th century which he considers encouraged rationality, seriousness, coherence in thinking and public discourse.
