Media, Information and Technoculture 2000F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Vladimir K. Zworykin, Fax, Cathode Ray
10 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Unidirectional form of mass media flowing from a broadcaster to a viewer (not necessarily passive but not interactive as they cannot communicate directly) Aesthetics were awful at the beginning - back and white imaging, small viewing screen, fuzzy reception, quality incomparable to that of the screen at the cinema. Cast as a mass medium with mass audience. Lowest common denominator programming - considered low brow. I do not own a tv : common in early stages, people felt it was a way to articulate maintaining high brow culture. Cognitive impairment due to over exposure to television. Critics argue tv is harmful as it reduces brain functioning. Postman amusing ourselves to death (cultural attack on society, too much tv watching and exposure) Reconfigured leisure habits, family interaction coming together watching their tv sets. An occasion where advertising/consumerism has a much stronger hold over people. Far more intrusive as it advertising is coming directly into the home.
