The topic for today is medium. What is a medium? Andrea, Laurie, Emily, Suki, and I described a medium as a mechanism of delivering content. So, what does this mean?
Is it a medium?
There are various tools or mechanisms people can use as mediums. Likely, a person uses various types of mediums every day. The internet, television programs, books (print in general), oral communication, and so on, are all types of mediums. An important factor to keep in mind when thinking about mediums is the word “delivery.” For something to be considered a medium, information or some form of content must be delivered. A television with no reception would not be a medium; yet, as soon as it receives reception or delivers some other type of content (DVD’s, etc.) it becomes a medium. Let’s look at the DVD and the computer (with no internet!) for an example. The computer itself as an object would not be a medium, neither would the DVD. But, once the DVD is played on the computer, the computer then becomes a medium. Content is being delivered and received. Another example is a person who recites a poem in their head. That person would not be considered a medium but as soon as she or he recites the poem to an audience, it becomes a form of oral communication and is a medium.
Assigning value to mediums
Another important factor discussed amongst our group was the value of each medium. Is the internet the overall best medium? The unique thing about today’s informational age is how widely different types of mediums are used. Depending upon the type of content being delivered and the audience receiving the content, different mediums are going be used. For example, in a 24 hour period, I received information through a book, am preparing to deliver information (this blog) through the internet, received and shared information when I watched Jeopardy with my roommate on the TV, and attended a class where I was instructed through oral communication. Not any one of these mediums served my interest better than the other; each had a purpose and served my specific needs at that specific time.
Although a large portion of people’s entertainment, educational, informational, etc. needs are by the internet, it’s important not to forget the human element. As humans we communicate with each other; we share information and experiences, and form relationships and bonds with one another. So, while I have the ability to watch a movie on my computer tonight, instead, I think I’ll watch it on my roommate’s 36” TV where we can share in the experience together. My point is, before we start assigning a value to mediums, we need to remember the human factor and our need to connect with others around us. Will our needs as humans change in the future, that I cannot answer? For now, all I can say is that for all the advantages the internet brings us, there are some experiences and needs that, at this time, the internet cannot meet. Do you agree or disagree?
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Our group consisted of Jennifer, Laurie, Suki, Emily and myself. We spoke about various mediums and defined it as the delivery of mechanism to the content. We discussed forms of communication and access to information via email, mobile phone, television, computers, radios and print sources.
ReplyDeleteI thought about a Medium who can read your palm and tell you information that you want to hear, predict the future or speak to the dearly deceased about what Heaven and Hell is like. What is his/her medium? Could it be that the transfer of information by word of mouth is also a medium? In this case, the transfer of information occurred and some gratification is received. I would refer to this medium as interactive.
As we discussed various types of mediums, one of the things that came to mind is routine and the interaction with the medium. How many mediums do we use to organize our day. If your day began with the sound from the alarm clock announcing the time or the sound of perking coffee, you soon realize that there is some routine or "oneness" with your medium(s) and failure to reach an agreement would result in disappointment.
We have some choices about what mediums we use and what information we gather from it. There are announcements made daily reminding us that all television programs will be converted to digital broadcasting so you must part company with your rabbit eared antennae television. You can protest of course but if you want to use this medium, I guess you have to go conform.
I agree with you about the internet and the human element and I also agree that not one medium is better than the other. Isn't it great to have more than one medium to view, interact and communicate with while you build relationships?
If we went along with the idea of critical literacy and cultural literacy why do we assume that everyone have a computer and everyone knows what to do with it to meet their needs? There is a network of challenged individuals who are slave to one form of a medium without exploring the other possibilities. You know the individuals who have a host of features on their mobile phone but only explored one or two features.
It may be safe to say that some kind of training or literacy is needed for us to feel comfortable as we safely join the digital world. What is a medium anyway? Is it physical, spiritual, mechanical, electronic? i still don't know, yet? May be a medium will help?
I'm really glad to read your thoughts on human elements. In an age of media, we adore the various means that enable us to stay connected, whether it's email, IM, Facebook, text message.... It's great! but I often feel that direct communication or contact, I mean, human element has become secondary, and often find myself feel uncomfortable talking to some people I know, so I just email or text message them instead. It's definatley convenient, but I can't help but feeling some sort of detachment...
ReplyDeletehm... i wonder if people are slave to the medium or to the information that it brings them... doesn't our society elevate the status of someone who is incredibly well-read and speaks often about things he/she has learned through books? The same is not true for tv...that person who is constantly engaging in television programming is certainly not praised. but theyre both addicted to information... just packaged in a different way.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that your conversation turned to the question of which medium is the best. Is it possible that there is no best medium to accomplish all things, but that some media may be best suited for certain kinds of communication, tasks or inquiry? I too appreciated Andrea's comment that notes the limitations and contexts that humans bring to media; they don't exist in a vacuum!
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