The omnipotence of mass media was already felt in the beginning of the twentieth century even though the main media present were only newspapers, magazines and radio. Of course, media attained the status of a religion only with the arrival of television – family altars were replaced with the “idiot box”; television,“the big medium”, by the end of the twentieth century became the surrogate parent, teacher and god. And then the omnipresence of the media was felt with the launching ofthe internet enabling instant social networking. It should be noted here that in the age of media convergence information technology has to be considered integral to media operations. FB, Twitter, Whatsapp, Pintrest, Instagram … would be rendered ineffective without the internet. FB has captured the imagination of more than 1.5 billion people, one hundred million and growing in India alone. Twitter and Whatsapp are catching up. In the early 21 century the world moved beyond the “global village” ending up as a “global living room”. No wonder Alexander Bard, the prophet who calls for triumph of the ‘netocracy’ in his latest book ‘Syntheism – Creating God in the Internet Age’, speaks of the internet as the new Holy Spirit. Indeed with the New Media a new culture, religion, sanctuary idols and priesthood are emerging.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Clarifying Media Terms
2.1 Communication and Medium
2.2 Traditional Mass Media
2.2.1 Newspapers
2.2.2 Magazines
2.2.3 Film
2.2.4 Radio
2.2.5 Television
2.3 New Media
2.3.1 The Internet.
2.3.2 The Concept of Cyber Networking
2.3.3 The Alternet
2.3.4 Cyberspace
3. Theoretical Framework
4. Methodology
5. Pervasive Media
5.1 Omnipresence of Social Media
6. Effects of the Omnipresent Media
6.1 Positive Effects
6.2 Negative Effects
7. Media Omnipotence
8. Media – the New Religion
9. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to examine the pervasive nature of modern media, investigating how traditional and new media formats have evolved to become all-encompassing forces that shape contemporary society, culture, and individual identity.
- The historical evolution of communication media from early signs to the digital age.
- The transformation of the world into a "global living room" through internet-enabled convergence.
- The theoretical perspective defined by Media Language Theory and McLuhan’s "the medium is the message."
- The emergence of media as a quasi-religious institution influencing social behavior and daily life.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Communication and Medium
Communication “is a process through which the exchange and sharing of meaning is made possible, and by which social relationships, and as a result, social institutions are created and maintained.” The process includes five fundamental factors: sender, receiver, message, medium, and feedback. “Simply expressed, the communication process begins when a message is conceived by the sender. It is then encoded and transmitted via a particular medium or channel to a receiver who then decodes and interprets the message, returning a signal in some way that the message has or has not been understood.”
Medium is the vehicle used for transmitting the message. Television for example is a medium (an audio-visual one). John Fiske in Introduction to Communication Studies divides media into three categories: 1) The presentational media: the voice, face, body; the spoken word, gesture where the medium is actually the communicator. 2) Representational media: books, paintings, photographs, etc., using cultural and aesthetic conventions ‘to create a “text” of some sort’; they become independent of the communicator, being works of communication (whereas presentational media are acts of communication). 3) Mechanical media: Telephone, Radio, Television, Film, [Computer, Internet] and they are transmitters of 1 and 2.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the history of human communication and the paradigm shifts driven by technological inventions like the printing press and the internet.
2. Clarifying Media Terms: Establishes definitions of communication and categorizes media types, while exploring the evolution of traditional and new media platforms.
3. Theoretical Framework: Employs Media Language Theory to explain why modern media is so absorbing, highlighting the sensorial appeal that influences human decision-making.
4. Methodology: States the descriptive-explanatory approach used in the study to analyze media as an all-pervasive social entity.
5. Pervasive Media: Examines how real-time technology and social media have integrated into daily life, creating a state of constant connectivity.
6. Effects of the Omnipresent Media: Discusses the psychological, social, and moral impact of media, weighing both positive educational benefits and negative societal consequences.
7. Media Omnipotence: Argues that media holds the power to shape public perception, noting its influence over key global political and historical events.
8. Media – the New Religion: Explores the concept of "Syntheism" and how the internet functions as a surrogate for traditional religious experience in the modern era.
9. Conclusion: Reflections on the prophetic views of communication pioneers and the realization that media has become the dominant institution shaping modern existence.
Keywords
Media, Pervasive Media, New Media, Communication, Social Media, Syntheism, Internet, Global Village, Information Technology, Media Language Theory, Digital Revolution, Netocracy, Traditional Media, Cyber Networking, Media Omnipotence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work focuses on the pervasive nature of modern media and how it has evolved into an omnipotent force that shapes culture, society, and individual lives.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The paper covers the history of media, the transition from traditional to digital platforms, the psychological impact of media language, and the emerging concept of media as a new religion.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The goal is to describe media as an "all-pervasive entity" in contemporary society and to explain the underlying reasons for its dominance and impact.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a descriptive-explanatory methodology to analyze media phenomena and existing concepts within the realm of Social Sciences.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body covers the definition of media terms, the evolution of newspapers, magazines, film, radio, television, and the internet, as well as the effects and religious-like influence of media.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include Media, Pervasive Media, Social Media, Syntheism, Internet, and Media Omnipotence.
What does the term "Netocracy" imply in the context of this book?
Netocracy refers to the "rule of the internet," a concept used by Alexander Bard to describe a new power structure emerging in the digital age.
How does the author define the relationship between media and "traditional" religion?
The author highlights how modern media competes with or replaces traditional institutions like family and organized religion by becoming the primary source of culture and guidance for individuals.
- Quote paper
- Prof. Francis Arackal Thummy (Author), 2015, Types of Media and Media Omnipresence, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1337139
