(www.rochester.edu)How do I understand the term “mass media?” A quick look at a dictionary explains that mass media is “any of the means of communication, as television or newspapers, that reach very large numbers of people” (www.dictionary.com). Therefore, mass media is any medium that is used to send a message to a large number of people. Newspapers, television, movies, books, radio, movies, are just a few of the forms within mass media.
Mass media began with the invention of the printing press. As Marshall McLuhan explains, “The printing press, by spreading mass-produced books and printed matter across Europe, turned the vernacular regional languages of the day into uniform closed systems of national languages--just another variant of what we call mass media--and gave birth to the entire concept of nationalism” (www.columbia.edu). The printing press allowed for mass production of information. It began the growth of mass media because it was the first invention that was able to send a message to a large amount of people.
Mass media is extremely important and useful because we are constantly surrounded by the media. “The television in the living room, the newspaper on the doorstep, the radio in the car, the computer at work, and the fliers in the mailbox are just a few of the media channels daily delivering advertisements, news, opinion, music, are all forms of mass communication that surrounds us everyday” (www.beyondintractability.org).There are millions of events that take place in the world each day. We can only experience a small number of the events that are happening therefore, we rely on mass media to learn about the events that surround our world. Without mass media, we would know very little of the events that are happening beyond the events that take place in our daily lives.
Mass media also allows us to be a part of a global village. Marshall McLuhan explained, “the basic thing to remember about the electric media is that they inexorably transform every sense ratio and thus recondition and restructure all our values and institutions. The overhauling of our traditional political system is only one manifestation of the retribalizing process wrought by the electric media, which is turning the planet into a global village” (www.columbia.edu). Through mass media, our world is connected. We can instantly send information and receive information. I can instantly connect with a relative in Germany through e-mail, the internet, phone, fax, etc. Mass media is continuously expanding with new inventions and innovations and therefore, our global village will also continue to grow and expand.
Mass media can be defined many different ways and it is a term that is constantly being studied. However, I believe that mass media is any medium that is used to communicate a message which contributes to the idea that we are all part of a global village.
Work Cited
Mass Medium. 2005. Dictionary.com. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mass%20media]
The Playboy Interview. March 1969. Columbia University. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://www.columbia.edu/~log2/mediablogs/McLuhanPBinterview.htm]
Mass Media. March 2005. University of Colorado. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/mass_communication/]
Mass media began with the invention of the printing press. As Marshall McLuhan explains, “The printing press, by spreading mass-produced books and printed matter across Europe, turned the vernacular regional languages of the day into uniform closed systems of national languages--just another variant of what we call mass media--and gave birth to the entire concept of nationalism” (www.columbia.edu). The printing press allowed for mass production of information. It began the growth of mass media because it was the first invention that was able to send a message to a large amount of people.
Mass media is extremely important and useful because we are constantly surrounded by the media. “The television in the living room, the newspaper on the doorstep, the radio in the car, the computer at work, and the fliers in the mailbox are just a few of the media channels daily delivering advertisements, news, opinion, music, are all forms of mass communication that surrounds us everyday” (www.beyondintractability.org).There are millions of events that take place in the world each day. We can only experience a small number of the events that are happening therefore, we rely on mass media to learn about the events that surround our world. Without mass media, we would know very little of the events that are happening beyond the events that take place in our daily lives.
Mass media also allows us to be a part of a global village. Marshall McLuhan explained, “the basic thing to remember about the electric media is that they inexorably transform every sense ratio and thus recondition and restructure all our values and institutions. The overhauling of our traditional political system is only one manifestation of the retribalizing process wrought by the electric media, which is turning the planet into a global village” (www.columbia.edu). Through mass media, our world is connected. We can instantly send information and receive information. I can instantly connect with a relative in Germany through e-mail, the internet, phone, fax, etc. Mass media is continuously expanding with new inventions and innovations and therefore, our global village will also continue to grow and expand.
Mass media can be defined many different ways and it is a term that is constantly being studied. However, I believe that mass media is any medium that is used to communicate a message which contributes to the idea that we are all part of a global village.
Work Cited
Mass Medium. 2005. Dictionary.com. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mass%20media]
The Playboy Interview. March 1969. Columbia University. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://www.columbia.edu/~log2/mediablogs/McLuhanPBinterview.htm]
Mass Media. March 2005. University of Colorado. 6 Oct. 2008.
[http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/mass_communication/]
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