What is Media Media is most simply the

What is Media?

Media is most simply, the plural of medium.

“The Media” is often a derogatory term meaning bias and/or sensationalism.

Cycle of Limitations Domain of potential

But media is literally everywhere…

We are prone to see reality as media. (even when no one is there communicating to us)

Medium Media Generalizing from medium to media is easy.

Medium ? Media Specifying down from media to medium is often difficult.

A stop sign is can be thought of as media, but what is its medium?

• Language A stop sign is can be thought of as media, but what is its medium?

• Language • Sculpture? • Monuments? A stop sign is can be thought of as media, but what is its medium?

What medium is macro images?

What mediums is it referencing?

• Language • Comics • Cartoons • Film? What mediums is it referencing?

“The content of a medium is always another medium. ”—Marshal Mc. Luhan Song—Music Speech—Writing—Print—Internet Television Telephone—Radio Drawing—Painting—Photography—Film Body—Dance Videogames

The conventions of mediums carry over into other mediums. Videogames Film Painting Photography Television

The conventions of mediums carry over into other mediums. Spatial Perspective Videogames Film Painting Photography Television

How has the medium of film influenced videogames?

How has the medium of film influenced videogames? • Film envy (cultural) • Cut scenes (technological) • Player as cinematographer (interactive)

What is Media Studies?

Media Studies is the examination of the: • Effects • • • Content History Meaning Politics Power Potential of Media.

What are some Media Effects?

Negative Media Effects • • • Videogames make us violent. The internet feeds addictions. Pornography ruins marriages. Television damages critical thinking. Popular Film – objectifies women. – places violence above sex.

Positive Media Effects • • Videogames teach us to multitask. The internet frees people’s inhibitions. Web video promotes democracy. Painting in the Middle Ages taught the peasantry visual literacy (how to “read” images).

We live in a visual media culture, dominated by video and images. How is that affecting presidential campaigns?

Kennedy—Nixon Debates 1960 Television audiences thought Kennedy “won” the debate. Radio audiences thought Nixon “won” the debate.

Kennedy—Nixon Debates 1960 (view debate)

media culture Just as media affects culture…

media culture …culture affects media.

Scopic Regimes

Scopic Regimes • A scopic regime is a way of seeing and thinking about the world.

Scopic Regimes • A scopic regime is a way of seeing and thinking about the world. • Scopic regimes are reflected in and transmitted through media.

Scopic Regimes • A scopic regime is a way of seeing and thinking about the world. • Scopic regimes are reflected in and transmitted through media. • They are a cultural effect that shape media.

Scopic Regimes • A scopic regime is a way of seeing and thinking about the world. • Scopic regimes are reflected in and transmitted through media. • They are a cultural effect that shape media. • Media can be examined to learn about the culture and people that created it.

Scopic Regimes There are two major scopic regimes: Formalism vs. Naturalism

Scopic Regimes Arnold Hauser’s A Social History of Art

Scopic Regimes Naturalism – Realism – Gesture

Scopic Regimes Naturalism – Realism – Gesture

Scopic Regimes Naturalism – Realism – Gesture Human Reality

Scopic Regimes Formalism – Abstraction – Structure Human Reality

Scopic Regimes Formalism – Abstraction – Structure

Scopic Regimes Formalism – Abstraction – Structure

Scopic Regimes Women in: Men’s magazines vs. Woman Magazines

Scopic Regimes Naturalism – Realism – Gesture Formalism – Abstraction – Structure

Scopic Regimes Naturalism – Realism – Gesture Formalism – Abstraction – Structure Clinical film about birth Stan Brakhage film about birth