The documentary entitled "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis was shown in class on Monday. How do you relate the information given to you in the documentary to the theory of Media Imperialism that we talked about in lecture?
The Power of Nightmares: After watching this documentary, I was a bit shocked…. What??? Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda and threaten from international terrorist towards western country is just a “one big lie”, and it was played very well by media. He…. He….he what was revealed by Adam Curtis is exactly the same from what I thought and believed. So from what I just studied in class, the name is- Media Imperialism. Definition from the lecture notes…. The idea that powerful and wealthy countries can exercise economic, cultural and social control over others through control of media industries.
So from the documentary, the powerful country like America has the ability to brainwash and set new mind and belief to be followed by smaller countries by using the control of media. They used media to widespread fear among people about dangerous effects causes of terrorist network called Al-Qaeda, who was headed by Osama Bin Laden. After of tragedy of 9/11 media was provoked that a greater “9/11” would happen next if they don’t start a campaign “War of Terrorism”. The panic and fear among people had given politician more power and authority for them to do their secret agendas. And these darkness and nightmares of fear give and turn them to become more powerful. As a result “the whole world” has no power to argue on whatever action that they’re taking (although it clearly wrong) like the invasion on Afghanistan, invasion on Iraq, arresting people without prosecution at Guantanamo Bay and many more.
Why does this situation happend? ….. It is because America has control of world’s powerful media like CNN, BBC, Reuter and etc. So they can decide what news we should know and what should not. Besides that, during the war on Iraq, media agencies only can get real situation from ministry of US defense. All the American thought about fighting against terrorist be will printed out and given to media agencies as their source of news, so it can produce bias information for what we call it –Media Imperialism.
“The problem with just one company or owner controlling the media is that media output can be biased. The owner can decide on what information is shown, as well as what to censor”……………………… lecture note(media Imperialism).
My Personal Reflection:
Toady not many students came to class, maybe busy with their final ‘Design Fundamental’ submission. But as few weeks ago we have going to face exam, so we must submit assignment 2 next week. Again Mr Radzi mentioned about importance of doing this assignment.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Using McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media" (see diagram below), choose a medium or media application or tool (e.g. newspaper, books, radio, tv, film, internet, computer games, handphone, instant messaging, blogging, online advertising, youtube, facebook etc.) and explain its media effects? Please refer to Week 9's lecture notes plus your own research to discuss this topic.
“Tedrad of Media” was created by McLuhan and can be used to measured our society from effect of media application/technology. The effects can separate into four main categories –Enhances, Reverses, Retrieves and Obsolesces. And all media can be test and apply by putting it at center of diagram (as medium) and answer it with :
• What does the medium enhance?
• What does the medium make obsolete?
• What does the medium retrieve that had been obsolesced earlier?
• What does the medium flip into when pushed to extremes?
*Taken from wikipedia
And to look at our culture, I have chosen one of nowadays powerful communication, Its an electronic mail aka. famously know as E-mail.
1. What does the medium enhance?
Words, news, graphic, picture
2. What does the medium make obsolete?
Because of the invention of e-mail, it makes typical letters are obsolete. Besides that it also made stone letter (batu bersurat) and cave paintings unnecessary.
3. What does the medium retrieve that had been obsolesced earlier?
E-mail makes massages or news via text became popular. Culture of sending greeting cards during festival season can became popular again.
4. What does when pushed to extremes?
The over extended of e-mail makes user’s eyes become dry and red because of exposure long hours in front of screen computer.
My Personal Refection:
Today we study about Marshall Mcluhan and his great theory towards media. Who is he?? So based on my short finding from lecture note and internet he is one of the famous media and communication theorists and critics. One of his famous works is Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. His theory suggests that media has become an extension of the human mind and body.
“Tedrad of Media” was created by McLuhan and can be used to measured our society from effect of media application/technology. The effects can separate into four main categories –Enhances, Reverses, Retrieves and Obsolesces. And all media can be test and apply by putting it at center of diagram (as medium) and answer it with :
• What does the medium enhance?
• What does the medium make obsolete?
• What does the medium retrieve that had been obsolesced earlier?
• What does the medium flip into when pushed to extremes?
*Taken from wikipedia
And to look at our culture, I have chosen one of nowadays powerful communication, Its an electronic mail aka. famously know as E-mail.
1. What does the medium enhance?
Words, news, graphic, picture
2. What does the medium make obsolete?
Because of the invention of e-mail, it makes typical letters are obsolete. Besides that it also made stone letter (batu bersurat) and cave paintings unnecessary.
3. What does the medium retrieve that had been obsolesced earlier?
E-mail makes massages or news via text became popular. Culture of sending greeting cards during festival season can became popular again.
4. What does when pushed to extremes?
The over extended of e-mail makes user’s eyes become dry and red because of exposure long hours in front of screen computer.
My Personal Refection:
Today we study about Marshall Mcluhan and his great theory towards media. Who is he?? So based on my short finding from lecture note and internet he is one of the famous media and communication theorists and critics. One of his famous works is Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. His theory suggests that media has become an extension of the human mind and body.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
It’s typical for a new technology to be adapted within a culture and used to support existing patterns of behavior. With your own relevant examples, answer these questions.
1) What kind of culture influences through technology can you see from today’s world?
2) Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?
1) For starters, technology had become ever sophisticated that we no longer
have to physically be together to socialize. And because of that alone, our
culture has changed in the line of technology mostly because it has the
biggest influence on the way we socialize. For instance, we greet people
using long distances communication as "where are you?" instead of the
typical "how are you?".
2)Yes there is a possibility of reshaping the culture today via new
technology since technology offeres us new and innovative ways of
communcating every so often that it's hard to keep up with the latest gig of
new communication technology. Every now and then we are introduced to
new ways of communicating and who knows what else is coming in the future
of technology that is reshaping our new culture to an even more advanced
culture.
My Personal Reflection:
Today is the last class for the semester and I would like to thank Mr. Radzi and Ms. Helena for their contribution to the students including myself and I would like to express my gratitude. Thank you for the knowledge of media culture and it would not be the end for me to learn just by the end of the class.
Please bless me in my coming exam
THANK YOU SO MUCH
1) What kind of culture influences through technology can you see from today’s world?
2) Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?
1) For starters, technology had become ever sophisticated that we no longer
have to physically be together to socialize. And because of that alone, our
culture has changed in the line of technology mostly because it has the
biggest influence on the way we socialize. For instance, we greet people
using long distances communication as "where are you?" instead of the
typical "how are you?".
2)Yes there is a possibility of reshaping the culture today via new
technology since technology offeres us new and innovative ways of
communcating every so often that it's hard to keep up with the latest gig of
new communication technology. Every now and then we are introduced to
new ways of communicating and who knows what else is coming in the future
of technology that is reshaping our new culture to an even more advanced
culture.
My Personal Reflection:
Today is the last class for the semester and I would like to thank Mr. Radzi and Ms. Helena for their contribution to the students including myself and I would like to express my gratitude. Thank you for the knowledge of media culture and it would not be the end for me to learn just by the end of the class.
Please bless me in my coming exam
THANK YOU SO MUCH
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