Image Technologies and Mass Society - Essay Example

? FIVE short seminars Table of Contents The print revolution 3 Radio days 3 Image Technologies and Mass Society 4 TV times 5 New media and old in theinformation age 5 References 7 The print revolution The print revolution is considered to bring about an end of the middle ages and marks the dawn of the modern ages. The print media marks the technological and cultural transformation of the society into its modern form. Before print of information, the spread of information took place in the Church where the intellectuals existed. Print revolution created a new segment of intellectuals who had the freedom to spread their creativity to the masses in different subjects such as science, literature, religion, culture, etc. The texts were available before in the local orthodox language and beliefs of the Church which were given new expression in the print media and led to more openness of the expression. The target segment for receiving the benefits of print revolution already existed. The paper and block printing was first invented in China in the first century which spread to Europe in the twelfth century (Eisenstein, 2012, p.53). The spread of Martin Luther’s ideas and the lessons of the Church found channels of expression. In the nineteenth century, the print presses were power driven and faster dissemination of information happened among the masses. Development in investment scenario of the countries like Australia, etc is also a contribution of the print media. Radio days The emergence of radio as a mass medium happened long back from the days of Marconi. Marconi invented ways of decoding the communication codes used in a telegraph and transmitting useful information through a radio. In the early days, the use of radio was an amateurish activity by the audiences who used crystal radio sets. People also pursued hobbies of using radio as a communication medium. In 1920, the corporate radio broadcasting centres stared to operate for reaching out to the masses. With time the desire and the need for radios developed. This gave rise to subsequent developments of the radio communication through the introduction of vacuum tube radio and loudspeakers for better communication. During the time of depression in 19298, radio became the mass medium of communication. Thus for the stages of hobby, radio developed into a wired mass medium for distant communications. Messages and information starting from emergency to entertainment were spread through the radio. The sinking of Titanic and messaging for SOS happened through telegraphic system. However, the news of the world wars was more wide spread with the help of radio. In the field of entertainment, radio started to broadcast new on films, broadcasted musical events and commentaries on live sporting events like Olympics, Football world cup, etc. Image Technologies and Mass Society The image technologies came into vogue during the end of the nineteenth century. The image technologies marked the emergence of the mass society in the twentieth century. In the twentieth century, the communication in the world circulated through wired media like telegraph and telephone. The advent of the image technology brought about the spread of news and entertainment to a wider section of the society. Almost all the spheres of life that include urbanisation of the regions, transportation and public works, information on the time zones were all the more accessible with the help of image technologies. Consumerism developed rapidly with the formation of departmental stores, exhibitions and fairs, e.g. Paris Exposition of 1901. Numerous small theatres developed along with the stardom of the celebrities also grew. The spread of pictures led to change in lifestyles of the population with more interest to the world of eminent personalities. The Paris Exposition of 1901 received overwhelming responses on sensual pleasures as compared to the knowledge part. The heritage properties like the Crystal Palace of 1950 were designed for the awareness of the masses. The manufacturers started to apply different strategies to draw in more consumers and the social interaction of people also underwent changes with time. TV times The advent of television was delayed by the world wars. The first telecast of events through television started in North America in 1939. The enthusiasm and desire of the radio was seen to be percolated among the masses in the use of television. The use of television brought the entertainment world from outside to the living room of the families. The direct vision of events happening at distant place enamoured the society into the use of television. The spread of television occurred with the development of urbanization in the society. It fulfilled the desires of the growing middle class who could afford to entertain themselves through television. The quality of picture and the colour of the pictures developed subsequently to the happiness of the audience. The changes in communication media changed he ways of reporting as direct vision of live movements reduce the scope of manipulation. The imitation of events in the television even changed the lifestyles of the masses. The development of television created a free space for other communication media to become more creative. The social values were also modified by the telecasts. This happened in the volume of wealth creation in order to meet the aspirations. The women were encouraged to reduce the biological gap and create an environment of equality in the society. Thus television changed the ways of social livelihood. New media and old in the information age The new media in vogue is the computer age in modern era. Through the use of computer, the analogue channel of communication is transformed to a digital channel that gave rise to a faster, error free and developed system of communication. The new media of communication, i.e. the computers were used initially in the defence, scientific research and administration. The creation of world-wide web led to the spread of networks with distant places and people coming within the reach of the user. The invention of microchip in 1970 and subsequently the use of personal computers made communication portable. The keyboards led to the access of words, numeric and alpha-numeric characters and images with the use of which virtual worlds were created by the users. The use of internet provided a global platform of interface where a synergy was achieved with the removal of global barriers. The computer based control technologies were developed which helped to control revolutions thereby creating an environment of restoration in the society. Thus within a single life time in a century, the new media and the old media including the telegraph, typewriter, magnetic tape recorders, radio and the television co-existed in the society with unique feature of usage for each. References Eisenstein, E. L. 2012. The Printing Revolution in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press; UK. Read More