Communication Technology - Report Example

The radio Institution: Name: Introduction The Radio is an intriguing communication technology. This is because its invention resulted to the mass distribution of information over a wide distance. In China, the use of the radio begun after the communist party came into power. Before communism or the Kuomintang period, China had only a few small commercial radio stations, which only operated in large cities particularly Shanghai. Currently, there has been a rapid growth of radio broadcasting in the country due to technological advancements and development of many cities (Shirk, 2010). The radio has definitely been a powerful transformation force in China. This paper seeks to provide a cultural analysis of the radio is China. The paper will further examine the impact of the radio on perceptions of time and space. Lastly, the paper will examine the impact of the radio on the human body and mental capabilities. China has one of the most unique cultures in world. Traditionally, popular culture in China was and is still manifested through various practices such as; regional opera, folk religion, music, vernacular literature, storytelling and drama. Before the emergence of the radio, these cultural manifestations were only localized to specific communities. However, the rise of the communist party and the emergence of the radio in 1922 greatly influenced the spread of a mass culture. William, (1997) discloses that the mass culture involved the creation of a mass audience through the use of public communications channels like the radio. Radios therefore become a popular tool of spreading Chinese culture to a large audience. People could now listen to various stories, music and vernacular literature from different parts of the country. The development of the mass culture through the radio therefore strengthened the Chinese culture. The use of the radio in China has also instigated the development of cultural freedom. There was an increase in the level of freedom for many cultural writers and artists. Many writers and artists produced more songs, poems and fiction in order to entertain the masses. Today, the radio has also greatly influenced the development of cultural freedom in China. For instant, local radio stations in China not only air programs and music from the Chinese culture but they also play songs that are from other cultures such as the American culture, British and other Asian cultures (Walker, 2014). Culture also encompasses values and norms. The existence of good morals and norms is a central aspect of Chinese culture. Consequently, Radio stations in China work towards maintaining good values and norms through the broadcasts they disseminate. Some radio stations have special programs where consumers voice their grievances, for instance ‘’ Secret Whispers‘’ is a popular program at Shanghai East Radio where listeners report their grievances on radio. A case point is when callers report factories or companies that pollute the environment in the areas where they live. Consumers in China also report inadequate services offered to them by certain companies or shops. This has assisted in ensuring that consumers are provided with quality goods and services at all times. Such exposures through the use of radio have assisted in building desired behavior in society. When unethical behavior is exposed people or even businesses tend to reform their behavior (Rodopi, 1998). The corporate culture of radio communication companies has undergone tremendous changes over the years. Corporate culture can be defined as an integrated pattern of behavior and thinking in the daily operations and members of a company or organization. It involves traditions, ideologies, language, meanings and attitudes (Mai, 2004). In the previous years, radio stations in China had adopted a bureaucratic culture, where radio communication was only a subject to be undertaken by the radio station employees. This led to a decline in the popularity of the radio essentially in the 1960s and 1950s. However as time went by, radio stations in China changed their corporate culture. Rodopi (1998) highlights that; radio stations now incorporate the views of people in society. People can now call in and give their views on various topics. Furthermore, the voices of the presenters in Chinese radios have now become softer and friendlier where the listeners are in most cases addressed as equal. In addition, radio programs tackle every topic in society from family matters, to business issues and political issues affecting the country. The corporate culture of radio stations in China is characterized by emphasis on values that promote human relations also referred to as ‘’ guanxi’’ in Chinese language. Guanxi is basically defined as the relations, human interactions and personal connections that are deeply grounded on cultural beliefs such as honesty, loyalty, faithfulness, harmony and sincerity. Huang, (2000) conducted an interview with employees of Tongsu one of the Internet based radio stations in China, the employees of the company disclosed that the guanxi culture greatly influenced relationships within the workplace. This is because it determined how employees related to each other. For instance employees have to treat each other with respect at all times. The guanxi principles also influenced how employers related to their employees. It is usually recommended that employees treat their employees with fairness at all times. On the other hand employees have to respect employers and always practice honesty and loyalty (Huang, 2000). Education is another key cultural element of radio communication in China. Broadcasters of talk shows in most cases put emphasis on the educational value of the shows they present to the listeners as an evidence of legitimacy. For instance, the hosts ‘’ Life Hot Line’’ a talk show hosted by the Beijing News Radio, argue that their objective is to provide scientific and accurate advice to their listeners. Radio stations in China also put emphasis on the educational purpose when selecting the guests to be invited on studio. A case in point is the Nanjing Economic Radio that airs a program called ‘’ Tonight’s Guest of Honor’’ which often makes invitations to heroic personalities who have made great sacrifices for the society. Among the guests invited include women scientists who first reached the South Pole. Other guests include police men who have made great sacrifices in order to maintain security. The topics of discussion with these particular guests are mainly geared towards educating the members of public (Rodopi, 1998). Giblett, (2008) asserts that the invention of the radio also played a significant role in the creation and maintenance of national identity. Radio broadcasting brought the nation together as a single vast audience. Though the audience listening to the radio is usually not unitary or homogenous, however the radio was able to bring about national identity even without common tribe. In China the rise of the communism government lead to the creation of several national radio stations. The national radio stations lead to the increased national identity among the Chinese people. This is because people from different parts of the nation were now able to identify with common issues and cultures broadcasted by the radio stations. Liu (1971) reveals that the effect of the radio on Chinese national identity was mostly experienced in the rural areas. For instance, every evening specifically at 8:30 in a village known as Shantung, the young people would gather together to listen to the inauguration of the national anthem that was sang before the daily report in the Central people’s Broadcasting Station. It can be stated therefore that the radio was a useful tool in the creation and maintaining of the Chinese national government. The Impact of the Development of the Radio on perceptions of Time and Space The concepts of time and space are two elements of physical reality that are intrinsically inseparable. This is basically because time encounters space while space requires time based on the fact that it occurs in time and also changes through time. In the context of media communication, the two concepts have greatly been debated with some scholars such as Harvery (1990) proposing the compression of time and space while other scholars such as Giddens (1994) proposing time- space distanciation which involves the separation of time and space (Tsatsou, 2009).Nevertheless, depending on whichever perception, the concepts of time and space have radically transformed by the various forms of communication technology. The development of radio greatly changed the perception of time and space. Giblett, (2008) discloses that the radio was developed out of the telegraphy and was basically an advancement of telegraphy. This is because the radio was more improved in various aspects. One of the areas of advancement was that the radio was able to separate communication from a direct physical connection between the sender and the receiver by developing a connection between them. Through electromagnetic waves the radio was able to connect the sender and the receiver without them having to physically meet. It can be argued that by connecting the sender and the receiver without physical means greatly transformed the perception of time and space. This is because both the sender and receiver were able to communicate at a particular time and be connected within the same space, regardless of of being separated by distance. The radio also transformed the perceptions of time and space by enabling communication by invisible means. As compared to the precursor communication means such as the telegraphy which depended on communication by visible means, the development of the radio first introduced invisible communication. Giblett, (2008) highlights that; the invention of the radio was the first attempt to put together words, sound communication and electronic voice without the use of wires. The radio therefore created a shift from communication by visible means to communication by invisible means. It can be argued that the process of communication through invisible means changes the perception of time and space by influencing compression of both elements. Time - space compression occurs by increasing the rapidity of time which further breaks down the barriers of space. The aspect of putting together words, sound communication and electronic voice without the use of wires, enabled information to move faster (time) through wireless means (space). Also the radio was able to free communication from vulnerable physical connections, such as submarine cables and terrestrial wires (Giblett, 2008). The vulnerable physical connections were replaced by electro magnetosphere that broke down the existing geographic barriers, reduced the isolation of small communities and towns and also cut across time zones. Through the development of the radio, the valleys and hills were able to receive sound, music and voices, without the use of submarine cables and terrestrial wires. It can therefore be stated by the elimination of vulnerable physical connections the radio was able to change the perceptions of time and space. The development of the radio also reinforced the connection between spiritualism and science, which further changed the perception of time and space. According to William Thomson a renowned architect the radio can be defined in equivalent terms as the art of interchanging ideas through the use of ethereal matter that occupies space between living dead things. This particular definition gave new meaning to the radio (Giblett, 2008). The fact that radio communication was done through ‘’invisible electricity’’ influenced the connection between spiritualism and science. Spiritualism was derived from the premise of communication with the dead; while science was derived from the use of invisible electric waves. Giblett, (2008) highlights that; the mystery of communication in the unseen world paved way in changing the perception of time and space. The impact of the development of the radio on mental capacity and the human body The development of the radio impacted the mental capabilities of people in the society. This was by transforming their mental perceptions about political power. Giblett, (2008) discloses that the radio played a significant role in the spreading propaganda essentially on world power issues. The radio therefore created psychological warfare whereby spoken word was transformed to weapons of war. People from different nations thought of themselves as more aggressive and powerful due to the information they acquired from the radio. The Second World War for instance was referred to as the Radio war. This is because the radio played a fundamental role in spreading propaganda that instigated the minds of people towards rivalry and aggressiveness that influenced the war. For instance the radio was a key mechanism that was used by Hitler in order to gather his network of control and command during the Second World War (Giblett, 2008). The radio also changed the mental capabilities of people in society by creating a sense of mental unification. When listening to similar broadcasted information at a particular time a commonality is developed in terms of people’s mental capabilities. This is because the information they acquire is similar and may direct their minds towards thinking about a similar concept. For instance; if the information broadcasted by the radio is about the country’s economy, the minds of those listening will definitely be directed to thinking about the economy of the country. Sang, et al (2011) highlight that the development of the radio led to the creation of mental space, where people living in different geographical can think about similar issues. The development of the radio also impacted the human body by developing a state whereby the human body cannot be separated based on the fact that their bodies are connected through a network. Giblett, (2008) asserts that the radio developed a technological time and space where people cannot be separated by temporal distances or physical distance. For instance live coverage in Iraq or India is also received by a person in Australia. Thus when two people are listening to the same radio station at the same time, their body reactions can actually be the same. Just like a car, the radio is basically a magical object that is consumed by users who have little knowledge about how it works. The magical aspect comes from the fact that someone can communicate from a far distance to many people at one particular time (Giblett, 2008). In spite of these benefits, it can be argued that the radio as magical communication system has negative implication of the human body. This is due to the electromagnetic waves that facilitate the transfer of information. A recent study conducted by the IT Center for science (2011) disclosed that the electromagnetic radiation that is transmitted by the radio has health implications of human tissues. When a lot of radio waves are absorbed by the human body, the human tissues become over heated which may interfere with the tissues. The study by IT Center for science (2011) therefore recommends that people should not get very close to the radio due to this particular health implication. It can therefore be stated that although the radio is a magical object that has transformed communication essentially the aspect of passing information to a large number of people located in different places, however it has health implication on the human body. Conclusion The above discussion has presented a cultural analysis of the radio in China. Some of the issues highlighted include; the spread of a mass culture. The development of cultural freedom and the fact that radio stations in China work towards maintaining good values and norms through the broadcasts they disseminate. Other cultural factors discussed include the fact that the radio has assisted in the development of the Chinese national identity, also Chinese radio stations have adopted good corporate culture that involves the use of the guanxi principles and lastly Chinese radio stations focus on education as a key element of radio broadcasting. The paper also discussed the impact of the development of the radio on perceptions of time and space and the impact of the development of the radio on mental capacity and the human body. In conclusion it can be stated that the radio is a significant communication technology that has transformed the society. References Giblett, R. (2008). Sublime Communication Technologies. Palgrave Macmillan. Huang, Y.H. (2000). ‘The Personal Influence Model and Gao Guanxi in Taiwan and Chinese Public Relations’. Public Relation Review, Vol. 26 (2), p219- 236. Liu, A. (1971). Communications and National Integration in Communist China. University of California Press. IT Center of Science. (2011). Radio waves in human tissue. CSC News Publication. Mai, C. (2004). An Analysis of Media Cultures: Radio and TV Stations, Newspaper and Magazine Companies. World Media Economics Conference. Rodopi B. ( 1998). Communication and Culture. Rodopi Publication. Sang, et al. (2011). Time and Space Perception on Media Platforms. Proceedings of the Media Ecology Association, 12(2011). Shirk, S. ( 2010). Changing Media, Changing China. Oxford University Press Tsatsou, P. (2009). Reconceptualising Time and Space in the Era of Electronic Media and Communication. Journal of Media and Communication, Vol.1 (July 2009), p 12-27. William, J. (1997). China Briefing: The Contradictions of Change. Sharpe Walker, D. (2014). Chinese radio show discusses two different cultures. The Crimson White. Read More

Such exposures through the use of radio have assisted in building desired behavior in society. When unethical behavior is exposed people or even businesses tend to reform their behavior (Rodopi, 1998). The corporate culture of radio communication companies has undergone tremendous changes over the years. Corporate culture can be defined as an integrated pattern of behavior and thinking in the daily operations and members of a company or organization. It involves traditions, ideologies, language, meanings and attitudes (Mai, 2004).

In the previous years, radio stations in China had adopted a bureaucratic culture, where radio communication was only a subject to be undertaken by the radio station employees. This led to a decline in the popularity of the radio essentially in the 1960s and 1950s. However as time went by, radio stations in China changed their corporate culture. Rodopi (1998) highlights that; radio stations now incorporate the views of people in society. People can now call in and give their views on various topics.

Furthermore, the voices of the presenters in Chinese radios have now become softer and friendlier where the listeners are in most cases addressed as equal. In addition, radio programs tackle every topic in society from family matters, to business issues and political issues affecting the country. The corporate culture of radio stations in China is characterized by emphasis on values that promote human relations also referred to as ‘’ guanxi’’ in Chinese language. Guanxi is basically defined as the relations, human interactions and personal connections that are deeply grounded on cultural beliefs such as honesty, loyalty, faithfulness, harmony and sincerity.

Huang, (2000) conducted an interview with employees of Tongsu one of the Internet based radio stations in China, the employees of the company disclosed that the guanxi culture greatly influenced relationships within the workplace. This is because it determined how employees related to each other. For instance employees have to treat each other with respect at all times. The guanxi principles also influenced how employers related to their employees. It is usually recommended that employees treat their employees with fairness at all times.

On the other hand employees have to respect employers and always practice honesty and loyalty (Huang, 2000). Education is another key cultural element of radio communication in China. Broadcasters of talk shows in most cases put emphasis on the educational value of the shows they present to the listeners as an evidence of legitimacy. For instance, the hosts ‘’ Life Hot Line’’ a talk show hosted by the Beijing News Radio, argue that their objective is to provide scientific and accurate advice to their listeners.

Radio stations in China also put emphasis on the educational purpose when selecting the guests to be invited on studio. A case in point is the Nanjing Economic Radio that airs a program called ‘’ Tonight’s Guest of Honor’’ which often makes invitations to heroic personalities who have made great sacrifices for the society. Among the guests invited include women scientists who first reached the South Pole. Other guests include police men who have made great sacrifices in order to maintain security.

The topics of discussion with these particular guests are mainly geared towards educating the members of public (Rodopi, 1998). Giblett, (2008) asserts that the invention of the radio also played a significant role in the creation and maintenance of national identity. Radio broadcasting brought the nation together as a single vast audience. Though the audience listening to the radio is usually not unitary or homogenous, however the radio was able to bring about national identity even without common tribe.

In China the rise of the communism government lead to the creation of several national radio stations. The national radio stations lead to the increased national identity among the Chinese people.

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