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?

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 McLuhan Speech—Writing—Print—Internet Telephone—Radio Drawing—Painting—Photography—Film Television Song—Music Video- games Body—Dance

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

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

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)

Just as media affects culture… mediaculture

…culture affects media. mediaculture

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.

Formalism vs. Naturalism Scopic Regimes There are two major 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 Scopic Regimes HumanReality

Scopic Regimes HumanReality Formalism –Abstraction –Structure

Scopic Regimes Formalism –Abstraction –Structure

Scopic Regimes Formalism –Abstraction –Structure

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

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

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