Media Arts Becoming an Intelligent & Critical Consumer of Information & Entertainment

What We’ll Tackle... Asking the tough questions Politics & the Press Advertising vs. Editorial/Entertainment Print Media Electronic Media Creating our own Media “Product”

Asking the tough questions... Who’s delivering the message? What path does the message follow? Who gives them money? Who owns them? What are their motivations? Who’s their audience? What are they really selling? Benefits/limitations of the medium? What ethics/standards guide them?

Politics & the Press That whole 1st Amendment thing –Do we need a free press? Is it a marriage made in heaven? Is anything off limits?

Advertising vs. Editorial & entertainment Has a tool of democracy become a tool of capitalism? Can we tell the difference between ads & news? Does the tail wag the dog?

Types of media Print –Newspapers –Magazines Electronic –Television –Radio –Internet Information & entertainment Hey, you!

Print: Newspaper & Magazine Benefits: –Reader is in charge of when/how to receive the message (longer time, can re- read, depth) Limitations: –Space –Static/ not real –Press time (not immediate/ timely)

Electronic:radio Benefits: –Immediate/timely –listen on the go (“drive time”) –Theatre of the Mind Limitations: –Distractions –Passive audience –audience must create visual images (show through sound)

Electronic:television Benefits: –Immediate/timely –visual is important part of message (Picture worth a thousand words) Limitations: –visual distractions get in the way of the message –visual appeal given more value than message?

Electronic:film Benefits: –Same as television visually –Few time constraints = more depth Limitations: –production deadlines make it less immediate/timely –Primarily entertainment, but documentaries are informative

Electronic:Internet (“the web”) Benefits: –Receiver is in charge –Same as television visually –Few time constraints = more depth –A World of Wonder Information & Entertainment at the click of a button Limitations: –A World of Worry How to find it, control it What’s accurate? Sources?

“The Medium is the Message” What the message is sent through influences the message The president’s speech has a different effect if read in the paper, heard on radio, or seen/heard on TV