Communications Technology and the Public Sphere

READING Habermas: “The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article” (1964)‏ Enzensberger: “Constituents of a Theory of the Media” (1970)‏

writing printing literacy newspapers photography telegraph film radio tv computing internet/web read-write web

properties of media

hand-copied manuscript

high cost precious takes a long time to create may be altered or amended in the copying process

moveable type

lower cost more copies less precious – more access more likely to circulate quicker to create

moveable type “Freedom of the press belongs to the man who owns one.”

motion pictures

high expense one program - many viewers seats and screen immobile audience

motion pictures “turn off cell phones and refrain from conversation” one-to-many communication: school, church, movie house

video cheaper faster can be real-time

broadcast television limited channels cable television many channels – few owners

television a vast wasteland?

1984 Mac Ad

Jurgen Habermas – b Adorno, Horkheimer, Frankfurt School The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere pub 1962 “The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article” (1964)‏

“Citizens behave as a public body when they confer in an unrestricted fashion – that is, with the guarantee of freedom of assembly and association and the freedom to express and publish their opinions - about matters of general interest.”

KEY TERMS: public sphere civil society communicative action Fourth Estate (clergy/nobility/commoners/press)‏ where... public opinion... can be formed establishing societal norms

Hans Magnus Enzensberger b 1929 “Constituents of a Theory of the Media” (1970)‏

Hans Magnus Enzensberger b 1929 “Constituents of a Theory of the Media” (1970)‏