The Printing Press & the Internet

In class on September 20th we discussed the ways in which the transmission of information changed through the rise of the Gutenburg Press.  Since the invention of the printing press in the 1400's, the church controlled the press, books and the general way of thinking regarding politics and religion.  The churches ability to control a global way of thinking was challenged by the printing press where people could distribute words and ideas, turning heresies into orthodoxe.  The printing press allowed the mass production of words, which challenged the power of the church. It became a system that separated from its highly powerful centre.

Just like the printing press, the internet is a stage of new media that allows a new way of thinking about politics and religion. With this new platform of expression though, capitalism has still dominated.  It is through the production of meanings and things by corporations that they are able to shape our values and beliefs.  How do they do this exactly? By exposing us to text, film and images that contain inherent ideas of how we should feel about a certain event or thing. 

While these corporations are trying to stay in power, there is always a counter reaction.  The internet allows us to increasingly having a say in what values and beliefs are being produced and consumed.  It is through our keyboards and webcams that we produce and upload our own content for other amateurs like us to watch.  As a result, power is being taken away from the centre and being distributed to us, the people. 

Watch Where You're Going

There was a section in chapter 1 of "New Media: An Introduction" that stood out to me and really got me thinking.  When discussing convergence in terms of the interlinking of technology, communication networks and content, Terry Flew mentions something that I really hadn't thought about before.  He mentions that it is so important for us to be aware of how communication is mediated by technology, or rather, how technology influences our behaviour.  Flew discusses that we need to study the devices themselves, how they extend out ability communicate, and the social arrangements and organizations that form around these devices and practices.

In class the other day, Dr. Strangelove mentioned that we're only half aware of what we're doing in terms of how the physicality of new media is changing.  One behaviour that really sticks out in my mind is how so many people are guilty of texting and walking.  This faux pas is something that is relatively new with the introduction of SMS in mobile phones.  I see it all the time on campus, people not being aware of where they're going and end up bumping into other people or tripping on a crack in the sidewalk. 


Instead of being mentally and physically aware of where your're walking to, texting while walking affects your ability to manoeuvre through a crowd or to avoid the vehicle that's running a red light while you're in the crosswalk. It's to the point that people are being seriously injured. 

This poor girl just takes texting and walking to a new extreme. Try to contain your laughter!