[Air-l] RE: Medium Theory + orality and textuality

Rune Dalgaard runed at imv.au.dk
Tue Nov 19 02:47:52 PST 2002


Hi Nathan (and Frank)

I am working with "medium theory" too - wrote my masters thesis on the
subject in relation to the computer as a medium (in danish only however).
Concerning the term 'medium theory', I think it is more fair to say that it
is Meyrowitz's term for a perspective, which he shares with many others - it
does not in and of itself represent another perspective than McLuhans' (who
is counted as a medium theorist by Meyrowitz), although their position on
the determining nature of technology differ. It is also referred to as
'media ecology' (check the website and maillist), the Canadian tradition or
the Toronto School. Some key figures of "1st" generation are Harold Innis,
Walter Ong, Marshall McLuhan, Eric Havelock, Jack Goody, Elizabeth
Eisenstein. Many others are omitted here but a good place to start for
anyone interested is the Media Ecology website:
http://www.media-ecology.org/

Following their work are different people such as Neil Postman, Joshua
Meyrowitz and others who have concentrated on television. Other people such
as Michael Heim and Jay Bolter have focused on the computer as a digital
medium. 

As to Franks 'orality and textuality' I think this tradition has a lot to
offer in a general historical perspective, since the relation of what is
called oral and literate cultures is a basic starting point in many works of
this tradition (Ong's 'orality and literacy' 1982 is a good starting point).

Best,
Rune
________________________________________________
Rune Dalgaard  |  MA, Ph.D. Candidate  |
Information and Media Studies  |  Aarhus University  |  Denmark
runed at imv.au.dk  |  http://www.imv.au.dk/medarbejdere/runed

> 
> 
> Today's Topics:
> 
> 1. Medium Theory (Nathan Koenigsfeld)
> 2. RE: Medium Theory/Media Ecology (Randolph Kluver (Assoc Prof))
> 
> Help
> 
> I am currently doing some research regarding Medium Theory which was
> originated by Joshua Meyrowitz in his 1985 book No Sense of Place.  I
> am looking for information about those whom have engaged this theory in
> their research today, whether to critique it or to further advance the
> theory.  For those unfamiliar with the theory, it is very McLuhanesque
> in nature.  It states that media are simply not channels for conveying
> information between two environments, but rather are environments in
> and of themselves.  Unlike McLuhan (Technological Determinism), this
> theory states that media don't wholly shape culture and society, but
> changes in communication patterns are one very important contribution.
> Any information or leads into scholars who address Meyrowitz's work
> would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Nate Koenigsfeld
> Virginia Tech University
> Communication Studies





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