In week 4 we were assigned to focus on the reading of a blog post and a video by David Gauntlett, a UK author, where he introduces and explains his new book ‘Making Media Studies’, where he describes the current trends in today’s society regarding media. Gauntlett’s readings seems to repeat the same ideas we have reflected on twice our past lectorials about the way media is being shifted, rather more specific on the individual compared to overall theories.
In Ganutlett’s introduction piece, he begins with a bold statement saying how media used to be ‘more straightforward’, and is not ‘as interesting’ . Which is what the whole article focuses on. He explains how media has settled into a group of classifications, which are institutions, production, audiences and texts. He mentions how the idea of institutions are significant, where all companies are different because, with technology developers, they are able to gather information already given by the media, and are able to make business off other sources. Where as production audience and texts are not as relevant, due to their nature in todays society, as it is all history and is no longer important to generations of today.
The author described media today through two peaks of activity. One peak is explained to be about empowerment, through new ideas and creativity. Through this method, the media is able to expand through new creations, empowering society with new possibilities. Where as the other peak is said to be unenthusiastic through data misuse, new forms of high-tech capitalism that is not being recognized, however is not as important. I personally agreed with this statement, as without the creative aspect of media being produced, there would be no progression in society, acknowledging the positive aspects can seem to be more aspiring to those, making new things rather than focusing on the negative.
He moves on to the idea that it is about learning with media, rather than about it. His reasoning is because of humans being blindsided to look back, as we tend to move forward and ignore the meaning as he states, ‘our aims are primarily transformational’, meaning it can be practical in society, rather than being history. As he proposes that in the future media studies needs to be prevented in becoming redundant, reflects how our society is extremely progressive, we are surrounded and literally obsessed with the idea of technology, its new interest is not recognised, and is considered ‘normal’. The perception of media is evolving over time as technology is constantly changing, and therefore everyone else that is being effected by change, including media studies, may have to familiarise to the new out take on media.
Recent Comments