Mass Media, Communication Technology and Semiology

Imagined community is referred to the idea that a nations language, race and religion have been imaged by people who perceive themselves part of a specific nation. It is the idea that we ourselves create. In the text Whose Imagined community? By Partha Chatterjee, she explains how we have shaped this idea of imagined community and how it has been influenced by nationalism. The roots of nationalism has often been associated with a country who has political power.

The course provides an introduction to the most prominent forms of media that influence and impact social, business, political, and popular culture in contemporary America. It explores the unique aspects of each medium as well as interactions across various media that combine to create rich environments for information sharing, entertainment, business, and social interaction in the U.S. and around the world.

1. What are some of the radical changes technology has helped bring about across industries and societies?

14. Clear Channel stations stopped playing the Dixie Chicks’ music in 2003 after one member

3.1 – Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways.

3.1 Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication method in different ways.

2. The _______ context of communication is often more constrained and restricted because it is influenced by costs, politics, and other concerns.

The media industry in the United States of America (US) is one such industry. As a powerful communication tool, the media has attracted many companies but only a handful has grown big. These media giants have dominated the local market and are currently seeking to conquer the global media industry in search of better profits.

2. Based on what you have learned in this course, how would you define Effective Communication in 2-3 sentences? How does Effective Communication relate to Community in your view? Explain

Each student will write a report and lead the class in a discussion on Canvas that covers the selected topic related to mass media (above).  Specific examples and details will be provided on Canvas. The points will also be earned through a combination of discussions and responses to Discussion Facilitator reports meant to help you further connect course concepts to your life during the quarter. Students must respond to all peer reports in a timely manner. The report will be included in the Individual Website.

Over the centuries, the media has played a significant role in the shaping of societies across the globe. This is especially true of developed nations where media access is readily available to the average citizen. The media has contributed to the creation of ideologies and ideals within a society. The media has such an effect on social life, that a simple as a news story has the power to shake a nation. Because of this, governments around the world have made it their duty to be active in the regulation and control of media access in their countries. The media however, has quickly become dominated by major mega companies who own numerous television, radio and movie companies both nationally and

This worksheet is for analyzing primary sources, which for the purpose of this project are popular culture media: texts created for a mass audience with some commercial component, either through sales, subscription, or advertising revenue: advertisements, videos, television shows, news articles or programs, popular music, etc.

3. How does the critical/cultural perspective on mass communication view the media? How does it view the audience?

The basics of Semiotics were laid down by a Swiss linguist, Ferdinand De Saussure (1857-1913). “He used the word to describe a new science which he saw as ‘a science, which studies the life of signs at the heart of social life’ [Saussure cited in Underwood] He considered that a sign had two essential elements: the signifier and the signified. A signifier is any material thing that

Mass media is a media intended for a large audience. It may take the form of broadcast media, as in the case of television and radio, or print media, like newspapers and magazines. Internet media can also attain mass media status, and many media outlets maintain a web presence to take advantage of the ready availability of Internet in many regions of the world. Some people also refer to it as the “mainstream media,” referencing the fact that it tends to stick to prominent stories which will be of interest to a general audience, sometimes ignoring controversial breaking news. Many people around the world rely on this form of media for news and entertainment, and globally, it is a huge industry.