Response to the Communication Prompt: Media and Culture

Response to the Communication Prompt: Media and Culture

Why I Think the Author Starts with the story of the Lost iPhone and Why It Does Not Matter that the Story is from 2006

I think the author starts with the story of the lost iPhone because he wants to emphasize – through examples – the intersection of culture and media technology. The morality tale is also a good introduction to a text about critical elements of contemporary human existence. It does not matter that the story is from 2006 because it is still relevant today (Lule, 2012). It is a classic example of how media can be helpful or harmful depending on how one uses it. Sasha revealed herself to the original owner of the stolen phone by taking pictures and posting on social media. The owner of the lost phone could track Sasha by using social media, too.

How Technology Shapes the Media

Technology shapes the media by determining how people interact with each other. It creates new opportunities and approaches for sharing information more conveniently and effectively (Gripsrud, 2017). The cost of media communications also reduces significantly with the use of technology. For example, people have communicated more directly and cost-effectively since social media became popular. Technology also increases people’s permissiveness and tolerance to variable cultures, although it can also provide an avenue for malicious and hateful people to bully others.

What I Think Media Does for the US, Me

One of the most important things that media does for us is to keep us informed. It ensures that we access the latest information in politics, sports, science, religion, and other popular news. Without media, information dissemination would be longer and less reliable. Through advanced media, people can remain in contact with family and friends despite being miles apart (Gripsrud, 2017). They only need access to a reliable internet connection. Media can also help us get justice or find lost items.

The Meaning of Media Convergence (with Example)

Media convergence refers to the merging of various types of media. For example, print, social, and mass media can converge through their focus on the same story or their dependence on each other to disseminate a given tale or piece of information (Lule, 2012). A perfect example of media convergence is in the stolen iPhone story. The story there was presented in different media types, each of which seemed to depend on the other for details of the story.

How Cultural Values Shape Media and How Media Shapes Cultural values?

Cultural values shape media by determining or influencing how people retrieve and share information. It also affects the type of information people can share and how they behave. Cultural values even control how people behave. In the same manner, media shapes cultural values (Lule, 2012). It shows new and cooler behavioral and occupational trends that people must follow. Media also make people more permissive and tolerant of each other, which leads to cultural exchanges.

References

Gripsrud, J. (2017). Understanding media culture. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Lule, J. (2012). Understanding media and culture. Saylor Academy Open Textbooks