Going back in time to see what cultural implications were linked to various technologies is pretty interesting. Since I have always been fascinated with history, this group task looked like it would be really cool to dig deep and find connections between technologies for media and culture. We started off with our theme sort of broad, and later realized that it was hard to start because it was hard to make links with the technologies we had chosen. Recently we started to think deep into what we could do as a practical and interesting theme, and we came up with technologies for audio recorded media. So our five technologies are cave men, the phonograph, the LP record, the cassette tape, and the Compact Disc. This theme is easily relatable to most individuals. Here is what we came up with, I did the part about the cassette tape, as well as put the poster together from construction paper, string from my Hallowe'en costume, and the pictures that Adam, Lisa and I found when we met up.
I think these links are important to take note of because I've always thought that history is important because situations that were overcome in the past can be knowledge for the future. This whole 'cause and effect' deal has a lot to do with the ecology of media actually, fancy that!
The theory that there are environments that media forms is the root of media ecology, the study of these media environments. Ecology of these environments (the environment being its structure, content, and impact. So, in a way, we have just conducted media ecology case study on audio recording and communication!
The fast-forwarded version of what I’ve learned from all the pieces of the timeline:
Cavemen, usually noted for their cave drawings, actually had some audio of their own that came from having portable records of pictographs (on pieces of clay), to using these portable pieces for shipping and trading materials, to using sounds (abstract figures and grunts). The progression is amazing, them neanderthals (and humans too, I guess) are sum-art.
The phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877. It recorded voice or sound, and then could play back the audio. When a noise was picked up by the recording needle the sound vibrations would get indented onto the cylinder and would later be able to be played back. The social aspect that the phonograph created was the notion of elitism. Because the phonograph was expensive, only the richest people could buy them, and therefore it made categories for which people could be classified.
The vinyl record was instrumental in the hippie, rock and psychedelic era of the 60s and 70s. The sounds that were recorded could be played back, not only forwards, but also backwards. This sometimes had demonic sounds or secret messages that the people heard at that time.
The cassette tape was responsible for many social phenomena since its creation in 1963 by Philips Electronics. But there is one main connection that the cassette tape has to culture of the 1970s-90s, and it is that of the hip-hop culture. Small and compact, the cassette tape was the first portable piece of audio equipment with recording on the piece. With the help of the Sony Walkman in 1979, this was made possible for individuals to mobility with audio recordings. This is where one can see the start of hip-hop culture becoming more popular, because MCs and Breakdancers were provided with the mobility to spread the idea of hip-hop culture. This culture would be blown away with what would come next. The highly anticipated, large-and-loud style boombox, or ghetto blaster, was created in 1981, further advancing the Breakdancing scene, because now, breakers could make an entire style out of carrying around this huge music playing device. Relating back to the cassette tape, these two aspects of hip hop culture were a result of the cassette tape, and essentially, pushed the hip hop movement to a great start.
CD? The CD = technological kick-start.
Bibliography
Bellis, Mary. “The History of Sound Recording.” About.com. 2007. About Inc. November 25, 2007.
Bellis, Mary. “The History of The Cassette Tape.” About.com. 2007. About Inc. November 25, 2007.
“Boombox Birth.” Pocket Calculator Show. 2007. Boombox Museum. November 25, 2007.
"Cave Drawing." National Wildlife Federation. 2007. National Wildlife Federation. 19 Nov. 2007 .
Combs, S. "Letter to Mom and Dad." 2007. 19 Nov. 2007.
Donna Yankowitz , The Turn Of The Century, The Phonograph. 2007
Dr. James H. Billington,The Library of Congress, Inventing Entertainment: The History of the Edison Cylinder Phonograph, 2007
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"Inventors; a Brief History of Writing Instruments." About.Com. 2007. About Inc. 19 Nov. 2007
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>The CD part of the poster? It is now there just for show.
It amazes me that one person will mess up once and it will do bad for everyone. One member of the group decided not to do their part, and, as much as I would be determined to get the information from everyone, or follow up on the person who was collecting all of it, I am completely fed up. I now know that there are some individuals that I absolutely cannot work with.
(1) "Back To the Future." Useless Movie Quotes. November 2005. D.C. Douglas. November 25, 2007.
http://www.uselessmoviequotes.com/umq_b019.htm
1 comment:
excellent post!
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