Jour/MA/RI 1020 Introduction to Media & Entertainment Larry L. Burriss, BA, MA, MA, PhD, JD Lt. Col., USAF (ret.) THE NATURE OF COMMUNICATION(S) I. Basic Assumptions A. Perceived reality is reality B. When perception becomes reality, reality becomes irrelevant C. You cannot not communicate D. Ideas have impact II. The Nature of Knowledge A. Physical sciences B. Biological sciences C. Social sciences III. Some Definitions A. The transfer of information B. Influence C. Human relations IV. What is information? A. Any content that reduces the uncertainty. . . B. . . . or the number of possibilities. . . C. . . . in a given situation V. Functions of Communication A. Functions of the sender 1. Inform 2. Teach 3. Please 4. Propose or Persuade B. Functions of the receiver 1. Understand 2. Learn 3. Enjoy 4. Dispose or Decide VI. The meaning of a message A. Does not exist in the message or in the signal, but in people. B. Is dependent on 1. Context 2. Feelings and Attitudes VII. The Nature of Language 1. Arbitrary 2. Situational 3. Tyrannical VIII. Communications Models A. Background B. Parts 1. Sender 2. Receiver 3. Message 4. Transmitter 5. Channel 6. Noise a. Internal b. External 7. Feedback C. Development of Models 1. Claude Shannon / Warren Weaver 2. Norbert Weiner 3. Wilbur Schramm IX. The Process of Perception A. Distal Stimulus 1. Redundancy 2. Familiarity 3. Duration B. Environmental Arc 1. Air 2. Context 3. Light 4. Contrast 5. Noise 6. Etc. C. Sensory Receptors D. Internal Mediating Conditions 1. Mood 2. Culture 3. Expectations 4. Self-Concept 5. Emotional State 6. Current Role 7. Stereotypes E. The Mind and the Percept 1. The message exists in the minds of the sender and receiver 2. Is the sender's message the same as the receiver's? 3. Coorientation and mass media LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION I. Psychological A. Evocative B. Cognitive C. Ideological II. Conversational A. Maslow's Hierarchy 1. Physiological 2. Safety 3. Belonging 4. Esteem 5. Self-Actualization B. Levels of Conversational Communication 1. Cliche conversation 2. Reporting facts 3. My ideas and judgments 4. My feelings 5. Peak communications III. Structural-Functional A. Intrapersonal 1. Basic elements a. Transmitters b. Processors c. Receivers 2. The process of perception a. Distal stimulus b. Environmental arc c. Sensory receptors and proximal stimulation d. Internal mediating conditions B. Interpersonal 1. Transactions that allow all participants and approximately equal opportunity to send overt messages a. Interviews b. Conversations c. Committee Meetings d. Group discussions 2. Channels a. Verbal b. Nonverbal i. Culture-Dependent ii. More important than verbal iii. High validity for feelings, attitudes, relationships, etc. 3. Characteristics a. Episodic b. Impulsive c. Fragmented 4. Reporters v. Story tellers C. Public 1. Speeches, lectures, etc. 2. Characteristics a. Impersonal b. Rigid control of the channel c. Calculated use of message cues d. Restriction of roles 3. Comparison with interpersonal a. Less accurate b. Quieter c. Faster d. Looks more planned e. Works less well for problem solving D. Mass Communication 1. Characteristics a. Input/output ratio b. Organization and standardization c. Feedback d. Gatekeeper i. Two-step flow ii. Diffusion of innovation 2. Functions a. Share knowledge of the environment b. Socialize new members c. Entertainment d. Gain consensus 3. Theories of selectivity a. Consistency i. Cognitive dissonance ii. Theories of exposure Selective exposure Selective perception Selective interpretation Selective recall iii. Theories of social influence Individual differences Social categories Social relationships Cultural norms b. Utility i. Information ii. Socialization iii. Diversion c. Passive audience 4. Psychological Dynamics of Mass Communication a. Construction of reality b. Acquisition of beliefs and images c. Construction is highly selective d. Assimilation of information e. Maintenance of cognitive consistency VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA I. Background II. Qualitative and Quantitative Problems III. The role of violence in society A. Stanley Milgram and obedience to authority B. Jane Elliott and "Blue Eyed/Brown Eyed" C. Phil Zimbardo and the Stanford prison study IV. Theories of Media Violence A. Catharsis - Media provide an outlet for frustrations B. Aggressive Cues 1. Stimulus-Response 2. Media provide "cues" for behavior C. Observational Learing 1. Media provide models for behavior 2. Albert Bandura and the bo-bo doll experiment D. Reinforcement - Media reinforce pre-existing tendencies E. Cultivation - Symbolic media world shapes real-world perceptions 1. George Gerbner 2. George Plimpton (End of Part 1) MEDIA AND SOCIETY Ideas and History I. Connections A. Knowledge B. Conduct C. Government II. Basic Assumptions A. Ideas represent a real force in determining events B. Things don't "just happen" 1. Determinism 2. Free will C. Myth complexes III. Perspectives A. Weltanschauung 1. Collectivistic 2. Individualistic B. Major thinkers 1. Karl Marx - Class position determines the validity of ideas 2. Emile Durkheim - Ideas are determined by social structure 3. Lev Vygotsky - Individuals construct meaning through interaction with others C. Ideas and the historic setting IV. Four Theories of the Press A. Collectivistic 1. Authoritarian a. Philosophical background i. Plato - The Republic ii. Machiavelli - The Prince iii. Hobbes - Leviathan b. Relationships i. The nature of the individual ii. The nature of the state iii. The nature of knowledge c. Means of control i. Licensing of printing ii. Licensing of individual works iii. Prosecution iv. Kept press v. Taxation vi. Censorship / Prior Restraint The Strange Case of the SR-71 Progressive v. United States 2. Soviet totalitarian a. Social background b. Major writers i. Frederich Hegel and the dialectic Thesis Antithesis Synthesis ii. Karl Marx and economic determinism c. Soviet media i. Used as instruments of the party ii. Owned by the state iii. Close integration with other elements c. Soviet vs. other totalitarian systems d. Some definitional problems B. Individualistic 1. Libertarian a. Philosophical background i. Sir Isaac Newton ii. The individual and society iii. Functions b. Proponents i. John Milton - Areopagitica ii. John Stuart Mill - On Liberty iii. John Locke - An Essay Concerning Human Understanding 2. Neoliberal a. Philosophical background i. Charles Darwin - The process of change ii. Werner Heisenberg - The process of observation iii. Albert Einstein - The process of truth b. Major elements i. The nature of nature ii. Context iii. Meaning and process iv. The nature of truth c. Weltanschauung i. The nature of man People have a rational component But sentiment and emotion are important, too ii. The nature of the state Society takes precedence over the individual The state has the capacity to solve problems The state must solve problems between individuals Individuals must be assisted in exercising their freedoms iii. The relationship of man to the state People are social creatures Morality is duty to the community Rights are social and are earned iv. The nature of knowledge Truth is not absolute Debate is inconclusive d. Social responsibility theory of the press 1. Background Alexis de Tocquiville - Democracy in America Hutchins Commission - A Free and Responsible Press ii. Functions of the press Provide truth and balance Forum for the exchange of ideas Represent constituent groups Present and clarify goals Provide full access to the day's intelligence iii. Media control The media themselves The public The government IV. Media Control A. Accountability and Sanctions 1. Employers 2. Audiences 3. Courts 4. Media Critics 5. Ombudsmen 6. News Councils 7. Peers 8. Ourselves B. Control by the Media C. Control by the Public D. Control by the Government V. Control by the Media A. Codes of Ethics VI. Control by the Public A. The Process 1. Monitor the media 2. Find an applicable law 3. Negotiate a solution B. Action Groups 1. Action for Children's Television 2. Accuracy in Media 3. Coalition for Better Television 4. office of Communication, United Church of Christ C. John Banzhaf and Cigarette Commercials D. Social Control V. Control by the Government A. Access 1. Tornillo 2. Broadcasting B. Government Regulatory Agencies 1. Federal Trade Commission 2. Federal Communications Commission a. Philosophical Background b. Rules and Regulations 3. National Labor Relations Board 4. Securities and Exchange Commission 5. Department of Energy 6. Postal Service 7. Other Introduction to Mass Media Law I. First Amendment A. Government vs. business B. Strict scrutiny II. Broadcast A. Public interest, convenience and necessity B. Section 315 III. Time, Place, Manner A. Strict Scrutiny B. Location IV. Defamation A. Definition 1. Publication 2. Identification 3. Defamation B. Fault C. Public officials vs. public figures vs. private figures V. Invasion of Privacy A. Background B. Types C. Defenses VI. Pornography and Obscenity A. Constitutional protection B. Miller three-part test VII. Records and Meetings A. Tennessee open records & meetings B. Federal Freedom of Information Act VIII. Media & National Security A. Right of access B. Right to publish IX. Internet A. First Amendment concerns B. Blocking software X. Free Press / Fair Trial A. State vs. federal B. Criminal vs. civil C. Trials vs. motion hearings XI. Advertising / COmmercial Speech A. Federal Trade Commission B. Ad Content C. Puffery XII. Copyright (End of Part 2) MEDIA BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS I. Ownership Patterns A. Who Owns What 1. Monopoly 2. Cross-Ownership 3. Chains and Groups 4. Conglomerates 5. Affiliation Agreements B. Corporate Structure 1. Industries 2. Businesses II. Advertising A. Philosophical Background 1. Mass Production 2. Distribution 3. Marketing 4. Advertising B. Major Criticisms 1. Persuades us to buy goods we don't need 2. Appeals to emotion rather than intellect 3. Biased 4. Conflicting claims 5. Repetitious 6. Vulgar 7. Subliminal advertising C. Advertising and the FTC 1. Development of Regulation a. Laissez-Faire Capitalism b. Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) c. Federal Trade Commission (1914) d. Wheeler-Lea Amendment (1938) e. False, Deceptive and Unfair Ads 2. Deregulation II. Centralization and Concentration A. The Importance of Standardization 1. AM/FM Radio 2. NTSC 3. Beta/VHS 4. Quad Sound 5. Microsoft 6. Compact Discs B. Impact on Content III. Media as a Social System A. Audiences 1. Behavioral Categories a. Social Categories b. Social Relationships c. Cultural Norms 2. Content Categories a. Lowbrow b. Middlebrow c. Highbrow 3. Impact Categories a. Magic Bullet/Hypodermic b. Agenda Setting B. Financial Backers C. Market Analysts 1. Personal Judgment 2. Sampling 3. Sales 4. Market Research D. Production 1. Find what the audience wants and give it to them 2. Audiences a. Attract new members b. Don't drive the old members away 3. Loyalty a. Long-term b. Short-term 4. Competition a. Counter-Programming b. Do what you do best E. Distribution F. Official Regulatory Bodies G. Legislative Bodies H. Voluntary Associations (End of Part 3) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx HISTORY I. China II. Europe A. Distribution B. Johann Guttenberg and movable type 1. Changes in media 2. Changes in message 3. Changes in audience C. Controls 1. King Henry VIII 2. Queen Mary a. Stationers Company b. Court of the Star Chamber D. New developments A. Production B. Distribution III. America A. Colonial Period 1. Bay Psalm Book 2. Public Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic 3. John Peter Zenger 4. First Amendment B. 1800's 1. Who's Who a. Benjamin Day b. Horace Greeley c. Joseph Pulitzer d. William Randolph Hearst 2. Spanish-American War C. Post-World War II 1. Specialization 2. Concentration 3. Technology a. Print b. Broadcast c. Internet RECORDING I. Philosophical Background A. Most personal of all media B. Most pervasive of all media C. Cultural Gap II. Major Periods in the History of Sound Recording A. 1877-1923: Discovery and Experimentation 1. Charles Gros 2. Thomas Edison 3. Emil Berliner 4. Vladimir Pooulson 5. Enrico Caruso 6. ASCAP B. 1924-1945: Technical Improvements and Financial Crisis C. 1945-1966: Technical Rebirth and Social Change 1. Technical Improvements in Electromagnetic Recording a. Ampex b. 3-M 2. Improvements in Records and Playback Systems a. CBS b. RCA 3. Television 4. Changes in Marketing 5. Revolution in Content a. The Development of Rock-'n'-Roll i. Rhythm-'n'-Blues ii. Country-Western iii. White Popular iv. Folk v. Jazz b. Formation of BMI c. Social Context D. 1967 - Present 1. Sgt. Pepper 2. Abbey Road 3. Message Music 4. Soft Rock 5. Hard Rock 6. Disco 7. New Wave 8. Rap E. Current Issues 1. Drug Lyrics 2. Occult Lyrics 3. Christian Rock 4. Backward Masking