Revisiting Definitions

POST ONE
When you use "media" now, what do you understand by the term? What do
you understand by "mediation"? How do you understand technology relative
to media?

Media is, for me, what concepts/communication moves through between two thinking processes - whether these be individual minds or groups.

Mediation is the impact of the media on the concept/communication from as it was intended to how it was received. It doesn't have to be all negative - some of the intended communication comes through loud and clear, but some might be altered to a point where it becomes a misunderstanding.

Technology is the physical embodiment of media, or what is used to make media possible. This includes language, image, etc.

POST TWO
Imagine that you were to give a lecture on media culture to an undergrad
class. To work toward such a lecture, identify two or three repeated
themes that run through some majority of our class readings: in your
writing, identify the themes and trace each through the readings,
chronologically, identifying shifts and changes and contemplating why
there would be such shifts. Discuss why you chose the themes you did:
why does each theme stand out for you such that you think it should be
emphasized in a lecture to undergrads, and how should the theme shape
their thinking about (their engagements with) media?

I first tried to think of this as a sort of "tagging" by repeated issues or subjects that come up, but then I realized that for me to really "tag" it, I'd have to create a chart of sorts. But then I spent too much time pondering. Here's what I came up with:

I realized that some of these seem simple and some are more difficult to find within the texts, and that if I really wanted to, I could probably make inferences about all of these issues within the all the texts if I wanted to or if I had the time.

For undergrads, I'd focus on participation and the difference between the structure of technology and the development of technology, as well as the concept of "media" in general. I think that undergrads can best reflect on their interactions with media, which is largely participative (at least based on how many "friend requests" I've gotten from them or how many times I've caught them Facebooking in class). Also, so many of them seem to think that technology and media are without consequences and spring out of the ground like some sort of god-given gift for man. I'd like them to explore how things come to being and how their function impacts the society in which they are used.

POST THREE
What's missing? By this, I mean both "what's missing from the media
culture theories we have read?" and "what do you think is missing from
your understanding?" Look back over your media charts: what have our
readings encouraged you to add, shift, or resee since the beginning of
class -- and what do our readings not encourage you to discuss? What
questions about media are still left hanging for you, and where do you
see gaps in your own understanding of the work?

My understanding of everything feels so fragmented at the moment that I'm not sure if something's missing or if I personally missed it. It's a lot of work to play catch up and keep up when my brain is still so bombarded in every aspect of my life with some sort of drama or distraction. Oh, that's a four letter word for me - distraction - right up there with "focus".

Some areas I'd like to see more essays/articles about: mediation of the appearance of the body/body as mediation (beyond McLuhan!), subversion of the "norms" of conversation via media (Baudrillard and graffiti?), the place of media in public and private, more about online mediation ...

The readings have definitely encouraged me to think of the perspective of each writer as they analyze and philosophize and theorize about the way our world is altered and mediated. I would like to read more historical accounts (before Benjamin, are there any?) of expected impacts of technology.