"The Medium is the Message" (Review)

Why do we do this?

"The human brain evolved in a world in which only humans exhibited rich social behaviors, and a world in which all perceived objects were real physical objects. Anything that seemed to be a real person or place was real." -An evolutionary perspective -The idea is that we do this without thinking about it.

Para-Social Interactions/Relationships

A one-sided relationship between a media user and a media figure -A media figure can be -A celebrity (i.e., gossip magazines) -A TV show host (i.e., Seacrest) -A fictional character (i.e., Ross) It's easy to fool our brains in to thinking we know someone -Especially if you see someone a lot (e.g., TV, magazines, or even on your twitter feed) -Over time you can predict their behaviors and feelings. That gives you a certain connection

Media Equation Theory

A perfect example of a subtle, unanticipated consequence of media -Focuses on the medium, not the content Generally, we think of media as tools and pieces of hardware or software -Media simply helps us accomplish tasks, learn new information, or entertain ourselves - content -The Media Equation takes McLuhan's concept of "The Medium is the Message" and applies it to all mediums

Ted Talk

ADHD and Autism Next Round of Evolution

"The Medium is the Message"

Don't always focus on the content, the medium is just as important For McLuhan, the true "message" of a medium did not reside in the content (i.e, a television show) but in how the medium "changes our actions or relationships with the world and each other" (i.e., the group of friends the TV show brought together on the same couch). "Societies have been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication"

PARO

SLIPPERY SLOPE

Unanticipated Consequence

Some argue we are regressing in intelligence. We cannot concentrate for extended periods of time and thus, never truly test ourselves Others argue that we evolving to a different type of intelligence Something called Technophysio Evolution

Para-Communication

The norms we follow are even stronger when characters actually talk back Para-communication in video games Para-communication with CleverBot

Para-Social Interactions/Relationships

These responses or relationships parallel our actual two-sided, real world relationships in a variety of ways Being primed with ur favorite celebrity/character -Increased Self-Esteem & Sense of Belonging (Need Fulfillment) When something good happens to your favorite character -Positive emotions of joy and elation (Mood/Emotion; Basking In Reflected Glory) Seeing a picture of fictional character -Social Facilitation Effects Normally experienced when in the presence of a friend (Behavioral) People rated TV characters as closer than acquaintances but not as close as real friends

Media Equation

We treat media (mediums and media content) as real social actors. We do this even though we know it's ridiculous

Uncanny Valley

When the media equation backfires