Blog post #2: Question 2- Samantha Miller
2. For this weeks blog post I have decided to focus on question #2, discussing the plague of Pontypool in relation to Harold Innis' analysis of ancient empires and media forms. The language virus in Pontypool is a perfect example of a form of media that is rapidly transmitted and evolves, mirroring the characteristics of space bias as discussed by Innis. This is because of the fact that the virus in the film spreads quickly through spoken language, which is an easy method of transmission.
This aligns with the concept of space bias, the wide distribution of information within a short period of time. In the context of Pontypool, radio, telephone, and electronic amplification serve as contemporary forms of orality. Modern aural culture, including social media platforms, podcasts, and music streaming, can also disseminate information and influence public opinion at a rapid pace, just like the language virus is spreading in Pontypool.
Hi Samantha! I completely agree with the connection of the language virus in Pontypool to Innis’ concept of space bias. It’s interesting to think about how quickly spoken language can spread, especially when compared to more permanent, time-biased media like written texts. I also agree with your point about modern aural culture, including social media and podcasts. These platforms allow for the rapid outreach of ideas, much like the virus in Pontypool. It highlights how quickly information, or in this case, a virus, can travel and impact society. The comparison between ancient forms of oral transmission and our contemporary digital forms of communication really drives home Innis’ analysis in a modern context.
ReplyDeleteHi Samantha! I like how you’ve linked the rapid spread of the language virus in Pontypool to Innis' concept of space bias. Spoken language, especially when amplified by radio and telecommunication, fits perfectly with space-biased media since it allows information to spread quickly and widely. Your connection to modern aural culture, like social media and podcasts, adds a relevant modern layer, showing how easily ideas or messages (both good and bad) can go viral today, just like the language virus in the film. Just like in Pontypool, these platforms allow information to spread instantly and influence public opinion at a rapid pace, often before people can actually critically process the message, which makes them powerful but also dangerous; like we saw in the film.
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