The Language Virus: Time and Space Bias in Pontypool
Question 2:
Harold Innis’ framework of time-biased and space-biased media highlights the importance of longevity in communication and the spread of information over wide distances. In terms of the Pontypool “language virus”, it is transmitted through spoken language which would make it time-biased due to the communication people would have in order to contract the virus. However, the media forms that are used to amplify and sustain the virus– radio and telephone– serve as space-biased technology. Technology allowed the virus to spread to local communities and caused it to rapidly spread. We even saw that the information made it all the way to the UK when the BBC news reporter called in. While the language virus has elements of time-bias, its spread is facilitated by space-bias media.
It's very inventive how you analyzed the time-biased and space-biased media that Innis used in Pontypool. It's also fascinating to note the distinction you draw between the virus's time-biased transmission through spoken language and its space-biased amplification through technologies like radio and telephone. The dual role that media plays in both preserving and spreading the virus is certainly highlighted by the way new technologies expand oral communication to a wider audience. If the "language virus" spread mostly through written or visual media, which are more space-biased than radio, how do you think the Pontypool story would change?
ReplyDeleteHey Emma! I agree with your post in that the film has aspects of both time and space bias. In my post I only talked about space bias like you said about the media forms used which reflect space bias with how information is communicated in the film. I agree that there is also an aspect of time bias. Adding on to what you said about time bias and how it is shown in the communication people have in order to contract the virus, they way we understand words and understand their meaning reflects time bias as that has been learned and shared over time.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read what your view is on time and space bias in Pontypool. I agree that we see both time and space bias in this movie. Like you said, we see time bias because of the time that it takes for someone to be infected with this virus and we see space bias because of the technologies that were used to spread the virus. The way new technologies make oral communication more available to more people shows how media was able to spread the virus.
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