Time Biased= Stone

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Time-Biased Media

In Media Ecology terms, the definition of 'time' is different from its Webster's dictionary term. Time-biased media pertains to certain forms/objects of communication that are durable yet too heavy or hard to move past its basic function in that particular set time. Therefore, according to major media ecologist, these forms of communication are reserved for more traditional, sacred, and/or moral civilizations. Because their selected forms of media cannot exceed its given space (like stone or clay), expansion of that particular civilization moves at a slower pace.

Space-Biased Media

In Media Ecology terms, the definition of 'space’ is different from its Webster's dictionary term. Space-biased media pertains to certain forms/objects of communication that are light, portable, and possess the ability to be transported over vast distances, basically the possibilities are limitless. Therefore, according to media ecologist, these light and portable forms of media can express there command without being concerned with slow implementation over time. According to Harold Innis, space-biased civilizations can preserve their power and take over less advanced civilizations; he also attributed the implementation of imperialism to forms of space-biased media.

Theory

Harold Innis, the man responsible for these two terms, believed that time-biased cultures were at an extreme disadvantage because their forms of communication were not evolving fast enough and cultures evolving rapidly would eventually take over the disadvantaged; he also believed that time-biased cultures could not fight the inevitable end of becoming obsolete. Innis also believed that orality was a time-biased form of media. In earlier cultures there was one person who was selected to go from town to town in order to collect news of deaths, births, and casualties, but if these culture’s forms of communication did not advance with the evolution of literacy, then they would miss out on opportunities’ for the advancement of the mind.

Paper was one of the main examples Innis used to describe space-biased mediums. Paper is so light and can be transported anywhere. It can also be formed into a collected work of thoughts that foster revolution, outrage, apathy, sympathy, and entertainment. It also led to the invention of the newspaper, which offered a solution to concerns about getting information in an acceptable amount of time. This advanced form of media allowed new ways of thinking; people could now write letters to others who were miles away. However, Innis does make that point that paper is easily destroyed, but stone has the ability to still exist even when the civilization that created it is obsolete.

The Importance of Time and Space Biased Communication for Dummies

Harold Innis, time and space, who cares, right? The purpose of media ecology is to evaluate the forms of communication, or the ways in which civilizations communicate (basically the way we send information). Harold Innis believed that the longevity of a civilization is directly correlated to the forms of communication, and according to Innis, there were only two forms of communication that could determine the lifespan…time and space biased communication. Well, right now you are sitting at your computer reading the words and images that have been posted, this is a prime example of space biased communication (papyrus is also an example used by Innis [2]; you are in your time and place, but the words on this screen have been transported from Microsoft Word to this wiki site. I chose this form to send the message, and the form allowed the message to travel great distances; many years from now (unless this form becomes obsolete) other people will be able to read my construction of Innis’s theory…so in a way, I become immortalized. However, the main drawback Innis had concerning space biased communication, was the fact that it could be easily destroyed (you could click delete at any moment and my word would cease to exist) [2].

Now, let’s say that I chose to proclaim my undying love for my boyfriend on a brick wall; the only people who are going to see my proclamation of love are the people who happen to walk by. According to Innis, the brick wall would be time biased because no one would receive my information unless they were in that time; time biased forms of media cannot be transported (prime example: hieroglyphics)[2]. Innis does give time biased forms of media a kudos by stating that time biased forms are not easily destroyed [2];this is why archeologist are able to discover civilizations that no longer exist (Inca/Mayan).

One the whole, who’s to say that with the way we are constantly scaffolding on prior forms of communication, that we won’t find our own civilization obsolete? What if we can no longer compete with the rapid rate of change in forms of media? These are the same thoughts that made Harold Innis go…Hmmmmm.

Important Theorist/Theory Links

Harold A. Innis- Founder of Time-biased and Space-biased media

James Carey- Media Ecologist who founded extended the works of Harold Innis and Time-biased and Space-biased media.

General Semantics- A study based on key concepts associated with Time-biased and Space-biased media.

Marshall Mcluhan - Media Ecologist who shared similar ideologies of Harold Innis concerning Time-biased and Space-biased media and orality.

References

[1] Korzybski, Alfred. Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General

SemanticsChicago

: The Science  Press Printing Company, 1941

[2] Innis, Harold The Bias of Communication http://iwcenglish1.typepad.com/iwc_media_ecology/Documents/The_Bias_of_Communication.doc

Original Author: Kim Fitten