[ART] The Mass Media and Society

2^nd December

[ART] The Mass Media and Society

PRINT- at the age of around 1450 came the Gutenberg press

The Late age of print- term from media theorist Marshall McLuhan. This incorpoartes this expanded media, and concept of literature age which changed to Computer literacy

Government funded <--------Computerate as opposed to illiterate

Computers, electronic books/ e-books to replace the printed book?

Computer media -hyperlinks - hypertext -hypermedia

This new fluidity of using these links amongst virtually everyone.

Definition of mass media

‘modern systems of communication and distribution supplied by relativity. Small groups of cultural producers but directed towards large numbers of consumers.’

Thinking critically about the mass media

Negatives

Superficial, trvial

Viewing figures measures success

Popularity, won’t ever be experimental, or controversial not to upset the viewers- get stuck in a rut.

Audience is dispersed

Audience is disempowered

Thinks voting is empowering but with scams, and by actually voting what can change.

Encourages the status quo- the conservative popular consensus

Encourages apathy- can’t change the world

Power held by the few motivated by prodit of social control (propaganda)

Bland, escapist and standardised

Encourages escapism, seen as a drug which is anaesthetises us

Positives

Not all is low quality

Social problems and injustices are discussed by the media

Creativity can be a feature (Channel 4, trying new things)

Transmission of high art reaches a broader audience

Channel 4, showing turner prize, can watch the proms)

Democratic potential

Artists use of the mass media

-‘Art in the Age of the Mass Media’

John A Walker

Can art be autonomous? (exist on its own in a vacuum, be subject to its own laws)

Should it be? Some people think yes to keep its purity.

Richard Hamilton- Fine artist revelling in mass media- cinema

Lichtenstein- mocking artists elitists brush strokes

Warhol- Ambulance disaster, this apathy which has desentized us- things that could of shocked us.

Pollock standing above society, being elitist

-put on stone roses cover to bring him in to the masses.

Marcus Harvey

1963- mugshot of Mira Hindley

Childrens handprints to make up the face to represent the murders

With the title ‘Mira’, it implies an intimate relationship. But only knows her through the process

‘sick exploitation of dead children’

Not to glamorise her, but about press photographers. All desperate for a shot of her.

Meditation of medium- pixelated, using tones

Joke on newspaper style imagery.

Press attacking Harvey, but what they are guilty for.