Define Media

           There are many factors that contribute to the constant struggle to accurately define media.  People have millions of unnoticed interactions with media every day, as they have saturated the global culture. Media are constantly changing as new technology develops and people discover new ways to utilize their surroundings. However, the biggest factor that makes it so difficult to define media is that it can have a variety of meanings to different people. People consider a number of things, such as cupcakes, lights, cards, or even tables to be media which makes it very challenging to explain. However, with close examination it is clear that media are anything that can be used to help communicate information with others or to express a specific thought or opinion in a way that will reach an audience.

            A crucial aspect in the definition of media is that it helps aid the process of communication or expression. One person must try to convey a certain message in an understandable way to another. In the book Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man Marshall McLuhan writes “the content of writing is speech, just as the written word is the content of print, and print is the content of the telegraph” (8). McLuhan provides examples of the different tools available for use through media and illustrates that media are used to interact with a variety of people. These tools are utilized in order to effectively express a belief or get a message across. Without media these interactions would be empty, leaving individuals no means to express their thoughts.

            Another key element of media is that it is something that anyone can utilize in order to share a piece of themselves with others. It is a way for the individual to let their opinion or belief be heard and to receive feedback from the audience. Sometimes it is not important what people are saying, but rather that they have a means by which to say it. One of the greatest functions of media is that “media [are] the extensions of man” (1). It is a tool that is available to individuals in order to interact, learn and grow with others. The global society continues to expand as media evolves; it is furthering the reach of mankind and turning what was once a limited society into a universe of endless possibilities.

             Often times an individual has many different media to choose from in order to communicate information or express their opinion. What is important to understand is that different media are not equal and choosing one medium over another may have varying results. An important aspect of media is the reaction of the receiver and that “each medium tends to produce a different experience for the [audience]” (26). Media can be used when expressing a certain idea but it does not guarantee that it will be appropriately received. An individual may choose a medium that leaves very little room for interpretation or they can choose one that invites interpretation and new ideas. There are a countless number of media in our society and it is important that when considering which one to use the individual chooses the medium that is right for them.

            The global society has been shaped by the media it is surrounded with. Evolving media has resulted in new ways to communicate with friends, receive news and important information, and grow in a world that is constantly changing. Media is a central part of everyday life, and because of that “if the media were eliminated, nothing else would be the same” (6). Society has grown to take for granted the millions of media interactions that go unnoticed every day. People don’t think that by wearing a Red Sox shirt they are communicating to the world that they are proud of where they live, or that a family recipe passed down from generation to generation expresses their strong family connections. However, any object can be used as a medium, as long as it is being used to communicate information or express a thought or opinion.