Blog Post 4- Crystal Xue
The first articulation applies to Martin Luther’s 95 Theses gaining popularity via “a decentralized person-to-person media system whose participants took care of distribution” (Standage, 53-4). Supporters who copied his work and local printers produced his messages. Traveling merchants, traders, and preachers who brought his work to other towns all played distributor roles. His consumers were anyone who read his pamphlets or, in the case of illiterate people, just purchased them.
The pamphlet medium limited synchronous communication since those who responded needed to do so in their own print works or pamphlets. That said, they did spark real-time debates among consumers, such as families who read them together. The multimedia aspect of news ballads and woodcuts made messages more engaging and accessible.
On the other hand, the “OH LAWD HE COMIN” cat meme prompted social media users to respond in real-time, which was possible due to the medium of the internet. As a result, what began as a Facebook meme went viral on Twitter and inspired a DeviantArt digital painting as well as a corporate ad campaign. In this case, the roles of producer, distributor, and consumer overlap since the social media user who created the meme also distributed it along with consumers, who were inspired to produce their own recreations of the meme.
Hi Crystal!
ReplyDeleteYour comparison between Martin Luther's spreading of ideas and the viral cat meme is interesting!
It highlights the evolving nature of media systems, illustrating how individuals serve as both creators and distributors of content. Luther’s pamphlets were passed hand to hand, while now memes go crazy on the internet as people continue to share and repost. It's Interesting to see how technology has changed mass communications.
Thinking about this makes me wonder how we can leverage historical insights to better understand and address the challenges of digital communication in today’s interconnected world. It seems like History is repeating itself digitally!
Great analysis on Luther's work and the "OH LAWD HE COMIN" meme. I particularly liked how you highlighted the distribution roles in Luther's time and how it contrasts with today's instant social media interactions. It's interesting to see how both spread through different types of networks yet managed to captivate so many. Your comparison between the mediums pamphlets vs. the internet brings out how technology shapes message spread. I also think the role of context, like societal discontent for Luther and humor for the meme, plays a big part in their virality. Nicely done!
ReplyDelete