Bias Of Media: A Study Of Spatial Theory Of The Media Ecology School

In what way does scholar of Media Ecology think about space? This thesis inspects the social and academic environment from which Media Ecology theory stem and combs original publications of Innis,McLuhan,Meyrowitz and Levinson to summarize their spatial theory in the line of rising,developing and inheriting.All the tedious desk work is for a clear and complete shape of Media Ecology School's spatial theory.The core proposition,‘Media is bias' is woven in the theory of four scholars,so a thorough understanding on this proposition will help understand their spacial theory better.A history of Canada follows the literature review,because two pioneers in this school were born and brought up in Canada.The colonial history sees a great importance of transportation and communication.This could influence how Innis and McLuhan sees the world.The post-industrial acadamic trend also ignite their ideas.Even though Media Ecology is never the main stream academic concern in north America,McLuhanism booms with the help of mass media and fast developing internet.A degree programof Media Ecology in New York University continues the legacy of Innis and McLuhan.The main body of this thesis summarizes spacial theory of Innis,McLuhan,Meyrowitz and Levinson.Given the importance of Innis' s and McLuhan's work,this thesis traces their academic experience before they wrote about communication.Innis was a hitorian of political economy and McLuhan majored in English literature.Their unique acadamic background reflects in their communication study and spatial theory.Innis takes natural space as container of social relationships and use space as a tool to categorize media.He associates spatial bias media with bureaucracy and monopoly.McLuhan's spatial theory turns to percepion.He believes senses can produce new space and the space will expand for technology extends human body.Meyrowitz's and Levinson's study is somehow innovative,basing on theories of Innis and McLuhan.In the end,this thesis makes an conclusion and compares the spatial theory of Media Ecology to spatial theory discussed by Lefebvre.From what's in common between communication theory and social theory,this thesis hopes to introduce a new angle for communication study.With the development of technology,there are true spaces and virtual spaces.How to deal with the complexity and overlap of different spaces is a big problem we are facing.