On Media

In this reading, I find the different relationships between media very interesting.  Over time, media has progressed and a medium usually isn't comprised of one thing.  For art, years ago a painting would have one copy and that was the only part of the medium.  Now, that same painting may be reproduced or printed, or could probably be seen all over the internet, in magazines, etc.  I think this communicative element that media has developed is very important.  The simple medium may no longer be the main focus.  The greater idea could be producing the medium in such a way that it reaches a large audience, above focusing on what the message or art actually is.  The depth of media is actually somewhat scary to think about, especially the ways in which media surrounds us and shapes our lives.  The increased nature of digitalizing media and using machines creates a whole other dimension that wasn't a factor in media a century ago.  For example, now reading a book on a Kindle or e-reader seems normal, and at first thought like a single medium.  But then you would have to consider the way in which the book was coded to be read on a screen and distributed more easily and efficiently to a lot more people.  These things are also media.  Thus, today, media has become more multi-dimensional and complicated, but it allows for certain media to become more widespread and reach a greater audience, which is often a critical goal of a medium.

This idea reminds me of something I saw recently posted on the Internet.  What seemed like a post for a website selling men "Push Up Muscle Shirts" turned into a completely different message.  In my own experience, I saw this first on Facebook, and then clicked on the link not expecting the second message.  Whoever else has seen this may have gone through various means to reach the final message of the main medium.

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