Sociology 1020 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Information Technology, Disinhibition, Information Society
30 Jan 2013
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Document Summary
Daniel bell argued for the information society-> shift in postindustrial society inspired by advanced scientific knowledge organized to create new wealth producing technologies. Information technologies moving us into a new stage of civilization. Technological determinism-> true force of social change is introduction of new tools/machines. The political economy of media- power and wealth: Political economy of media-> relates media in relation to issues of power/wealth. Looks at social institutions that govern production/distribution/consumption of information. Interested in who controls access to means of communication. Challenge notion that communication systems in liberal democracies are. See media under capitalism and designed to produce a profit. High concentration of ownership in fields of media. Commercial ownership brings about serious distortions in communication systems. Commercial entertainment keep people in buying mood and distracts people from making criticisms. Media audiences- from couch potato to co creator: Hypodermic model-> sees media as feeding audiences messages that make them act in a particular way.
