Harold Adams Innis: The Bias of Communications & Monopolies of Power 12/5/20151Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM.

Slide 1Harold Adams Innis: The Bias of Communications & Monopolies of Power 12/5/20151Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 2Harold Adams Innis, a political economist, is widely credited with initiating an important discourse on media from a distinctly Canadian perspective. Harold Adams Innis, a political economist, is widely credited with initiating an important discourse on media from a distinctly Canadian perspective. He directly influenced Marshall McLuhan and continues to be a central figure in communications theory. He directly influenced Marshall McLuhan and continues to be a central figure in communications theory. 12/5/20152Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 3Innis was born in 1894 near Hamilton, Ontario, graduated from McMaster just before WW1 and saw front-line duty in France. Innis was born in 1894 near Hamilton, Ontario, graduated from McMaster just before WW1 and saw front-line duty in France. 12/5/20153Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 4Innis’ central focus is the social history of communication media. 12/5/20154Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 5He believed that He believed that the relative stability of cultures depends on the balance and proportion of their media. To begin our inquiry into this area, he suggests we ask three basic questions To begin our inquiry into this area, he suggests we ask three basic questions 12/5/20155Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 6How do specific communication technologies operate? How do specific communication technologies operate? What assumptions do they take from and contribute to society? What assumptions do they take from and contribute to society? What forms of power do they encourage? What forms of power do they encourage? 12/5/20156Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 7Innis said that: The key to social change is found in the development of communication media. 12/5/20157Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 8That each medium embodies a bias in terms of the organization and control of information. 12/5/20158Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 9That any empire or society is generally concerned with duration over time and extension in space. 12/5/20159Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 10Time-based media Time-biased media, such as stone and clay, are durable and heavy. Since they are difficult to move, they do not encourage territorial expansion; however, since they have a long life, they do encourage the extension of empire over time. Innis associated these media with the customary, the sacred, and the moral. Time-biased media, such as stone and clay, are durable and heavy. Since they are difficult to move, they do not encourage territorial expansion; however, since they have a long life, they do encourage the extension of empire over time. Innis associated these media with the customary, the sacred, and the moral. Time-biased media facilitate the development of social hierarchies, as archetypally exemplified by ancient Egypt. For Innis, speech is a time-biased medium. Time-biased media facilitate the development of social hierarchies, as archetypally exemplified by ancient Egypt. For Innis, speech is a time-biased medium. 12/5/201510Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 11Space-based media Space-biased media are light and portable; they can be transported over large distances. Space-biased media are light and portable; they can be transported over large distances. They are associated with secular and territorial societies; They are associated with secular and territorial societies; they facilitate the expansion of empire over space. Paper is such a medium; it is readily transported, but has a relatively short lifespan. they facilitate the expansion of empire over space. Paper is such a medium; it is readily transported, but has a relatively short lifespan. 12/5/201511Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 12It was Innis’ conviction that stable societies were able to achieve a balance between time- and space-biased communications media. It was Innis’ conviction that stable societies were able to achieve a balance between time- and space-biased communications media. 12/5/201512Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 13He also believed that change came from the margins of society, since people on the margins invariably developed their own media. The new media allow those on the periphery to develop and consolidate power, and ultimately to challenge the authority of the centre. He also believed that change came from the margins of society, since people on the margins invariably developed their own media. The new media allow those on the periphery to develop and consolidate power, and ultimately to challenge the authority of the centre. 12/5/201513Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 14Latin written on parchment, the medium of the Christian Church, was attacked through the secular medium of vernaculars written on paper. 12/5/201514Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 15Oral communication speech was considered by Innis to be time-biased because it requires the relative stability of community for face-to-face contact. 12/5/201515Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 16Knowledge passed down orally depends on a lineage of transmission, often associated with ancestors, and ratified by human contact. Knowledge passed down orally depends on a lineage of transmission, often associated with ancestors, and ratified by human contact. 12/5/201516Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 17“The oral tradition is inherently more flexible and humanistic than the written tradition which is rigid and impersonal in contrast.” 12/5/201517Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 18When fascism comes to America, it will come in the form of democracy. --Huey Long When fascism comes to America, it will come in the form of democracy. --Huey Long Does that make sense in the context of what Innis discusses? 12/5/201518Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 19Innis extended the economic concept of monopoly to include culture and politics. If we consider that a society has a network of communications systems, we can see that there are key junctures or nodal points where significant information is stored, and from where it is transmitted to other parts of the system. Innis extended the economic concept of monopoly to include culture and politics. If we consider that a society has a network of communications systems, we can see that there are key junctures or nodal points where significant information is stored, and from where it is transmitted to other parts of the system. 12/5/201519Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 20Traditionally, the universities have attempted to monopolize certain kinds of information, as have professional associations such as doctors or engineers or lawyers, as have governments. Traditionally, the universities have attempted to monopolize certain kinds of information, as have professional associations such as doctors or engineers or lawyers, as have governments. As both Innis and Michel Foucault have demonstrated, individuals or groups who control access to those points wield great power. As both Innis and Michel Foucault have demonstrated, individuals or groups who control access to those points wield great power. 12/5/201520Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 21Those who monopolize knowledge are also in a position to define what is legitimate knowledge. Those who monopolize knowledge are also in a position to define what is legitimate knowledge. 12/5/201521Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 22The organized church comes immediately to mind, as does insider trading! The organized church comes immediately to mind, as does insider trading! The scientific community lobbies not only for a pre-eminent status for the objectivity of knowledge, but also advocates a rigid method for obtaining that knowledge! The scientific community lobbies not only for a pre-eminent status for the objectivity of knowledge, but also advocates a rigid method for obtaining that knowledge! 12/5/201522Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 23Monopolies of knowledge derive their power from several sources: 12/5/201523Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 24Mastery of Complexity creates a hierarchy of professionals and amateurs. Control of Raw Materials for Media: Ted Turner buys RKO! Bill Gates / Microsoft buys the Bettman Archives! Performativity: Just as Egyptian priests were able to accurately predict the regular flooding of the Nile because knowledge of writing allowed them to make calculations, so does access to pubic opinion allow pollsters to predict elections within certain percentage parameters. 12/5/201524Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 25Speed: Advantages accrue to those who have the knowledge first. Business done in back rooms or in the corridors of power are often never reported in the media. Ability to Afford High Costs: The cult of "production value" in design, recording, television, and Hollywood movies makes it difficult for lower budget artefacts to compete for attention. 12/5/201525Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 26Monopolies of knowledge encourage centralization of power. Monopolies of knowledge encourage centralization of power. Those who control knowledge have the power to define reality. Think of the media blackout during the Gulf War, or (to use Foucault's example) how confession is used to convey the moral teachings of the Roman Church. 12/5/201526Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 27However, monopolies of knowledge promote tendencies toward instability. However, monopolies of knowledge promote tendencies toward instability. Competitors and critics are always looking for ways to subvert monopoly power, and perhaps gain it for themselves. Nuclear proliferation is one such example of this instability. 12/5/201527Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 28Neither knowledge nor power is a commodity although they are treated as such – Foucault. Neither knowledge nor power is a commodity although they are treated as such – Foucault. One cannot own power. Power is a process which must continually be reasserted for its continuance. Foucault draws attention to the ways in which those who are ruled contribute to the empowerment of their rulers. 12/5/201528Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 29In order to understand any medium, we must attend not only to its physical characteristics, but also to the way in which it is employed and institutionalized. In order to understand any medium, we must attend not only to its physical characteristics, but also to the way in which it is employed and institutionalized. 12/5/201529Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 30There is a dialectical relationship between society and technology: they influence one another mutually. Certain social forms and situations encourage the development of new media; these media, operating within existing situations, react back on society to produce a new cycle of change. 12/5/201530Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 31In 2000, the rapid adoption of music-sharing software like Napster provoked an immediate reaction from both the recording industry and the law-makers. New regulations encouraged the development of new (gnu) technologies. In 2000, the rapid adoption of music-sharing software like Napster provoked an immediate reaction from both the recording industry and the law-makers. New regulations encouraged the development of new (gnu) technologies.gnu 12/5/201531Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 32Conclusions According to its characteristics a medium of communication may be better suited to transportation; According to its characteristics a medium of communication may be better suited to transportation; Or to the dissemination of knowledge over time than over space, particularly if the medium is heavy and durable and not suited to transportation; Or to the dissemination of knowledge over time than over space, particularly if the medium is heavy and durable and not suited to transportation; Or to the dissemination of knowledge over space than over time, particularly if the medium is light and easily transported. Or to the dissemination of knowledge over space than over time, particularly if the medium is light and easily transported. 12/5/201532Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 33The relative emphasis on time or space will imply a bias of significance to the culture in which it is embedded. The relative emphasis on time or space will imply a bias of significance to the culture in which it is embedded. In other words empires are characterized by the media they use most effectively, partially because that’s how others come to know of their achievements. 12/5/201533Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 34However… The relative lightness or heaviness of the medium under consideration is not always a reliable indication of its particular bias. If we compare parchment with papyrus or paper, for example, weight is not really a decisive element. It is more useful to think of the bias of media as related to the ability of the message to survive transmission and have an impact over space or over time. The relative lightness or heaviness of the medium under consideration is not always a reliable indication of its particular bias. If we compare parchment with papyrus or paper, for example, weight is not really a decisive element. It is more useful to think of the bias of media as related to the ability of the message to survive transmission and have an impact over space or over time. It is not the heaviness of stone that necessarily makes it a time- biased medium, but rather its ability to survive the elements and natural disasters so that it may still communicate its message centuries or millennia later. It is not the heaviness of stone that necessarily makes it a time- biased medium, but rather its ability to survive the elements and natural disasters so that it may still communicate its message centuries or millennia later. 12/5/201534Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 35The pyramids, temples, bridges, and cathedrals of the world are still able to communicate something of their essential meaning to us today, if only we know how to decode their empire-building messages. Those messages which have lasted have tended to bias our view of the history of empires. The pyramids, temples, bridges, and cathedrals of the world are still able to communicate something of their essential meaning to us today, if only we know how to decode their empire-building messages. Those messages which have lasted have tended to bias our view of the history of empires. 12/5/201535Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 36It is really the "monopolies of knowledge" which are at stake in the longevity of empires. New media threaten to displace the previous monopolies of knowledge, unless those media can be enlisted in the service of the previous power structures. It is really the "monopolies of knowledge" which are at stake in the longevity of empires. New media threaten to displace the previous monopolies of knowledge, unless those media can be enlisted in the service of the previous power structures. If priests can gain a monopoly on papyrus and writing, then they will gain power relative to the king who depends on stone monuments. The boundaries of the empire shift, expanding and contracting. The shift of perceptions redefines "knowledge," what those in power claim needs to be known. New allegiances are formed. New monopolies created. 12/5/201536Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 37In our own time, we have witnessed such shifting monopolies in the delivery of news to the masses from newspapers to radio to television to the internet. In our own time, we have witnessed such shifting monopolies in the delivery of news to the masses from newspapers to radio to television to the internet. Each medium has its bias, a bias which changes in relation to the significance of the others in the consciousness of cultures. Each medium has its bias, a bias which changes in relation to the significance of the others in the consciousness of cultures. 12/5/201537Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 38The media, Innis tells us, are inter-related in their impact on the survival of empires. "The social revolution involved in a shift from the use of stone to the use of papyrus and the increased importance of the priestly class imposed enormous strains on Egyptian civilization and left it exposed to the inroads of invaders equipped with effective weapons of attack." The media, Innis tells us, are inter-related in their impact on the survival of empires. "The social revolution involved in a shift from the use of stone to the use of papyrus and the increased importance of the priestly class imposed enormous strains on Egyptian civilization and left it exposed to the inroads of invaders equipped with effective weapons of attack." 12/5/201538Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 39In his provocative essay "Minerva’s Owl," Innis suggests that the richest flowering of an empire comes just before its decline and fall: "Minerva’s Owl begins its flight only in the gathering dusk." Innis reasons that "a monopoly or an oligopoly of knowledge is built up to the point that equilibrium is disturbed“. In his provocative essay "Minerva’s Owl," Innis suggests that the richest flowering of an empire comes just before its decline and fall: "Minerva’s Owl begins its flight only in the gathering dusk." Innis reasons that "a monopoly or an oligopoly of knowledge is built up to the point that equilibrium is disturbed“. 12/5/201539Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 40Thus we learn from Innis that all great empires are most vulnerable in the moment of their over-reaching. 12/5/201540Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM Slide 41From the end of WWII until his death in 1952, Innis worked steadily on an investigation of the social history of communication, studying the communication media of the last 4000 years. From the thousand page manuscript which he left at his death came his two pioneering communications works: Empire and Communications (1950), and The Bias of Communication (1951). From the end of WWII until his death in 1952, Innis worked steadily on an investigation of the social history of communication, studying the communication media of the last 4000 years. From the thousand page manuscript which he left at his death came his two pioneering communications works: Empire and Communications (1950), and The Bias of Communication (1951). In his Introduction to The Bias of Commmunication, Marshall McLuhan suggests that reading Innis shows us a new way to read history. In his Introduction to The Bias of Commmunication, Marshall McLuhan suggests that reading Innis shows us a new way to read history. 12/5/201541Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM