Week 8 — Media Ecologies

According to the Media Ecology Association, the term ‘media ecology’ means the study of media environments, the idea that technology and techniques, modes of information and codes of communication play a leading role in human affairs. It is a study of how media and communication processes affect human perceptions and understanding. The term is created in the 80s. It is about the complex of interactions between humans, technology, media and the environment with the aim of increasing awareness of mutual effects.

For example, cell phone is one of the creations of technology. It purchases by human but when it becomes old, unusable or not in trend anymore, it got threw away. Although the battery of the cell phone itself might be able to recycle, however, the materials that outside and inside the cell phone are not renewable. And then, this simple cell phone will cause environmental problem. Why? It is because everyone has at least one cell phone for themselves around the world. If every one of us throws away one cell phone, you can imagine how many cell phones are going to put in one place. This example can show the relationship between humans, technology, media and environment and affect each other.