¶ … media equation theory and its applications. The author of this paper uses the movie The Truman Show to develop an understanding for the reader of what the Media Equation Theory is and how it can be applied to media examples such as the movie. There were six sources used to complete this paper. The paper is in MLA format.
MEDIA THEORY IN PRACTICE
The technological explosion of the last three decades has taken us to places we never dreamed before were possible. With each passing year, the technology becomes more linked to human thought and emotions than ever before. Today, there are studies being conducted worldwide to understand the phenomena of people treating their media tools in the same manner that their human interactions are treated. For several years, the habits and protocol of people who work with these questions have been narrowly defined by the rigid demands of research protocol. However, recently a movie was put on the market that studied the very human and technology theory of media equation. This movie underscores the theory and the theory's application to real life. It proves the theory because the human viewers relate to Truman as if his life was real and Truman believes that he is living in the real world due to technological interferences.
Recently, a theory has developed involving media psychology. This psychological theory deals with aspects of cognitive and humanistic psychology in relation to the media available to us today (Luskin pp82). The human and machine interaction is one that is relatively new by historical standards but one that bears study because of the fast paced exploration that technology is experiencing. This theory applies to both computer interaction and television interaction. In this pape, r the study of The Truman Show dovetails perfectly with the theory of media psychology for several reasons." Cognitive capacities provide the vehicle through which humans receive, organize and interpret information. Conscious states enabling experience include: attention and attention span; sensations; perceptions of time, space and movement; and perceptual and psycho visual illusions. Interactive experiences activate conditions of motivation and emotion and result in thinking, learning, perceiving, conceptualizing and imagining (Luskin pp82). "
A recent study concluded that the human interaction with media has become more developed and involved than it was previously. This involvement comes on the heals of email, chat rooms and other non-face-to-face relationships that may be transferred to the computer instead of the person typing on the other end of the communication (Carlson pp 170).
Gender and race stereotyping have also affected the media theories. Latin groups have been working to gray the areas of technological language to more closely universalize the ability to consider it with a humanistic approach (Hernadez pp ).
The Media Equation of Communication Theory is a theory that brings together the human mind and emotion with the cold workings of technology. The theory explores the fact that humans place an almost humanistic expectation on the technological tools that we use today and that the interaction is fully meshed at this point in our history.
Before we can evaluate The Truman Show as an example of the Media Equation Theory, we first must have a firm understanding of the theory itself and how it is applied.
In "The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places" by Byron Reeves the reader is given an inside look at the way the theory affects human behavior and thought (Reeves pp ). The author describes the theory as being able to take any social psychology on earth and instead of studying a person at the opposite end, study the computer in their place and the results will be surprisingly similar. The theory believes that people feel, interact and use their media tools today, such as the computer in the same manner that they use the human beings in their lives. The theory also has an interesting side note that people will deny this is the case when asked (Reeves pp ). The theory allows that we interact with media tools as humans on a subconscious level. In simple terms this explains why people speak lovingly of their computer model and brand and brag about its performance as if they were bragging about their child or spouse's accomplishments. This theory uses a solid humanistic approach in its application. The humanistic approach involves the realization of self-actualization as well as other elements of self. The use of media today, allows for...
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