Empire & Communications

Read for Network Imperialism and also cuz Harold Innis is considered the progenitor of my boy Marshall McLuhan.

Bibliographic Deets

 * Innis, Harold 2007. Empire and Communications. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Plymouth, UK.

Introduction

 * "It has seemed to me that the subject of communication offers possibilities in that it occupies a crucial position in the organization and administration of government and in turn of empires" (5)


 * TWO TYPES OF MEDIA
 * 1) Durable (Stone, Clay) that emphasize time (duration)
 * 2) Light (paper) that emphasizes space (7)


 * "The significance of basic medium to its civilization is difficult to appraise since the means of appraisal are influenced by the media, and indeed the fact of appraisal appears to be peculiar to certain types of media" (8-9)


 * Innis says "meet these problems by using the concept of empire as an indication of efficiency of communication" (9)


 * "Suggest the roles of different media with reference to civilizations" (11)

Parchment and Paper
Currently reading. Notes to come.


 * Part of At Cambridge