COM 565: Technology, Media, and Culture Analysis

     In 1979, Ted Bundy ’s murder trial was the first trial to be televised nationwide. “The building had been filled to the brim with media outlets from across the nation, all circling in to broadcast the trial of America’s most notorious serial killer” (Lauredo, 2019). Some speculate that it was this case that sensationalized true crime. While having cameras in courtrooms is a heavily debated topic, certain cases have become popular amongst society due to them being sensationalized by the media. Additionally, there are concerns around the ethics of broadcasting cases as it could result in: an impartial jury, public backlash, and overall lack of privacy. By broadcasting live trials, millions of people from around the world are able to watch and form their own opinions on the nature of the case.      Sixteen years later, viewers tuned in to the OJ Simpson trial. Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. “A celebrity turned accused

       “As technology affects all the components of culture, it determines the direction of cultural development” (Niroula, 2018).      “Mass Culture is a set of cultural values and ideas that arise from common exposure of a population to the same cultural activities, communications media, music and art, etc. Mass culture becomes possible only with modern communications and electronic media” (Paicu, 2017). Ultimately mass media consumption impacts a society and the way that it shapes a culture that is not limited to geographical borders, which then leads to the creation of  a culture that is bound together by global events. Technology has not only increased the speed in which cultural values, ideas, and practices are experienced and exchanged, but has allowed them to be instantaneously experienced despite oceans and borders. Film franchises that have impacted mass culture are: Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe , and James Bond. What sets these franchises apart from other films i

       What started as a video rental company competing with Blockbuster, Netflix then became a major competitor in both the film and television industry. “Since Netflix began its worldwide expansion in 2016, the streaming service has rewritten the playbook for global entertainment — from TV to film, and, more recently, video games” (Moses & Rodriguez, 2023). Not only did Netflix create their own shows and films, but they eradicated consumer patience with watching commercials. Then by releasing entire series of shows at once, Netflix created binge-watching, which became a consumption trend in its own right. A prime example of this was the release of Netflix’s original show, Orange is the New Black. The show has since become Netflix’s most watched original programming, with Stranger Things later becoming the second most watched original show on the platform. “Orange is the New Black, became the most influential show of the decade” (Berman, 2019). The show was one of the first shows

     “Apart from the results of the United States presidential election and the United Kingdom referendum on Brexit , one of the most newsworthy issues of 2016 was news itself- or rather "fake news" and its impact on those and other events”  (Burshtein, 2017). As described by Burshtein (2017), fake news is patently false and is created and presented in a way meant to deceive consumers into thinking that it is real. Fake news also typically will include clickbait , which although may not be false in nature, is intended to capture the attention of an audience and persuade them to click on the post or article. Although fake news had occurred for years prior to the 2016 U.S. presidential election , it garnered widespread attention when “ inaccurate social media posts were spread to large groups of users, a form of “viral” circulation found most prominently on the Facebook platform, during the campaign” (McDougall, 2021). Additionally, “a key development in the use of the term “fa

          The COVID-19 pandemic impacted life as we knew it, with mask mandates, lockdowns, and social distancing. While social media as a whole has affected communication, this will solely be analyzing the way TikTok affected communication during a global pandemic. TikTok is a social media platform, in which the content is entirely made up of short-videos. Consumers can create their own videos and share them on the app, or just watch content via their For You Page.  At a time where people were encouraged to stay 6 feet apart from each other, “ TikTok saw a large increase in usage during the COVID-19 lockdown because it provided entertainment, distraction and social interaction based on video content engagement” (Klug et. al, 2023). The platform provided a form of mass communication, while allowing consumers to interact with one another and reduce the feelings of FOMO . “While users were not able to physically enjoy preferred activities or meet with friends, their TikTok behavior and

     While the iPhone was not the first ever smartphone, it’s the most common smartphone among consumers. The first Apple iPhone was introduced in 2007, changing the market of cellular devices forever. At the time Steve Jobs (former Apple CEO) described it as: “iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone” (Kerris & Dowling, 2007). Additionally, it was advertised as being a breakthrough internet communications device; that “features the most advanced and fun-to-use web browser on a portable device with a version of its award-winning Safari™ web browser” (Kerris & Dowling, 2007). Fifteen years later, “about 2 billion iPhones have been sold since its introduction, with nearly 800 million in use around the world today – about one for every 10 people on the planet” (Byrne, 2023).      Smartphones have revolutionized the way that people communicate with one another. While you can still make calls, the devices have enable