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

Harold Adams Innis:Harold Adams Innis:The Bias of Communications The Bias of Communications

& Monopolies of Power& Monopolies of Power

04/18/2304/18/23 11Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoMSanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM

Harold Adams Innis, a political economist, is Harold Adams Innis, a political economist, is widely credited with initiating an important widely credited with initiating an important discourse on media from a distinctly Canadian discourse on media from a distinctly Canadian perspective. perspective.

He directly influenced Marshall McLuhan and He directly influenced Marshall McLuhan and continues to be a central figure in continues to be a central figure in communications theory. communications theory.


Innis was born in 1894 near Hamilton, Innis was born in 1894 near Hamilton, Ontario, graduated from McMaster just before Ontario, graduated from McMaster just before WW1 and saw front-line duty in France. WW1 and saw front-line duty in France.


Innis’ central focus is the social Innis’ central focus is the social history of communication media.history of communication media.


He believed that He believed that

the relative stability of cultures depends on the relative stability of cultures depends on the balance and proportion of their media. the balance and proportion of their media.

To begin our inquiry into this area, he suggests we To begin our inquiry into this area, he suggests we ask ask three basic questionsthree basic questions


How do specific communication How do specific communication technologies operate? technologies operate?

What assumptions do they take from and What assumptions do they take from and contribute to society? contribute to society?

What forms of power do they encourage? What forms of power do they encourage?


Innis said that:Innis said that:

The key to social change is found in The key to social change is found in the development of communication the development of communication

media. media.


That each medium embodies a That each medium embodies a biasbias in in terms of the organization and control terms of the organization and control

of information.of information.


That any empire or society is generally That any empire or society is generally concerned with concerned with duration over timeduration over time

and and extension in spaceextension in space..


Time-based mediaTime-based media

Time-biased mediaTime-biased media, such as stone and clay, are , such as stone and clay, are durable and heavy. Since they are difficult to move, durable and heavy. Since they are difficult to move, they do not encourage territorial expansion; however, they do not encourage territorial expansion; however, since they have a long life, they do encourage the since they have a long life, they do encourage the extension of empire over time. Innis associated these extension of empire over time. Innis associated these media with the customary, the sacred, and the moral. media with the customary, the sacred, and the moral.

Time-biased media facilitate the development of Time-biased media facilitate the development of social hierarchies, as archetypally exemplified by social hierarchies, as archetypally exemplified by ancient Egypt. For Innis, speech is a time-biased ancient Egypt. For Innis, speech is a time-biased medium. medium.


Space-based mediaSpace-based media

Space-biasedSpace-biased media are light and portable; media are light and portable; they can be transported over large distances. they can be transported over large distances.

They are associated with secular and territorial They are associated with secular and territorial societies; societies;

they facilitate the expansion of empire over they facilitate the expansion of empire over space. Paper is such a medium; it is readily space. Paper is such a medium; it is readily transported, but has a relatively short lifespan. transported, but has a relatively short lifespan.


It was Innis’ conviction that stable societies It was Innis’ conviction that stable societies were able to achieve a balance between time- were able to achieve a balance between time- and space-biased communications media. and space-biased communications media.


He also believed that change came from the He also believed that change came from the margins of society, since people on the margins of society, since people on the margins invariably developed their own margins invariably developed their own media. The new media allow those on the media. The new media allow those on the periphery to develop and consolidate power, periphery to develop and consolidate power, and ultimately to challenge the authority of the and ultimately to challenge the authority of the centre. centre.


Latin written on parchment, the Latin written on parchment, the medium of the Christian Church, was medium of the Christian Church, was attacked through the secular medium attacked through the secular medium

of vernaculars written on paper.of vernaculars written on paper.


Oral communication speech was considered by Oral communication speech was considered by Innis to be time-biased because it requires the Innis to be time-biased because it requires the

relative stability of community for relative stability of community for

face-to-face contact.face-to-face contact.


Knowledge passed down orally depends on a Knowledge passed down orally depends on a lineage of transmission, often associated with lineage of transmission, often associated with ancestors, and ratified by human contact. ancestors, and ratified by human contact.


““The oral tradition is inherently more The oral tradition is inherently more flexible and humanistic than the written flexible and humanistic than the written

tradition which is rigid and impersonal in tradition which is rigid and impersonal in contrast.”contrast.”


When fascism comes to America, it will come When fascism comes to America, it will come in the form of democracy.in the form of democracy.--Huey Long --Huey Long

Does that make sense in the context Does that make sense in the context of what Innis discusses?of what Innis discusses?


Innis extended the economic concept of Innis extended the economic concept of monopoly to include culture and politics. If we monopoly to include culture and politics. If we consider that a society has a network of consider that a society has a network of communications systems, we can see that there communications systems, we can see that there are key junctures or nodal points where are key junctures or nodal points where significant information is stored, and from significant information is stored, and from where it is transmitted to other parts of the where it is transmitted to other parts of the system. system.


Traditionally, the universities have attempted Traditionally, the universities have attempted to monopolize certain kinds of information, as to monopolize certain kinds of information, as have professional associations such as doctors have professional associations such as doctors or engineers or lawyers, as have governments. or engineers or lawyers, as have governments.

As both Innis and As both Innis and Michel FoucaultMichel Foucault have have demonstrated, individuals or groups who demonstrated, individuals or groups who control access to those points wield great control access to those points wield great power.power.


Those who Those who monopolizemonopolize knowledge knowledge are also in a position to are also in a position to definedefine what what is legitimate knowledge. is legitimate knowledge.


The organized church comes immediately to The organized church comes immediately to mind, as does insider trading!mind, as does insider trading!

The scientific community lobbies not only for The scientific community lobbies not only for

a pre-eminent status for the objectivity of a pre-eminent status for the objectivity of knowledge, but also advocates a rigid method knowledge, but also advocates a rigid method for obtaining that knowledge!for obtaining that knowledge!


Monopolies of knowledge Monopolies of knowledge derive their power from derive their power from

several sources: several sources:


Mastery of ComplexityMastery of Complexity creates a hierarchy of creates a hierarchy of professionals and amateurs. professionals and amateurs.

Control of Raw Materials for MediaControl of Raw Materials for Media: Ted Turner : Ted Turner buys RKO! Bill Gates / Microsoft buys the Bettman buys RKO! Bill Gates / Microsoft buys the Bettman Archives! Archives!

PerformativityPerformativity: Just as Egyptian priests were able to : Just as Egyptian priests were able to accurately predict the regular flooding of the Nile accurately predict the regular flooding of the Nile because knowledge of writing allowed them to make because knowledge of writing allowed them to make calculations, so does access to pubic opinion allow calculations, so does access to pubic opinion allow pollsters to predict elections within certain percentage pollsters to predict elections within certain percentage parameters. parameters.


SpeedSpeed: Advantages accrue to those who have the : Advantages accrue to those who have the knowledge first. Business done in back rooms knowledge first. Business done in back rooms or in the corridors of power are often never or in the corridors of power are often never reported in the media. reported in the media.

Ability to Afford High CostsAbility to Afford High Costs: The cult of : The cult of "production value" in design, recording, "production value" in design, recording, television, and Hollywood movies makes it television, and Hollywood movies makes it difficult for lower budget artefacts to compete difficult for lower budget artefacts to compete for attention. for attention.


Monopolies of knowledge encourage centralization of Monopolies of knowledge encourage centralization of power. power.

Those who control knowledge have the power to Those who control knowledge have the power to define reality.define reality.

Think of the media blackout during the Gulf War, or (to Think of the media blackout during the Gulf War, or (to use Foucault's example) how confession is used to use Foucault's example) how confession is used to convey the moral teachings of the Roman Church. convey the moral teachings of the Roman Church.


However, monopolies of knowledge promote However, monopolies of knowledge promote tendencies toward tendencies toward instabilityinstability. .

Competitors and critics are always looking for Competitors and critics are always looking for ways to subvert monopoly power, and perhaps ways to subvert monopoly power, and perhaps

gain it for themselves. gain it for themselves.

Nuclear proliferation is one such example of Nuclear proliferation is one such example of this instability. this instability.


Neither knowledge nor power is a Neither knowledge nor power is a commodity although they are treated as commodity although they are treated as

such – Foucault. such – Foucault.

One cannot One cannot ownown power. Power is a process power. Power is a process which must continually be reasserted for its which must continually be reasserted for its

continuance. continuance.

Foucault draws attention to the ways in which Foucault draws attention to the ways in which those who are ruled contribute to the those who are ruled contribute to the

empowerment of their rulers. empowerment of their rulers.


In order to understand any medium, we must In order to understand any medium, we must attend not only to its physical characteristics, attend not only to its physical characteristics, but also to the way in which it is employed but also to the way in which it is employed and institutionalized. and institutionalized.


There is a dialectical relationship between There is a dialectical relationship between society and technology: they influence one society and technology: they influence one another mutually. Certain social forms and another mutually. Certain social forms and situations encourage the development of new situations encourage the development of new media; these media, operating within existing media; these media, operating within existing situations, react back on society to produce a situations, react back on society to produce a new cycle of change. new cycle of change.


In 2000, the rapid adoption of music-sharing In 2000, the rapid adoption of music-sharing software like software like NapsterNapster provoked an immediate provoked an immediate reaction from both the recording industry and reaction from both the recording industry and the law-makers. New regulations encouraged the law-makers. New regulations encouraged the development of new (the development of new (gnu) technologies.


ConclusionsConclusions

According to its characteristics a medium of According to its characteristics a medium of communication may be better suited to transportation;communication may be better suited to transportation;

Or to the dissemination of knowledge over time than Or to the dissemination of knowledge over time than over space, particularly if the medium is heavy and over space, particularly if the medium is heavy and durable and not suited to transportation;durable and not suited to transportation;

Or to the dissemination of knowledge over space than Or to the dissemination of knowledge over space than over time, particularly if the medium is light and over time, particularly if the medium is light and easily transported.easily transported.


The relative emphasis on time or space The relative emphasis on time or space will imply a bias of significance to the will imply a bias of significance to the culture in which it is embedded. culture in which it is embedded.

In other words empires are characterized by the In other words empires are characterized by the media they use most effectively, partially because media they use most effectively, partially because

that’s how others come to know of their that’s how others come to know of their

achievements.achievements. 04/18/2304/18/23 3333Sanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoMSanjay Ranade, HoD, DCJ, UoM

However…However… The relative lightness or heaviness of the medium under The relative lightness or heaviness of the medium under

consideration is not always a reliable indication of its consideration is not always a reliable indication of its particular bias. If we compare parchment with papyrus or particular bias. If we compare parchment with papyrus or paper, for example, weight is not really a decisive element. It 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 is more useful to think of the bias of media as related to the ability of the message to survive transmission and have an ability of the message to survive transmission and have an impact over space or over timeimpact over space or over time. .

It is not the heaviness of stone that necessarily makes it a It is not the heaviness of stone that necessarily makes it a time-biased medium, but rather its ability to survive the time-biased medium, but rather its ability to survive the elements and natural disasters so that it may still communicate elements and natural disasters so that it may still communicate its message centuries or millennia later. its message centuries or millennia later.


The pyramids, temples, bridges, and cathedrals The pyramids, temples, bridges, and cathedrals of the world are still able to communicate of the world are still able to communicate something of their essential meaning to us something of their essential meaning to us today, if only we know how to decode their today, if only we know how to decode their empire-building messages. Those messages empire-building messages. Those messages which have lasted have tended to bias our which have lasted have tended to bias our view of the history of empires.view of the history of empires.


It is really the "monopolies of knowledge" which are at It is really the "monopolies of knowledge" which are at stake in the longevity of empires. New media threaten stake in the longevity of empires. New media threaten to displace the previous monopolies of knowledge, to displace the previous monopolies of knowledge, unless those media can be enlisted in the service of unless those media can be enlisted in the service of the previous power structures. the previous power structures.

If priests can gain a monopoly on papyrus and writing, If priests can gain a monopoly on papyrus and writing, then they will gain power relative to the king who then they will gain power relative to the king who depends on stone monuments. The boundaries of the depends on stone monuments. The boundaries of the empire shift, expanding and contracting. The shift of empire shift, expanding and contracting. The shift of perceptions redefines "knowledge," what those in perceptions redefines "knowledge," what those in power claim needs to be known. New allegiances are power claim needs to be known. New allegiances are formed. New monopolies created. formed. New monopolies created.


In our own time, we have witnessed such In our own time, we have witnessed such shifting monopolies in the delivery of news to shifting monopolies in the delivery of news to the masses from newspapers to radio to the masses from newspapers to radio to television to the internet. television to the internet.

Each medium has its bias, a bias which Each medium has its bias, a bias which changes in relation to the significance of the changes in relation to the significance of the others in the consciousness of cultures.others in the consciousness of cultures.


The media, Innis tells us, are inter-related in The media, Innis tells us, are inter-related in their impact on the survival of empires. "The their impact on the survival of empires. "The social revolution involved in a shift from the social revolution involved in a shift from the use of stone to the use of papyrus and the use of stone to the use of papyrus and the increased importance of the priestly class increased importance of the priestly class imposed enormous strains on Egyptian imposed enormous strains on Egyptian civilization and left it exposed to the inroads of civilization and left it exposed to the inroads of invaders equipped with effective weapons of invaders equipped with effective weapons of attack." attack."


In his provocative essay "Minerva’s Owl," In his provocative essay "Minerva’s Owl," Innis suggests that the richest flowering of an Innis suggests that the richest flowering of an empire comes just before its decline and fall: empire comes just before its decline and fall: "Minerva’s Owl begins its flight only in the "Minerva’s Owl begins its flight only in the gathering dusk." Innis reasons that "a gathering dusk." Innis reasons that "a monopoly or an oligopoly of knowledge is monopoly or an oligopoly of knowledge is built up to the point that equilibrium is built up to the point that equilibrium is disturbed“. disturbed“.


Thus we learn from Innis that all great Thus we learn from Innis that all great empires are most vulnerable in the empires are most vulnerable in the

moment of their over-reaching. moment of their over-reaching.


From the end of WWII until his death in 1952, Innis From the end of WWII until his death in 1952, Innis worked steadily on an investigation of the social worked steadily on an investigation of the social history of communication, studying the history of communication, studying the communication media of the last 4000 years. From communication media of the last 4000 years. From the thousand page manuscript which he left at his the thousand page manuscript which he left at his death came his two pioneering communications death came his two pioneering communications works: works: Empire and CommunicationsEmpire and Communications (1950), and (1950), and The The Bias of CommunicationBias of Communication (1951). (1951).

In his Introduction to In his Introduction to The Bias of CommmunicationThe Bias of Commmunication, , Marshall McLuhan suggests that Marshall McLuhan suggests that reading Innis reading Innis shows us a new way to read history.shows us a new way to read history.


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

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