Week 1 – The Media of Early Civilisation

From Carvings To Computers 

As we delve into history, as far back as the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods where notched bones and tokens made from clay were developed as methods for communicating (Crowley & Heyer 2011, p.7) and ask, what may have prompted the requirement for these methods of communication in early life? To debate the precedency of a deterministic perspective versus instinct as the major the influence it is clearly evident that strategic communication knowledge existed (Moore 2010, p. 227) but whether it was a product of science or human forces is debatable in modern literature (Al Lily 2013, p. 45). Jabusch (1992) described communication in early cultures as a ‘innovative, flexible, adaptive and functional’, furthermore, the fact that these communication methods were made to fit within a certain setting (Al Lily 2013, p. 46), I believe that creating ways for communication in pre-modern society came as a logical response to new and unfamiliar circumstances as well as managing obstacles created by time and space (Moore 2010) and thus comes back to human instinct and our ability to adapt to a changing environment.

Today, even with the vast availability of mediums in modern society it is still common for many cultures to use pre-modern communications, proof that the significance given to communication is shaped by culture (Al Lily 3012, p. 46). For example, body painting and lip and ear plates as a sign for wealth among the Surma culture of Ethopia (Jabusch 1992, p. 5) and having witnessed for myself the magnificence of the remains of Ancient Egypt, ‘a culture that enjoyed a rapid organisational, social and technological development’ (Agnese & Re 2003, p.12), it is clear to me that society has helped to shape communications.

References

Agnese, G & Re, M 2003, ‘Ancient Egypt art and archaeology’, The American University in Cairo Press, Egypt.

Al Lily, AA 2013, ‘Social change and educational technologies: By invitation or invasion’, Journal Of Organisational Transformation & Social Change, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 42-63.

Crowley, D & Heyer, P 2011, ‘Communication in history technology, culture, society sixth edition’, Pearson Higher Education, Boston.

Jabusch, DM 1992, ‘Communication media in ancient cultures’, pp. 3-12.

Moore, S 2010, ‘The origins of strategic communication: Precedents and parallels in ancient states’, Atlantic Journal of Communication, vol. 18, no. 5, pp. 227–240.