When the world was still dominated by a purely oral culture, the term shared culture was not even a possibility. The switch to literate culture and the invention of writing was the gateway to the beginning of a shared culture as it allowed ideas to travel without the boundaries of location that were previously in place. The notion of having a shared culture only further increased with the introduction of the telegraph and telephone as it allowed for not only the sharing of ideas with people over great distances, but it did so in an efficient time frame that made it possible for people to be reading the same stories at the same time. This was the first step in creating a unity as having a shared foundation of knowledge is what brought everyone together. In America this unity truly started flourishing in the early 1900’s as radio broadcast journalism was in what is now called its “golden age.” Early radio programming contributed to creating a shared American culture through radios power of being able to reach the entire nation and thus uniting Americans through their shared listening experience whether it be for entertainment or news purposes.
Because early radio did not have a set programming schedule or specialized stations, people did not have the ability to choose what to listen to or when they wanted to listen. This meant that everyone was in a way forced to listen to the same program at the same time each night which gave the nation a shared hobby. This hobby was considered unique because although each person was engaged in solitary listening and could form their own opinions, they were hearing the same words at the same time as their neighbors or someone on the opposite coast which made the whole nation feel connected. This...
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...n the late 1950’s, they were a natural target for radio” (Crowley and Heyer, pg. 217). This was one of the big reasons why early radio programming really helped to create a shared American culture because it was accessible to the majority of people and not just those of upper class status.
Early radio programming was an invention that truly changed American culture. Its ability to reach everyone and give them the same breadth of knowledge proved a huge unifying factor. It could even be said that the knowledge people gained from radio programming made them able to more clearly understand their nation and feel like they were a part of something bigger without feeling overwhelmed. Basically radio let people experience life as both individuals and as part of a nation and it is that act of listening and the sharing of that hobby that created a shared American culture.
...y and western music was the norm; and mainstream pop was practically everywhere in urban settings. However, as populations shifted, word of mouth spread, and radio stations were able to amplify the reach of their signals – white, middle-class teenagers came to discover a whole other world of music. Take for example, Alan Freed’s radio program, The Moondog Show, which played hit R&B records when other major stations refused to play them. Like radio stations, who utilized recorded music to garner an audience, TV shows did the same by holding special guest appearances by a famous musician or band. These appearances would not only generate views to keep the show on air, but it also elevated its popularity. As an example, consider Ed Sullivan’s television show, Toast of the Town, which went on to boost the popularity of Elvis Presley and several musicians and bands after.
...e radio was invented during the era and found its way into broadcasting to every home in America. The era introduced the first movie made with sound, The Jazz Singer, which later makes movies more popular in demanding.
The radio has had a huge impact on bringing information to the public about war and other government issues. Advertising and broadcasting on the airwaves was a major step in bringing war propaganda to a level where people could be easily touched nationally. Broadcasting around the clock was being offered everywhere. Before there was television people relied on the radio as a way to be entertained, the means of finding out what was going on in the world, and much more. During the World War II time period, 90 percent of American families owned a radio, and it was a part of daily life. So it was an obvious means of spreading war propaganda. During this time period, propaganda was spread throughout the radio by means of news programs, public affairs broadcasts, as well as through Hollywood and the mainstream. The average person had not even graduated high school at the time, and the average reading level of the American was somewhat low. The radio made it possible for stories and news to be delivered to everyone in plain simple English. The radio served as a medium that provided a sense of national community. Although it took time, the radio eventually rallied people together to back up the American war effort.
In the 1930s, the United States was recovering from the Great Depression, and the urban audience needed products that would bring comfort and get-away opportunities. At the same time, radio broadcasting became more common in the country, bringing affordable entertainment to the public. In one account, ordinary southerners would listen to the radio on Saturday night as “there wasn’t nothing else doing.” Producers travelled in the South, including the Appalachian region, to record the rich, local, and traditional mus...
Before 1923 the only means of reaching a immense audience was through newspapers or word-of-mouth. With the new technology of radio broadcasting in 1923, it was possible to reach the vast majority of the United States’ population. On July 1, 1923 AT&T established the first permanent radio network, WEAF NY and WMAF Mass, that linked broadcasting stations (White). The first radio station to air was 3AR and it started transmitting music, news, and race results. In December of 1923 President Calvin Coolidge made the first presidential address on radio.
Wireless communication across the country was something no one ever imagined. The creating of the commercial radio in 1920, created a feeling of belonging to many citizens of the United States. Starting off as a hobby for amateurs, radio quickly expanded. With the creation of NBC, and emerging radio stars like Ernie Hare and Billy Jones radio, families tuned in on a daily basis. Music was brought to lower income families who couldn’t afford to buy a piano. As well as streaming music, radio provided advertising outlets. Promotions regarding cigarettes, automobiles, and soap
Paul S. Boyer. "Television." The Oxford Companion to United States History. 2001. Retrieved November 24, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O119-Television.html
Ever since technology has advanced, it played a major role in bringing the American culture in Canadian homes, especially through radio. This resulted Canadians to become more familiar with American artists and performers, because of this, the Aird Commissions were concerned of Canada losing its identity to Americanization, thus was the birth of the successful Canadian Broadcasting Commission as its purpose was to “engage in the quick distribution of news across Canada...and providing exposure to Canadian compositions.” (“Creation of the Canadian Broadcast Corporation”) To begin with, CBC radio was successful because it established a powerful sense of national unity across Canada. This connected Canadians coast to coast with news about what was happening everyday in the urbanized life, and exchanged cultural expressions that were made available in French and English to reflect on national consciousness and identity. Without having to rely on American culture, CBC allowed more airtime with only Canadian content by replacing American cult...
The third and probably most well known quality of the American culture is the influence that the population derives from the media. The USA has the most extensive and diverse set of outlets that supply the people with a sheer number of different kinds of entertainment. This creation of melodramatic amusement has created a sort of illusion within some of those who spend more time in front of the television than others. Although to be fair, even though this trend might have started in the USA, any country with decent and above satellite and Internet coverage has that separated pool of individuals that are extremely influenced by entertainment and played-out fiction stories that has them detached from reality and alienated from the rest of the community.
Music has been ingrained in the American heart for generations. From African American slaves singing songs to boost the overall happiness of the people they worked with (Songs in Slave Society, 2009) to the Beatles performance on The Ed Sullivan Show that was seen by 73 million people, or 40 percent of the U.S. population. (Lule, 2012) With the explosion in the popularity of owning a home radio, it has further shaped American culture and its values. In 1922 there were 60,000 households in the United States with radios; by 1929 the number had topped 10 million. (David Marc, 2000) When radio stations started, creating programming, it started breaking down racial bonds, not immediately there were still white only radio stations, yet Black radio became more common on the AM dial. (Lule, 2012) With varying musical styles that could be picked up on any radio by any race, enabling people to gain insight into different cultures, bringing with it, acceptance of those differences. Early Black disc jockeys even began improvising rhymes over the music, pioneering techniques that later became rap and hip-hop. This new personality-driven style helped bring early rock and roll to new audiences. (Lule, 2012) Between the years 1960 and 1966, the number of households capable of receiving FM transmissions grew from about 6.5 million to some 40 million. (Lule, 2012) During the sixties music was a platform for artists to share their feelings on many different social issues, including civil rights and race relations; drugs, affluence, and consumerism; the Cold War; Vietnam and the peace movement; the sexual revolution; women’s liberation; and ecological and environmental concerns. (Ward, 2002)
The 1920's brought many advancements in technology which allowed Americans to entertain themselves at home; the radio was one of them. The radio was actually developed before the 1920's; however, it was banned during World War I and allowed to reappear after the Prohibition ended in 1919 (Events 72). After the Prohibition ended, and radio broadcasting was being brought back to life, many people started up their first stations, like Frank Conrad (Events 72). Frank Conrad's first broadcast consisted of the Presidential Election results (Events 72). As Conrad was one of the first people to broadcast, KDKA was one of the first radio stations to appear in the Unite...
The Fifties were a good time to be a white middle class American These years brought an UN-thought of prosperity and confidence to Americans who barely remembered the Great Depression. Popular music of the early fifties mirrored the life of mainstream America: bland predictable and reassuring. Which didn't seem bad after the depre...
... newspaper had first came around and that was on the first ways to read about information. Then we have the radio on the other hand to where we can listen and hear the news and important information in their cars and at home. So people could basically hear the news wherever they went. Having the radio in your car could be a plus and people would automatically be attracted to what was being said in their cars. Lastly we have the tv which had attracted people to discrimination first hand in their homes. Having all these different types of media had helped discrimination because people could see or hear it first hand at home or on the go. Media influenced the civil rights and caught people's eye so therefore more people knew about it and the people in office were more likely to make a change faster to if the discrimination and civil rights wasn't in the media.
Many inventions have impacted the world throughout history but in my opinion one of the most impactful one’s was the invention of the radio . This invention provided society with many things which include entertainment, communication, and easier access to information. Radio is still a central part of the society today but just like any other invention radio has an interesting history of how it progressed through time.
Impact of the Radio The invention of the radio had an immense impact, revolutionizing the unity of society. “I live in a strictly rural community, and people here speak of ‘The Radio’ in the large sense, with an over-meaning,” said E.B. White in 1933. “When they say ‘The Radio’ they don’t mean a cabinet, an electrical phenomenon, or a man in a studio, they refer to a pervading and somewhat godlike presence which has come into their lives and homes” (Lewis). The radio became a mighty weapon whose power involved spreading ideas to millions of listeners, who may otherwise never have heard those inspirational messages. Religious fanatics used to stand at the back of churches shouting radical nonsense, while others would ignore it.