"Two Historical Views of the Media" from Media and Society by Michael O'Shaughnessy and Jane Stadler This reading has been excerpted from the following source: O'Shaughnessy, M. & Stadler, J. (2012). Media and society (5" ed.). (pp. 12, 15-19). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780195574340 Key Terms It is important to learn the meaning of these terms in order to fully understand the reading. Some of these terms may be explained in the reading itself but others are not. If you are unsure about what these terms mean, you should look them up. A good source is the online Oxford Dictionary: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com. If the definition you find there does not seem adequate or if you would like a fuller explanation of a term, another good source to consult is Credo: http://search.credoreference.com/. Particularly helpful are Credo's "Definition" and "Person" functions under "Tools." . decentralized power consumerism . totalitarian conformity utopia Reading Questions These questions will help you to identify the main ideas and arguments in the reading. It's a good idea to review these questions before you begin reading, to keep them in mind while you read, and to answer them after you finish reading. If you aren't sure how to answer one or more questions, you should re-read the relevant part(s) of the article. 1. How old is the debate concerning the nature and effects of mass media? 2. What are some of the technological advances that have caused changes in mass communication? 3. What technologies are currently revolutionizing mass communications? 4. What does the term "fourth estate" mean, and where does it come from? 5. Why are violent or sexualized movies and video games considered harmful by some? 6. Is there a difference between low and high art? How can we distinguish between them? 7. How influential is advertising, and what are its effects on us