Blog Post #2 - Alexandra Remmling

In the movie Pontypool the vector of infection of language is an example of space bias. This is because Harold Innis states that all media have either a time or space bias. He states that time bias is media that lasts a long time and can be classified as durable, heavy, and not easily transported. He describes space biased media to be light and can travel over vast distances. The virus is an example of a space bias since it was spread through speech which can travel at vast distances and is not physical. Throughout the film, we can see that the virus can spread through a variety of mediums such as radio, telephone and electric amplification. These mediums were able to spread the virus as well as attract people through the form of orality who were already affected through great distances which makes it space biased. 


Comments

  1. Ethan GuevaraFebruary 11, 2023 at 2:38 PM

    Great post! I like the point you made about how the virus is spread through various mediums such as the telephone, radio, an electronic amplification. Without these mediums the virus would not be able to spread as quickly or fast as it did nor would it be able to be stopped.

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  2. Jess BeardMarch 14, 2023 at 1:11 PM

    Hi Lexi, I like how you connected Innis to the infection of language in Pontypool. It is interesting to watch the movie and digest it for what it is. However, it is even more interesting to apply the idea of time and space bias as it allows us to fill in the blanks within the movie.

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  3. Danielle AlonsoMarch 30, 2023 at 12:18 PM

    Hi Alexandra,
    I enjoyed reading your post. I thought your connection to Harold Innis idea of space bias and the plot of Pontypool well thought-out. I also agree that Pontypool does show examples of space bias. As the sender (Grant Mazzy) is not in the same physical space as the individuals who received the message.
    Danielle

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