Blog Post #2 - Jessica Kopecny

 Second question/issue: think about the plague of Pontypool in terms of Harold Innis' analysis of ancient empires and media forms. Is the vector of infection of the language virus in Pontypool an example of time bias or space bias? Radio, telephone, and electronic amplification play an important part in sustaining the virus. How are these media forms and their sociotechnical affordances contemporary forms of orality?


    When thinking about the plague of Pontypool and whether the language virus is an example of time bias or space bias, I personally think it exemplifies and has characteristics of both sides. Firstly, the language virus in Pontypool is contracted when an individual hears the mumbling of an infected person, and then understands the meaning of the infected word. This infected word can be different depending on the host. This virus only affects the English language. 

    In the beginning of the film, from my understanding, individuals only obtained the virus if they had heard the infected word in person from the mumbling of one that's infected. In this sense the language virus is deemed time bias as the mumbling must be heard then and there. This also applies to the scene where Mazzy hears mumbling through the phone of someone who is infected, but is not infected himself. The other reporter on the line who is near the infected person and hears his mumbling in person, ends up contracting the virus himself. Therefore, in terms of contracting the virus it is an example of time bias.

    If the virus was able to be contracted over radio or telephone then it would be an example of space bias. Although, when infected individuals hear Mazzy repeat several words (that are infected words to them) on the radio broadcast it draws them to their location. This is an example of space bias as the sender does not physically have to be with the message. Another example of space bias in the film is when Mazzy tries to confuse listeners of their understanding of words over the radio broadcast in order to cure them of the virus. This all being said, it is hard for me to pinpoint exactly whether the film Pontypool and the virus of language exemplifies time bias or space bias as I see evidence of both theories. 

    Throughout the entirety of the film, mediums of space bias such as radio, telephone, and electronic amplification are present and of importance. These media forms display contemporary forms of orality as the sender and the message no longer have to be together. The sender is able to send their message to the receiver within seconds and from any place in the world. These media forms also emphasize world-wide mass media/communication as the messages can be communicated from/to any point in the world in a matter of seconds, and to either 1 or millions of people. 

- Jessica Kopecny

Comments

  1. Megan YamamotoFebruary 6, 2023 at 10:56 AM

    Hi Jessica, I thought it was interesting that you identified the language virus as being both time biased and space biased. Essentially, you are saying that the infected word itself represents time biased media which I find is an interesting interpretation of the language virus in the film. I considered the entirety of the virus to be space biased but I like how you picked it apart and found ways that it could be considered both. Great post!

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  2. Jessica HardieFebruary 8, 2023 at 10:08 AM

    Hi Jessica,

    When reviewing this question, I did not see it as exemplifying both time and space bias, but I think your post gave an interesting perspective and compelling argument as to why it could be considered as both. I personally believed that Pontypool and the virus was an example of space bias so I would like to talk more about how it could also be considered time bias. I believe that it is difficult to fully determine if it considered time bias or not because of how little we know about the virus, but I do agree that it can be considered time bias in the sense that the mumbling has to be heard then and there. However, I believe that it is less about being in the same location of the infected people but if the infected word is truly understood by the other person. I believe this could also be done over the phone or radio, but it is all dependent on if the person listening is able to understand. Really great post, I enjoyed seeing the film through both the perspectives of time and space bias!

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