The Difficulty of Defining Media

As the dictionary definition suggests, defining a medium is difficult because the term refers to so many different things. In listening to digitally created sound, such as "Little Fluffy Clouds" by the British techno group Orb, we realize the term medium applies in multiple ways. What are the media involved? (Numbers below refer to American Heritage Dictionary subheadings.)

• Sound, generally considered, as a medium, since it can be shaped and made to convey ideas or impressions. (1, 2, 7a)
• Air as necessary medium for sound (2)
• Language as a medium or information technology (8b)
• The specific sentences spoken by the young woman that forms the "basis" of "Little Fluffy Clouds." (2, 8b)
• the overall technology -- here recording of sound (Phonography = phono (sound) + graphy (writing)
• the specific, physical CD or CDs in general (5)
• The particular recording standard and software used, in this case MP3 and iTunes (5)
• The particular laptop on which the soundfile resides. (3, 4a, 5, 7a)

Conclusion: Information technology (1) consists of nested or layered media; and (2) virtually anything -- for example, the girl's voice in "Little Fluffy Clouds" -- can act as a medium in a technological environment.

Last updated: 1 August 2002