Given below are two statements: Statement I: Communication media are neither…
2023
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Communication media are neither neutral nor value free containers that carry information to different places.
Statement II: No communication technology has its own unique set of physical, technical, symbolic and environmental characteristics.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Answer: C. Statement I is true but Statement II is false — ConceptA communication medium is not merely a neutral conduit for content. Its material form and technical affordances shape how messages are produced,…
- A.
Both Statement I and Statement II are true
- B.
Both Statement I and Statement II are false
- C.
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- D.
Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
A communication medium is not merely a neutral conduit for content. Its material form and technical affordances shape how messages are produced, circulated, experienced, and interpreted.
Medium theory therefore examines the distinctive physical, technical, symbolic, and environmental characteristics of each technology, such as reach, persistence, interactivity, and sensory form.
Application
Statement I rejects the neutral-container view. This is consistent with the principle that a medium participates in shaping communication rather than simply transporting unchanged information.
Statement II uses the absolute word “No” to deny that any communication technology has a distinctive set of characteristics. Medium theory makes the opposite claim: different technologies have different affordances and environments. Statement II is therefore false.
Contrast
“Both Statement I and Statement II are true” accepts the non-neutrality claim but also accepts the absolute denial of medium-specific characteristics; those positions conflict.
“Both Statement I and Statement II are false” rejects the non-neutrality claim even though medium theory treats media as active conditions of communication.
“Statement I is false but Statement II is true” adopts both the neutral-container view and the absolute denial of distinct technological characteristics.
Cross-check
Television, print, radio, and digital platforms differ in sensory form, persistence, speed, reach, and interactivity. Those differences demonstrate why media are not value-free containers and why Statement II’s universal denial cannot stand.
Result
Statement I is true but Statement II is false.