Summary of Reading 3.1 (p.72-79)

Generally, my reading discusses the impact of vast development of electronic media on its consequences to the relationship between physical place context and social experience.

The latest communication technology literally vanishes the distance between the 'sender' and the 'receiver'. In the old days, the physical place context is a vital element that influences the process of communication. People can only communicate synchronously through face-to-face interaction. Nowadays, people don't need to be on a certain given-place to be able to communicate with others directly. The most common example is probably the introduction of handphones, and even chatting applications now can be accessed through mobile phones.

Another point that the reading discusses is para-social relationship. Para-social relationship is formed through the interaction one experiences when watching television, movies, or plays, with the performer. Although it is not a face-to-face interaction, but psychologically it resembles one. That's why fans usually feel like they actually know their favorite actor or singer and consider them as an actual friend. Because while watching them performing, people get to see and understand their character or personality. One of the most famous example of this kind of relationship is the murderer of John Lennon, Mark David Chapman, who knew John Lennon so well, eventually at one point he actually thought that he was John Lennon.