Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. For example, in terms of nature, ecology is “the symbiotic relationships within an ecosystem”. This is evident in The Water Cycle. If one part (e.g Transportation) doesn’t work, then the whole system will become broken down.

Below is an example of our own ecosystem we created. Each part relates to each other to support. Our ecosystem conveys the distribution of goods to land through to the workers who then transport them to shops who process customers different wants and needs through the gap in the market. Customers than view and buy the products and then transport them back to their house to be consumed. This displays the circle of life and reliance on each other as a community to live.

Media Ecology defines the “study of media, technology, and communication and how they affect human environments”. Media ecology focuses on media as environments, and environments as media, with an explicit concern for their evolution, effects, and forms. It comprises a theory about the complex interplay between humans, technology, media, and the environment, intending to increase awareness of mutual effects.

There are 8 parts to media ecology :

  • Audience
  • Government 
  • Distribution 
  • Creators 
  • Distribution 
  • Technology 
  • Social Media 
  • Money

This is represented on my Media Ecology mind map and the dependence on each aspect and how they link together through the “audience” component and it’s connection to all the other components.

 

From analyzing media ecology, I have realized that when making my music magazine, I will need to make sure I look at all the components and that they all work together. For example, I am aware about the laws relating to media produced by the government, I know how my music magazine will need to target a specific audience and is at a quality standard to follow guidelines, which link to the price of the materials to create the media and the sale price to produce a sustainable profit and create growth.

This is our classes ideas on the different studies of media, technology and communication and how they affect human environments and interlink with each other.