Transmission and Ritual Models of Communication
Introduction
Communication is considered to be an activity through which information is passed by exchange of ideas, feelings, intentions as well as behavior through use of means such as electromagnetic, chemicals or even physical phenomena. Communication is also further considered as an exchange of information, particularly between two or more participants (Hanke, 2009). In his essay, “A Cultural Approach to Communcation” Carey explored a number of complexities which helped in coming up with the contradictions which surrounded the use and understanding of the term “communication”. After clearly explaining the meaning of communication, Carey further grouped communication into two views. These communication views were, the ritual and the transmission view of communication (Carey, 1988)..
According to Carey (1988), ritual view of communication involves sharing, participation, association as well as fellowship, while the transmission view of communication is considered to be a process of imparting, sending, giving as well as transmitting information. These two views of communication formed the two communication models which are; ritual and transmission models of communication. Carey further illustrated the distinction between these two models. These distinctions between the two models have been used to show the differences and relationships existing among different aspects (Guillory, 2010). This paper will use the two models of communication and analyze the Bourdieu’ arguments on the social function of photography.
The Transmission and Ritual Models of Communication and Bourdieu’s Arguments on the Social Function of Photography
Communication has been known to have two conception views. These two views are transmission and ritual views. These two views, have influenced the development of transmission and ritual models of communication. The two models have been known to have great influence on secular, cultural and religious activities. These models have been seen to have great influence on religious activities, even though they are seen to make references to different regions possessing different religious experiences (Carey, 1988).
The transmission model of communication is considered to be the most common among the two. This model has dominated most parts of the culture and is found to have a number of terms that are used to describe it (Kanner & Wertsch, 1991). Some of the terms which have been highly used in describing this particular model includes; imparting, sending, transmitting or even providing information to significant others. As far as the nineteenth century and in our life today, communication has been viewed as being the movement of goods, individuals as well as the movement of information from one place to another(Tomasello, 2008). The main idea in respect to understanding facts about communication is mainly based on the knowledge that communication is considered to be a form of transmitting signals or messages across a long distance with a sole aim of controlling it (Carey, 1988).
This model of communication was inspired by one of the most ancient dreams of human beings which was their desire to have an increment on the speed as well as the effect of the messages especially when they travelled in the space. This model bore its origin in religion, even though most people have misinterpreted its statement and took a view and an impression of it having a political, economic or even a technological origins. Therefore, the main origin of transmission model has been on the religious attitude. Communication was taken to be a process as well as a form of technology, which was supposed to be used especially for the purpose of religion. This was with an aim of spreading, transmitting, disseminating knowledge as well as ideas and information in a fast manner with a main goal of controlling the space and the people (Carey, 1988).
Carey has been able to bring clearly a distinction between the transmission and ritual models’ of communication as seen above. Ritual model of communication has been considered to be directed not to the extension of the messages but towards maintaining the society. This is done with a sole aim of not only imparting the information, but also ensuring that there is a proper representation of the shared beliefs among individuals. Transmission model of communication aims at extending messages across a wide range of geographical area with one main purpose of controlling the information. The ritual model takes a sacred form in its part whereby it helps in drawing people together in order to fellowship and have something in common since this model bears religious perspective. This model is believed to take the role of the sermon as well as the admonition and the ceremonies. The ritual communication model views the original and the highest manifestation of the communication to be not only considered in the transmission of the intelligence information, but to be involved in the construction as well as maintenance of a highly ordered and a meaningful action which helps in controlling the human action (Carey, 1988).
When an individual examines a piece of newspaper under the model of transmission, one gets an impression that this medium is generally involved with the sole responsibility of disseminating news and knowledge in large packages and across greater distances. On the other hand the ritual model of communication focuses on a number of problems while paying special attention to the newspaper. For instance, this model will view the reading of the newspaper to be simply for sending or even gaining information. This model considers news reading as well as writing to be a form of ritual activity a situation whereby nothing new is learned but instead a particular view regarding the world is portrayed and confirmed. Under the ritual model of communication, news is not considered as information, but instead it is considered as a form of drama (Carey, 1988).
These distinctions can be adequately used in analyzing Bourdieu’s arguments on the social function of photography. Bourdieu had a lot of arguments in respect to the social function of photography. In most of his arguments, he indicated that photographs have been widely integrated in a number of human activities. Some of the human activities being referred to by Bourdieu included rituals for the grand ceremonies especially for the celebration of a family’s life. During the ceremonies individual family members, friends as well as guests pose for photos. Posing for photos clearly communicates the unity among the individuals involved. These photos once ready acts as a means of communication that the event was conducted and how the event was like, to other people who did not attend or even acts as a reference for future reminder on the event (Bourdieu, Pierre, 1990).
In this particular instance, ritual model of communication is seen to take effect. The photographs help in proving that a ceremony took place and people attended the ceremony. Ceremonies are ritual activities in the community. Ritual model of communication highly regard ritual activities and takes a sacred form in its part whereby it helps in drawing people together in order to fellowship and have something in common. This model further believes that the main aim of these activities is not only to impact information, but also to ensure that there is a proper representation of the shared beliefs among individuals. On the other hand Photographs are also used to pass information across a wide area. Whenever each and every taken photo goes to, the information about the ceremony taking place is passed whereby in this case the transmission model of communication is seen to take effect.
The photographic activities in the family according to Bourdieu, helps in making the family come together as a single unit. Photographs’ taking in a family is well prepared for by the family members. The family members ensure that they have the best clothes on, they also put a smile on their face. Photo taking session communicates a lot with respect to the unity and the cooperation of the family. The images of the family members further demonstrate this unity. Even though there is a wide difference which exist in the photographic activities as they are undertaken between rural areas and urban areas, the function which has been put upon the photographic images always remain to be the same. Photographs strongly indicate an important aspect of social functions (Bourdieu, Pierre, 1990). Family is an important unit required for the existence of any society. One of the major aims of ritual communication is to maintain the society. Therefore, the social function of photographs in this case helps in passing the information on maintaining society by having a united family. Transmission model should be used in this case to disseminate information in respect to the importance of having a united family.
Bourdieu argues that the emphasis on photography should always be on the production of pictures, but not merely on the means being employed in the production of the photographic images. The photographic images are in most cases not considered to be images of individuals but instead they are taken as a means through which the social roles of individuals are exhibited. Photography is considered to be in a position of capturing all the moments and transforming those moments into memories (Bourdieu, Pierre, 1990). This emphasis is evident in both ritual as well as transmission form of communication. The memories of the moments captured are shared among individuals in the society. This sharing helps in imparting a sense of togetherness in the society.
According to Bourdie (1990), when one pays attention to the photographs, the photographs should be in a position to provide a narrative which symbolizes a given social occasion. The main standard, which is required in order to have judgement towards the value of photography is making sure that photography is in a position to fulfil a number of social function which is considered to be directed by the genres of each of the photographs. Bourdieu further argues that the main purpose of the photograph is to get participation especially from their genre. This means that there exist a number of criteria in respect to the value of the judgement as well as each and every genre represented. Participation is considered as one of the aspect of the ritual model of communication (Senft & Basso, 2009). Therefore, in order for the photography to achieve its social function, it requires to have this aspect being integrated into its function. The ritual communication model views the original and the highest manifestation of the communication to be not only considered in the transmission of the intelligence information, but to be involved in the construction as well as maintenance of a highly ordered and a meaningful action which helps in controlling the human action.
Conclusion
Both models of communications differ as well as relates in the same manner. The ritual model of communication does not necessarily exclude the process held by the transmission model. It is difficult for one to get a clear relationship of the two models and how they influence each other. These models have been seen to operate in support of the view that communication is basically a symbolic process in which a clear indication and impression of reality is put across and maintained among a wide range of aspects. It is through the analysis of photography as a social aspect that a clear distinction between the two communication models has been clearly indicated. An analysis of various aspects of communication gives a chance for close examination of the actual communication processes taking place.
Bourdieu’s arguments of the social function of photography have been analyzed with the use of the two models of communication. The analyses indicate the major communication which is conveyed by the photographs. Photography are intended to convey some particular information which requires to be critically looked into in order to devise the correct information being put across. This analyses has brought about a number of hidden information which are intended to be communicated to effectively. Therefore, there is a need to review each and every material in respect to the available models of communication so as to steer clear of the message which ought to be communicated at that particular point in time.
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References
Bourdieu, P. (1990), “The Social Definition of Photography”, in Photography: A Middle-brow Art. Trans. Shaun Whiteside Stanford: Stanford University Press: 73-102.
Carey, J. (1988) “A Cultural Approach to Communication”, in Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society. Routledge: London and New York: 13-36.
Guillory, F. (2010). Review: Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 87, 199–200. doi:10.2307/3105848
Hanke, S. (2009). Communication styles: What is your impact on others? Professional Safety, 2, 22–26.
Kanner, B. G., & Wertsch, J. V. (1991). Beyond a Transmission Model of Communication. Educational Psychology Review, 3, 103–109. doi:Doi 10.1007/Bf01417921
Senft, G., & Basso, E. B. (2009). Ritual communication. Wenner-Gren international symposium series, (p. xi, 385 p.).
Tomasello, M. (2008). Origins of Human Communication. Communication (p. 379). doi:10.1353/lan.0.0163
