Blog 3 Post Owen Young

     The Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917 has long been seen as a defining moment in the development of Canadian national identity. Many historians and media representations describe it as the point where Canada began to see itself as more independent from the British Empire. However, as the CBC documentary Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters points out, the meaning of Vimy has changed over time. It has been celebrated, forgotten, and reinterpreted depending on the historical moment. This raises an important question about how we remember Vimy today and what role media plays in shaping that memory. Using the ideas of Harold Adam Innis, we can better understand how different forms of media influence the way Canadians think about Vimy Ridge and its importance.

Innis argued that all media have what he called a “bias,” meaning they shape how people experience time and space. He explained that some media are time biased, while others are space biased. Time biased media focus on preserving information over long periods and help societies stay connected to their past. Examples include monuments, oral traditions, and durable forms of communication. Space biased media, on the other hand, focus on spreading information quickly across large areas. These include newspapers, radio, television, and digital media. While space biased media allow information to reach more people, Innis warned that they can create what he called an “obsession with present mindedness,” where people focus so much on the present that they lose a deeper understanding of history. He argued that this can be dangerous because knowledge of the past may no longer guide the present or the future (Innis, 1951).

The CBC documentary on Vimy Ridge is a strong example of a space biased form of media. As an online video, it is designed to reach a wide audience quickly and make history engaging and relevant for viewers today. The documentary focuses on how the meaning of Vimy has shifted over time, rather than presenting it as a fixed or unchanging event. The narration by Peter Mansbridge highlights this idea by suggesting that Vimy continues to demand interpretation from each generation. This reflects Innis’s idea of present mindedness because the documentary encourages viewers to think about what Vimy means now, rather than only focusing on what it meant in 1917. At the same time, the video does include elements of time bias by referencing historical footage and discussing how memory has evolved over a century. However, its main purpose is to communicate broadly and engage audiences in the present, which makes it primarily space biased.

The Government of Canada’s Vimy Memorial website presents a slightly different approach. It combines both time bias and space bias in a way that reflects the strengths of each. The monument itself is clearly a time biased form of communication. It is a physical structure built to last, meant to preserve the memory of those who fought and died at Vimy Ridge for future generations. It emphasizes continuity, remembrance, and national identity over a long period of time. However, the website that presents this monument is space biased because it allows people from across Canada and around the world to access information about Vimy instantly. The site shares historical facts, images, and interpretations in a format that is easy to distribute and consume. In this sense, the website acts as a bridge between past and present by using modern technology to share a deeply historical symbol.

Both the CBC documentary and the Vimy Memorial website attempt to help Canadians understand the past, but they do so in different ways. The documentary invites reflection and reinterpretation, which makes history feel relevant but can also risk focusing too much on present perspectives. The website and the monument emphasize remembrance and continuity, which helps preserve the significance of Vimy but may present a more fixed and official version of history. When these two forms are considered together, they create a more balanced understanding. The time biased elements help anchor Vimy in Canadian memory, while the space biased elements ensure that this memory is shared widely and remains meaningful today.

Overall, Innis’s theory helps show that the way we remember Vimy Ridge is not just about the event itself, but about the media through which it is communicated. The meaning of Vimy continues to evolve because different media highlight different aspects of its significance. These artifacts do help Canadians understand the past, but only when we recognize how they shape that understanding. In this way, remembering Vimy is not just about looking back, but about actively deciding how the past will influence Canada’s present and future.

References

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (n.d.). Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge matters [Video]. YouTube.

Innis, H. A. (1951). The bias of communication. University of Toronto Press.

Veterans Affairs Canada. (n.d.). Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Government of Canada. https://www.veterans.gc.ca

Blog Post 3 Alyssa Buck

 

Blog Post 3: Vimy Ridge as Canadian Communication

Alyssa A. Buck

Wilfrid Laurier University

CS304 Canadian Communication Thought

Professor Andrew Herman

March 16, 2026

The Battle at Vimy Ridge is known as a major "watershed" moment in the building of the Canadian national identity. This represents the critical transition Canada underwent from a colonial dominion to a sovereign nation during and after World War I. As narrated by Peter Mansbridge in the CBC documentary, “Vimy Ridge is a site where memory and meaning have shifted throughout time," forcing all the generations of Canadians to remember and choose what exactly the event means for the country's current identity. Harold Innis was an artillery signaller in the Canadian Field Artillery who saw front-line duty and was wounded at Vimy Ridge on July 7, 1917. This experience transformed him into the scholar he is known for being today. Which will be spoken about with the Bias of Communication.

This blog post will apply Innis's concepts of the bias of communication practices and media forms to two separate media artifacts that help us to “remember.” Vimy Ridge. The blog post will answer multiple questions on time and space bias. It will also discuss whether I think these artifacts help us, as Canadians, to paraphrase Innis, to know the past in a way that helps us shape Canada as a nation in the present and the future. However, while both digital artifacts are inherently space-biased in form, they attempt to perform a time-binding ritual by preserving national memory and countering the present-mindedness of modern mechanized culture.

According to Innis, the physical properties of a medium predispose a society to frame its knowledge across two dimensions: time and space. This paragraph will discuss time bias and space bias, as well as the problem of the imbalance between space and time. Time bias is described as the embodiment of media being heavy and durable to last a long time. Time-bias media pieces are difficult to transport; they can be made of materials such as stone tablets, clay or wood. These media favour tradition and the sacred, such as seeking to bind a society together over a long period of time rather than across vast distances. Time-binding media biases often support hierarchical, tradition-oriented groups, such as religious organizations.

Space bias is the embodiment of media that is supposed to be light and easily transportable. Some examples of popular space-bias media are papyrus, electronic media, and paper. These media types favour the “dissemination of knowledge over great distances, facing territorial expansion, trade, and administration. However, there is a downside to this medium, as with all media. They lead to a lack of permanence and to a condition Innis termed “present-mindedness,” an obsession with the immediate moment that ignores the past and future.

Innis argues throughout his work that there is an issue when space and time biases are imbalanced in a culture and society. Civilizations flourish when they achieve an equilibrium where the biases of different media offset one another. Without that balance, he warns that “social collapse is inevitable” when one bias is more prominent than the other. An example Innis gave is within Western society. This will be especially true in Western society because of the focus on space-biased media, such as mass-circulation radio and newspapers. 

This paragraph will discuss the tension between the technological form of the CBC video and its ritualistic function, examining how it attempts to bridge Innis's concepts of space and time. As the Vimy Ridge video is a digital broadcast posted on YouTube, “Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters” is a prominent example of space-biased media forms. The video acts as an “extension of messages across space and time for the purpose of control.” Thus, reaching a vast Canadian audience to simultaneously coordinate a singular national identity. In reflection on what Innis calls “mechanization of knowledge,” information is moved quickly but often lacks the permanence found in durable media.

While the video is space-biased, the media's content still acts as a time-binding ritual function. Thus, following James Carey's “Ritual of Communication”. The video not only provides information but also represents a Canadian belief shared across generations. The battle, being a creation story and “The Birth of a Nation,” helps the CBC create a socius of communicative meaning, a shared symbolic world of intersubjectivity that binds current Canadians to our ancestors. This digital artifact uses space-binding electronic signals to create a time-binder hinterland. The video helps Canadians know the past not just as a set of facts but as a “drama” force that continues to shape the nation's future.

The Vimy Monument website from the Canadian Government is a good example of a hybrid medium that bridges the gap between administrative space bias and representational time bias. In its basic form, the website is a technological format that serves as an archetypal space-biased medium. Harold Innis defined these types of media as "light and easily transported". The website is delivered via electronic signals, favouring easily accessible information over methods for storing it to preserve it over time. The site is a tool used by the Government to provide facts and figures, such as media kits and educational resources, that support decentralization and government systems. Innis is associated with modern empires in which information is rapidly disseminated to maintain administrative control, as with websites such as the Vimy Ridge site. While the medium is space-biased, its content is dedicated to preserving a time-biased monument. Innis identified stone and architecture as the ultimate time-binding media because of their durability, to favour the maintenance of society over long durations. The website acts as a digital archive for the physical stone memorial in France. Through these documents, such as photos, records, and transcripts, on the website, to show how the stone monument gives out meaning to present the information to people who cannot visit the physical site.

By providing the virtual field trips on the site with the narratives of service, the website attempts to conjure a socius of communication. This is shared in a symbolic world of intersubjectivity, where Canadians can inhabit a collective infinity that extends far beyond physical locations. Following Carey’s ritual view, the website's purpose is not merely the transmission of data but the maintenance of society through time through the representation of shared beliefs, binding citizens to the creation story of our nation.

The digital tool serves a critical function in the relationship between the center and the margin. It uses space-binding technology to reintroduce time-binding traditions into the national consciousness. This helps to restore the Innisian equilibrium between power and knowledge necessary for cultural survival.

In conclusion, the exploration of Vimy Ridge through various media artifacts reveals the enduring significance of this event in shaping Canada's national identity. By applying Harold Innis's concepts of the bias of communication, we can see how these artifacts not only highlight the spatial aspects of memory but also engage in a critical process of time-binding. They remind us of our shared history and its implications for our collective future. Ultimately, these narratives challenge the present-mindedness of contemporary society and encourage Canadians to reflect on their past, fostering a deeper connection to our nation’s identity and guiding us in our ongoing journey.

Citations

CBC News: The National. (2017, April 7). Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge matters [Video]. YouTube.

Gould, G. (Producer). (1967). The Idea of North [Radio documentary]. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Veterans Affairs Canada. (n.d.). Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Government of Canada.

Herman, A. (2026). CS 304 - Canadian communication thought: Unit I Innis, media materialism, and the configuration of power in time and space [Lecture notes]. Wilfrid Laurier University, MyLearningSpace.

Innis, H. A. (1951). The problem of space. In The bias of communication (pp. 92–131). University of Toronto Press.

Blog 3.

 In Harold Innis’ The bias of Communication he argues that communication media’s shape how societies understand history power and space. Medias develop a favour of time bias or space bias which are dependent on which bias they are better at. Time bias medias are used to preserve knowledge across long period of time. An example that can be used for time bias is oral traditions or stone monuments. These time bias medias focus on cultural memory. Space bias media are used to spread across large spaces, expanding communication across distance. Space bias medias are better at focusing on the present. 

The video “Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters” is mostly space biased. It is a short 15 minute video that was made for a broad audience, this way it is able to spread information quickly and widely. It discusses the importance of the battle and shows that it is a key moment in Canadian nation building. Because the video is designed to be short and accessible, it can simplify the history of the battle, making the focus on a clear national narrative. From Innis’s perspective it could be seen as a part of the modern media environment that prioritizes quick communication and emotional impact over an actual historical understanding. But at the same time I would say it might be unfair to say that this kind of media automatically weakens historical awareness. The video could be seen as a starting point that introduces people to the topic and helps them learn more. In this way a space biased medium might still help people connect to history instead of just replacing forms of historical memory. 

The Government of Canada website would be a combination of time and space bias. The actual monument is time bias, as it is build from stone, hard to transport and physically preserves the memory of Canadian soldiers. The monument represents ann attempt to keep historical memory over a long period of time. The website itself would be considered space bias because it allows people around the world to access the information instantly. The website is able to expand the reach of remembrance across space making the memorial part of a broader national narrative that can go past the physical site. The government is also able to shape how the story of Vimy Ridge is presented to a large audience.

I do believe that these artifacts help Canadians know the past in ways that shape the nation in the future and the present. The Vimy Monument plays an important role because it physically preserves the memory of the battle overtime. It keeps the history of Vimy Ridge present and reminds people of the sacrifices that were made by Canadian soldiers. In a different way, the video and the website help spread the memory more widely. Through the digital forms people can still learn about the battle and why it matters. Because of these reasons is why Vimy Ridge continues to remain part of how Canadians think about their national identity. 

I think this kind of digital access is important because it makes the history feel more connected to life and not something that is just found in textbooks. It makes me wonder how much my understanding of events like Vimy Ridge is shaped and influences by the way they are presented online and if these kinds of media help engage more with history or simplify these events to simpler national stories.

Blog 3 Sarah Hunter

     The Battle of Vimy Ridge is seen as one of the most important moments in Canadian history. It is seen as the moment when Canada became a more independent nation. However, the CBC documentary Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters shows that the “memory and meaning have shifted over time”. This proves how the view of Vimy Ridge has progressed over generations (Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters). Both the CBC documentary and the Government of Canada website on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial can be analyzed through Harold Innis’s concept of the bias of Communication. In class, we discussed that Innis’ idea of medium bias is not just about the message communicated, but also about how the form of communication shapes memory and power (Innis, 1951). This term can help explain how the media shapes the way historical events are remembered. It also shows that memory is not neutral and can be formed through how people receive history. These two media styles can influence which parts of the story are emphasized and how they're reinterpreted.

     In The Bias of Communication, Innis argues that communication media tend to use either time or space. According to Innis, time-biased media’s main focus is to preserve cultural memory over long periods. This helps societies maintain traditions and remember history. Space-biased media refers to media that can be disseminated over large areas to reach many people quickly. However, Innis suggests that modern communication systems could create a society so obsessed with current information that they forget the importance of our history. This concept helps explain why monuments and historical media continue to play a significant role in shaping global historical memory. It also shows why national identity is tied to communication forms that preserve the past to distribute it widely. In this way, media do not simply reflect memory but change how people understand history. This connects to what we talked about in class about medium theory, where the material form of communication shapes what people think and how.

     The CBC documentary shows many of the biases Innis talks about. A documentary like this is made to reach wide audiences and quickly spread information. It takes the well-known story of Vimy Ridge and turns it into something that can circulate globally through online media. The film explains what happened in the battle in April 1917, when the four Canadian divisions fought together to capture the ridge. It does more than just retell the events; it examines how Vimy became part of Canada’s identity. I found it fascinating how the documentary doesn’t just show the battle as a success. It shows how it caused a divide between the French and English Canadians. That matters because it shows how space-biased media doesn’t just spread information but shapes how people understand history. The documentary also gives Vimy a more contemporary meaning by recirculating through modern-day media. This also connects to James Carey's ritual view of communication. He talks about how media does more than transmit information and rather helps maintain shared beliefs and national identity over time. This makes the documentary more of a source of information because it acts as a ritual form that keeps the story of Vimy Ridge alive in Canadian memory. It turns the idea of memory into an ongoing public discussion, allowing it to retain a prominent place in modern Canadian culture. Rather than labelling Vimy as one stable meaning, the documentary keeps it moving across audiences and allows for present reinterpretations.

     The Government of Canada Website on the Vimy Memorial shows a stronger time bias. The memorial itself was made to preserve memory, not just communicate it globally. The website explains that the monument includes the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who died in France (doesn’t count the bodies not found) (Canadian National Vimy Memorial, 2026). That shows a very different vibe than the documentary. It is less about circulation and more about remembrance. For example, the figure Canada Bereft represents a grieving nation and emphasizes mourning the losses rather than celebrating the victory. This makes it feel so much more time-biased as it attempts to preserve memories over time. At the same time, the website slightly complicates the time-bias because putting the memorial online also introduces a space-bias by allowing its meaning to circulate beyond the physical site itself.

     These two artifacts show how time and space can work simultaneously. The memorial preserves memory over time, while the documentary spreads memory across space. Innis’s ideas are important as they show that different media do different work within culture. The documentary helps keep Vimy as a conversation, and the memorial makes that memory permanent. Together, they show how important it is to use both circulation and preservation to withhold historical memories. They show that public memory depends on keeping the memories while making them visible. This balance has allowed Vimy Ridge to remain a powerful symbol in Canadian History. 

     Overall, the CBC documentary and the Government of Canada website shape how Canadians remember Vimy Ridge in different ways. Looking at both through Innis’s frameworks makes it clearer that the media doesn’t just tell us about history but also shapes its meaning. It also connects to a major class theme, that communication helps arrange relationships among time, space, and national identity. Vimy Ridge is not just remembered in the media, it also reappears as a national memory. Through Innis, it becomes clear that the media is not passive but active by shaping how a nation remembers itself.

References

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (n.d.). Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge matters [Video]. YouTube.

Carey, J. W. (1989). Communication as culture: Essays on media and society. Unwin Hyman.

Innis, H. A. (1951). The bias of communication. University of Toronto Press.

Veterans Affairs Canada. (2026). Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Government of Canada. https://www.veterans.gc.ca

Blog Post 3 - Nicholas Sherrer

The Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917 is often presented as a defining moment in Canadian history and national identity. Today many Canadians including myself, encounter this event not through direct experience, but through media artifacts such as the CBC video “Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters” and the Government of Canada webpage dedicated to the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial in France. To analyze how these artifacts shape our understanding of the battle, it is useful to apply Harold Innis’ concept of the bias of communication, particularly his distinction between time-biased and space-biased media. As Innis was a veteran and wounded in the war he used his time and knowledge to create and formulate many of his arguments presented after the war.

According to Innis, different communication media shape how societies transmit knowledge across time and space. Time-biased media are durable and designed to preserve knowledge and cultural memory across generations. These media are often heavy and difficult to transport examples include stone monuments, oral traditions, and other long-lasting forms of record. Because they endure, they emphasize tradition and the preservation of the past. Space-biased  media in contrast, are lightweight and easily distributed across large distances. Forms such as newspapers, broadcasting, and digital media allow information to travel quickly to wide audiences. These media prioritize reach and immediacy rather than long-term durability.

The CBC video “Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters” is primarily an example of space-biased communication. As a digital broadcast distributed through platforms like YouTube, the video can reach a wide audience quickly across Canada and beyond. This accessibility allows people who may never visit the battlefield in France to learn about the event and its significance and now without ever being in the country of France I know now exactly what the monument looks like and much of its significance. The video also demonstrates how space-biased media shape historical narratives. It explains the events of April 1917, when Canadian forces captured Vimy Ridge after several days of fighting, and discusses how the meaning of the battle has changed over time. The battle has often been described as the “birth of a nation" according to the video and it is symbolizing Canadian unity and achievement during the First World War. However, the video also acknowledges that this interpretation has been debated, especially considering divisions within Canada at the time, such as those surrounding the conscription crisis. By circulating these interpretations widely, the CBC video helps shape how Canadians collectively remember the battle. It keeps the story of Vimy Ridge present in national consciousness, demonstrating how space-biased media can influence how historical events are interpreted in the present. The video is a space biased communication form but is used in a time biased way with the content and message they give throughout.

In contrast, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial represents a strongly time-biased form of communication. The monument itself is a massive stone structure designed to endure for generations and preserve the memory of Canadian soldiers who fought and died during the First World War. Monuments like this reflect Innis’ idea that time-biased media prioritize durability and the preservation of cultural memory. The memorial commemorates Canadians who served in the war and specifically honours more than 11,000 soldiers whose bodies were never recovered or identified in France. By inscribing their names in stone, the monument preserves their memory across time and creates a physical site where visitors can reflect on the past. However, the Government of Canada website that describes the memorial introduces a space-biased element. By presenting information online, the website makes knowledge about the monument accessible to people across Canada and around the world. In this sense, the site connects the time-biased monument to a space-biased digital network, allowing remembrance to extend beyond the physical location of the memorial.

Together, these artifacts illustrate a combination of time- and space-biased communication. The CBC video spreads information quickly across large audiences, demonstrating the strengths of space-biased media. The Vimy Ridge Memorial preserves historical memory across generations, exemplifying time bias. Meanwhile, the government website bridges the two by using digital communication to connect Canadians to a permanent monument located overseas. This combination reflects Innis's broader argument that societies benefit from balancing these communication biases. Space-biased media allow historical knowledge to circulate widely, while time-biased media anchor that knowledge in enduring cultural memory. I think this example is so powerful and amazing at showcasing why the two in harmon y can act as a powerful and long lasting way to give everyone now a sense of what happened and connect to the moment in Canadian history.

These artifacts do help Canadians understand the past in ways that shape the present and future. By circulating stories about Vimy Ridge and maintaining a lasting monument to the fallen soldiers, they contribute to a shared national narrative about sacrifice, unity, and the development of Canadian identity. At the same time, modern media also encourage reflection and debate about how the battle has been interpreted historically. In this way, the CBC video and the Vimy Ridge Memorial website demonstrate how communication media influence collective memory and I feel personally moved after watching and making my own understanding of this assignment. They show that remembering the past is not simply about preserving facts, but about how different media forms shape the stories that societies tell about themselves. 

Blog 3 - Caleb Chard

 Remembering Vimy Ridge Through Media: Time and Space in Canadian Memory

The Battle of Vimy Ridge has long been presented as a defining moment in the development of Canadian national identity. Over the past century, however, the meaning of Vimy has shifted as new generations reinterpret its significance. As the CBC documentary suggests, Canadians continue to debate what the battle represents and how it should be remembered today. The changing memory of Vimy can be better understood through the communication theory of Harold Innis, particularly his concepts of time-biased and space-biased media. When applied to both the CBC documentary and the Government of Canada’s website for the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Innis’s framework reveals how these media shape the way Canadians remember the past.

Innis argued that communication media possess structural biases that influence how knowledge is preserved and transmitted in society. Time-biased media emphasize continuity, tradition, and cultural memory. These forms of communication tend to be durable, reflective, and oriented toward maintaining connections with the past. Oral traditions, religious teachings, and historical storytelling are examples of time-biased communication because they sustain collective memory across generations. In contrast, space-biased media prioritize expansion, accessibility, and the rapid transmission of information across large geographic distances. These forms of media are often lightweight, easily distributed, and designed to reach large audiences quickly. Newspapers, broadcasting, and digital media are typical examples of space-biased communication because they emphasize circulation and reach rather than long-term historical reflection.

The CBC documentary about Vimy Ridge demonstrates elements of both time-biased and space-biased communication. On the one hand, the documentary attempts to preserve historical memory by recounting the events of the battle and explaining its significance for Canadian identity. Through interviews, narration, and historical imagery, the program encourages viewers to reflect on how the meaning of Vimy has evolved over time. This reflective approach reflects aspects of time-biased communication because it attempts to situate contemporary Canadians within a longer historical narrative. However, the documentary is ultimately structured as a broadcast media product designed to reach a large national audience. Television and digital video platforms prioritize accessibility, distribution, and engagement across wide geographic spaces. The documentary is meant to be consumed by viewers online in a relatively short period of time. In this sense, the medium of television reflects a space-biased form of communication. Its purpose is not only to preserve historical memory but also to circulate a particular interpretation of Vimy across the Canadian public.

The Government of Canada website dedicated to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial demonstrates an even stronger space bias. As a digital platform, the website is designed to be widely accessible to users across Canada and around the world. It provides information about the battle, the memorial site in France, and the symbolic importance of Vimy within Canadian history. This accessibility reflects the core characteristics of space-biased media: the rapid dissemination of information across large distances and the ability to reach vast audiences. At the same time, the website does attempt to encourage historical reflection by providing background information about the battle and its commemoration. Images of the memorial, historical descriptions, and narratives of sacrifice attempt to connect contemporary audiences with the past. However, the format of the website still prioritizes efficiency and accessibility over deep historical engagement. Visitors typically encounter short summaries and visual representations rather than extended historical analysis. As a result, the website’s communication practices lean strongly toward space bias.

Innis warned that modern communication systems often produce what he called an “obsession with present-mindedness,” in which societies lose their ability to think critically about the past. When historical events are communicated primarily through space-biased media such as broadcasting and digital platforms, they can become simplified symbols rather than complex historical realities. In the case of Vimy Ridge, both the documentary and the website contribute to maintaining public awareness of the battle, but they also risk transforming the event into a national myth that is easily circulated but less deeply understood.

Despite this limitation, these media artifacts still play an important role in maintaining Canada’s collective memory of Vimy Ridge. By making historical information accessible to large audiences, they ensure that the battle remains part of the national conversation. However, Innis’s theory reminds us that remembering the past requires more than simply transmitting information across space. It requires communication practices that encourage deeper reflection on historical experience and its relevance for the present and future.

Ultimately, the CBC documentary and the Government of Canada website demonstrate how modern media shape the ways Canadians remember Vimy Ridge. Both artifacts contain elements of time-biased communication because they attempt to preserve historical memory and connect contemporary audiences with the past. However, their dominant form remains space-biased because they prioritize accessibility, circulation, and national messaging. In this way, these media illustrate Innis’s broader concern that modern communication systems often privilege the rapid transmission of information over sustained engagement with historical memory.

Blog Post #3

 What stood out to me most in these two media artifacts is that both are trying to keep Vimy Ridge meaningful for Canadians, but they do it in different ways. Harold Innis’s ideas about time bias and space bias help explain that difference really well. Innis says that time-biased media are better at preserving memory, tradition, and meaning over long periods of time. Space-biased media are better at spreading information widely and quickly across large distances. Looking at the CBC video Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters and the Government of Canada’s Vimy Memorial website, I think both contain a mix of the two, but the CBC video leans more toward space bias, while the memorial website leans more toward time bias.

The CBC video feels more space-biased to me because it is made to reach a large audience in a quick and accessible way. Since it is a documentary shared through broadcast media and YouTube, it can spread ideas about Vimy Ridge across Canada very easily. That fits Innis’s idea of space-biased media because it moves information over long distances and brings many people into the same conversation. At the same time, I do think the video has a time-biased side too. It not only explains what happened in 1917 but also shows how the meaning of Vimy has changed over time. Instead of presenting it as one simple patriotic story, it shows that Canadians have remembered it differently depending on the period. I liked that part because it made Vimy feel less like a frozen symbol and more like something that people are still trying to understand.

The Government of Canada website feels more time biased overall, mainly because of the memorial itself. A monument is meant to last, preserve memory, and honour people across generations, which is exactly what Innis means by time bias. The website explains the history of the memorial, the symbolism in its design, the names carved into it, and the preserved trenches around it. All of that works together to keep the memory of the battle and the soldiers alive over time. Even though the website is online and can be accessed from anywhere, which gives it a space-biased element, its main purpose still feels more rooted in remembrance than in fast communication. It is trying to make sure that this event continues to matter, not just inform people about it once.

I think both of these artifacts do help Canadians know the past in a way that can shape the present and future. The CBC video helps by encouraging people to think critically about what Vimy means now, while the government website helps by preserving a more lasting memory of sacrifice and national loss. To me, that balance is important. One artifact opens up reflection, and the other protects remembrance. Together, they show that remembering Vimy is not just about repeating facts from history. It is also about how the media shape the way that history is carried forward. That is what makes Innis’s ideas so useful here. They help show that the way we remember something is just as important as what we remember.

Blog Post #3

Vimy Ridge is one of those moments in Canadian history that stands for more than the battle itself. Over time, it has become part of the story Canada tells about itself as a nation. That is what stood out to me in both the CBC documentary Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters and the Government of Canada’s Vimy Memorial website. Both are trying to help Canadians remember Vimy, but they do it in different ways. Looking at them through Harold Innis’s ideas of time-bias and space-bias makes those differences easier to understand. To me, both combine the two, but the CBC documentary leans more toward time bias, while the government website leans more toward space bias.

Innis argues that media shape how knowledge moves through society. Some forms of media are better at preserving knowledge over time, while others are better at preserving it across space. In general, heavy, durable media are better at preserving knowledge over long periods, while lighter, easier-to-spread media are better at reaching people across distances. Blondheim’s explanation of Innis is useful here because it connects time-biased communication to memory, continuity, and tradition, while space-biased communication is more connected to reach, organization, and control. He also points out that Innis cared about balance, not simply one bias over the other.

The CBC documentary feels more time-biased to me, even though it also has a space-biased side. Since it is a video meant for a wide audience, it clearly spreads ideas broadly, which is part of space bias. Still, what stands out most is the way it reflects on how Vimy’s meaning has changed over time. It does not present the battle as just a simple national triumph. It also focuses on grief, loss, and the tensions tied to conscription. That makes the documentary feel more reflective and less official. Instead of treating Vimy as a settled symbol, it shows that Canadians are still debating what it means, and that feels closely connected to Innis’s concern with keeping the past meaningful in the present.

The Government of Canada website feels more space-biased. It is clear, organized, accessible, and designed to communicate an official national message to a broad audience. It gives visitors the history of the memorial, explains its symbolism, and presents Vimy as a lasting tribute to sacrifice and remembrance. There is still a time-biased element because it helps preserve memory and connect people to the past. Even so, the overall tone feels more informational and more controlled than the documentary. It presents a clear national meaning rather than encouraging much reflection on how that meaning has changed. That is why I see it as leaning more toward space bias.

I think both articles help Canadians remember the past, but they do so in different ways. The website keeps Vimy in official national memory and makes that memory easy to access. The documentary, though, goes further by showing that Vimy has not always meant the same thing in Canadian history. Instead of presenting memory as fixed, it shows how interpretations of Vimy have shifted over time. That feels closer to Innis’s concern with preserving a meaningful relationship to the past rather than focusing only on the present. In that sense, both articles are useful, but the documentary leaves more room for reflection. For me, it is the stronger of the two because it not only remembers Vimy, but also asks what that memory means for Canadians today.

Blog Post #3

 Harold Innis argues that communication media influence how societies understand time and space. In The Bias of Communication, he explains that media can be either time-biased or space-biased. Time-biased media focuses on preserving memory and cultural traditions over long periods of time, helping societies remember their past. Space-biased media, on the other hand, spread information quickly across large distances and allow messages to reach a bigger audience. 

The CBC documentary mainly reflects space-biased communication because it spreads information about the Battle of Vimy Ridge to a large audience through digital media (YouTube). The program explains the events of the battle in 1917 and how Canadian soldiers captured the ridge after several days of fighting. It also explores how the meaning of Vimy has changed over time, sometimes being seen as the "birth of a nation" and at other times being questioned because of the divisions it created in Canada, especially during the conscription crisis. Because broadcast media can quickly distribute information across the country, the documentary allows Canadians to learn about this historical event even if they have never visited Vimy Ridge or have never known about the war themselves. The documentary also encourages viewers to reflect on how the meaning of Vimy Ridge has shifted through history, showing that media can also play a role in shaping how societies remember their past. 

The Government of Canada website about the Canadian National Vimy Memorial reflects more time-biased communication. The monument itself was built to preserve the memory of Canadian soldiers who fought and died during the first world war. According to the website, the memorial honours Canadians who served during the war and especially those who died without known graves. The monument includes the names of more than 11,000 soldiers who died in France and were never recovered, making it a lasting tribute to their sacrifice. Because monuments are built to last for generations and preserve historical memory, they are strong examples of time-biased communication. However, the website itself also makes it a space-biased communication by making information about the memorial accessible online to people across Canada and around the world. 

These two media artifacts show how communication technologies shape how Canadians remember events like Vimy Ridge. The CBC documentary spreads information widely through space-biased media, allowing people to learn about the battle and its changing meaning. The Vimy Memorial and its website focus more on preserving memory over time by commemorating the soldiers who died. Together they show how media can both spread information across space and help and preserve national memory across time. 

Blog 3

 The Battle of Vimy Ridge holds a significant place in Canadian history and has long been framed as a part of Canadian national identity. It occupies a specific memory in the lives of Canadians as it is described as a monumental moment of freedom from British rule. The CBC documentary and the Canadian government website dedicated to the Vimy Ridge monument in France, help to relive these memories again and again for the public and shed a perspective to this battle that can be influential and change ideologies. Harold Innis, in his ‘Bias Of Communication’ helps establish concepts about space and time bias that can guide us to understand these media artifacts that shaped national identity. 

Innis considers a medium of communication as an integral tool for transferring of knowledge across space and over time. It is the characteristics of a medium that make it influential in a particular culture. The medium can be more suitable to disseminate knowledge over time if it is heavy and resistant and unsuitable to transport and this makes it a time-biased medium. On the contrary, a medium that is light and can be transported easily helps to disseminate knowledge across space rather than over time and that provides a space-bias. The bias of time or space becomes significant in how the medium is embedded into the culture. 

The CBC Documentary: A Space-Biased Form of Memory

The CBC documentary, ‘Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters’ can be understood through Innis’ space-biased medium. It is a televised, digital medium which has the potential to be light and easily transported through space and can reach a large audience. It is able to be easily accessible and communicates information about the battle of Vimy quickly and in an engaging way. Because of its vast reach and easy access, it keeps the Vimy ridge debate and concept always in people’s minds and keeps the memory of that event alive and in perspective. The historical significance of Vimy ridge can be understood through Innis’ concept of how the past can re-shape the present and the future in the context of the cultural norms of that time. This documentary highlights a side of Vimy ridge that has become politicized and dramatized that was not the way it was interpreted in the past. In 1917, it was considered a high achieving mark in Canadian building as a nation, but the documentary showcases a side of the battle that was propagated more than necessary as Canada had not even achieved autonomy at that time, according to the documentary. This clearly indicates how a medium can influence and shape national identity events according to the present and future needs of that culture. 

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial: A Time-Biased Medium

The Canadian website for the Vimy memorial in France indicates a time-biased medium as the monument itself is transportable and is heavy and sustainable. It is a permanent side of remembrance for a Canadian for the fallen soldiers of the battle of Vimy Ridge and it anchors the battle in physical and historical contexts. The Vimy monument is meant to preserve history for the sake of reflection and living its memory when visited by the public. The website itself is a bridge between the accessibility to this monument through a space-biased medium, while the memorial is a time-based medium. Thus, the website is a combination of both, which strengthens collective memory. 

Past events can be re-visited in the context of a culture and its present and future according to Innis. Both these mediums demonstrate the need of the culture in using space-based mediums to reach an audience in Canada that would not ever visit the Vimy ridge monument in France. This not only keeps such events alive, but it creates a renewed interaction and usage of an event such as this in politics and the new world culture. Canadians are given an opportunity to connect with the space-biased medium of the documentary and the time-based medium of the monument to create and shape Canadian identity by the dissemination of knowledge.

Blog Post 3 - Mya Murray

 Remembering Vimy: Time Bias vs Space Bias

The CBC video Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters and the Government of Canada’s Vimy Memorial website both try to help Canadians remember the battle, but they do it in slightly different ways. Thinking about them using Harold Innis’s ideas about time bias and space bias actually makes this clearer.

The Vimy Memorial itself feels like a strong example of time-biased media. Innis described time-biased forms as things that preserve memory across long periods of time. A monument literally exists to keep history alive. The Vimy Memorial stands on the battlefield in France and honours over 11,000 Canadian soldiers with no known graves. Since it’s physical and permanent, it connects people directly to the past in a way that lasts across generations.

The CBC video, on the other hand, feels more space-biased. Innis argued that media like radio, newspapers, and modern digital media spread ideas across large distances. A video posted online can reach thousands of people quickly and shape how Canadians think about Vimy today. It helps circulate the story nationally, even for people who will never visit the memorial itself.

In that sense, remembering Vimy Ridge probably requires both kinds of media. The monument preserves memory over time, while videos and websites spread the meaning of that memory across space. It also makes me wonder whether the way we remember Vimy Ridge today is shaped more by the monument itself, or by the media that keep retelling its story

Blog Post #2

James Carey explains that communication can be understood in two different ways: the transmission model and the ritual model. The transmission model sees communication as sending of information across space in order to influence or control others. In this model, communication is judged by whether a message successfully persuades people or changes their behavior. Carey's ritual model, on the other hand, focuses more on how communication creates shared meaning and maintains culture over time. Instead of simply sending information, ritual communication brings people together through shared symbols, participation, and collective experience. These two models help explain different ways communication operates in politics and media today. 

The artilce "The Line Between Politics and Pro Wrestling Has Disappeared" argues that Donald Trump's political style is heavily influenced by professional wrestling. In wrestling, the performance is built around dramatic characters, clear conflicts between heroes and villains, and emotional engagement from the audience. Even though audiences know that wrestling is staged, they still participate in the performance because the drama feels meaningful. The article suggests that Trump's political communication works in a similar way. His speeches, rallies, and media appearances often function more like performances than traditional political messaging. 

From the perspective of transmission communication, Trump's speeches might seem unusual because they often focus less on detailed policy or factual information. In the transmission model, political communication usually involves explaining ideas, presenting arguments, and persuading voters through information. However, Trump's communication style often emphasizes slogans, repetition, and dramatic statements instead of detailed explanations. This means that the goal of the message is not always to inform the audience in a traditional sense. Instead, the message often works by reinforcing emotional reactions and political identities. 

Ritual communication focuses on participation and shared meaning rather than simply transferring information. Trump's rallies, for example, function more like collective events where supporters gather to reaffirm their beliefs and identity. People attending these rallies are not necessarily there to learn new information about policy. Instead, they participate in chats, reactions, and shared responses to the performance happening on stage. In this sense, the communication happening at these events is more about maintain a sense of community and share worldview than transmitting new information. 

The connection to professional wrestling helps bring this idea to light. Wrestling audiences participate in what is sometimes called "kayfabe," where the performance is treated as real within the context of the show, even though everyone understands that it is staged. Trump's political communication can operate in a similar way. Supporters participate in the political spectacle by engaging emotionally with the performance and its narrative conflicts. The political event becomes a shared experience rather than simply a transfer of information. 

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson's concept of sintering, discussed in Theory of Water, provided another perspective of communication and relationships. Simpon uses sintering as a metaphor for how connections form when different elements come together under pressure. Through ongoing acts of care, responsibility, and collaboration, individuals create stronger collective relationships. This way communication is not just about exchanging messages but about building and maintain relationships within a community. 

When comparing this idea to the communication style described in the article, you can see a difference. Trump's political communication often creates strong emotional connections among supporters, but these connections are frequently built around opposition and conflict. The performance relies on identifying enemies, creating dramatic confrontations, and reinforcing group  loyalty. Simpson's concept of sintering, however, focuses more on relationships built through responsibility, care, and mutual support rather than through spectacle and division.  

Looking at the article through Carey's framework shows how modern media envrionments often reward ritual communication. Television, social media, and online platforms ten to amplify dramatic performances and conflicts. These forms of communication attract attention and encourage participation from audiences. Trump's background in entertainment and reality TV likely helped him understand how to use these media dynamics effectively. His communication style fits well within a media environment that values spectacle and emotional engagement. 

At the same time, this raises questions about how political communication functions in a democratic society. If political messaging becomes primarily about performance and identity, it may become harder for audiences to engage with complex policy discussions or factual information. Carey's theory helps show that communication is not only about transmitting messages but also about shaping how communities understand themselves and the world around them. 

Overall the article demonstrates how Trump's political communication can be understood through Carey's concept of ritual communication. His rallies and media appearances often work as performances that reinforce shared identities and emotions among supporters. At the same time, comparing this style of communication to Simpson's idea of sintering highlights how different forms of communication create connection through shared responsibility and care, while others rely more on spectacle and conflict. These differences helps explain how communication shapes political culture and public participation. 

Blog Post #3 - Amisha Lubana

According to Harold Innis, communication media shape how societies understand space, time, and history. He explained that certain media platforms have a time bias, which means they support the long-term preservation of culture and memory. Others have a space bias, meaning they spread knowledge over large geographic areas while frequently emphasizing the present over the past. Using Innis’s ideas, the CBC video “Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters” and the Government of Canada website about the Canadian National Vimy Memorial show a combination of both time bias and space bias.

The CBC film "Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters" primarily reflects space bias. As a broadcast and digital media artifact, it quickly transmits information to a large national audience. The documentary communicates the importance of the war to current viewers through narration and visual storytelling, connecting the event to contemporary concepts of Canadian identity. The use of new media formats allows for a modern version of the historical narrative. However, the Government of Canada's website about the Canadian National Vimy Memorial has a stronger time bias. The memorial itself serves as a symbolic site of remembrance, aiming to preserve the memory of the conflict and the soldiers who fought in it. The website contributes to this purpose by providing historical context and underlining the value of commemoration and national memory.

Overall, these two media artifacts demonstrate how time and space-biased modes of communication connect. The memorial and accompanying information retain Vimy Ridge's historical significance over time, whereas the CBC video conveys that remembrance across space using current media. Together, they show how communication practices impact collective memory and contribute to the development of Canadian national identity.

Blog #2 Post Assignment "Minnesota Proved MAGA Wrong"

 

During the first weeks of this course, we have explored two major ways of understanding communication: communication as transmission and communication as ritual. James Carey explains that the transmission view of communication focuses on sending information across distance in order to control or influence others. The ritual view, in contrast, sees communication as the process of creating and maintaining shared culture, beliefs, and social bonds. These two perspectives help us understand the events described in the article about the resistance movement in Minnesota. While political messaging surrounding immigration enforcement often reflects the transmission model of communication, the grassroots resistance movement described in the article illustrates communication functioning as a ritual that builds community and solidarity.

The transmission view of communication is visible in the way political leaders and government institutions communicate about immigration enforcement. In Carey’s framework, communication as transmission is concerned primarily with the delivery of messages across space in order to shape behavior or public opinion. In the article, government officials attempt to justify the presence of federal immigration agents in Minnesota by framing their actions as necessary responses to crime or fraud. These claims are spread through speeches, media statements, and social media posts. The goal of this type of communication is not simply to inform the public but to influence how people interpret events and whether they support government actions. This approach reflects the logic of transmission communication, where messages are distributed widely in order to guide political perception and reinforce state authority.

However, the article also highlights a very different form of communication taking place among ordinary residents of Minnesota. Volunteers, neighbors, and activists organize protests, food deliveries, and ICE-watch patrols in order to support families who are afraid to leave their homes. These activities demonstrate communication as ritual because they are not primarily about spreading information but about reinforcing shared values and relationships. People gather at churches, community centers, and neighborhood patrols where they exchange stories, coordinate assistance, and express solidarity with one another. Through these repeated acts, communication becomes a practice that strengthens the social fabric of the community.

For example, the article describes how volunteers deliver food, diapers, and school supplies to families who are in hiding because of fear of immigration enforcement. These interactions are not merely logistical exchanges of goods. They are moments where trust, empathy, and mutual responsibility are communicated through everyday actions. When neighbors provide support to one another, they reaffirm a shared commitment to protecting vulnerable members of their community. In Carey’s ritual view, communication works to maintain society over time by reinforcing shared beliefs about what is right, just, and meaningful. The actions of these volunteers reflect exactly this kind of communicative process.

The resistance movement described in the article also connects strongly to Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s concept of “sintering.” Simpson uses the term sintering to describe how relationships are strengthened through everyday practices of care, cooperation, and shared responsibility within Indigenous communities. Rather than focusing on centralized leadership or formal institutions, sintering emphasizes the gradual process through which individuals build strong social bonds by supporting one another in practical ways. In this sense, community is not simply declared or imagined; it is actively created through repeated acts of cooperation.

The actions of the volunteers in Minnesota closely resemble this idea of sintering. The resistance movement is largely decentralized and consists of ordinary people taking responsibility for helping their neighbors. Parents organize school support for children whose families are afraid to leave their homes. Community members patrol neighborhoods to warn residents about the presence of immigration agents. Others deliver supplies or provide financial assistance to families who cannot work. These actions gradually create networks of trust and mutual aid that hold the community together. Rather than relying on a formal organization or hierarchy, the movement grows through everyday acts of solidarity.

Another important aspect of the article is the emphasis on “neighborism,” a term used to describe the shared belief that people have a responsibility to care for those living around them regardless of their background or immigration status. This philosophy reflects the ritual nature of communication because it expresses a set of moral values that bind the community together. By repeatedly engaging in practices that protect and support their neighbors, participants reinforce a shared understanding of what their community stands for. Communication, in this case, is embedded in actions such as delivering food, warning others about danger, or protesting government policies. These acts symbolize and reaffirm the values of solidarity and collective responsibility.

Ultimately, the article demonstrates how communication operates simultaneously at multiple levels within society. On one level, political authorities rely on the transmission model of communication to spread messages that justify enforcement policies and influence public opinion. On another level, ordinary citizens engage in ritual communication practices that sustain relationships and reinforce community values. Through acts of cooperation, support, and resistance, the residents of Minnesota are not only responding to political events but also constructing a shared social identity rooted in mutual care.

By examining the article through the frameworks provided by Carey and Simpson, it becomes clear that communication is not simply about the exchange of information. It is also about the creation of social bonds and collective meaning. The resistance movement described in the article illustrates how communities can use communication as a ritual practice to strengthen relationships and defend shared values in times of political conflict.

References:

Carey, J. W. (2009). A cultural approach to communication. In Communication as culture: Essays on media and society (pp. 11–28). Routledge.

Simpson, L. B. (2017). Theory of water. In As we have always done: Indigenous freedom through radical resistance (pp. 17–24). University of Minnesota Press.