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.