Analyze Ken Burns’s documentary Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio using Brian Winston’s two approaches to media history–technological determinist (technology driven- internet, Narrow, One person Glory) and cultural determinist (communications needs, social needs, political, Economic Adv, social internet, self identity) (Brian Winston, “How are Media Born?”). write about both approaches in general and then focus on one approach that approach do you think Burns mainly uses in his documentary on the early history of radio broadcasting? Be sure to give examples from the video to back up your analysis. (you have to watch this video on the Youtube ) Also, discuss historical material (facts, events, etc.) that an alternative account would include. In other words, if you argue that the documentary is primarily an example of a technological determinist approach to radio history then you will need to discuss examples of a cultural determinist approach to radio history. Your analysis should use material from relevant required readings used in this paper (mainly the first five readings). Be sure to cite the relevant readings you use. In addition, you need to use (and reference) material from at least TWO other scholarly sources from the books that have been placed on reserve in the library. The following books on reserve are especially relevant:
Craig, Douglas. Fireside Politics: Radio and Political Culture in the United States, 1920-1940 (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000).
Douglas, Susan. Inventing American Broadcasting, 1899-1922 (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989).
Hilmes, Michele. Radio Voices: American Broadcasting, 1922-1952 (University of Minnesota Press, 1997).
Hilmes, Michele. Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States (2007 or 2011 edition).
Hilmes, Michele. Connections: A Broadcast History Reader (2003). Collection of scholarly essays.
Slotten, Hugh. Radio and Television Regulation: Broadcast Technology in the United States, 1920-1960 (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000).
Slotten, Hugh. Radio’s Hidden Voice: The Origins of Public Broadcasting in the United States (University of Illinois Press, 2009).