CLASS RESPONSE: How Recordings Saved The World (And Still Do)

Mr. Miller talked the other day in class about recorded media, a subject which everyone in class seemed to relate closest to their hearts. I agree, music was a phenomenally important stepping stone in the bridging of communication gaps throughout history, and it still greatly impacts us today. But in order to fully appreciate the splendor of recorded media, one must think of the impact it shares, not only for us living today, but the impact it had before Edison invented the phonograph in 1877.

Before and during the 1800's, one popular way to spread information was through song. It was a catchier, and (supposedly) easier way to remember information. People would go from town to town, singing the news. But sometimes people would forget the lyrics, and they would spread a ripple of distortion in the information. Listening to someone's song for the news became unreliable.

So in 1877, Edison invented the phonograph. Thin metal cylinders would be incised by the phonograph to create recorded sound. However, the cylinders were very fragile, and irreplaceable. Which is why in 1887, Berliner invented the gramophone. The gramophone would incise ridges into large metal discs, which were easier to ship and distribute than the metal cylinders of the phonograph, and reproducible. The gramophone helped set the ground basics of today's CD's and audio recordings.

Why are recordings so important, anyways? Well, recorded media has significantly improved our culture, for one thing. Music now has a giant social influence, much more than it did back before the phonograph. It also bridges a generational gap. Now, people can listen to music from decades ago. They can listen to anything. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, even Elvis. (I can dig Elvis.)

As the years pass, recorded audio has still been a significant factor in the spread of information and ideas. There's thousands of genres to choose from, and many ways to get music. Whether you like alternative rock, post-hardcore, or prefer a good, old-fashioned podcast, it just keeps getting simpler to obtain recorded media. Due to this, I know music and the recorded media industry is here to stay.

So thanks, Edison and Berliner. Or should I say, #Swagison and #YOLOner.