ABSTRACT
Media are modes of expression and communication, based on technologies, that give rise to new symbol systems or to new blends of symbol systems. By focusing on the symbol systems of media, we are able to ignore the common characteristics of different media and can consider only the most essential or prototypical characteristics of each medium—or, what “makes a difference.” A single film may be likened to an utterance sampled from the universe of symbol systems that is available to the medium (Kjørup, 1977). This idea implies that each medium has its own universe of symbol systems. These universes, and particularly their unique elements, are the focus of the present discussion, rather than any specific sample drawn from a particular universe.
