About Live Media

From SPARK

What is meant by "live media" is communication by a live person instead of by a recording. The media consists of the content, the means of delivery, the environment, and the specific time. People often record live media for use at a future time. Examples are lectures, speeches, songs, dramas, etc.

Live events may be planned, or they may be unexpected encounters. So in addition to planned presentations like dramas and concerts, other examples of live media include unplanned meetings and discussions and impromptu signing between two or more people.

The human body (as a whole or just the voice box) and various props may be the means to convey messages and information. God also conveys live messages through the Holy Spirit.

All cultures use live media to give information. It may be the only media type used in some cultures. It is the most natural, easy, and inexpensive of the media types. Jesus Christ used it as he talked with the priests in the temple, gave sermons to the masses, and counseled one-on-one (woman at the well). Best of all, he demonstrated God’s love through the live drama of his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

Relationship evangelism is a type of live media. People relate to each other spontaneously and according to their own specific characteristics and needs. Personal relationships often have more impact on an individual than performances that follow scripts. But the Holy Spirit can use both scripts and relationships to speak to an individual.

Considerations

Live media may not be accepted well where there is social pressure against the message. Where the target audience needs privacy, radio and recorded media work better. However, in such situations, live communication between two people may still be effective. It would depend on the content, depth of the personal relationship, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

• Presentations usually are most effective when they follow the forms of the culture and look like someone indigenous to the culture designed them.
• Cultures have accepted ways of receiving information. Some cultures do not accept new information unless it is chanted.
• Repetition, added visuals, tunes, metaphors, and stories help people to remember information.
• Many oral cultures make decisions as a group instead of as individuals. They are less likely to process new ideas by themselves at home. They may need time to talk as a group to process information. So planning time for a group to come up with a collective response after experiencing the input can have great impact.
• For groups that receive and process input together, stories and other oral presentations increase the sense of community.
• Some cultures do not place an importance on time but place a lot of importance on belonging to their group. This may affect both the planning and the content of events. It may not work well to follow a precise schedule or expect people to arrive on time for an event. A scripted play may not be received as well as an event that allows for spontaneous expressions of togetherness such as talking and dancing.
• Relationships are very important to people from oral cultures. They may attend more events that promote relationship-building than those that do nothing but give information.
• Begin live presentations with a greeting done according to the local culture and social practices.
• People in oral cultures initially respond best to the warmth of the communicator and less to logical points.
• The ability to speak well and the quality of the sound is very important in oral cultures. Choice of words, volume, pace, and tone of voice may be more important to people than the actual words spoken.
• A lot of effort can be put into a one-time presentation. Consider whether recording the event for future use would be worthwhile.

See Concerts regarding creating musical events that fit the function and structures of music in a culture.