I observe that we watch in landscape (Cinema screens, Television and PowerPoint presentations) while we read in portrait (Newspapers, Magazine and Journal Publications). Any empirical proof please?
Whenever I teach the introduction to mass communication and its history, I take time to draw attention of students to the ‘grammar of medium’ towards an understanding of how messages are forced to conform to conventions. The grammar of newspapers do have certain linearity if compared to the visual media that is enveloping, each is structured and perceived in different ways. Today, mainly due to expansion of mediality, this component of teaching mass media is presumed and neglected.