Fragmentation
The definition of "fragmentation" is the finished process of "fragmenting". Now, "fragmenting" is the process of something being broken into smaller parts. So, "fragmentation" is the state of breaking or broken into small or separate parts.
Background
In the context of the course, fragmentation is the breaking of the consuming public into even more specialixed taste cultures. The text "Critical Media Studies" explains on page 11 and 12 how the media is constantly fragmenting. It gives an excellent example how television shows this. No longer is there only three channels for everyone, it has broken into more diverse and complex subject to appease to different audiences (Ott and Mack 11-12).
Uses in other disciplines
It is a word that can be used in many contexts. The term can be used for everyday events, nothing of it make it unique to the context. There may be times where it is connected to something important like fragmentation of the media, but at the same time be used to describe a broken glass.
See also
https://www.ukessays.co.uk/essays/marketing/media-fragmentation.php This online article gives a great explanation of how media has been fragmented overtime and its effects overtime.
References
Ott, Brian L., and Robert L. Mack. Critical media studies: an introduction. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Print.
External links
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2017. <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fragmentation>.