The book "Medium in the Massage" by Marshall McLuhan is by far one of the most interesting and visually stunning books i've ever read. You could almost call it a picture book, however the pictures are intense and i'm sure have symbolic meaning behind them. The first thing that stood out to me was on one of the first pages it says, "You. Have you ever contemplated suicide?" (McLuhan 12) Right away, with that quote, I was drawn into this book; I wanted to know what followed such a dramatic opening line. Each page has a different topic. "You", is followed by "Your Family", then "Your Neighborhood", "Your Education", "Your Job" and "Your Government", all of which describe those certain aspects of all of our lives. Then followed by "The Others", which says, "We have become irrevocably involved with, and responsible for, each other" (McLuhan 24). That was interesting because it's true; we all have connections as humans and should have a responsibility for one another. This book is an easy read but is rather hard to really grasp. It discusses technology and our roles within current technology but in a seemingly dark manor. I like the quote he says, "The wheel...is an extension of the foot", "The book...is an extension of the eye" (McLuhan 31). This book really makes you think about your life and the way you live it, with the current technology available.
In the last couple months, I've noticed that recently, a lot of movies have been released that are apocalyptic based (Legion, 2012, The Book of Eli, The Road). All of these movies somehow in one way or another, reflect the advancements in technology and humankind, thus leading to the downfall of our civilization. Now, whether that is myth or not is yet to be seen, however, this book, Medium in the Massage, really reminds me of these examples. This book puts a serious, dark note on the advancements of technology and how far we've come to this day using them.
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It's interesting the way you link the apocalyptic in film with McLuhan. Visually, his book looks apocalyptic. And we are very accustomed to thinking of media commentators to be negative. Postman fits perfectly into that role. McLuhan, though, is a different breed of cat!
ReplyDeleteHe loves technology and dumps on the "tools of yesterday" which he calls the Gutenberg Revolution. That revolution, going on since 1452 or so, truly was revolutionary It transformed Europe. Postman would agree: he says in a memorable line: "Europe and the printing press was not Europe plus the printing press. It was a different Europe."
That's where student and teacher part company. Both see Gutenbergian technology of movable type as revolutionary. Truly, no one could argue differently. The printing press made possible the Renaissance and made inevitable the Reformation (overstated for effect, but there's a kernel of truth there).
Postman thinks that's a good thing and that that typographic revolution should just continue. And that the revolution which came afterward is one of dumbing down, one of pictures, one of images and not so muich thinking. Postman deplores the lack of thinking.
McLuhan doesn't. He doesn't say whether he thinks we'll think less in the electric circuitry revolution. But he thinks it (electric circuitry) is great! It has brought us together, made us care about one another, made us share each other. Electric circuitry is about the ear (where you are in a group) as opposed to the eye (where you're basically alone, seeing).
Just another example of students going beyond and reversing the messages of their teachers!!!
Gordon