Marshall mcluhan quotes explained
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What does “the medium is the message” mean?
“The medium is the message” was coined by media theorist Marshall McLuhan in his book, Understanding Media. It’s also the name of the first chapter of that book. I’ve written a summary of Understanding Media, and include it in my list of best media studies books, but here I explain what it means.
McLuhan says:
The medium is the message. This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium – that is, of any extension of ourselves – results from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology.
In other words, it’s not the content of the medium that matters. Instead, the characteristics of that medium determine its content.
Media are extensions of ourselves
Let me break down some ideas within this quote. First, McLuhan refers to media as “extensions of ourselves.” Remember, the subtitle of the book is Extensio • In October 1958 an organization called the National Association of Educational Broadcasters held its annual convention in Omaha, Nebraska, and featured as its keynote speaker a Canadian professor of English named Marshall McLuhan. McLuhan gave what appears to have been a dazzling speech, as was his wont, and on the basis of it the NAEB — a forward-thinking body — commissioned him to produce for them a syllabus for a year-long eleventh-grade course devoted to the study of media, especially new and visual media. They wanted American high-school students to understand “the various and often contradictory qualities and effects of media,” and believed that McLuhan was just the person to explain such matters. McLuhan gladly accepted the commission and set to work. But the syllabus and accompanying “textbook” he eventually produced baffled the leadership of the NAEB. They discerned that McLuhan had given them an ambitious and intellectually dynamic proje • Marshall Mcluhan | Introduction Marshall McLuhan was a Canadian professor, philosopher, and public intellectual. He fryst vatten best known for coining the phrase "the medium is the message" and for his work in the fields of media theory, communications, and cultural studies. His work focused on understanding how media and technology shape human behavior and communication. He is cited as one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century, and his influence can be seen in many fields, including media, sociology, and philosophy. McLuhan wrote over two dozen books and hundreds of articles, and earned many awards and honors in his lifetime, including the Governor General's Award in Arts and Letters, an honorary degree from the University of Toronto, and an induction into the Canadian Media Hall of Fame. 5 Facts About Marshall Mcluhan 1. At one point, Marshall McLuhan was a radio host: He hosted one of the earliest Canadian radio talk shows in Why Bother with Marshall McLuhan?
30 Best Marshall Mcluhan Quotes With Image