This was a tough read. Honestly, it took me a while to figure out what this article meant. It was my all time least favorite article in the class so far. Not very exciting.
The medium is the way that a thing is communicated. For example, the article uses IBM to put its point across. IBM is known for making computer equipment. However, they are actually in the business of processing information. Other examples such as how Napoleon understood the power of the newspaper as a means to to transmit ideas. This is interesting to me in a historical sense.
I came up with a few ideas of my own. Namely, the Beatles Rock Band. The Beatles Rock band is a very good way for the kids to have fun. However, the game should be looked upon as a medium. It is a medium since it is communicates information on the history and cultural influence of the groups music in the 1960's.
Another thought that came to mind is our school. Most of us knowingly understand the fact that we are here to learn. However, we unknowingly need to understand that society gauges us on our educational level. Certain employers will only entertain the thought of hiring students that have obtained a Bachelors degree. In other words. Our time at SJSU should be looked at as a right of passage. SJSU plays the medium in order for us to get there.
So there it is. I'm going to end the medium of this blog and call it a day now.
I have to agree with you the article, The Medium is the Message, was a hard read. I think it did have some useful insight on the history of communication though. I rarely think about the medium in which I am reading a message. It does not cross my mind how messages are transmitted by the means of newspapers or other forms of communications. I like your example of the Beatles Rock Band. I did not think of how this video game could be a possible means of sending message. Video games do send a certain message to its users. I rarely think about non-conventional mediums to send a messag.e
ReplyDeleteNice, well said about the article Agree! Yeah it was a hard read for me too, I had to reread a few sections to make sure I understood what was said. I liked that you gave your own examples. I think the rock band example made sense the message is more than just a game. I could just picture some kid arguing with his parents "it isn't just a game, there is a bigger MESSAGE". Also I like your example about SJSU it is a passage that "SJSU plays the medium in order for us to get there" to get us jobs after we graduate.
ReplyDeleteOk, So I'm right there with you. The article was a total tough read that just seemed to go on forever and ever repeating the same thing in different ways. If I would have counted up all of the, "and to put it another way" and "in other words," I'd still be counting now. I did however agree with the statement, "the medium is the message." I like that you provided in your blog good supporting examples that most of us can all relate to. I also felt the bit about IBM to be a clear example to support McLuhan's point. Also, as die hard fan of The Beatle's, any mention of them, whether it be through the game or not, is a reference I can appreciate:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else and you this article was hard for me to read. I had to googled what the phrase "the medium of the message meant and even then when I was reading the article i was confused. I also talked about IBM and how the company was perceived in my blog because it was one of the few statements I could make some sense of. It seem like the longer I continued to read the article the more confused I got. He repeated a lot of his points as well which made reading even harder for me.
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