Time Out! How about a thread to think about instead of spewing?

[johnaries]

Many of us are familiar with Ayn Rand and George Orwell.

But do you know Marshall McLuhan?

Have you heard the term “Global Village”?

There are many people who have written “prophetic” works. Most of them based their predictions on historical precedent. I have no problem with that. In fact, I have written posts in defense of using the term “Nazi”, as long as the comparisons are based on historical precedent.

History does repeat itself.

However, Marshall McLuhan was the first to truly understand and analyze the effect that new technology in the form of improved communications could affect the repetition of history. Unfortunately, with the exception of a very few of us “old school” Mass Communications students most of us have forgotten his wisdom. Or we have ignored it.

It’s time for us to go back to kindergarten.

McLuhan’s favorite phrase, which eventually became the title of his most famous (and infamous) book, was “The Medium is the Massage”.

This was an intentional play on words. Originally he said the Medium is the Message. This is a pretty obvious concept to anyone here on DU. “If the MSM says it enough, well then, Dam: it must be true!”

But McLuhan took it even one step further. By changing “message’ to “massage”, in essence he is warning us that if we allow the “cool” media to “massage” our emotions enough, they can pretty much convince us to believe whatever they tell us. Because we’re willing to sit back and LET them tell us what to believe.

KKKarl Rove understands the power of the media and how to “massage” emotions to get the voter turnout he desires. I sincerely doubt he understands McLuhan’s message beyond that rudimentary “give me what I want” mentality.

But Rove only understands the rudimentary elements of what McLuhan was trying to say. He understands only as much as he needs to in order to fulfill his demented desires.

I heartily recommend that all DU’ers read Marshall McLuhan’s works. It will open your eyes in ways you had not imagined. Even if you disagree with his conclusions, you’ll find yourself thinking about things in ways you had never considered before.

[johnaries]

1. shameless self-promoting kick

:kick:

[Eloriel]

2. A question

I think it would help if you defined cool versus warm or hot media. And if you could elaborate any more on McLuhan's thougthts.

:kick:

[Zorbuddha]

3. If you didn't see this

you might want to take a look. It is along these lines.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3928532

A poster (igil, I believe?) contributed some insightful commentary, as well.