The Medium is the Massage
byMarshall Mcluhan Quientin Fiore
A vibrant collection of ideas and images in a condensed format representing some of Marshall McLuhan's core ideas from Understanding Media. Writing in the context of the changing media landscape due to new technologies, this was an interesting view of what a contrarian would think would shake up the media industry.
I found it this statement interesting as it is playing out even today: "Societies have always been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication." At times the images were distracting and made me feel lost in the book; in a bad way. It lacked depth and I will probably read Understanding Media so I can have a fuller picture of Marshall McLuhan's ideas.Motivations to Read
I have a love hate relationship with the media, because it skews more towards the hate side, I've invested some time and resources into learning more about media. Maybe I can understand it a little better and not react so sharply when media companies do things that make me feel pessimistic towards humanity. Hopefully, with more knowledge I can also better navigate media in the future, when I need it. This was recommended as a classic book.
3 Reasons to Read
- Insightful 1960s perspective of where marking and media is heading towards.
- A book that uses media to explain media.
- History on the evolution of media and it's effects.
Notable Quotes
“There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening.” Marshall McLuhan
“The ear favours no particular “point of view.” We are enveloped by sound.
It forms a seamless web around us.
We say, “Music shall fill the air.” We never say, “Music shall fill a particular segment of the air.”We hear sounds from everywhere, without ever having to focus.
Sounds come from “above,” from “below,” from in “front” of us, from “behind” us, from our “right,” from our “left.”
We can‘t shut out sound automatically.
We simply are not equipped with earlids.
Where a visual space is an organised continuum of a uniformed connected kind, the ear world is a world of simultaneous relationships.” Marshall McLuhan
“All media work us over completely.” Marshall McLuhan
The Medium is the Massage Notes & Summary
