This is an aside titled '“The Playboy Interview: Marshall McLuhan” 1969' dated 12/23/09

“For the past 3500 years of the Western world, the effects of media — whether it’s speech, writing, printing, photography, radio or television — have been systematically overlooked by social observers. Even in today’s revolutionary electronic age, scholars evidence few signs of modifying this traditional stance of ostrichlike disregard.” – Marshall McLuhan in a 1969 Playboy magazine interview unearthed by Next Nature. This past decade has certainly put an end to that.

Posted by Joanne on Dec. 23, 2009 Tagged: , , , ,

  • blarry
    In what way?
  • yeah, i was trying to think of a way to phrase this.... i think with reality tv launching in 2000 and friendster in 2002, people really started to think of themselves and their relationships with media. it became an unavoidable topic. i am not old enough to really put this in the context of the years since McLuhan made that comment, but I think this decade is unique in that skepticism of media *is* pop culture. just look at Sarah Palin campaigning against the "lying liberal elite media." Any office work says to another did you see Jersey Shore last night? The next comment is, "oh, it's so bad! it's so fake!" when you talk about Facebook, you have to talk about your lack of privacy and how weird it is when your aunt "friends" you. The inclination with all of these things is sarcasm, but no one isn't watching reality tv, no one is getting off Facebook...
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