McLuhan said so, understand me

Author: McLuhan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: In his last two decades, McLuhan wrote a series of works that established his reputation as a world-famous media theorist and contemporary visionary. He distinguished between "cool" and "hot" media; he coined the slogans "the medium is the message" and "the global village." His unforgettable terms include "feedback" and "iconic image." However, McLuhan's achievements were not just in proposing these (:). When computers were large, clumsy, and limited to use only in institutions, he foresaw the development of personal computers. He foresaw the impact of the Internet on all aspects of social life. He understood the transformative power of digital technology, particularly the globalization of communication and transmission, and recognized the instantaneous, synchronous nature of the emerging electronic world. In this regard, he was ahead of his time. In many ways, 40 years after the publication of Understanding Media, we are still trying to catch up with him. Stephen McLuhan and David Stearns collected 20 unpublished manuscripts by McLuhan, including speeches and interviews. These manuscripts share a common feature: they are easy to understand. Each one was compiled from live recordings, so these are not written articles but his spoken words, which are very accessible to the general public. He gives the impression of being startling, witty, both confusing and thought-provoking. These straightforward speeches and interviews will be refreshing.