The Prophecy of Marshall McLuhan

In his novel understanding media, Marshall McLuhan describes and explains his vision of media and the relationship between society and media. McLuhan was disappointed with the media in general, therefore he wrote this novel to outline the problems that were apparent to him. During his time McLuhan’s writing was disregarded by the people of society, however, the ironic thing is that many of McLuhan’s predictions have come true as the future has unraveled.

Technology has thus become an extension of our being. For instance, The fact that it was once denied that the media was a direct reflection of who we are, whereas now we utilize the media as a tool to extend ourselves beyond our immediate wor ld.

McLuhan’s main point is that the content of the media is less important than the medium itself. Also, the fact that our information delivery has changed changes the culture itself. It alters how people interact and communicate with one another. The new technology provides a platform for the entire population to receive the same information simultaneously. This leads to the homogenization of a group by the creation of pop culture.

With modern technology people are able to pause, rewind, and most importantly share the information with thousands of others. It also says a lot about the individual and where they sit in society. They identify themselves through the media and create their own personal style. They become part of a specific subculture. People now have a voice, and there are actually millions of ears willing to listen.

As with many new contributions to the technological world, there is a certain symbiotic relationship between the individual and the media. The growth of the media is partially dependent upon the individual’s participation and involvement. In modern-day society the individual has become dependent on the media for interaction and communication with others, via inter net networking sites, cell phones, television, etc. We now live in an age where technology truly has transcended from being a tool of convenience to an extension of one’s being.