"The Medium is the Message"

Post 1

This article about Marshall McLuhan can be summarized by say that all forms of media become an extension of us, all in different ways. What I found interesting was his point that with all of these technology advances to make out lives easier and more convenient, these advances also "amputate" skills and qualities we once had. For example, our archery skills have all but vanished with the invention of guns. This skill was once essential for the survival of humans by allowing them to hunt and provide meat. With the gun, the bow and arrow became obsolete and no longer important to learn.

There was another example in this article how writing skill have diminished with the advent on the telephone and I would argue that these skills have been further depleted in the last few years with the global takeover of the internet and text messaging. Today, people are even opting out of talking on the phone and choosing to write short abbreviated messages via texting. Human interaction on the whole is becoming a thing of the past with the internet and texting. You no longer have to actually talk to someone on the phone anymore, instead you can text, email, chat online, post on facebook or twitter and so on.

I also found the section on how our looks and self preservation (especially in females) has been driven by advertising. I think about this frequently as we live in a major U.S. city and marketing and advertising are literally everywhere we look. Not only that, but the majority of the advertising is sexually driven and always reminding you that you could be better and look better. Advertisers was you to look better so you will subscribe to there ideals and buy there products. The funny part is we should be exercising and eating right to stay healthy, but we probably do it for the looks so we can find sex or a job or achieve more power.