You Ain't Nothing But A Hound dog-

I will need to read this book once again. I enjoyed the majority of the material in this fascinating book yet I managed to struggle in comprehending some of Marshall McLuhan’s theories or concepts. This book and the messages within it are not by any means easy to grasp. There are pictures that relate to the information, but sometimes the pictures just looked odd. This randomness is why I liked the book. For example, I observed that when you look at the montage of noses from a distance on page 21 in the book they closely resemble the computer data chip on the previous page. I have no clue, just something that caught my eye. Due to its approach in being outrageously different compared to other ideological books, I found it to be quite interesting. I thought it was interesting when he asks if you have ever contemplated suicide and honestly, yes I have. But does everyone at least once in their lifetime? I would never do anything remotely close to harming myself on purpose, but it has crossed my mind for whatever reason I cannot explain.
McLuhan’s perspective on “your education,” especially the involvement of childhood is disturbingly true. The images and news that are presented to us via electronic media diminish the little time that we already have of “growing up.” We grow up so fast as it is, not to mention the years zooming by with the blink of an eye, yet with what is on TV, it forces children to become more aware of the truths.

that it even exists. I wish every detail of every concept could just be expressed for what it is and not how it can be altered to make sense for someone who does not appreciate it. I understand that it is best not to lie to our youth, but only guide them away from aspects of life that they are not ready to comprehend. An example of this for me would be my adjustment in learning the truth behind Christopher Columbus. During my entire childhood, Columbus was sought to be a hero and the man who discovered that the world was indeed not flat. It was only 3 years ago in my history course that I learned the revolting, destructible, and hard truths of how he treated the natives, especially women and children. I was quite disturbed and shocked when this entire time I felt that I had been given the truthful information.
Media research and its effects on society existed before television use became widespread in the mid 1950’s. It was the invention of television that prompted scholars to study its meanings. Behind every action, every word, there is something that can be criticized about it. Once television expanded, the people expanded. People have a tendency to emulate that which makes them feel more meaningful. New ways of behaving were being introduced which accumulated to a mass exodus towards change.

You are probably wondering why I have Elvis Presley, the one and only King of Rock and Roll on my blog. Well, this man changed how viewers could watch TV. When he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, it was forbidden for the public to witness his gyrating bottom torso on screen. Remember the scene in Forrest Gump with little Forrest and his mother walking down the street? In the 50’s, this was very sexual and quite explicit for the era. Today in 2009, there is more violence, drugs, and sex than I could have ever imagined to see in my life. The question is, how and why do the regulations towards the viewing of these acts change overtime? Why do they have to change? What makes us able to see them now and not before? Another important factor that McLuhan discusses is the difference in mediums. I understand that “the medium is the massage,” but watching something on the tube, and reading something in the newspaper are quite different, yet you can interpret the exact same message into different meanings.
It is amazing when you realize that McLuhan’s theories were extremely ahead of his time. Television had already existed for more than 25 years, but in 1967 he had recognized its deeper messages. The most important paragraph in this entire book comes on page 26. The very profound and bold sentence that is simply stated is “All media work us over completely.” I just wanted to mention how strong of a statement that really is if you think about it for a second. On page 45, McLuhan discusses his views on how “Rationality” and logic came to depend on the presentation of connected and sequential facts or concepts. I think this closely relates to the presentation of connectiveness that we have on the internet. Well, let me think, hmm maybe something called AIM and vlogs?