Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man

Media is a dynamic institution that reflects the needs, wants, and desires of society. It is constantly developing in rhythm with humans over time to cater to our informative needs. The creation of the internet, then cellphones, and social media portrays the rapid growth and changes of the institution. The 21st century is rapidly advancing and therefore, we cannot guarantee its future but we can predict it. The theories of the ‘hot and cool media’, ‘the global village’, and the ‘narcissism effect’ were all formed by Marshall McLuhan to foretell the future of media when it had just begun to develop. Many years later, the social media application Twitter proves McLuhan’s theories on media are still relevant in present day society. Twitter…

Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. McGraw-Hill, 1964. Reviewed by Kayla M. Piper, Pittsburg State University, KS. Medium Is the Message, a part of the book Understanding Media, is a critical evaluation and interpretation of Media Ecology, a communications theory. Marshall McLuhan particularly focuses on the idea that the medium is the message. He presents the idea that instead of the content of the medium being the message, it is actually the effect that it creates…

In an age where various forms of media play an undeniably crucial role in the dissemination of information to citizens, it was the philosophical prophecies of Marshall McLuhan that prove to still be pertinent in today’s use of media. The present usage of such terms as “media”, “global village” as well as “Age of Information” were all coined by Marshall McLuhan in his 1965 work Understanding Media (Lapham, x). In the information age we currently live in, McLuhan’s contributions to media and…

I was inspired to explore this topic on black women hair as a result of my own experience as a master stylist and extensions company owner at a Historically Black College or University. Attending Hampton University, I have seen so many women in various hairstyles ranging from protective styles such as afros, faux locs, crotchet braids to thirty inches in Brazilian or Indian virgin extensions. During my freshman year around homecoming many of my clients wore hair extensions, when I would ask why…

they influence our emotions and understanding of the world. These modern ads have their explicit meaning for everyone to see and understand: to buy such products for such reasons. However, a much deeper implicit meaning is engraved in in our minds: if you don’t use this product your desires won’t transpire. Old Spice exemplifies the modern day advertising strategy with its “THERE’S A MAN IN THERE” campaign. Depicted on the ad, is an overweight young man that seems to have little to no social,…

If subjected to this unavoidable advertising world, consumers must understand what these companies are trying to do. That way more informed decisions would be made on purchases in the future. Furthermore, stricter regulation surrounding food marketing to children, such as restrictions on pervasive marketing strategies could be a useful tool in addressing an important contributor to childhood obesity. However, it is important that such regulations are implemented across media channels, and that…

years) for Muslim women (Pew Research Center). Contrary to this statistic, the Hindu about men have about ½ year more than Muslim men. Although not bluntly stated, the underlining motive or point that I identified directly related with this western idea of gender roles relative to Hinduism. It seems that a popular western argument or point that is made involves underdeveloped eastern societies with dated gender equalities, but fail to mention or identify the cultural and religious reasoning’s…

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity”. -Albert Einstein Man beholds the gift of knowledge. However, it is what you do with that intelligence that makes one knowledgeable. Technology is an extension of the brain, just like a phone is an extension of communication. These connections must be extensively examined before plan is executed and incorporated into society otherwise, “we” may create our own demise. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Chappie…

content analysis was to gather further understanding the how body ideals are conveyed by the media, in particular Disney movies, to their target audience which are mostly children. Studies in the past have examined the relationship between the thin ideal portrayed by toys (Anshutz & Engels, 2010) and the sexualization of the ideal self under experimental conditions in children (Starr & Ferguson, 2012), all of which suggests the potential negative impact of media exposure on body image…

Not Dumb Just Different Is technology making us dumber? When social media users abbreviate or utilize “slang” does it instantly qualify an individual as being lazy, illiterate, or unintelligent? One of the major misconceptions about technology is that it distracts individuals from actually learning. That the use of social media is creating a generation of users who lack grammar or proper sentence structure. In her article “Our Semi-Literate Youth? Not So Fast?” Andrea Lunsford sheds some…