Thought on History ... and Repeating Itself

From McLuhan (The Medium is the Massage, 128) ... "The main cause for disappointment in and for criticism of television is the failure on the part of its critics view it as a totally new technology which demands different sensory responses. These critics insist on regarding television as merely a degraded form of print technology."

consider that in the context of where we are now and do a little editing ...

"The main cause for disappointment in and for criticism of [youtube] is the failure on the part of its critics view it as a totally new technology which demands different sensory responses. These critics insist on regarding [youtube] as merely a degraded form of [television]."

Do you find this as out of control as I do?

Comments

[Jeff Swain]

I like your application of McLuhan's perspective. I believe it it accurate. I am taken back by the number of my peers who hold this perspective regarding new technologies. It's especially troubling when you think about the business we're in. I'm not saying you need to drink the Kool Aid but you need a healthy perspective when you approach the possibilities they offer because for the most part they've yet to be discovered. And that's what get's me up in the morning. The thought that one day I may be able to contribute something unique to the field. I can't figure out my peers who do not see that postential.

[E. Pyatt]

I think McLuhan's analysis is accurate, but I would expect many people to compare a new paradigm to one they're familiar with. Frustrating, but true.

And it may be "out of our control", but in a good way. A new communication tech can't really reach its full potential until a certain number of users figure out how to use it effectively. Who would have thought Twitter could be a tool of political protest? Or Flickr an effective educational media repository?

There will always be skeptics, and I am sometimes one of them. On the other hand...nothing succeeds like success. At some point, I think the majority will come around if a new tool is worthwhile.