The Medium Is The Message Marshall Mcluhan Analysis

What Is a Medium? A large part of society and culture includes the transition of ideas and information between its members. This transition leads these members to formulate new ideas, traditions, practices, and beliefs, which result in the overall advancement and change of culture and society over time. This transition of information and ideas, responsible for bringing about change, occurs through a medium. In “The Medium is the Message,” by Marshall McLuhan, McLuhan discusses the definition of a medium and its content. “The Ruling Class and Ruling Ideas,” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and “Base and Superstructure in Marxist Cultural Theory,” by Raymond Williams are two other compositions that explore the effects of a hegemony on the
The author argues while the content of media is important, understanding the character and message of that medium is far more crucial. He writes, “‘the medium is the message’ because it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action. The content or uses of such media are as diverse as they are ineffectual in shaping the form of human association” (McLuhan 101). The author continues to use the example of the electric light, and how it is a medium without content, which often results in people overlooking the fact that it is a major communication medium, yet without this medium, it is impossible to use the other media that make up the content. The “message” of the communication medium of the electric light is that the electric light allows humans to handle its content without any restrictions on the time of day. By identifying the medium my its message, McLuhan is encouraging his readers to consider the medium by its characteristic of how it impacts human affairs and changes people’s daily functions, rather than merely observe the medium’s purpose based on its
According to Marshall McLuhan, a medium can only be fully studied or understood when people define the medium not only by it's content, but also by the “message” it brings to society, as in how the medium has changed human affairs. Marx and Engels believe that such mediums arise from ideas that come from those in power, who have control over both the material and intellectual production in the society. Raymond Williams further continues Marx’s and Engels’ claim by stating that those in power also use media to present their ideas as dominant, so that other members are less likely to oppose, making it easier for the ruling class to advance their agendas toward their interests. As humanity continues to advance, it is important for all people to remember that there exists a strong ruling class who has an immense influence over the media. In remembering this, people can more easily identify when the media is targeting them and manipulating their thought to accept the dominant ideas set by the hegemony of the current and previous