I remember learning about you back
in one of my many uni. classes... back when I thought I would never ever
understand what the heck you were talking about.
I had heard things like "global
village" and thought how crazy it was that you understood the Internet and
what it would do to society before it even was started.
But what concerned me most was that
"the medium is the message".
To hear something that radical scared me. How can the medium - the way we choose to extend ourselves/put ourselves
out into the world- be the message and not the message be the message itself.
*Thinking about it still makes my head hurt.
But I need to tell you something
Marshall... I think you actually got it. You understood that the way we choose
to reach out to others, the way we send and receive our life story, is actually
a message in itself.
By me choosing to send my thoughts
in a letter means that I needed to take time and effort into writing, maybe
even hand writing, something to a specific person. The lost art of letter
writing still hurts my heart today, because I know when I receive a personal,
hand written letter, I almost begin to tear up.
By choosing to text you instead of
calling you means that I want to keep it short, or just share a little bit of
info., or thought it was more convenient to type that listen to your voice.
By choosing to write this on a blog
instead of write this in a journal means I think it is of value for potentially
thousands or millions to read, or that I'm even of great importance/interest to
read *(assuming more than my instructors and classmates read this blog).
My concern Marshall is that you may
have gotten it toooo right. And it makes me wonder if the medium IS the
message... what does that say about us today!?
Currently the medium I'm using is
the Internet on a computer. I am staring at pixels on a screen... a screen that
can change in an instant, that is really a series of code, fuelled by
electricity. None of it is permanent. None of it is lasting *(especially when
your hard drive crashes...)
I listen to my music on my nano-
tunes that I've selected to fit the mood I want to foster- earphones in,
ignoring the world around me. The medium: my music, playing only for me, while
blocking out the world around me... is the message.
Later today I will tweet something-
to whom? I'm not sure. But it will only be 140 characters- which means I need
to choose my words carefully. Then I will hit send- and my great thoughts will
be out there for the world to see. But what depth is there in what I tweet?
Whom will it impact? And how long will it last? Will it stand the test of time
like other great thinkers? *(Ironic how today we have access to mass audiences
and can share things around the world... but are we really sharing anything of
value?!)
At some point I will inevitably
creep on Facebook- an online community of individuals. I can feel like I'm a
part of these people’s lives and build relationships with them without having
ever met or talked face to face with them.
And throughout the entire day I will
be using my iPhone- which to me is the pinnacle of why the medium is the
message. Much of what we do with media is tailored to "i" the
individual. My phone, my Facebook, my blog, my news- It's really all about me
and what "i" want. And it seems the more I reach out into various
communities the more it is all about me- the individual. And I wonder if it is
really a community at all when I sacrifice nothing at all- and I am only
concerned about what I can bring to it, or how it can suit my needs. Can a
community of individuals really be community at all?! Is this a pictuer of a global village?
Marshall, who knows if this is even
what you meant when you said "the medium is the message". But it's
got me thinking what if it was....
Sincerely,
[k]
Katz looks happy but Winnipeggers will now be paying $50 a year for trash pick up... thoughts?!
Turns out that yesterday was a Winnipeg Free Press themed day- we had the editor of the Free Press, Margo Goodhand, come and talk with us CreCommers- it was exciting, inspiring, and calming to know that there is a job out there for someone who likes to take on the world and fill up her plate till it is overflowing.
From there- the day just got better... I got a chance to hang out with a lovely friend of mine, *H, and catch up on life. We always try new and different places so we decided on meeting up at the Winnipeg Free Press Cafe...
in short- best choice ever- who knew a bruschetta grilled cheese sandwich was even an option in life?!
Thanks *h for hanging out with me- I can't wait till we go on another adventure! Where to next is always the question... suggestions anyone!?
*[k]
Things I'm loving in October*
1* I love the fall leaves... and walking to school with them crunching under my feet.
2* COFFEE- especially Parlour coffee!
4* Being Heard: voting/ teaching kids about voting (plus the stickers were cool)
5* New Music!
6* Discovering pieces of my city (yes this is Winnipeg!)
7* This video below...
*love
[k]
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