Yes, the MASSAGE.

I found it quite interesting how on page 26 of the reading it is stated that, “all media are extensions of some human faculty – psychic or physical.” This part of the reading goes on further to state that the wheel is an extension of the foot, the book an extension of the eye, and the electric circuitry and extension of the central nervous system. I believe this to be true, to a certain extend of course, but I believe it. The things that we interact with, media in this case, further our reach. They may help us touch more, without the need to literally touch.

Another part of the reading that caught my attention was that found on page 8, which states that “societies have always been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication.” Now, I agree with this, but at the same time have some difficulty with it. For while I know it isn’t putting down the importance of content, at a very basic level the message that it conveys is that the way it is said is more important than what is said. My issue with this is that it may very well be that one has a message that can profoundly impact the world, but if the right communication method isn’t available societies won’t be shaped as much as it could’ve. This worries me when it comes to societies which may not have access to a lot of the tools/technologies that many Americans (for example) may take for granted.

Lastly, since this is already MEGA late and I had watched the RiP!: A Remix Manifesto Documentary Film before arriving here I would like to say that a part of the passage instantly brought me back to the film. The part states as follows, “our time is a time for crossing barriers, for erasing old categories – for probing around. When two seemingly disparate elements are imaginatively poised, put in apposition in new and unique ways, startling discoveries often result” (p.10). It made me think of a Remixer’s Manifesto and how we need to limit the control of the past.