Notes on McLuhan’s “Understanding Media”

This book is a mid-60s reflection on the state of popular culture, serving as an American version of Roland Barthes’ Mythologies. McLuhan’s subtitle, “The Extensions of Man” refers to his discussion of various aspects of modern life–clothing, money, games. The book is known for its assertion of how medium begets message, with environment shaping ideas. But beyond this, he explains language as a form of evolving technology with words serving as the “explicitness of thought.” His point that “new mediums disrupt the investments of whole communities” is grounded early and layered through each chapter as he argues that each aspect of life serves as a form of expression. Semiology and simulacra abound. And it is our job to filter and disseminate it, whether we realize it or not.

Some of his ideas are dated, which is to be expected and the generalized anecdotes to which he sometimes alludes seem contrived, but his predictions about the future of media have gained traction, especially when considering the compression of information and evolving of anthropology fostered by the internet. Nicholas Carr in his book The Shallows hits on this idea, referencing McLuhan often. Ultimately, this work attempts to bring harmony to the white noise of mass media during a time where it seemed blaring but–in comparison of today–was quite quiet. Its serves as a good first word in the study of media because although it points to the future, it contains an adequate amount of intellectual history.