Discuss The Marshall Mcluhan’s Proposition Of ‘extension And ‘amputation In Relation To A New Technological Development In Television.
Discuss The Marshall Mcluhan’s Proposition Of ‘extension And ‘amputation In Relation To A New Technological Development In Television.
Television has extended its own self to be familiar with many technologies, spreading its technological alliances to become even more part of our lives. When the shift in technology from analogue to digital became apparent, a decoder was made for the masses to receive television that previously had to be paid for in subscription. The digital box extends the amount of channels sent on one signal, increasing the media coverage and which in turn “creates extensions of the human body and senses” according to McLuhan, every extension has an amputation. The digital box is an over extension of the television, it has become part of television to extent senses and body for the masses. This has established a wider connection, forming a larger global tribe and opening up more space for information from the media to the senses. The demand for constant supply of content has distorted our global view, everything must be simultaneous and we must be involved in everything. Everything we must be involved in is shown on digital television.
The chances to connect with more people than before is immense, their visions and their ideas are now at the forefront of our technology. In theory this should extent the broadcasting systems to reach more people and more people, creating a clearer view of the world. As McLuhan has put it “the electronic age’ has sealed ‘the entire human family into a single global tribe.” This should reach out as a united front connecting every singular person through the medium of television. The digital box has lifted restraints from singular large corporations, creating much smaller independent companies. This gives more of an opening for more social and cultural events to be depicted. The idea that we can watch important happenings from across the world bonds us, because of the shared experience, this new ‘electronic interdependence recreates the world in the image of a global village.’ McLuhan is describing that everybody sees the...
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